Vancouver Story

Shall Be A Blog to Assist Newcomers to Vancouver BC

2012-02-01T14:16:00.004-08:00

Been a while since I have been blogging. Considered to be successfully settled, I plan on making this site an useful resource for immigrants thinking of settling in Vancouver BC. I hope this site would help ease the anxiety new comers face settling into their new country and community.

Jobs always seem a priority concern for most newcomers. "Where to begin, who do I speak to, which agency do I contact..." One good public agency that has helped a lot of new immigrants landing in Vancouver is Skills Connect for New Immigrants, a division of the Training Group of Douglas College. As a guest speaker at this organization I have had the opportunity to meet with new immigrants who are looking at jobs in the private education sector of Vancouver and the lower mainland regions. This organization provides free career advice and support for immigrant job seekers. They are funded by the HRSDC - Human Resources & Skills Development Canada

Do check out their website at http://www.skillsconnect.ca/

The Canadian Rockies

2010-09-11T18:19:00.002-07:00

Having lived in Vancouver for almost five years, it is unfortunate that we never had an opportunity to visit our own backyard - interior British Columbia and Alberta. People have shown me pictures and spoken on how spectacular the sights are in these parts but after having made our first journey on this route in July 2010 we are still awe struck and reeling with the "awesomeness" of what we had seen and experienced.

The trip required1500 kms of driving with halts in hotels for the night spread over 5 days. It was a trip of lifetime. A must do for anyone who is ever living or visiting the West coast of Canada. The highlight of the the trip was driving through Ice Fields and actually walking on the Athabasca Glacier. The $50 ride to the glacier on a monster bus and the opportunity to walk atop a glacier the height of the Eiffel tower was an experience par excellence.

We did the top down route driving to Jasper AB via Valemont BC then to Banff AB and Lake Louise AB. The last leg of our trip was through the wine country of BC the Okanagan Valley to Kelowna BC and back to Vancouver.

I would suggest a minimum of 4 days for the trip but a longer one would give you more time to take in all of the nature that would be around you. Our encore for this route would be in an RV over 15 days or by train, which could be expensive but I know it would be really worth it.

Olympics 2010

2010-03-29T15:49:00.005-07:00

Go Canada Go! Believe! Buzzwords from a time of my life that I can never forget as long as I live. An unique experience just to be living in the city of Vancouver, energized by pride and patriotism just being Canadian. The energy levels were so high that people needed to cope with mild depression when things came to an end and all the structures were being taken down. It was also my first time to watch and understand winter sporting activities that I had no clue of in the past. MOGULS, LUGE, SKELETON, CURLING and the realization that this country has a significant French speaking population as much as the English that we speak in Western Canada.

I got to attend a medal ceremony for free and that was the closest I came to being at an Olympic event.It was priceless to be a part of an occasion that one usually gets to watch on TV.

The rumored figure of 6 billion dollars in Olympic spending is quite high but the direct benefit in terms of infrastructure growth in and around Vancouver and and indirect effect of the spirit of the Olympics on the people of Canada and generations to come may be hard to measure.

I have to admit it was an event that every Canadian should be proud of. The cherry on the cake was Canada wining gold in Hockey.Better luck next time -Team USA.

New Job & New Home

2009-12-24T10:16:00.009-08:00

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all. The year has just gone by fast.

Had a recent step up from being an instructor to an administrator. I took over as Director of Education for the Vancouver Premier College, since September 09. The college specializes in Hospitality and Tourism education and has a great reputation with the industry and institutions of higher education. The college has immense potential and I am looking to move it to a higher level in terms of enhanced education and world class student experience.

I still teach a few subjects, as I am not willing to trade off my passion to be an educator for a full time administrator. That would take away the joy of my work, the priceless opportunity to work and relate to students who are diverse and many times, younger. Keeps one young at heart and challenged always. It also helps to relate to the present generation, in terms of music, lifestyle and technology.

