One year, and counting...
Well, it's been ages since I last updated my blog... sorry about that!
For those who have been checking my blog, I'm back :) For those who haven't... well, you didn't miss much :D
Two weeks ago, on August 15, Ibrahim and I celebrated our first immigration anniversary! Yes, it's been one year and two weeks since we moved to Canada. Evaluation? Well... let's see:
The first month, we spent it touring Canada, so that was fun... no no, I take that back.. it was LOTS of fun :) it was really a fascinating experience; everything looked so beautiful and so glamorous, with so so so many opportunities ahead of us..
The second month was a bit stressful. We were both waiting to hear from employers anxiously, and to save some money, we stayed with Yehia, Ibrahim's brother, in Seattle. His parents were also there at the time... so there were five of us in a one bedroom apartment :) za7ma ya dunia za7ma :)
The time we spent in Seattle with the family was really great. I got to know them all much better, and came to love and respect them more than ever; they are a wonderful family; ammo, tant and Yehia: thanks for taking us in :)
Then finally, Ibrahim got the call :) he was hired by Effem Inc. Canada :) Next thing we know, we moved to Victoria, BC. The city was as welcoming as can be right from day one :) Of course, we spent the next month (by then it was mid October) looking for an apartment... and a month well spent that was; I think we can safely say we have seen it all :) every apartment of every size in every ally, believe me, we saw it all... and finally, we got our dream house: 2220 Beach Drive; a beautiful apartment right across the road from Willows Beach Park... and YES! the Beach :) back home, we used to travel for hours to see what we today see from our living room window: the ocean! And finally, I got to buy furniture from IKEA :):):) you can safely say that our house is the only IKEA showroom in Victoria :) and we just LOVE it!
That, however, is not our greatest achievement... that would be the friendships we made along the way :) in less than a year, we have met the most wonderful people; people who made us see life from a totally different perspective, and who made Canada feel like home: (in order of appearance)
Rev & Doug: thank you for your wonderful hospitality, and for going the extra mile to make us feel home. Adera Cottage will surely be missed, but I look forward to your next B&B :)
Robin & Diana: A Loft in Victoria truly felt like home from the moment we stepped into it, not just because it's unbelievably pretty and thoughtfully designed, but because of our two lovely hosts. We really enjoyed the conversations we shared :)
Tanya, Hatem & Maya: We can never forget how you came to our rescue with the couch, the air-bed and the kitchen ware :) truly, what could we have done without you guys! Thank you so so so much for being there for us, and for taking us in and accepting us as your friends so fast! We have enjoyed every minute we spent with you guys (especially our scrabble tournaments :D), and will cherish the memories we have created together forever :)
Leila: Your welcoming warmth, positive attitude and, most of all, your love of God, encouraged me to trust you, and to come to you for advice. Thank you for all your support; you truly are the community's beating heart!
Dawn: Thank you so so so much for all the help you offered me on my job-hunt and for believing in me. I just wish The Career Shop had not closed down so fast :( Your advice is invaluable!
James, Lisa & little Magnus: What little time we have spent together is precious; we love your attitude to life, and we enjoy your company a lot! We really need to get together more often you guys! We just love hanging out with little Magnus :) Thank you guys for all your support and care!
Stephanie, Wendy & Elliott: Stephanie is, with no doubt, the best study partner anyone can ever have! You made the PMP exam preparation a truly remarkable and enjoyable experience :) your comments and jokes made a lot of information stick to my mind, and that lovely chart of yours did wonders :) Thank you so so so much for a wonderful time, and I hope all five of us can get together soon :)
Nesrine, Wael and Nora: In little or no time, we have grown to be very close friends. Your warmth, great sense of humor and your love of life are truly fascinating and encouraging. We enjoy your company immensely, and we look forward to spending more and more time with you guys. Thank you so much for taking us into your lives so fast!
