So - I have NINE days off work! NINE! :) This is great. Nine whole days away from the stress and drama! I have things to do - belongings to pack up, things to get rid of, a move to organize - and a secret project I've just started working on - which I hope will be finished by next Friday (fingers crossed).
When I go back to work next Monday - I have five days left to train my replacement, and then I leave for head office. My new boss called yesterday and explained some changes to my induction - but it's all good news and I get to work with a very good friend of mine for a couple of weeks during the induction! Very exciting! :)
So - as of right now - things are going pretty well. Paperwork for the flat should arrive this morning. So all that is left is for you all to cross your fingers and wish me luck in successfully finishing my project next week! :) I will tell you all more once it is finished!
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Saturday, March 25, 2006
Moving...
I heard today that aside from the paperwork formalities, we have got the flat that I went to view last week! This is great news! Fingers crossed that the paperwork all goes according to plan - and if it does - I will be moving in on April 14th - five days after I start my new job! Very exciting!
I will post pictures as soon as I can - and obviously friends are welcome to come visit/stay anytime!
I will post pictures as soon as I can - and obviously friends are welcome to come visit/stay anytime!
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Precious Time
I went to the funeral of a friend and former colleague today. Very sad. This guy was a great guy, who had led an amazing and interesting life. He got along well with people of all ages and from all backgrounds (and this was highlighted today by the amazing range of people at his funeral).
He had just retired, but was continuing to work at a local library when they needed him. He had just booked a holiday. He was going to visit a few places before starting his walk around Europe on foot. I saw him the week before he died - and stopped and chatted with him about his plans. He had been planning his trip for quite some time, and it was finally all coming together... He was all set to go... and as we parted I said "Well I am sure I'll see you again before you go" and off we went! Everyone saw him that final week, and it is just so sad that he was just setting off onanother amazing adventure - but ended up not making it.
These things remind me how precious time is. It makes this time apart even harder, and luckily within months we will be in the same place and the wait will be over. Precious precious time....
He had just retired, but was continuing to work at a local library when they needed him. He had just booked a holiday. He was going to visit a few places before starting his walk around Europe on foot. I saw him the week before he died - and stopped and chatted with him about his plans. He had been planning his trip for quite some time, and it was finally all coming together... He was all set to go... and as we parted I said "Well I am sure I'll see you again before you go" and off we went! Everyone saw him that final week, and it is just so sad that he was just setting off onanother amazing adventure - but ended up not making it.
These things remind me how precious time is. It makes this time apart even harder, and luckily within months we will be in the same place and the wait will be over. Precious precious time....
Sunday, March 19, 2006
No-Go
So the flat I mentioned before was a no-go! It was going to be a wonderful flat at the old Castle/Prison site which has been redeveloped. However - the apartments aren't finished and may not be finished before I need to move.
So - I looked around - and then found a really nice apartment for the two of us by the station! It's a small new one bedroom apartment - fully furnished - and more in our price range!
I have applied - but we have to wait and see - so please keep your fingers crossed for us! As soon as we get a yay or nay - I will post it. And if it's a yay - I will go back and take pictures to post on here!
So - I looked around - and then found a really nice apartment for the two of us by the station! It's a small new one bedroom apartment - fully furnished - and more in our price range!
I have applied - but we have to wait and see - so please keep your fingers crossed for us! As soon as we get a yay or nay - I will post it. And if it's a yay - I will go back and take pictures to post on here!
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Exciting News!!!!!!!!!!!!
... Not the exciting news we have been promising - I'm guessing you've given up on ever hearing that! No - this news is work related! I have got a new job!! :) YAY!
Still with the same company - because however much I complain about them - there must be something I love about them - or I would not have stayed for five years! I am going to be their new Auditor! I will be based at head office in Central London a couple of days each week, and will spend the rest of the time travelling around the country!! Very exciting! I start at the beginning of April, and will be moving house sometime before the end of April. Two big things - but the third (to be announced later) is even better!
So - what will I miss about my current job? Well... a few people, but that's about it. What will I definitely not miss? Some of the customers, some of the staff, most of the tasks, the fact that most everything is broken, or is very tempermental.... I won't go in to too much detail - but I will say I am very happy about moving on!