We also moved into our new home around this time. All things new, was a fair bit of stress but the excitement was worth it. Looking forward to a good season of snowboarding and the Winter Olympics - Vancouver 2010

Been Away For a While

2009-06-10T06:46:00.010-07:00

Oops!! Was not able to keep this blog going and up to speed. Had a great winter of activities. Spring came by as beautiful as ever and boy summer is here with a bang. Right now we have high temperatures of 28 degrees. Its hot and the sun is very bright. It bugs me a lot. I have had enough of sun for a lifetime. I miss the Vancouver weather. People think I am crazy when I say that, but come on - raised in India, lived in Singapore - do I need more sun hmmmm. Folks are crazy about tanning. I don't need that either. hahaha

Good news for home buyers in Canada, Vancouver especially - prices and mortgage rates are down. Mamta and I managed to get into the game, by picking up a two bedroom apartment. With a choice to live near ski slopes, a golf course & nature the trade off is the affordability. 40 kilometers away we could have probably bought a 3 bedroom house for the price.Being practical too, I would prefer to have a smaller place which is easy to maintain than a house. Construction is mostly wood, so maintenance could be quite high. If you are not a DIY person, that could cost a lot.

Do click on this link to visit our new neighbourhood, which has some of the best trails, with natural wildlife - deers, bears, skunks, birds & raccoons.

Trip to India & Back

2009-01-19T11:28:00.005-08:00

Christmas was in India for me & Vikas. We landed in the capital city Delhi the second week of December 08. We then moved to Chennai a week later. Christmas with mum, dad & siblings after 14 years was fun. The mosquitoes & the heat were also part of it. Rough living. You realize how one takes things for granted, living in certain parts of the world. Everyone in India is happy, no one was complaining. I did get frustrated at times but then that is life. To be adaptable is very important.

The trip made me realize a happy/sad fact. Canada is now home & yes I wanted to come back. Vikas missed his bit of hockey but kept in touch with radio commentary on the net. He was really very patient, living in a total new environment, not being able to speak the languages when it was not English talk. I sadly realize now how I have grown out of world that was the foundation of my life. I am unable to express what that feeling is, but having lived out of the country for a long time now, yes I feel it. Mamta feels I missed her and probably that had an effect on my trip. Maybe she is right. Next time I would have to take my best buddy along.

We got back to a snow covered Vancouver , an extreme winter condition this year all over Canada. Varun would not let us rest. We were up on the mountains jet lagged & snowboarding. No broken bones hahaha.

Some tips: Fly Jet Airways if travelling to or in India. Service & food is great. Driving in Vancouver , careful not to rear end another car or back into one , even if the guy is parked in the wrong spot. It is all your fault. Crap!!!

Three years in Canada

2008-12-01T21:44:00.012-08:00

Hmmm I have not been blogging for a while. Got busy with several teaching assignments working, four days a week, both day and night. With the economic slowdown resulting in jobs being lost everyday, I cant wish for a better situation, where I have more assignments than I am able to handle. Mamta's job has also been steady, working for a government setup. As an immigrant family in Canada things have been going well for us. We are blessed

It 's been three years since we got here and there is no doubt in our minds that Canada will be home. It is a blessing too, living in a city like Vancouver surrounded by a totally diverse & multi ethnic population, being part of a Canadian province, whose beauty portrays a classical teaser to what paradise could be . The world lives here as a diverse society beyond colour, language & culture with English spoken in every accent from around the globe. Nobody minds as long as communication is effective.

As for the job scene to a new immigrant, you are employed based on your capabilities. Some professions do need local certification upgrades. Setbacks, I have noticed among immigrants who struggle to find jobs are with those who to live in the glorious days of what they did back home in their countries with refusal to upgrade their certifications to something Canadian. It also is a matter of attitude. Some still dwell in the mirage of the country they have left behind for Canada and tend to find fault with every thing Canadian. My take on this is "please go back, if you hate it so much". Its good to love your old country but once you start living in Canada one should make a conscious effort to learn the Canadian way of life and make it home. It is impossible to find an easier and adaptable society like Canada which accepts immigrants the way they are. So "whats your problem dude, c'mon get movin"

Road Trip to South Western California & Vegas

2008-08-24T18:23:00.008-07:00

Fifteen days, six US cities with a lot of driving - An interesting holiday this summer. Mamta's cousin's wedding in San Jose got us started on this adventure. Being around with family, enjoying the fun and chaos of a wedding & exploring new places on our own was a lot of fun. The heat was brutal but soon became a part of the experience.

