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!! :) )

Nintendo Wii

What started out to deciding to buy the Xbox 360 is changing fast to the looks of the nintendo Wii. Will be going soon to check it out as soon as I am free and subsequently follow the rule of buying.. which is.. see it 3 different times and if you still like it buy it :)..

Wii here I come :)

Amnesty

Interesting...

The government of Kuwait as per the usual practice every year , grants amnesty for a certain period of time to those individuals in Kuwait, who have either stayed beyond their residence permit or have entered the country illegally. Well everyone in Kuwait knows a large number of individuals come to Kuwait to look for a better life. But alas, the life does not end up the way they expected and they are stuck behind the country as a result of either not been able to afford their tickets back(90% of the reasons) or have expired residence permits which would cause a problem if they would try to leave in normal circumstances.

There are many such individuals in Kuwait, half of whom were promised of a better future in comparison to their native countries and the other half just desperate for a chance in life.

The government in providing amnesty to such individuals thereby giving them chance to leave the country without been fined or persecuted is a good thing.

But there is just one problem!!!, The amnesty period comes at the time when you got all the flights in the middle of rush season with the fare been the highest for the year. People who would want to go back to their native countries are first going to face problems getting a ticket, and second not been in a position to pay for their ticket.

So would the amnesty provided fulfill its purpose?

If nothing else is done, I don't think so.

Accident!!!

Prado was hit from behind yesterday.

Fortunately it happened while I was waiting at the signal to take a U Turn. Poor guy behind must have mistakenly pressed on his accelerator and bang. At first when I felt it, I was like shits not again!!! ( I thought I banged the car in front ) Then realized that it was the guy behind who banged into me. For a minute I was like great, Not even one year since I drove the vehicle and my bad luck :). Well as expected, I get out of the vehicle to give the faulting driver a piece of my mind and watch a pale looking old man behind a kinda new Camry. He looked more like some driver for a Kuwaiti (I felt so because of the scare in his face, he looked more worried not about me but on what's gona happen to him later) anyway my heart was in no mood to fire him, Went on and checked the extent of the damage and walla not a scratch on my vehicle. Thanks to the hook behind my vehicle, the pale old man's car who banged me got damaged pretty bad and the Prado never suffered a single scratch. Seeing the kinda comical situation, I looked at the old man and shout "Hey your car is damaged"!!! Kinda funny, I was more worried for his car (after I knew nothing happened to mine of course) :)

Well the signal turned green by the time all this happened and I didn't want to prolong when my vehicle suffered no damage. and went on my way home. :)

I hope the old guy did'nt continue to have a bad day..... :)

Job Hopping :)

Every country talks about their employment problems be it a developed country like the United States or an underdeveloped economy like Africa. But in Kuwait, at least among the Indian people I know, employment is not an issue anymore. I know a lot of guys who love to challenge authority to get what they desire (working conditions and remunerations). This seems to be a good shift from the day and age where Indians were struggling to find jobs and had to struggle hard. Although the fact still remains that a number of Indians are still struggling to get jobs, it is only astonishing to find a rising number actually enjoy job hopping for better prospects :).

Can job hopping be a good thing? Well I know guys who are proud job jumpers and those boasting of not staying for more than a few months in the same company. Mind you, these are not guys who are kicked out of their jobs, but guys who have the capability to play their employers in their court. The BPO industry in India further gave rise to this trend with the industry recording one of the highest attrition rates.

Job attrition affects all levels of the business organization and is not linked to just any one job category. The level of expatriate population has increased in the past few years. But I doubt if this will sustain in the near future. The mentality and options of employees are slowly changing, better options in home countries and elsewhere pulls them out. Many of my friends left the country for better prospects. I suspect, others will be soon follow.

In general, the tide of change has begun; now employees with more options and better understanding of markets are challenging employer’s importance. Employees have reached the point where they won’t take disrespect and non -professional attitudes from employers lightly.


Times are changing :)

Dunkin Donuts

Sis just loved it

Climate Change

The Heattttttttttttttttttttttttt

Kuwait getting way too hot alreadyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!

and its not yet June :)

Game Consoles

Okay Okay....
We got the gaming console war going on, or should I say half done. The Xbox360, PS3 and the Nintendo Wii.

After spending a significant amount of my life researching about the three consoles, This is my conclusion.

Xbox360

Came almost a year before the Ps3, took over the reigning market dominance of the Sony Game console Ps2. It's got excellent visual display and with a new software just recently released, it can play out Hdmi video (High Definition Media Interface - the best video definition available in the world today) to your flat screen.

Verdict
Worth the money, for an average to less than 24/5 gamer, this should do it. It comes cheaper than the Ps3 and has a lot more game titles out as of now. The graphics are simply amazing.


Ps3

Ps3’s predecessor the Ps2 had the distinction of the largest number of video consoles produced in its days. Ps3 never did follow suit, with its late delivery. But saying that, the Ps3 is technologically more advanced than the Xbox 360, and highly expensive too.

Verdict
Came 2 late, came expensive, no real games to push to maximize the gaming consoles potential which subsequently makes it a more expensive Xbox 360 :) There are features but nothing that you would really use :), The graphics beats all the other game consoles.


