WELCOME TO CANADA-ENGLISH VERSION

Here I am here almost 1 month after departing for CANADA, finally talking about this fantastic country! Let’s start with main facts: Canada is 10 milion Kms wide with a population of 35 milion people, 500 thousand/ 1 million mooses, between 15 and 18 thousand polar bears, around 20 thousand grizzly and 500 thousand black bears, millions raccoons and beavers, and I’ve barely seen humans by now…there are more foreigners than canadians here!

 

 

I have to say that it takes some dedication to get the visa, but after producing so many papers, translated documents and payments ... I did it!!! With my visa, insurance, proof of found and criminal checks I am ready to embark on this new adventure! Monique, my roommate in Sydney, will pick me up at the airport, so no stress, no buses, no hostel ...easy! too easy!

Most difficult moment of the day…wait for the officer to give me my actual work permit, 10 anxious mins and it’s all done! WELCOME TO CANADA!!!!!

 

 

I run out of the airport thinking I already like this Country! A box of Timbits is waiting for me…WELCOME TO CANADA!

I have to say there are not many canadian food/ beverages, but I tried some:

TIMBITS: basically small and round Donuts   LIKE

POUTINE: French fries with pieces of cheese and gravy   DISLIKE

* It would be the ideal meal when you’re drunk, but I wasn’t, so I'll give it a second try

MAPLE SYRUP: tried millions of times ... no doubt    LIKE

CAESAR: Typical hangover drink, wodka, tomato juice, spicy sauce, garnished with shrimp and celery ... guess what?   DISLIKE

* I wasn’t hangover, so You should give a second try, but I’m not quite sure, I think it would make me feel even worst…ahahahah

NANAIMO: a wafer crumb-based layer topped by a layer of custard flavoured butter icing, coverd with melted chocolate…no doubt again    LIKE

 

 

My first day in Canada: I Took the skytrain to Vancouver, I skipped all the tourist attractions and tried to get rid of bureaucracy first: SIN social insurance number, done in 5 minutes! WELCOME TO CANADA. Bank account,  10 minutes and I had a flaming red card in my hands! WELCOME TO CANADA Sim card: I actually thought it would have been easier as I’ve been requested more documents than to open the bank account, anyways all done in 10 minutes! WELCOME TO CANADA

Impact considerations: Canada is HUGE, I can not explain how, but you understand it immediately! Everyone is extremely kind, smiling and polite, the bureaucracy is straightforward,if you’re going to cross the street people will stop even before you actually stop on the walkway, although the monetary exchange is favorable everything seemed fairly expensive to me, but I was expecting it.

To all those who ask for a comparison with Australia ... I honestly don’t know what to answer. They have many similitaries: kindness, straightforward burocracy, love for nature and the outdoors, they both are “young countries” with so many opportunities for development and wealth of raw materials. What is definitely different? Weather for sure!

STAY TUNED