Flying domestic in the US is cheap, if you pick up deals online & if you are able to do the rest by driving around miles & miles (yes miles as in Canada it is kilometers). This model could save you quite a bit. The Californian terrain is very different from Vancouver - dry, golden mountains with shrubs, beaches & loads of sunshine, the exact the opposite of Vancouver which is greener, snow capped mountains, the rain & yes beaches too, but who dare steps into the freezing waters.

Las Vegas was an unique experience & so was Disneyland. Disney made me feel a child again. It was like childhood comic books "come alive". Both places are so unique that it is a must see at least once in a lifetime. In fact I expected a lot of sleaze in Vegas, but it is so well coated with posh luxury & glamour, that in fact amazes you.

San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, Los Angeles & Thousand Oaks are all good cities, first three being part of the silicon valley where it all begun. Interesting to actually see the huge offices of top brands in the computer world today. Interesting to also know that Bill Gates is not from around there but from Seattle which is closer to Vancouver. I plan on doing this trip again by road, all along the west coast the next time - thanks to our new GPS, it makes it so possible

O Canada

2008-07-06T17:39:00.004-07:00

It was Canada Day on July 1st. The whole country was all red & white with maple leafs. This has also brought about sunnier days with occasional surprise rain showers now & then. Schools out for the boys for the whole of July & August. It is their summer break. This means increased extra curricular activities for them right from parties, to sleep overs, video games & to mum & dad more $$$.

Vikas starts skating lessons tomorrow, his first step towards becoming an Ice Hockey goalie someday. Varun plans on taking driving lessons with his 'L'. Mamta & I are still working to pay for all this, hahaha - me with new teaching assignments in the afternoons & evenings at two different colleges & Mamta doing the same.

However we eagerly look forward to our planned break end July. It is off to California this time, for 3 to 4 weeks. Mamta's cousin is getting married and that's all we need for an excuse. Its going to be way hotter but who cares, its time for that break. We plan on driving around quite a bit and in my next post I hope to post a link to some great pictures.

The Struggling Spring

2008-06-04T19:03:00.004-07:00

I say that as spring should have come long time ago, but we are yet to feel it. It is nice and sunny for 2 days and then goes back to dark, gloomy & rain for the next 4 days - Vancouver weather. In the picture Mamta and I are on Mount Seymour which is close to home. Its snow and sun, a freaky combination and the temperature at the time the picture was taken was about 20 degree C. Funny how that happens.

We have had sunny weekends and the beaches are packed. The water is freezing but the sun is very inviting. I was just wondering how much our bodies have changed to temperature changes. A 15 is warm and 20 extremely hot. I know , it seems crazy but it is a fact of life now.

As for more news we picked up a new Civic. Mamta's Mazda was due for air care and could have failed and then that would mean spending $$ to fix the old bird. We traded it in and happily foolin around with our newest toy. Besides with rising gas prices we need a car that is stingy for local use. We still have the 4X4 for intercity and snow driving. Hopefully the next post will have more sunny news in it

The Stanley Cup - NHL

2008-04-16T17:41:00.005-07:00

It has been a sad season for ice hockey crazed Vancouverites as the Vancouver Canucks (the local hockey team) failed to qualify for the NHL Stanley Cup play offs. I got interested in the sport after watching two school teams playing while working out in a gym overlooking the rink. Watch it once and for many it is love at first sight. The speed, the fights, the body checking & the puck - it is just a great formula for fun and excitement. Our local hero for this season is our goalie - Roberto Luongo who is fondly known as "Lou". Every time he saves the puck the whole stadium goes "Louuuuuuuu". Hockey madness was alien to me when I got here but now, its a sport that I watch the most.

Vikas loves the sport too but is only able to play street hockey with friends. Ice hockey training and games are pocket pincher's. It is an expensive sport to train and play. Soccer, music and taekwondo I guess is good for now.

On the domestic front, I have been interviewing for more teaching & corporate training assignments. The BC instructor diploma that I am doing right now is slowly becoming a requirement for working in adult education especially in the public sector & community colleges, here. I am glad that I am midway into completing it.

