Vancouver A Good Place to Emigrate To!

[neddy]

Re: Try to Improve your written and spoken English

because in spring the temperature gets progressively warmer, and the daylight hours gets longer.
Consider dressing in layers to facilitate adding and shedding:
Congratulations, be positive, and good luck, from a resident who has been residing in Toronto for close to 30 years. [/COLOR]

One question I always wanted to know, after 30 years, how do you know what time to have dinner in summer, when the sun set so late.

Also, how do you get used to the cold winter? As I get older, my bones are more sensitive to the cold draught coming through the frenchdoors.

I wonder how those Hongkong people heat their big mansions.

 

[Aussie Prick]

Re: Try to Improve your written and spoken English

One question I always wanted to know, after 30 years, how do you know what time to have dinner in summer, when the sun set so late.

Also, how do you get used to the cold winter? As I get older, my bones are more sensitive to the cold draught coming through the frenchdoors.

I wonder how those Hongkong people heat their big mansions.

Neddy, AKA Aussie Pete AKA Chewed AKA Littlefish AKA The July 2008 busted losers club

Get a life ya idiot, we all know you are one person

 

[ak168]

You got your PR before medical? You applied in 2006 and got your
PR in 2009. That was super fast.

I haven't got the PR as yet. I was called up for the medical recently and should this medical be cleared in 2mths time, i should get my visa for landing. I have waited almost 3 year plus. I think my waiting time is average.

 

[ak168]

Hi ak168

http://www.nait.ca/
http://sait.ca/

e

Thanks for the links. A good starting point for me. I have immediately started to try find a match here with the "type of courses" to the current job market situation.

 

[ak168]

Re: Try to Improve your written and spoken English

Boots -- waterproof, non-skid and good traction, the made it Australia Blundstone is one example.
Congratulations, be positive, and good luck, from a resident who has been residing in Toronto for close to 30 years.

Noted and thank you for your advice. 30 years..my God, that's a long time...How have you been all these years ? Did Toronto treat you well ? Care to share ? I was told that Toronto has a high population of Chinese from Hong Kong and its almost like a second home for them. Am not sure as I haven't been there yet.

 

[johnny333]

Thanks for the links. A good starting point for me. I have immediately started to try find a match here with the "type of courses" to the current job market situation.

Looking at your education level I think you are over qualified
You should only have to "upgrade" if you want to network or search for a girl friend. My friend met his wife while doing a career change

Do seriously consider the differences in temperature betwen the temp in Spore +30's and the winter time temperature in Canada from +1 to -30s.

When I returned to Spore it was in November, the temp in Edmonton was in the low teens -15 to -20. It was tough re-adjusting to Spores weather. Spent alot of time in my room with the aircon going on full blast. I took cold showers in the middle of the night & still felt the heat.

Took me a few months to re-adjust

 

[johnny333]

If you "really" need to upgrade yourself the following are a list of the bigger instituitions in Alberta. The U of Alberta in Edmonton is better equipped than NUS Met alot of Spore students sponsored by the Spore gov't .


Edmonton
http://www.ualberta.ca/
http://www.nait.ca/
http://www.macewan.ca/web/home/index.cfm

Red Deer(a town between Edmonton & Calgary)
http://www.rdc.ab.ca/


Calgary
http://www.ucalgary.ca/
http://sait.ca/

 

[neddy]

Re: Try to Improve your written and spoken English

Did Toronto treat you well ? Care to share ? I was told that Toronto has a high population of Chinese from Hong Kong and its almost like a second home for them. Am not sure as I haven't been there yet.

ak168,

I find it interesting that you use the term " Did Toronto treat you well ?".

I think it is more the question of whether you are willing to be accepted by the city of your choice. The city is always there, a country that accept lots of migrants will have a melting pot of different ethnic communties from different places.

Like what I overheard between 2 migrants "Stop whining and start living."

