Hi all,

I am landing on 22nd August in Calgary.

Most of the shopping is over. Formalities like drafts, travellers cheques, international driving license, no claim record from Insurance company, etc. going on. And ofcourse visiting relatives, friends.

Thanks to all at CanadianDesi.com

Rgds.

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Let's make India a better place !

What are your experiences/impressions for last one year?

What are your experiences/impressions for last one year?

Hi LD,

It is going to be one year on 22nd August, 2005 since I landed in Canada last year.

My experiences are mixed & I would list them below :-

1. After landing, I stayed at my friend's place in Calgary & completed initial formalities like SIN card, Bank a/c, health card, etc. pretty fast. Went to various agencies like Resume centre, HRDC centre, etc. Since my friend had a computer at home, it was relatively easier for job search. Having been in the computer field & English being good, started searching for jobs in the computer sales field & data-entry field.

2. Through the website http://www.jobbank.gc.ca" rel="nofollow">LINK, came across the job from Telus for telemarketing. Applied for it, got a call for test, gave the written test which lasted for 3 hrs. In the afternoon, got a call from them asking me to come for interview the next day. Interview lasted around one hour in which they asked me to do a role play on telemarketing. Got selected for it per hour plus commissions. It was a part-time job.

Simultaneously had also applied for jobs in Futureshop, Staples, London Drugs & some corporate sales jobs in the computer field. I had an interview in Futureshop & Staples on the same day one after the other. Went to Futureshop first where they offered me the job same day as an Sales Associate per hour plus commissions. Immediately afterwards went to Staples where they found me over-qualified for the job & didn't give me the job.
Even though the job at Futureshop meant that I had to start my career all over again as I had done 14 years back at the age of 22, it was atleast in sales which was my field. I decided to start both jobs at Telus & Futureshop.

Within 3-4 weeks, I had got 2 jobs & I was naturally elated. The job at Futureshop started on 20th September whereas Telus job started on 27th Sept. That's when it grew really hectic. Telus training used to be from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. & Futureshop job was 4.30 to 9. With my having to use public transit there was hardly any time I spent at home & used to sleep only around 5 & half hours every night. Futureshop required me to work on weekends due to which I did not get any day off for about 10 days & went down with flu due to which I could not go for the job for 2 days. Telus asked me to stop coming due to this & I lost that job.

Since then I have been working at Futureshop in Calgary. As earlier posted, I used to walk even in -35 degrees cold everyday for about 30 minutes for the job. Commuting used to take up around 2 and half hrs of my time everyday.

My daughter's school was going on well but my son is small. We decided to send him to day-care from Jan 2005 but he kept on falling sick every week. My wife was to start a job as a Yoga teacher but the day before it was to start, the institute told her that they were not able to enrol enough students for the course so the batch will not start. Subsequently she was to start work at a fast-food joint but due to my son's health, we dropped the plans for her to work. She was getting very bored sitting at home.

In February, my elder brother expired in India & we almost made a decision to go back to India. We even inquired with travel agents about ticket rates. But our financial commitments made us stay back. There was no progress in the career front also . We started entertaining thoughts of going back to India since we were not enjoying life here at all. Major issues are career, finance (no savings), kids not having opportunity to play & watching TV in their spare time after school. My 3 yrs. old son also keeps on watching TV. There is no body to play outside. When they play, neighbours complain of too much noise.

I am trying to finish off my financial obligations as fast as possible & then save enough money to go back to India. No progress in career, inspite of having got awards like Best Sales Executive, Best Sales Manager back home, here I am not considered good enough to get a further promotion inspite of best efforts & good performance. I say good performance because I know of other colleagues who were transferred or asked to go due to bad performance.

I consider myself lucky though that I atleast work in my field. However, nowadays I see people who drive cabs, work as security guards & they have good houses & cars, etc. who are extremely happy. Makes me wonder whether it is worth the pressure which I undergo everyday in sales. There is less pressure definitely in other jobs & around same money or better to be made.

Recently, my uncle in US has bought me a car due to which I am more mobile now & save commuting time. Till recently, my friends used to do my grocery shopping for the last year. They have been really good & supported me a lot.

But still wish to go back at the earliest. Due to my income, cannot file for my parents to come here. They are alone there & would take atleast 4-5 years for them to come here.

Rgds.

Rajan.

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Let's make India a better place !

hi Rajan,
i seen ur earlier posts on cd. i also started some threads like whether to move to canada . there i seen ur posts. but i never imagined u r going through such hard time.
it needs lot of courage to tell about ones misery to others and will surely help others as the lot of prospective immigrants who r regularly enquirng on CD forum about status of their immigration application. they r so anexious and willing to go canada .
it will be eye opener for canadian immigration appliants.
i have visited canada as immigrant twice but came back . i am a successful professional here in india . i was under tremendous pressure whether to try again or not. one of my friend who is in toronto told me about CD . i found the site very informative and helpful. and now i took my decesion and stayed back in india.
but u have devoted one year of ur life to canada. keep it up.
and give a hard try and then if not found any future there dont shy to come back. it is ur life and u r free to take decesion.

best wishes,
ptm

Hi Rajan,
I wish you Best of Luck! Why don't you join some certification course in your field in some community college?You may meet like people from the same background.
You are right.I am seeing even women security guards who are earning well and have their own homes.
I know things are hard.I wish ,hope and pray that you make it through and become successful!
Cheers!!!!!!!

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HOPE

Hi Rajan,

You have been rather brave. Same maybe true of large number of other desis.
Ofcourse it is only a matter of time when things will look up. No hard work ever goes unrewarded.

Did you ever think of starting your own thing?
Like Indian restaurant?
Or something else?

Is that a thing you don't like or is it a financial/funding issue?
Or is viability of business an issue?

That maybe of advantage as both of you can work there and may give you flexible hours.