End of Soccer Season

2008-03-16T00:14:00.006-07:00

Yes I meant soccer. Nobody imagines soccer to be a big thing in Canada, but it is a game that is professionally played but not much watched on the air. Ice Hockey & Football (North American) are the most popular. The soccer season is from September to March. Varun plays in the bronze league with the Lionsgate Soccer Club and his team's name is the Grizzlies. They did well this season. It is sometimes hard to comprehend how these boys play in rain braving temperatures of - 5 to -10 degrees but with proper gear that keeps you amazingly warm, it is all possible. Ever heard of the brand of sport clothing called "Under Armour" before. Well it is truly what it is. Looks like regular sports wear but keeps you absolutely warm.

Varun's team came up tops as winners for this season. They had a tough run fair share of ups and downs but they managed to finish well.The boys are thrilled and Varun feels he has improved a lot moving from indoor soccer to the field. Cheers to the Grizzlies

Snowboarding Fun

2008-02-06T19:14:00.000-08:00

"What is the point living with a ski slope in your backyard and not being able to use it?"

This compelled me to start engaging myself in some kind of winter sport. The boys felt they wanted their dad to be a 'cool' snowboarder than a skier and Voila - I had to take lessons. The only down side is, "be prepared for a butt ache' coz that’s what you use more often than the board, in your first class. It is an Extreme Sport after all. By the second session I picked up a pair of impact shorts , which provides a fair amount of protection. It is highly recommended for first timers who wish to try this sport. It is cost effective compared to breaking your bones.

Vikas had his lessons a week before us and loved it, compared to skiing. Varun and I signed up for adult lessons with the Grouse Mountain Snow School. If you are living or visiting Vancouver and plan on trying snow activities, this school offers the lowest rates around these parts. Falls are nasty when learning but I was surprised on how ones mind controls the body. You just learn to fall intelligently, after a while. I wish I was on tape, coz I am sure I would have put Jackie Chan to shame with some of my nasty falls. hahaha.

Is it do-able. Yes it is nothing to fear. Certain amount of athletic fitness is an advantage as the aches and pains that follow recover faster. We started on the bunny hill and by lesson four we were doing the blue runs (the 3rd level). Your lessons are a lifelong investment. Maybe pricey for a start but go with it and use only rented equipment. Buy stuff during the off season if you plan on doing it regularly. I would definitely go back again for more. It’s like an addiction. You want to be on the slopes when it snows.

Trip to Washington DC

2007-12-28T10:07:00.000-08:00

Washington - That is the name of a state on the west coast of the US & also happens to be the name of the capital city, which is on the east coast. This was new knowledge since having moved to North America. The US state across the Vancouver border, is the Washington, Seattle being one of the popular cities in this state.

My trip to Washington DC (District of Columbia), was to meet with family, who live in Virginia, the state around DC. Met up with cousins, uncles, aunts and their families, some who I was meeting after 12 years or the very first time. I got a great deal on Southwest the most affordable airline to fly within the US. Well, guess how much I paid for a round trip from Seattle to DC.... just $250. The Quick coach from Vancouver to Seattle & back costed me $75 and I chose this alternative to driving to Seattle as parking my SUV for 7 days in the Seattle airport would have costed me a lot more.Was a great trip, but I also brought along the favorite 'Vancouver' weather. Clouds, rain & cold. Temperatures were the same except for wind chills which created big drops from time to time.

It was also an exciting moment to see the White House (not as sharp as seen in movies) the Capitol building , top museums & US monuments which have been part of my movie moments all this time.It was really a great feeling to see all these places in reality. If I ever plan on ever visiting Washington DC for the touristy stuff, I would choose to stay in a downtown hotel & walk around or use the trolleys as most places are do-able by foot and around summer break most museums have free entrance. The boys would love it especially the aerospace museum.

Snow Season Again

2007-12-11T13:27:00.000-08:00

We had our first snow for the year. It also brought about its fair share of chaos on the streets and for me, having to drive around - skidding and sliding to pick up pizzas for my college party celebrations to mark the completion of the second module of my instructors diploma (all instructor-students in picture) as deliveries were cancelled . Funny eh! However, with Christmas songs on the radio & driving through snow covered streets, I always feel like a part of a Christmas postcard.

Vancouver gets the right amount of snow just to have fun. Its not as bad compared to the rest of Canada. Snow levels could get to heights of 6 to 8 feet in certain parts. Besides, Vancouver has the best temperature during winters , say 10 below zero which could be a cold day. Its just the rain and the gloomy skies (most times) that can be a turn off. Well what does one expect, living in a rain forest. I love the rain, the snow and the clouds. I am not complaining for I have always preferred the cold to the sun. Just love it here.