A Case Study
The city of Adelaide in Australia is a nice EZ place to live. This city is unique in the sense of its pride in migrants. There is a Migrant Musuem and the city provide a Meet & Greet service to pick up new migrants from the airport and send them to a pre-organised temporary accommodation and also help bring the migrants to do their first grocery shopping and help them register for classes, employment,etc (references given)

This can be arranged from the South Australia represenative Office in Singapore. So, is this good treatment?

I know of a case of a Singaporean teacher who used the service but complain this and that - all petty things. Carried over from the behaviour from Singapore. I heard this from a volunteer who spend some of her free time running this service. True enough, he cannot survive migration long, less than 3 months, he is back in Singapore.

http://www.migration.sa.gov.au/sa/m...n_arrival_services/meet_and_greet_service.jsp

 

[ak168]

Looking at your education level I think you are over qualified
You should only have to "upgrade" if you want to network or search for a girl friend. My friend met his wife while doing a career change

Well at this point, finding a girl friend is not on top of my priority list yet but i don't mind if a suitable girl happen to come along the way.

You know, I'm already 39 this year and I will upgrade if I need to in order to secure a job. My focus and concern would be to get a job on hand after landing and second to get my son a school and have possibly someone to look after him while am at work. (assuming the school is not a full day session)

Are you back in Singapore now ? If so, can I propose to meet up for a chat over coffee ?

I love this forum, I will get response round the clock....cheers !

 

[neddy]

You know, I'm already 39 this year and I will upgrade if I need to in order to secure a job. My focus and concern would be to get a job on hand after landing and second to get my son a school and have possibly someone to look after him while am at work. (assuming the school is not a full day session)

The internet is really informative.

Moving to Canada is an exciting opportunity but also a great challenge. You need to know what documents to bring, what to expect in the first few days and weeks, how to find a place to live and much more.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/newcomers/before.asp

Preparing for employment in Canada
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/newcomers/before-work.asp

As you prepare to leave your home country, you may wish to use this checklist as a reminder of what you need to do before you arrive in Canada.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/newcomers/before-checklist.asp

 

[ak168]

Re: Try to Improve your written and spoken English

No worries. Understand where you are coming from and I fully agree with you, Singaporean are somewhat "complain king" including myself sometimes.

What I meant in my statement to Charlie was simply : How's life treating him in Toronto ?

 

[johnny333]

Well at this point, finding a girl friend is not on top of my priority list yet but i don't mind if a suitable girl happen to come along the way.

Canada is going to be a place of new oppotunities. My friend wasn't looking for a wife but still got one

I will upgrade if I need to in order to secure a job.

Forgot to mention that when I was attending the U of A, there was a job hunting resource available for students. Its been many years & it may not have survived the budget cuts but worth a look see.

Go to the student union building & go check to see if its still around. They have job listing from many companies from all over Canada. You can find such similar resources at the different Unis. So check with the various Unis. Even though you're not a student, the Uni resources are open to the public

Are you back in Singapore now ? If so, can I propose to meet up for a chat over coffee ?

Yes I am in Spore but busy at present travelling around. Take a rain check

 

[Charlie9]

Re: Try to Improve your written and spoken English

One question I always wanted to know, after 30 years, how do you know what time to have dinner in summer, when the sun set so late.

Also, how do you get used to the cold winter? As I get older, my bones are more sensitive to the cold draught coming through the frenchdoors.

I wonder how those Hongkong people heat their big mansions.

The extended daylight hours in the summer do play tricks with the human biological clock. However, the stomach or rather my stomach will provide the signals when it is time to eat, unless I am playing soccer or tennis (but I will get hungry).

It is not easy to get acclimatized to the cold Canadian winter, but by dressing in layers (cotton and wool, plus a down jacket or parka depending on how cold it gets), and a wool beret or a sheepskin wool hat, one can be more comfortable. For an individual born and raised in hot and humid, I prefer cooler temperatures (ideally between 15 to 20 C), and continue to wear shorts and T shirt till Oct, even if the day time high is around 10C. In the winter, I am comfortable with a cotton long sleeve shirt, a wool vest or sweater, plus a leather jacket. Or cotton long sleeve shirt, wool suit (do not need thicker wool for winter), London Fog trench coat (unless it is very cold, then I will switch to a wool overcoat, or when it is minus 20C, I will use my down parka).

