Canada Life | Best Decision of my Life | Stages till Date

Stage 1 - The Vacation

It has officially been 9 months since my family and I have immigrated to Canada. It sure does not feel like a long time, especially when I got extended family around and time just flew, going on road trips within Canada (Quebec, Montreal, Others) adjusting to winter and summer weather, dropping and picking son from school, taking care of the baby more as my wife had to attend some coaching classes in the initial months. In the first few months, I did a lot of walking/trekking in parks, using the subway, got my G license, filed tax returns, moved from Toronto to Mississauga. I couldn't get the M license as I missed the training school dates being closed due to the winter season. Other than that, everything about Canada was great. Few of the things I absolutely love about Canada.

Why I love Canada

1. Canadians in general are so respectful of each other. Take a walk down the park and it will be a surprise if someone does not smile or does not make friendly small talk.  Yes, you do not have to be Canadian to get respect. 

2. Canada is a beautiful place. The first winter will take time to get used to but for me it a preference over the summers in Kuwait any day. Springtime in Canada is absolutely beautiful, Making road/trek trips across Canada is a joy in itself. There are always places to go, weekends are all about it. Note this was before Covid-19 made its presence. 

3. Efficient Postal system "Canada Post". By far the best postal system I have ever seen, people can safely send their passports through the post and be sure it will be safely reach the destination on time. 

4. Canada Free Healthcare. You can walk in public hospitals and not worry about the costs of healthcare but you do have to pay for your medicines (unless ur a child or a senior).  

5. Canadian Government Childcare support: Just one of the reasons I love Canada and believe the taxes are put to good use. 

Things that could improve in Canada: 

1. Getting through customer service:  through a telephone can take 1 to 3 hours literally. I would never believe it till I started calling government entities and even the insurance companies sometimes. In the cultural context, my understanding is that waiting 1-3 hours on the phone is a norm in Canada and is not a big deal. 

2. Canada Healthcare: Long waiting lines in health centers and depending on severity can wait up to 1 to 4 hours to see a doctor. I had a first-hand experience when I took my son to the hospital, they asked him about his stomach pain on a scale of 1 to 10 and my son trying to show he can take it said 4. This was the same guy who was crying because of the pain at home. We got to see the doctor after 2.5 hours but not before he started crying as the pain returned. My son and I learned from this experience that day.  

3. Taxes: It is a new concept for me and still getting used to it. But do not have to worry till I start earning. 

Stage 2 - The Pressure
Lucky or unlucky, just when I started looking out for a job beginning of 2020, Covid-19 was spreading all around the world bringing along with it all kinds of restrictions and a general pause to working life and my job search in Canada. Of course, jobs were available but mostly within the frontline which was more suspectable to contracting the Covid-19. Considering 2 kids at home, it would be a very risky proposition, maybe not worth the money it brings in. 

My wildest idea of a work break was a 6 months period, which as of date exceeded by 3 months with no end to the sight of the Covid-19 situation. Running through my SAVINGS was getting to a point I am forced to feel the PRESSURE, a pressure which I never felt in Kuwait. The need for this pressure was the reason I actually did not mind leaving Kuwait and taking on a new adventurous life in Canada. Why pressure is the reason you ask? Its because I was missing something in my life "POTENTIAL", my potential which I felt was left to rust in Kuwait because in Kuwait I did not have the need to worry about money. To tap my "potential" I needed to endure the struggle and pressure and to feel it, I needed to throw myself in the FIRE which in my case was moving to Canada.

Leaving my comfort zone and coming to a new country when I am close to half my lifespan with 2 kids and wife to support was a risky move, although a planned risky move, still a risky move. The STAKES of the move to Canada reached an all-time high with the arrival of Covid-19 which has left me competing for jobs, which initially was competing with other new immigrants to now having to compete additionally with the Canadian laid off workforce. During the initial months after landing in Canada, I had in my free time applied for nearly 15 job postings for which I did not receive even one request for an interview. I knew I needed to do more than just fruitlessly apply, I needed to change something.

Stage 3 - The Present 
Considering the grim-looking situation and dwindling finances, I joined a Canadian workplace connections program to help me better understand and tap into the job market. The program helped me develop a better understanding of the workplace culture in Canada, equip myself better, and promote myself something which I definetly did not have to do in Kuwait.

As I nearly the end of the program, I am feeling the PRESSURE, the pressure that is supposed to help me develop myself to remold my old ways and become a stronger and better person. At the age of 38, I have finally become fully aware of myself, my contributions, my needs, the expectations of me, and how I can fit, contribute, and grow within the Canadian society.

