hello everyone!!!
it's been a long tiring but rewarding week for us. we landed at Toronto airport last july 29 at 3pm, 1 hour ahead of schedule. we flew with etihad airways via abu dhabi departed 1am july 29 from manila but checked in at 9pm. they only questioned ano yung nakalagay sa mga lata (w/c is bagoong) & plastic container (w/c is atsara), pero pinayagan din. arrived at adu dhabi after 9hrs, waited 4hrs for next flight. then abu dhabi to toronto 13hrs. we arrived at 3pm and was able to get out of the airport at 7pm. total travel time from check in: 34hrs!!
andami naming nakasabayang immigrants from the middle east kaya mahaba pila sa immigration. pero pagdating sa immigration officer, ok naman. we were just made to sign the copr and he asked how much money we were taking with us, sinabi ko, and it's more than the required pof. then he asked me to show the declaration form. when he saw that a portion of it is in bank draft, he asked me to show it and he entered the details in his computer. then we went to two more booths where they gave brochures and forms needed in applying for SIN, Child tax benefit, ohip, etc.
then we went and picked up our baggages and were instructed to pass by the bureau of customs where there was a long queue too. we had maximized our luggage so we had 10 in all + hand carry + laptop bags. medyo kinabahan talaga ako kasi yung mga ahead sa amin, inisa isa talagang nilabas yung mga gamit. yung iba naman na madaming dala, pinadaan sa xray machine then inisa isa din yung mga merong suspicious looking na laman. kaya matagal din waiting time. and we were so tired na that time. and so thirsty na rin. cranky na mga anak ko esp my 6y/o son. fortunately, when it was our turn, an old customs officer aproached us from behind and told us to follow him (itim siya). pagdating namin sa counter, he asked for our passports and declaration form (binibigay sa eroplano yung form before landing). then he asked if we had goods to follow and i said wala. pinaspecify lang niya brand ng mga electronic devices at ibang gamit (laptop, camera, dvdplayer, wristwatch etc). then he gave us another brochure, had the declaration form photocopied, gave it to us and we were instructed to exit. he didnt even check any of our bags. so laking pasasalamat namin na mabait yung matanda.
so paglabas namin, we bought some water, waited for our sundo. and after a few minutes, we were on our way to our new home...
:'(
so far, sobrang pagod pa din kami. may ubo at lagnat na nga tong bunso ko. buti na lang nagdala kami ng medicines nila (for cough/fever). that's all for now guys!! i will post more after namin mag apply for SIN and other things na kailangan pang gawin. good luck to all of you!!!