We keep our small house at about 19C during the winter.

 

[Charlie9]

You took the Suggestions in Good Spirit, a Good Trait

Noted and thank you for your advice. 30 years..my God, that's a long time...How have you been all these years ? Did Toronto treat you well ? Care to share ? I was told that Toronto has a high population of Chinese from Hong Kong and its almost like a second home for them. Am not sure as I haven't been there yet.

Allow me to congratulate you, for taking my suggestions and criticisms in good spirit. Like how the USA trains her Navy SEALS, your tolerance of and response to my critical suggestions, will put you in a better position to acclimatize and assimilate when you have to persevere to find comfort, satisfaction, happiness and success in your soon to be new country, Canada. If you have been trained as a Commando in Singapore, at least NS [not the apparently softer approach and trg during the recent years], it would give you a better mental start.

I am in my 28th year in Toronto. I have been here longer than I have lived in Singapore. It was a challenging start during my first year, not been assigned the level of professional work which I believe that I am capable to execute. However, I have started at the bottom several times: recruit to SISL, to OCS to operational unit, to SATO; articled at the bottom in Toronto, qualified; articled again when I chose to specialize. At 51, although financially I am significantly poorer than my SG schoolmates, I could be semi-retired because we live a frugal life, but chose to work 2 to 3 days a week, as our children are relatively young [ all four: daughter, son, daughter, son, are under 12], in order to earn and save for contingencies as well as to keep my brain active.

Notwithstanding that there are numerous individuals in Toronto who are from Hong Kong, PRC, or of Chinese descent, my family and I have very few friends of Chinese descent [it just happens that way]. Professionally, I have two friends who are of Chinese descent (one, also a classical violinist, was born in NZ but lived in Canada most of his life; another was born in Vietnam but did not go to school due to the war, and has done very well since he came to Toronto as a refugee). My wife who was born in Europe, has two Chinese friends, a lady, nurse, whom she met at YMCA (whose husband, a pathologist and a standby TSO violinist, was born in SG, whose parents and siblings are medical doctors or specialists) and like us, have four children; and a Chinese lady whom my wife met at the neighbourhood park, 2 daughters.

If it is any encouragement to you, I have seen numerous immigrants improved their lives, became comfortable and successful, regardless of their education level or skills or which year they immigrated to Canada. I believe it is their ambition, drive, determination and perseverance.

With the right combination of personal characteristics, and some luck and/or some leads or assistance from others, and how you seize and maximize the opportunities, I believe, hope and pray that you will find your comfort zone.

 

[neddy]

Re: Try to Improve your written and spoken English

The extended daylight hours in the summer do play tricks with the human biological clock. However, the stomach or rather my stomach will provide the signals when it is time to eat, unless I am playing soccer or tennis (but I will get hungry).

It is not easy to get acclimatized to the cold Canadian winter, but by dressing in layers (cotton and wool, plus a down jacket or parka depending on how cold it gets), and a wool beret or a sheepskin wool hat, one can be more comfortable. For an individual born and raised in hot and humid, I prefer cooler temperatures (ideally between 15 to 20 C), and continue to wear shorts and T shirt till Oct, even if the day time high is around 10C. In the winter, I am comfortable with a cotton long sleeve shirt, a wool vest or sweater, plus a leather jacket. Or cotton long sleeve shirt, wool suit (do not need thicker wool for winter), London Fog trench coat (unless it is very cold, then I will switch to a wool overcoat, or when it is minus 20C, I will use my down parka).

We keep our small house at about 19C during the winter.

Thanks for the info. I really admire your ability to take the cold. Looks like I still cannot take the colder winters esp as I grow older.
I remember wearing leg warmers under my wool business pants and still feel cold.
I still find winter gloves very hard to get used to, even when I chose the thinner leather or gore-tex ones.
But the moment I enter a heated room, the still air give me headache.
I have to set my heater to about 25*C and I find inverter reverse cycle air-con too dry.

