I know im off by more than a year to respond to your post, but I just had to.CharlotteJ said:Ok .. I did it, I made it to this wonderful lovely vast big country and am hard busy getting settled and know how things work.
I am sending family and friends "blog" like emails each day and post short messages on my Facebook page so everybody can follow me and see what I do and how I do which is quite fun too.
All I can say to all and everybody of you is that if you really want to make ' your move" work out well and be ending up living happily ever after, believe deeply in who you are, what you are and what you want and will like to achieve, because the sky is the limit here. Be aware that there are a lot of sad or somehow negative experiences and people who don't like you to come to Canada but it all depends on how you do react on such and just be who you are and stay the way you are.
I can assure you that in Canada, regardless of what you are, who you are or what you need, there is something for each and everybody to achieve and to find.
Just been here for less than 10 days and spent quite some dollars and not even settled fully to start looking for jobs and I receive job offers and people who want to help me one after each other. It all depends on the way your mindset is and if and how you do network.
Lesson 1. From the moment on that you check-in for your flight to Canada, put off your masker and all your judgements, prejudices and/or expectations aside and board your aircraft as a new born person, a baby who is interested in anything and everything that shall pass his/her path and embrace yourself and all that passes your path with a big wide smile.
Lesson 2. Don't put too much of effort in asking people or others what they think or they might find or what will be good for you, NO, ask yourself HOW you would like it all to WORK FOR YOU! Ask questions, be honest, tell them you are here to start afresh and be a better person and see how many positive reactions you will receive.
My most negative experience was with this real estate agent at Remax.
I asked them for help and I was asked to fill out a form indicating what I look and in what price range. I 've a pet, a small dog, price range between 800 and 1400 max and around downtown or near TTC or PATH in Toronto and clean, safe and with security etc. the woman, Barbara looked at me, stood up and left the room babbling and yelling like a mad that I am crazy and wasting my time. She came back and told me that I CAN NOT FIND ANY property anywhere in Toronto with those conditions and started to also downtalk on Indians, Koreans, Chinese, Pakistani's you name it and that I shall also not go and look East of Yonge etc. ... She did discourage me so much that I almost wanted to catch a flight back home to Europe.
To make this even worse, I go and buy a hot dog and the "Greek" guy selling the hotdogs, asked me where I do come from. I answered and told him why I am here too and what I just had been told. He went like mad too and started to downtalk on me either and really truly openly telling me to go back to Europe as it won't be fair to be here as a European while people from India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Greece, Africa or South America or places of Conflict or war like Tamil should be here and be safe and happy. AS if it is my fault to be an European!
Anyways, I listened and didn't pay much attention to his words.
Now, here comes the fun part of my 3rd day in Toronto ... I stay at a 5 star hotel in Toronto, room large and comfy but noisy and bathroom so small I can hardly use it. No complaints, it won't take long to get out anyway although I don't know where to go and look for and what to do after having spoken to this lady, Barbara who I will refer to from now on as " Barbara Blabber Mouth"! ... Shall we adopt all those who are negative and try to discourage you as " Barbara Blabber Mouth" ? hahaha
Anyway, I went to Rogers, got me a pre-paid simcard for my iPhone, using " pay as you go" promotion, added 40$ to my account and had the guy take care of all and stuff, then went to my bank and asked for an advisor and had him opening my chequing account and changing branch and address etc and talking to him openly and such a gent to help me with great stuff, a Chinese/Canadian who really did care and is fun to meet and a treat to the eye! :-*
Then went back to hotel, took the ferry to the Center Island and went walking and enjoying the amazing skyline vista's! Having a piece of Pizza there and met this huge big mama black girl who did complain of having it quite cold and so I told her to go and hug her co-worker, a young man from Vietnam who looked at me in shock not knowing how to answer and guess what, yes she immediately jumped over him and started to hug him and gosh, we had fun and all started to laugh at loud and she was dancing for us and acting like one of those lovely funny black Hollywood movie stars and turned my day all to a fun positive day, not only I did reload my batteries but also they did! and many other people also enjoyed our conversations and had fun with us! Networking too and sharing information, where you come from, who does do what and where to get what the best and for the least etc. Really lovely!
Got back to hotel, the phone rang. Barbara Blabber Mouth telling me she didn't mean to discourage me and will set up a meeting with her co-worker Mrs. X to come and pick me up and show me a few properties so I get the feeling what I can expect.
Ok then ...deal! I was picked up in a sleak new Mercedes, went property watching! 5 of them, all located in and around Bloor str.
