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My post landing experience

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My post landing experience of Canada
By:

Friends,
This is my first message on my post landing experience in Toronto last month. The last 4 weeks have been full of surprises and I’d like to share some of my 2 cents from a different perspective.

The first big surprise was at the first immigration counter when the immigration officer said to me “Welcome to Canada, your new home..eh”. I cannot describe the feeling, every country that I have been to in the past I was asked at the immigration “When do you plan to leave?” The next immigration officer turned out to be a lady of indian origin, she took my picture for PR and did not even bother to check my landing funds, even when I insisted on showing ( I spent $10 in getting the drafts made and no one even looked at it )Then I was given a welcome package with vital info for new immigrants. This booklet holds info on the wealth of resources in local areas in Canada. Every resource listed in this booklet should be explored, to my surprise I found many new immigrants giving up too soon on the resources mentioned. The whole process from stepping out of aircraft to clearing customs took not more than 40 minutes.
Outside the airport I was greeted by one of the coldest days of the season with -31C and winds. I was happy I landed on the coldest day because every other days seemed like spring even it was -5 outside.

The next day after applying for my SIN card I attended a seminar in a nearby new comer information center (NIC). There were about 20-25 other new immigrants at this seminar and it gave a wealth of info for a new comer ranging from local info on GTA to how to prepare and look for jobs. These NIC’s also have one on one counselors to help every new comer target the jobs in his own field. Like NICs, there are many such centers and organizations all across canada and what surprised me that how much the Govt is doing to help the new immigrants settle in and get into the mainstream. In the 4 other countries where I have lived and worked before no such help was available, I had to struggle and find out things by myself.
We formed a group of 8-10 new immigrants when we met at NIC and it proved to be a great support structure, to be able to share your experiences and views with people in similar situations is a great help in itself. I took every opportunity to talk to every desi or immigrant I came across at bus stops at trains etc, getting different perspectives was a great learning experience in itself.

I’d like to differ with those who present a very negative image and say that only labor jobs are given to desis. I found a few major trends in immigrants which I feel is also contributing to the miseries of new immigrants. I may be wrong but the general trends which I was was quite disturbing
1. Many desis try to land a job as soon as possible within the first 2 weeks. $1=Rs30 factor and also the fear of spending from the settlement funds drives this trend but I’d suggest if one has to do labor jobs, do it after 3-4 months when one has tried every other avenue to get a break in their own field. Also many come with families and kids which will make things even worse in the beginning. Unless one is very well funded bringing families should be a big NO NO.
2. Many desis try to in the comfort zone of GTA. GTA is an industrial area Esp mississauga and west and most employment agencies there will give only labor and factory jobs, even if you hold an MBBS. I met very well qualified people doing labor jobs and were feeling happy that they are earning more than what they did in india. I was stupefied by one guy(B.E, MBA) who said he is doing day and night shifts at a factory just to accumulate 900 hours so that he can get unemployment insurance from the govt.
I don’t blame the govt. of canada for his miseries, if that is what his goals are then that is what he will get. Many of us don’t aim high enough.
We all have to struggle. the choice of where to struggle is ours. Whether to struggle really hard to re-qualify( if needed) and get into our own field or to keep struggling in menial jobs. The choice is really ours.

3. Not many desis make use of the Co-op and other employment programs offered by the govt. The down side of these programs is that one does not get paid for 5-6 months while one gets to work in firms in ones own field. 85% of those who participate in these programs get gainfully employed. Also,not many desis join french courses. I am not sure of the details, but I am told Govt of Quebec gives $500 a month to everyone who enrolls for a french learning class. A family of 4 grown ups could make $2000 a month for just attending french classes everyday for 4 hrs a day!! And one could then do other jobs as well to support. What do we gain by learning french? A whole new world of govt jobs will open to us besides the money and knowledge of another language. Think about it. It will take time but all good things take time.

4. Lastly and most importantly all new desis must work on communication and presentation before coming. That is the key for everything in Canada. I met a senior college prof from India with a PhD, he was complaining about lack of jobs. There are indians in senior positions in Canadian universities with less qualifications than him but what was the difference. The difference I felt was that this person despite his qualification could not even pronounce his name right “Sassi Kumar” for Shashi Kumar in a bihari/UP accent. No offence to Bihari’s please, I am a bihari too. To top it off he had strong sented “chameli ka tel” and drooping 70’s moustache … I wonder how could he clear any interview.