I can see the long road, the difficult path I need to take, that will change and shape me to be a better person for my family, Canada, and myself. Now begins the real struggles in my life, the steep learning curve, which I will overcome to be the person I want to be, the best I can ever be "Debin Davis".  

Personality Trait Website

Now this is the third time I am typing this post as some or the other error keeps showing up after I try posting this topic. :) Here goes 3rd take,

Another interesting Personality Trait website,

http://dna.imagini.net/friends/

The website basically contains a lot of pictures with a one liner on top. The idea is to connect the one liner to the picture which is of closest resemblence of your vision to the one liner. After a series of connecting pictures to one liners, you would get a description of your personality trait. :)

Interesting :)

Dusty Days

It's the third day since Kuwait played host to the dusts storms (well not dust storms but dusty conditions). The country was basically covered with dust since the last 3 days, The cars parked by the buildings looked like they have not been driven for a year or so. As said in the radio today morning, there were 70 ( I don't think she said 17) accidents (major and minor accidents). The major accident was the one early in the morning in the Gazelle Bridge, wherein a truck rammed into another vehicle and security personnel had to cut through the truck to free the driver. Hospitals all over Kuwait are also said to be filled with people affected by the dusty conditions (Asthma and Bronchitis being the main conditions). Kuwait airways also is said to have diverted more than 7 of its flights as a result of poor visibility.

If you guys saw the last two blog pictures (i.e. the pulsar bike and the Joop perfume) you can see the extent of the dusty conditions. The Joop advertisement picture was taken day before yesterday while the bike picture was taken last week.

Coming to office today saw labourers cleaning up the streets and cutting the scenaric plants strategically located around Kuwait. Do they have to work under these dusty conditions? Its still dusty outside and whatever they do to clean it up will be undone in a matter of minutes. The effort they put in is wasted not to mention the future health risks they ignore. Someone ought to put s0me sense into employers who send them to work in these dusty conditions. Atleast if they were provided a safety mask would be good enough. I am also pretty much sure that there would be a good bunch of people who work in offices who won't show up for work today.

The dust storms should be over in a few days. The kids will begin their summer vacations (3 months, how I miss them :) ) in a few days. All preceeding the hottest three months of the year in Kuwait i.e. June July and August.

Pulsar in Kuwait

Although I saw many Indian bikes on the road, was not able to catch a pic of any of them. Few days back on heavy traffic got this pulsar in front of me driving with full confidence. :) Although I would love to have a pulsar in India, In Kuwait it would be nothing less than a suzuki Hayabousa :) yesterday while checking out the Suzuki showroom, Saw the Maruthi Swifts in India as Suzuki swifts in Kuwait and the Hayabousa bike for 4,000 KD.

Here's a pic,




Hmm Hayabousa, suddenly feeling an anfinity towards it. :) Should I or should I not?:) hehehe

Joop Perfume

Yesterday went to look out for perfumes in Mubarakiya, Perfumes over there are the cheapest around. The number of perfumes shops replaced by grocery shops were much higher than last time. Barely saw more than 4 perfume shops onthe same lane where there used to be some 20 sperfume shops. But anyway went to one and within ten minutes of deciding took a Joop perfume. If you do watch MBC channels, You would see their ad once in a while. It has kinda a soft fruity flavour to it.

That was an ad I took of a bus

Cinabon

Yesterday got cake from Cinabon,Of all the cakes I tasted inn my life, Cinabon's coffee based cake beats them all :). Here are the pics taken,

It sure tastes better than it looks :) and it sure is expensive for a piece of cake, 1.400 KD!!!

:) but its worth the pay :)

Prevent Laptop Theft

Reading through the Economic times (Indian financial Newspaper), got this interesting piece of information concerning laptops

http://www.lojackforlaptops.com

http://www.pcphonehome.com/

http://www.ztrace.com/

Using Anti-Theft Software's from the above websites, actually helps retrieve you laptop if they are stolen, success rate been more than 70% as one website said. The article went on to say that more than 7.5 million laptops were stolen last year in the United States alone. The software's costs between 20 to 50 dollars

All that said, I don't think people are like prone to losing their laptops like losing their pencils. If the same was true I guess those guys need to attend Responsibility and Safety seminars :). I guess, the software would come in handy for those people whose job profile requires them to spend most of their time traveling or for people living in dangerous locations where stealing laptops at gunpoint is a common sight.

But at the end, taking precautions and using common sense is all that is needed to prevent a laptop theft. (unless at gunpoint!! :) )