So, overall, our first year in Canada has been a wonderful experience. Of course, there have been some set backs, but hey! this is life :) I for one think we have made the right choice moving here, and I believe that Victoria provided for a soft landing :)
For those who have been checking my blog, I'm back :) For those who haven't... well, you didn't miss much :D
Two weeks ago, on August 15, Ibrahim and I celebrated our first immigration anniversary! Yes, it's been one year and two weeks since we moved to Canada. Evaluation? Well... let's see:
The first month, we spent it touring Canada, so that was fun... no no, I take that back.. it was LOTS of fun :) it was really a fascinating experience; everything looked so beautiful and so glamorous, with so so so many opportunities ahead of us..
The second month was a bit stressful. We were both waiting to hear from employers anxiously, and to save some money, we stayed with Yehia, Ibrahim's brother, in Seattle. His parents were also there at the time... so there were five of us in a one bedroom apartment :) za7ma ya dunia za7ma :)
The time we spent in Seattle with the family was really great. I got to know them all much better, and came to love and respect them more than ever; they are a wonderful family; ammo, tant and Yehia: thanks for taking us in :)
Then finally, Ibrahim got the call :) he was hired by Effem Inc. Canada :) Next thing we know, we moved to Victoria, BC. The city was as welcoming as can be right from day one :) Of course, we spent the next month (by then it was mid October) looking for an apartment... and a month well spent that was; I think we can safely say we have seen it all :) every apartment of every size in every ally, believe me, we saw it all... and finally, we got our dream house: 2220 Beach Drive; a beautiful apartment right across the road from Willows Beach Park... and YES! the Beach :) back home, we used to travel for hours to see what we today see from our living room window: the ocean! And finally, I got to buy furniture from IKEA :):):) you can safely say that our house is the only IKEA showroom in Victoria :) and we just LOVE it!
That, however, is not our greatest achievement... that would be the friendships we made along the way :) in less than a year, we have met the most wonderful people; people who made us see life from a totally different perspective, and who made Canada feel like home: (in order of appearance)
Rev & Doug: thank you for your wonderful hospitality, and for going the extra mile to make us feel home. Adera Cottage will surely be missed, but I look forward to your next B&B :)
Robin & Diana: A Loft in Victoria truly felt like home from the moment we stepped into it, not just because it's unbelievably pretty and thoughtfully designed, but because of our two lovely hosts. We really enjoyed the conversations we shared :)
Tanya, Hatem & Maya: We can never forget how you came to our rescue with the couch, the air-bed and the kitchen ware :) truly, what could we have done without you guys! Thank you so so so much for being there for us, and for taking us in and accepting us as your friends so fast! We have enjoyed every minute we spent with you guys (especially our scrabble tournaments :D), and will cherish the memories we have created together forever :)
Leila: Your welcoming warmth, positive attitude and, most of all, your love of God, encouraged me to trust you, and to come to you for advice. Thank you for all your support; you truly are the community's beating heart!
Dawn: Thank you so so so much for all the help you offered me on my job-hunt and for believing in me. I just wish The Career Shop had not closed down so fast :( Your advice is invaluable!
James, Lisa & little Magnus: What little time we have spent together is precious; we love your attitude to life, and we enjoy your company a lot! We really need to get together more often you guys! We just love hanging out with little Magnus :) Thank you guys for all your support and care!
Stephanie, Wendy & Elliott: Stephanie is, with no doubt, the best study partner anyone can ever have! You made the PMP exam preparation a truly remarkable and enjoyable experience :) your comments and jokes made a lot of information stick to my mind, and that lovely chart of yours did wonders :) Thank you so so so much for a wonderful time, and I hope all five of us can get together soon :)
Nesrine, Wael and Nora: In little or no time, we have grown to be very close friends. Your warmth, great sense of humor and your love of life are truly fascinating and encouraging. We enjoy your company immensely, and we look forward to spending more and more time with you guys. Thank you so much for taking us into your lives so fast!
So, overall, our first year in Canada has been a wonderful experience. Of course, there have been some set backs, but hey! this is life :) I for one think we have made the right choice moving here, and I believe that Victoria provided for a soft landing :)
posted by Toujan B. Atari at 11:56 p.m.
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