All oh so small, dirty, filthy, or still under construction, pets restricted, meaning: you may/can have one small pet if you discuss it with landlord etc. and unfurnished, one didnt' had sunlight and noisy Bloor street close to the window on 2d floor, other one located on 38th floor offering an 180 degree amazing downtown view but carpet full of stains and sigarette burning spots and really worn out bathroom and no washer or dryer and another one again right in front of the currently under construction Four Season's towers that will not only block the view, be bad for traffic but also oh so noisy that you hardly can hear yourself and a balcony that was walled by the neighbour of the building adjacent to it just because they didn't want to have that property's balcony blcok their view etc etc etc, all for at least 2200 dollars a month and unfurnished!
Totally discouraged, I came back to hotel to have friends telling me to come over to Montreal since they can help me find a place bigger and better and for less money in downtown Montreal and be close to them which all sounded so nice off course and I then went doing my research and yes, it is true, in Montreal, you will receive more value for the money if you go and rent and most homes are aloft like close to Old Montreal or downtown itself or even homes with a garden or a large balcony overlooking waterfront or the river or even skyline and for less money so I booked my room at a hotel in Montreal and made sure I could leave for MTL in 2 days and meet up with them.
Next morning:
I woke up, did my things and got ready to leave hotel room for some entertainment etc and keep me busy or meet up with friends I know through internet.
In the meantime, extended my internet connection and just to be busy, went looking on MLS.ca or Kijiji.Ca ... while checking on Kijiji.ca, I stumbled upon this property that was just put online by a landlord or real estate agent and that appeared to be all brand new and in a great neighbourhood, EAST of YONGE! ... The building is one of the latest gorgeous towers of the city and one that I , being a big fan of skyscrapers and architecture in general, been following for months ever since it was just 1 storey tall until now that is counts 44 storeys!!!! ... I was like " OH MY Gosh!!! is this really true what I see?" ... I called the landlord immediately. Voicemail. So, left a message behind and waited it out. 2x minutes later, landlord called me back. Lovely woman, an angel, she asked if I want to view it today? Oh sure, yes I do and pleazzzzzz!!!!! So, went viewing the property.
Standing in the lobby, so brand new you can still smell the paint and carpets and still workers putting finishing touch to the walls etc, there she is, a gorgeous lovely tall stylish woman, in designer clothing, coming to greet me and pick me up. There was a click immediately. Condo unit, one bedroom, larger than all that I 'd been shown the previous day and not only all brand new, offering ensuite washer and dryer, but also a large closet and all kitchen appliences brand new and not even used yet, a designer bathroom larger than the average I 'd seen so far and a view to kill plus a balcony that easily matches two chairs and a table and no noise at all and all that at the end of the corridor, a business center, swimming pool, sauna, gym, security all and all utilities except for hydro included " watch out if Electricity is included as during the winter, heating can be soon an expensive joke!" , ... anyway ... lovely converstation and landlord offered me some time to think about it and decide if I want it or not.
And guess what, all that for just 1400 a month! at a prime location, on Bloor street, close to Holt Refrew and Hudson Bay, all shops and exclusive stuff around it and in such brand new great condition and me becoming like the first tenant?!!!
I said yes and the next day signed the contract and am now going to happily ever after live in it for a year contract.
...
Now I am tired and go to bed, so, I shall contintue the rest of the story, tomorrow!
Good luck to you all ...
ME from one of the most beautiful places on Earth and in Canada! my, your, our new home! The more reasons to be a proud Canadian eh? ;D
peace, love, harmony and prosperity upon you all
I don't have much to add here but since you've been candid enough to share your thoughts, I will speak my mind here.
* Estate agents will either be really nice, or they wont. Ive had my share of apartment hunting in Pakistan (omg!) and it wasn't pleasant. But I knew I cant let mine piss me off.
* It is sad that some first generation Canadians would choose to discriminate against immigrants. While some may be ill-equipped to embrace their new surrounding initially, all of them cannot possibly be scums. And for someone believe that just shows zero effort for evolution. BTW I see Canada as a world of opportunity especially coming from a country that has more harsh times recently. The least I can do is to be nice to everyone I come across, and I wish they'd reciprocate in the same manner. I pretty sure the discriminating Canadians and immigrants are only a handful.
* This is my first post here in hopes to understand what all I can before I land at Peasron by the end of this month. Iv been reading up and now it is time to kick the next gear. I hope you still visit the forum and keep sharing your experiences. Cheers.