There are plenty of opportunities in Canada. To get to those we have to work hard to get local licencures and qualifications and canadianize ourselves with a positive outlook. And jobs and opportunities will follow in with time. Otherwise we will just working hard on menial jobs with no hopes for future.
There are very few places in the world which offer so many opportunities to new immigrants to settle down, we need find out about them to make full use of it to succeed.

Gook luck to all.

article.php?id=64

biomed
Member since: Jul 03

Posts: 700
Location: Mississauga, Ontario
Post ID: #PID

Posted on: 12-02-04 19:38:20

Quote:
Orginally posted by Mishtar India

But thats my opinion...and till someone can convince me how it is wrong, I'll hold on to it.
So keep your strong opposing rebuttals coming guys, lets see what you got ...

Hi Mishtar
I do not expect that someone would be able to change your or anyone else view on these issues. Only time and your own struggle would prove you right or wrong. This applies to all of us, isn't it?

Thanks and regards.
Biomed

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"Change before you have to" : Jack Welch

jake3d
Member since: Sep 03

Posts: 2962
Location: Montreal
Post ID: #PID

Posted on: 12-02-04 20:16:35

Quote:
Orginally posted by biomed

Hi Mishtar
I do not expect that someone would be able to change your or anyone else view on these issues. Only time and your own struggle would prove you right or wrong. This applies to all of us, isn't it?

Thanks and regards.
Biomed

i agree with that...I personally am not here to convince anyone or be convinced...though I do learn more from all everyday. If anything I have learnt in my years it is that one shoe does not fit all.

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sanjeevm
Member since: Jan 04

Posts: 497
Location: Toronto
Post ID: #PID

Posted on: 12-02-04 20:29:39

____________________________________________________________
But thats my opinion...and till someone can convince me how it is wrong, I'll hold on to it.
So keep your strong opposing rebuttals coming guys, lets see what you got ...
____________________________________________________________

bhaiyye,
challenge karne wali zubaan mat bolo. lagta hai ki tum pehle se hi convinced ho ki Canada is not a good place to live for you lekin tum logon ko provoke kar rahe ho ki woh apne sache-sache experiences share karen aur tum sab ka 'Maja' lo.
Canada better hai ya nahin, kisi bhi conclusion pe pahunchna itna asaan nahin hai lekin zindagi ki ek sachaee tumhe batata chaloon:

"WOH PHOOL SAR CHADA, JO CHAMAN SE UJAD GAYA
IJJAT USE MILI, JOH WATAN SE UJAD GAYA"

aur tumahare challege ko le ke arz kiya hai ki:

"HAWA NA DIJIYE DAMAN KI AATISHE GHAM KO
BHADAK TO JAATE HAIN SHOLAY, BUJHA NAHIN KARTE"

Rgds,

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Sanjeev Manocha, MBA
Real Estate Sales Representative
Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR)

Re/Max West Realty Inc, Brokerage
96, Rexdale Blvd., Toronto

Mobile: 416-843-7600
Office: 416-745-2300
http://www.manocharealty.com" rel="nofollow">LINK

Chris
Member since: Feb 04

Posts: 148
Location: SoMeWheRe iN aSia
Post ID: #PID

Posted on: 12-02-04 21:59:24

thank you for your question, biomed. to respond, i left canada because there were no opportunities for me in canada. however, this does not mean that we should all leave canada! an economy is a large and complex thing: while one sector may thrive, others may experience a downturn. it is also a personal decision. what do you want in life? what sort of life do you want?

in my opinion, canada is a fantastic country for retirees, and i plan to return to canada when i retire. the safe social surroundings, the clean air, free healthcare, and so on, are all reasons to retire. i just couldn't make any money there!

this does not mean that you will not find success in canada, just that i failed to. but i had the resilience (as did you) to move when it became apparent what my prospects were. i guess this is what they mean by the era of globalization

i guess my point is that living in a particular country is no guarantee to wealth.

there are many indians in indonesia and they are quite wealthy. but it comes at a price... there is constant political upheaval, rioting, uncertainty: not everyone can take such conditions. it all depends on what is important to you.

one of my best friends lives in singapore. she is a gujarati and works at the same company as i do, but at the singapore branch. i was quite surprised when i saw her apartment: it was very nice and close to the city centre. i asked her how much it cost: S$2million was her answer! S$2million ! that's over a million dollars US ! i asked her how she could accumulate so much money. she said she had worked for the company for many years.

many singarporeans are in a situation where they own million dollar homes but they don't have the money to eat out at a restaurant! they are like prisoners... real estate is so expensive that once they buy their homes they are prisoners for life as they can't afford anything else...

would you agree to such terms? would you move to singapore if you knew you would own a million dollar home but would have to clip coupons just to be able to buy enough groceries?

it is all a personal choice.

to conclude, you had the courage to move to a new country, and therefore you will reap the benefits. take what canada has to offer... if you don't want what it has to offer, you have many options.

success is a state of mind.

c

jake3d
Member since: Sep 03

Posts: 2962
Location: Montreal
Post ID: #PID

Posted on: 12-02-04 22:30:19

Quote:
Orginally posted by Chris

success is a state of mind.

c

Hey I own the copyright for that on this site!!!

