Dear friends,
I have been away from the forum for too long. As I was looking back at my journey from the middle east to Canada the other day, I realized how important a role this forum played in allaying my fears, in answering my questions and importantly - in connecting me to fellow immigrants to Canada.
I know people love reading landing and settlement stories so I will share mine too, in the hope that those of you who are anxious about moving do not get too stressed. Canada is a beautiful country which treats people with dignity and respect. Yes, it is hard to leave our lives of comfort and start over in a new place. But for those willing to work hard, Canada represents a unique opportunity to move to a country with democratic rights and civil liberties.
I landed on March 29, 2014. I took the etihad flight that flies direct between abu dhabi and pearson so the journey went quite smoothly. We landed without event, made our delcarations and were out of the airport in an hour. And that was perhaps a sign of things to come.
Over the course of the past 9 months, I have secured a great permanent job which pays very well and is in my chosen field of work. My wife too has secured a job although she is on contract. We are renting a basement for the moment, but are planning to buy a place of our own soon (the search has begun!).
I dont want to bore you with the intricate details of my story. My intention is to assure all of you that while there is a struggle assosicated with settling down, don't lose hope. I too had to go through countless interviews. While I looked for a job, I volunteered almost every day of the week to keep myself busy and build a network of contacts. I started as a contract worker at my current role in late August, almost 5 months after landing in Canada. My organization is the largest of its kind in Canada, and in the top 50 globally. The journey here wasn't easy, but it happened because I was patient and refused to be pessimistic.
I also stuck to my guns. Not that my advice is any better, but I went against the popular notion of "get in to anything" to pay my bills. Instead, I chose to work for free (volunteer) and live off my savings. I figured a globally recognized NGO would look better on my resume than a factory job. In my case, the gamble paid handsome dividends. I am not encouraging everyone to blow away their savings. But invest your time strategically and make sure you dont miss out on opportunities by playing it too safe.
Before landing my current job, I was offered a position at a much smaller company. I accepted it with the intention of continuing to apply. To my astonishment (and dismay at the time), the company withdrew their offer and my search went on. I share this incident because it was perhaps the lowest point of my journey to where I am now. Looking back, that retracted offer was the best thing that has happened to me. I would not have been able to pursue the lead which got me my current job, if I had been occupied at some lowly company working long hours. Never let a temporary setback get you down. With hindsight, I can also say that don't settle. Hope and aim for the best.
Congratulations to all who have received their visas. Your journey is about to begin, and you can be confident that things will work out. Just be patient and don't give up.
I have met many folks who moved here from the middle east / south asia and they have allowed their struggles to shape their outlook. I feel their negativity keeps them in a perpetual sense of hopelessness. And hopless people dont pursue leads. They dont take initiative.
And thats what it takes to succeed. Yes there is always an element of luck involved in securing any opportunity. But as they say, those who work hard make their own luck. If you're giving it your all, just wait for your time. I dont consider myself particularly lucky, but I managed to settle in under 6 months. I am sure most of you will do so even quicker.
Good luck to everyone and excuse the typos (typing this on a phone)
Forcabarca