I am going to look at a couple of apartments this week - one of which I am also very excited about! I think it is quite possibly my perfect apartment! I will let you all know what happens - and if I get it - you can be sure to see lots of pictures posted on here!!!
talk to you soon
Still with the same company - because however much I complain about them - there must be something I love about them - or I would not have stayed for five years! I am going to be their new Auditor! I will be based at head office in Central London a couple of days each week, and will spend the rest of the time travelling around the country!! Very exciting! I start at the beginning of April, and will be moving house sometime before the end of April. Two big things - but the third (to be announced later) is even better!
So - what will I miss about my current job? Well... a few people, but that's about it. What will I definitely not miss? Some of the customers, some of the staff, most of the tasks, the fact that most everything is broken, or is very tempermental.... I won't go in to too much detail - but I will say I am very happy about moving on!
I am going to look at a couple of apartments this week - one of which I am also very excited about! I think it is quite possibly my perfect apartment! I will let you all know what happens - and if I get it - you can be sure to see lots of pictures posted on here!!!
talk to you soon
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Saturday, November 26, 2005
No exciting news!
No news so far - but we are trying to make our plans for the New Year! Both having crazy schedules and working looooong hours - means that we barely get time to make calls and research plans! But we are trying our best - and hope to have some plans and updates soon.
Keep checking back! :)
Keep checking back! :)
Friday, November 11, 2005
What do you know about Canada?
Test yourself on your knowledge of Canada....
How much do you know about our future home?
http://www.craigmarlatt.com/canada/symbols_facts&lists/quiz.html
How much do you know about our future home?
http://www.craigmarlatt.com/canada/symbols_facts&lists/quiz.html
Links to Exploring Vancouver
Here are a couple of links where you can explore Vancouver, Canada in detail. Using the first link, I suggest clicking on Vancouver photos on the right hand side, then clicking on "photo tour of Vancouver." There you can go through a slide show of the many parts of Vancouver. There is also music playing and poetry being read aloud, so you may want to turn your volume down.
1. http://www.see-vancouver.com/
This second link has a great interactive map of Vancouver. If you click on the icons on the map, you will get a virtual tour of that part of the city.
2. http://www.vec.ca/English/4/vancouver_360_tours.CFM
1. http://www.see-vancouver.com/
This second link has a great interactive map of Vancouver. If you click on the icons on the map, you will get a virtual tour of that part of the city.
2. http://www.vec.ca/English/4/vancouver_360_tours.CFM
Sunday, November 06, 2005
Why Not Live in the U.S.?
We thought we would try to explain the main reasons we are no longer aiming to live in the U.S. since, most people do ask us. We will try to put this in as simple terms as possible.
First of all, it has been five years since we first started seeing each other, and during that time, we have both really tried to find a way for Tanya to come to the U.S. There are almost 42 different types of work visas for the U.S. Most work visas to come to U.S. are dependent on work experience and/or the degree and qualifications an applicant has. If you happen to have specialized training in a field such as computers or engineering, for instance, you can qualify without too much trouble, for a visa designed just for your fields. If you marry a U.S. citizen, or have direct relatives that are U.S. citizens, again there is a specific visa program for you, and then even more likely , residency options and possibly even an opportunity to change your citizenship. However, if your work experience is in a field that there are a multitude of already qualified individuals for in the U.S., or your degree is too general, then there is a much more complicated process ahead of you.
Many times, and this is true in Tanya's case, you must prove that your degree is specific to a particular job's requirements, and/or find an employer that says they are unable to find the right qualifications amongst U.S. applicants. Then you must go through an application process, with sponsorship of your application from your prospective employer. If you can not prove that your degree (yes, there is a process to do that) is specific to a particular job, or that there are no qualified applicants within the U.S. with the help of the U.S. employer, then you can not apply for the type of visa that would enable you to work for 2 years in the U.S.There is always the route of having a very wealthy sponsor, who can help you with your application process, but it would still only be for two years.
So let's say that you found a sponsor, either an employer or wealthy individual, who is willing to help you apply for your visa. The application process can take 2 weeks to a few months. Supposing you werew successful with your application, once you have completed a two year stay in the states, your sponsor must apply for a renewal of your visa. The renewal is again, for two more years. At the end of those two years, assuming that your employer is still happy with you, or your individual sponsor is still feeling very generous, you can then apply for yet another renewal. This time, it would be for three years. Now let's say that you were able to do all of that, and were actually approved to stay for a seven year term. Now with the help of your sponsor, you can apply for permanent residency in the United States. That process an take longer than a year.