I dont agree that it is a place for retirees, however. Like you said it depends on your field. e.g: I'm into 3d animation. Currently there are a few leading animation software developers in the world. The most popular packages are
1)Softimage XSI(Montreal): software used in harry potter,jurassic park etc. http://www.softimage.com" rel="nofollow">LINK

2) Alias/wavefront Maya(Toronto): software used on LOTR(gollum) etc
http://www.alias.com/eng/products-services/maya/index.shtml

3) Discreet(Montreal): 3d studio, combustion, flint, flame etc...used extensively in games etc. http://www4.discreet.com/cdn/en/company.php

4)Sideeffects Houdini (Toronto).http://www.sidefx.com/

The Canadian marketshare in this area, in hollywood and across the globe is huge and dwarfs the other players. There is also money to be made.

However, like you mentioned there is always a price. The snow on my walkway is now 4 feet high. I had to shovel quite a bit to get it that way

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Chris
Member since: Feb 04

Posts: 148
Location: SoMeWheRe iN aSia
Post ID: #PID

Posted on: 12-02-04 22:57:28

of course i did not mean that only retirees could enjoy canada; i meant that it was a very good country to retire to, as opposed to indonesia. i truly hope i will not be a doddering old man in his 70s and still fighting off bajaj drivers (yes, there are bajajs here) and pickpockets in indonesia! i hope to return to canada and buy a house in the suburbs and cut my lawn he he, which is the main pre-occupation of canadians, as you know.

let me tell you, what a pleasure it is to have a maid to do the dishes and wash my clothes ! how many cold evenings did i spend in canada as a student, coming home in sub-zero temperatures, only to have to wash my shirts in a bucket of cold water!

living in a tropical climate is quite nice too. unlike canadians, indonesian are very expressive and friendly. if they like you, you know right away. and the hospitality! i cannot describe it.

i too lived in montreal at one point (durocher and cote des neiges), and am glad to hear some sectors of the economy are booming. when i lived in MTL from 90-92, everyone i met seemed to be on some sort of social relief or aid. and the french/english divide made any social interaction tense. but it is a fantastic city to live in... if one has a job.

i envy you; if i had a good job offer in MTL, i would move there tomorrow. such is not my fate...

BlueLobster
Member since: Oct 02

Posts: 3409
Location: Mississauga
Post ID: #PID

Posted on: 12-02-04 23:38:38

Chris, your input here is quite unique and very encouraging, I must admit. Its not often you hear from a Canadian who's immigrated to Asia.

Although I mostly agree with the gist of your posts, I don't agree on the mediocrity issue. I don't believe that the purpose of Canada is primarily to let you own a small house and cut your own grass. Its a different matter that most Canadians might prefer that as opposed to being Donald Trumps, but that's a matter of choice (I know I sound like Morpheus). If you choose to, you can make a lot of money in Canada too. And I can see a lot of immigrants (and Canadians) in all walks to life who've done just that.

Sure, our neighbors down South seem to have a lot more attitude and aggressiveness, but if we start acting like them for the sake of acting like them, why be a different country?

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Contributors: jake3d(22) Mishtar India(22) biomed(13) BlueLobster(8) Maharaj(6) Chris(5) sanjeevm(4) reachme(3) vijeshjain(3) chandresh(3) sunilshr(3) Tuk Tuk(3) Manan Gupta(2) bharat.sharma(2) kjyoti26(2) hestonuk(2) DesiTiger(2) abisangi(2) erebello(1) bumbaya(1) smiss(1) nishitno1(1) ayaskant(1) Manjeet(1) xxx(1) peacock1(1) AnilKG(1) parmarkn(1) HARJIT6244(1) riiishi(1) NorthAlberta(1) anujark(1) Vel1(1) deepcb(1) Kap(1) amitbakhshi(1) SUDHISH(1) mslall(1)

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Charcha

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