Nintendo Wii

When the Xbox 360 and Ps3 were bragging of their capabilities to produce the most visualizing graphics plus the amount of power in their gaming machines. The Nintendo Wii doesn’t even come close. But that's not why I never compared it to the Xbox360 and Ps3. The Wii is a new concept altogether with a remote control that acts as a motion sensor. Whether it’s hitting the tennis ball across the court or having a sword fight with the enemy. It's the game console that's thought out of the box, which is to go one step ahead and get interactive

Verdict
Okay you don't have the most amazing graphics drooling your TV, nor do u have the fastest computer put in your Wii, nor do you have the other 10 or so features that Xbox 360 and Ps3 have. But what you do have is a game that is interactive, a game the whole family i.e. from the kids to your grandparents totally immersed in it. You would find UTube videos of guys showing how they played on Wii and lost weight!!! Gaming has never been more fun. With the prices among the other gaming console been the cheapest, It’s not a bad buy :)

International Calls

I will never finish my loans... ask me why.. I say thanx to the international telephone system in Kuwait. I meam paying 350 fils per minute for a call to India is crap. I mean even from India its cheaper to call International.

This is cause I would say no competition or proberly fixed gameplay. I would rather go for an illegal international caller. But alas, convinience is not my option nor the fact that searching for guys who are lately been hunted down by the the telecommmunications Ministry any easy.

So that's one of my loans, my mobile bills.. average is 60 Kd for a month. Rather high for a guy who used to survive with 500 rupees card in my college days :)

For me well I can manage and continue to survive somehow...I just feel sad for those who can't afford to make a call to their loved ones atleast once a month. Esp. those who left their family behind and come to make whatever merge earnings they can. Its just not fairr.

I hope the Kuwait Telecom Industry starts playing on level ground as per international standards sooner. Again ITS JUST NOT FAIR!!!

Coffee Industry

What do you think of the premium coffee that you sip at Starbucks or the likes of those premium coffee outlets (Costa Coffee, Gloria Jeans, Second Cup and Caribou among others). Do you think that the price you pay for it is worth it?

Well my personnal opinion is well, in a place like Kuwait where the summer season is like ur breakfast and lunch (dinner been winter + weird climates), Coffee Shops are a blessing and its worth the pay.

Well that been settled, what do you think of coffee growers? Do you want to be a coffee grower? Well if you have done a little research, you would never want to be a coffee grower. Majority of the coffee growers are located in Brazil, Vietnam and Columbia and are in fact one of the poorest people around. Sounds funny nah when you actually think Starbucks charge 3 dollars (whew) for a cup of coffee. But while starbucks makes 3 dollars, we got the coffee growers paid 25 cents for the same cup of coffee beans. Now isn't that unfair!!! I mean the coffee growers struggle throughout the year on the coffee plantations and all they get is around 9% of the revenue generated!!! I know there are costs for the roasting and the transportation process and all but still!!!

Thats when the coffee fair trade came along. Under the agreement the buyers of coffee's who are the big multinationals such as Nestle, Kraft, Proctor and Gamble etc are required to pay a substantial amount (more than a dollar) for the coffee they purchase from coffee growers.

Starbucks says it all over their site that they were involved with helping the community and they are with the coffee fair trade community. But the fact is that it was under the pressure of activists for coffee growers who threatened to hold demonstrations on their outlets all over the world that compiled Startbucks to join the coffee fair trade.

Now whenever I think of ordering another cup of cold coffee, I think twice. But then go ahead and order it anyway. Starbucks making profits is not a bad thing. Everyone wants profits otherwise why do business, but being fair in business is also a kind of social responsibilty, Starbucks was forced by the plight of coffee growers. So as long as we got a system wherin we can keep a check on injustice and tackle it in time, You can just go ahead and drink the coffee cup you always wanted on that hot summer afternoon!!!

Have you ever left your bike parked out for long?

Well I know I have, But the prize goes to the guy who parked it below,

Now isn'nt that something!!

Haha

Vavavoom Store in Avenues

This is the second continous week of hearing the "vavavoom store" advertisement on the radio. Its supposed to be a really big fashion store in the Avenues which not only caters to women fashion needs but also to men!!!.. I mena like pedicure and manicure for men!!! Bahh.. are men really turning out to be the metrosexual beings (men who concern themselves at fashion). I for sure know men need to look neat and polished.. but paedicure and manicure??

Anyway Radio host Dr. Laboosh has got it covered everyday on the radio and the life she brings to the advertisement is simply amazing, The first time u hear it ...okie fine. second time ...../okie still fine... but u hear it every morning for two weeeks!!!! thats a limit. Right now I would prefer hearing any ad except the va va voom ad. I guess the doc would have got some big promotion pakage for making them look good the whole two weeks!!! :)

I wonder how many people out there actually feels the same way:)

A-380 in India

Heard of the Airbus A-380's??? If you wondering what it is.....

That's the biggest passenger plane commisioned at present, and the first A-380 in India which is owned by Kingfisher Airlines made its stopover in Delhi Airport today, The news clipping can be found at

http://www.rediff.com/money/2007/may/06jumbo.htm



Cool.....Can't wait to get in one of those, bet it won't rattle like the no frills airlines :)

Update: The first Indian A380 would land in India in 2011 by Kingfisher Airline, The above was just a publicity flight.

Link for Saudi Citizenship News

The link from where I got the news about the Saudi Citizenship on offer..


http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Saudi_Arabia_to_grant_citizenship_to_expats/articleshowcnews/2006402.cms