I know someone who has done all of these things and has already waited over a year to find out if she will gain residency. Knowing that her employer has already laid off many of her co-workers, she is hoping that she can stay long enough to get approved. One of the hardest things about this whole process, is not only that you may not get approved at any of the renewal points, but also that you pretty much have to stay with the same employer that whole time. Now we all know, that there are many jobs out there that you wouldn't want to keep if you were very unhappy with them.
So..... in other words; we decided that we want to start a life in a place where we know we can stay. A place with much more certainty. A place with no limitations on what we do career wise, as well as a place that will grant us the rights of marriage. For all of these reasons, and more, we have chosen to immigrate to Canada, and not to focus on the U.S. any longer.
First of all, it has been five years since we first started seeing each other, and during that time, we have both really tried to find a way for Tanya to come to the U.S. There are almost 42 different types of work visas for the U.S. Most work visas to come to U.S. are dependent on work experience and/or the degree and qualifications an applicant has. If you happen to have specialized training in a field such as computers or engineering, for instance, you can qualify without too much trouble, for a visa designed just for your fields. If you marry a U.S. citizen, or have direct relatives that are U.S. citizens, again there is a specific visa program for you, and then even more likely , residency options and possibly even an opportunity to change your citizenship. However, if your work experience is in a field that there are a multitude of already qualified individuals for in the U.S., or your degree is too general, then there is a much more complicated process ahead of you.
Many times, and this is true in Tanya's case, you must prove that your degree is specific to a particular job's requirements, and/or find an employer that says they are unable to find the right qualifications amongst U.S. applicants. Then you must go through an application process, with sponsorship of your application from your prospective employer. If you can not prove that your degree (yes, there is a process to do that) is specific to a particular job, or that there are no qualified applicants within the U.S. with the help of the U.S. employer, then you can not apply for the type of visa that would enable you to work for 2 years in the U.S.There is always the route of having a very wealthy sponsor, who can help you with your application process, but it would still only be for two years.
So let's say that you found a sponsor, either an employer or wealthy individual, who is willing to help you apply for your visa. The application process can take 2 weeks to a few months. Supposing you werew successful with your application, once you have completed a two year stay in the states, your sponsor must apply for a renewal of your visa. The renewal is again, for two more years. At the end of those two years, assuming that your employer is still happy with you, or your individual sponsor is still feeling very generous, you can then apply for yet another renewal. This time, it would be for three years. Now let's say that you were able to do all of that, and were actually approved to stay for a seven year term. Now with the help of your sponsor, you can apply for permanent residency in the United States. That process an take longer than a year.
I know someone who has done all of these things and has already waited over a year to find out if she will gain residency. Knowing that her employer has already laid off many of her co-workers, she is hoping that she can stay long enough to get approved. One of the hardest things about this whole process, is not only that you may not get approved at any of the renewal points, but also that you pretty much have to stay with the same employer that whole time. Now we all know, that there are many jobs out there that you wouldn't want to keep if you were very unhappy with them.
So..... in other words; we decided that we want to start a life in a place where we know we can stay. A place with much more certainty. A place with no limitations on what we do career wise, as well as a place that will grant us the rights of marriage. For all of these reasons, and more, we have chosen to immigrate to Canada, and not to focus on the U.S. any longer.
Saturday, November 05, 2005
We realise it has been a long time since we posted anything on here - but things are moving slowly!!
If you are reading this - it means that you received our announcements - and you have come to investigate! Soon you will find a FAQ section, and all kinds of other fun and exciting things - so keep checking back! We will try harder to update it more often!
Take care
If you are reading this - it means that you received our announcements - and you have come to investigate! Soon you will find a FAQ section, and all kinds of other fun and exciting things - so keep checking back! We will try harder to update it more often!
Take care
Monday, July 11, 2005
Welcome to our BLOG!
Welcome to the official Tan and Jam Canadian Journey Blog! This site is intended to document our exciting immigration journey - which we are sure will have many ups and downs along the way!
Please check back with us every now and then - to see how far along we are!
Please check back with us every now and then - to see how far along we are!
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