 

[Charlie9]

Room Temperature is around 21C

Thanks for the info. I really admire your ability to take the cold. Looks like I still cannot take the colder winters esp as I grow older.
I remember wearing leg warmers under my wool business pants and still feel cold.
I still find winter gloves very hard to get used to, even when I chose the thinner leather or gore-tex ones.
But the moment I enter a heated room, the still air give me headache.
I have to set my heater to about 25*C and I find inverter reverse cycle air-con too dry.

Every individual is different.
If I am wearing smart casual instead a suit during the winter, my normal attire is cotton corduroy pants, cotton shirt, wool vest, jacket or leather jacket. When I was younger, I did not wear a hat. Now that I am balding, I wear a wool beret (with a good slant, looking the "garang" officer I used to be some 30 years ago).
For casual, I may wear a cotton turtle neck, shirt, jacket.
I very rarely wear thermal underwear, or long johns.
Setting your house at 25C during the winter is too hot and expensive re: heating bills. Perhaps, you may wish to consider 22 C during the day, and 20 C at night when you are sleeping.
Are you referring to an air conditioner that also operates like a heat pump?

 

[Asychee]

Re: Try to Improve your written and spoken English

No worries. Understand where you are coming from and I fully agree with you, Singaporean are somewhat "complain king" including myself sometimes.

What I meant in my statement to Charlie was simply : How's life treating him in Toronto ?

Congraluation and welcome to canada. I have help a few samster to settle in Edmonton.

Add me as a friend in your facebook. U can see how life has been treating me. I have only been in Edmonton Canada 3+year. I have managed to reduce my mortgage for my own house from 30 years by half to 15years. I managed to acquired 6 properties along the way as well - everyday. Now my cashflow from my properties has exceed my expense so i can basically do nothing and still ok.

Please do not think otherwise, i aim to help fellow samster to achieve sucess here as my contribution back to the forum that i got a wealth of info when i was in your phase of the migration process.

 

[ak168]

Re: Try to Improve your written and spoken English

Congraluation and welcome to canada. I have help a few samster to settle in Edmonton.

Add me as a friend in your facebook.....

Am really glad we have you on board this forum to share your experience with us. Sure ...i will do just that to add you on face book...

 

[ak168]

Re: Try to Improve your written and spoken English

Am really glad we have you on board this forum to share your experience with us. Sure ...i will do just that to add you on face book...

I have tried Asychee but i don't think it is you. Hence, what is your user name in Face book ? or you can email me at [email protected] to let me know your user name if you may....

Thanks

 

[neddy]

Re: Room Temperature is around 21C

Every individual is different.
If I am wearing smart casual instead a suit during the winter, my normal attire is cotton corduroy pants, cotton shirt, wool vest, jacket or leather jacket. When I was younger, I did not wear a hat. Now that I am balding, I wear a wool beret (with a good slant, looking the "garang" officer I used to be some 30 years ago).
For casual, I may wear a cotton turtle neck, shirt, jacket.
I very rarely wear thermal underwear, or long johns.
Setting your house at 25C during the winter is too hot and expensive re: heating bills. Perhaps, you may wish to consider 22 C during the day, and 20 C at night when you are sleeping.
Are you referring to an air conditioner that also operates like a heat pump?

I cannot stand long johns.

I need a knitted beanie or I feel light-headed. Too much heat escape from the head.

the reverse cycle air-con. yes. The inverter heat pump is more efficient these days. In my previous house, the electricity runs on single phase, the lights will dip when the old-style heat pump starts.

I used to set to 22*C, but still too cold by 4-5am. Moreover I only keep one zone (area) heated, and it is in low (quiet mode) until auto off at 6am. I will probably retire to a very small house, otherwise, heating cost will used up all my pension. hahaha

Then I let the winter sun warm up the room after 7am.

I gave up electric brankets because of fire risk.
I have a gas connection and a vent for the gas heater, but no gas heater ... hahaha