I have successfully completed two modules of my Instructor's Diploma and have 4 more to go. As a new kid on the block I think it is important to work towards getting some local certifications over a period of time. It can be really useful in the long run.Hoping to be done by May, next year. Mamta landed a second job as a childcare teacher with the Northshore Neighbourhood House, a semi government organization. She is busy in her own way. My Christmas break has started today and I am off to Washington DC to spend a week with my aunt & cousins. Sadly it is just me as the boys have school & Mamta has to work. Will be back in a week in time for Christmas and news from the east coast of the US

Halloween Fun

2007-11-17T15:41:00.000-08:00

How big is Halloween in Vancouver?

Very big. Loads of ghoulish people alongside weird and pretty ones too. Its also a time for "trick or treating" and collecting loads of candies, all part of the deal. Vikas was spider man at school.

One of my colleges that I teach at (TTI) insisted that all need to be in costumes on Halloween day . The closest I got to looking ghoulish was in an all black suit with a red tie and funny hairdo. Well, I still looked more bollywood than Halloween. "What's the difference?" some may ask. Well... not too sure, haha... I tried hard to twist my little finger on my cheeks to imitate Mr. Evil but I still was unable to remove the bollywood impression of me. Had loads of fun from crazy nuns to pretty vamperinas running around the place.OOOOOOOOO

Mamta's Birthday

2007-10-20T11:24:00.000-07:00

Well I know I am late with my posting this time, but I wanted to celebrate Mamta's Birthday which was yesterday, before I did so. We had dinner at a Greek restaurant Pasparos Taverna, the first time in our lives doing Greek. Was a good evening with great food & entertainment provided by a classical Greek dancer. We never have tasted lamb cooked so tender and 5 stars for a great & affordable gourmet experience.

I am back in school, part time doing my Provincial Instructor's Diploma, a good qualification to acquire to teach in BC, at a college level. Its helps to slowly acquire some Canadian papers in the long run. Seven modules to complete and I hope to be done some time next year. The weather is back to "Vancouver weather" - wet and cold haha. Many people find this depressing but we are just fine with it. This month also marks my 2 year anniversary living in Vancouver. Time flies real fast

I witnessed the weirdest soccer practice session of my life when I watched Varun and his team practice in pouring rain on a wet field at temperatures of 5 to 6 degrees. All fields around were busy with activity too. So, sun, moon or shine the game must go on in Vancouver - not so with schools- hahaha.

I also experienced the greatest service moment in my life when I dropped by Taylormotive an auto service center in my neighbourhood. My engine has been making funny noises for a while now and so I planned on getting it checked. Chuck, who was at the counter walked out with me to inspect the vehicle. He was so quick in identifying the reasons for the sounds as we drove around and fixed them instantly. Other mechanics told me that my engine problems were due to trouble with my crank shaft & transmission and this could have costed me a bomb to fix. Bad diagnosis!! The best part was I realized later that Chuck was the general manager of the company & he refused to charge me for his time. He just said that it would be a pleasure if I chose Taylormotive for my future services.

Wow! Talyormotive it shall be from now on buddy!

Trip to Seattle

2007-09-04T17:42:00.000-07:00

As we had a long weekend early this September we decided to go across the border into Seattle for some fun & Experience USA. The drive is just over 2 hours from Vancouver. We set off at 8.30 am on Sunday (Sept 2) hoping to beat the weekend traffic across the border. Wrong. We were caught in a 4 hour pile up and got to Seattle at around 2.30pm. Haha great experience. Rinku (Mamta's cousin) who works for Microsoft, was a great host. Dude we had a great time. Thanks a ton.

New scents, similar sites and one gets to realize - except for a border, French & difference in welfare benefits, miles vs. kilometers, gallons vs litres, Canada & the US are such similar countries geographically, built with very similar infrastructure. It was also great to be in the city of Boeing, Microsoft & Starbucks.

We visited the Farmer's Market which is the place of Pike's Place Fish Co. (flying fish - Beware!) the inspiration for the great management training video "FISH". It was quite an experince to be standing at the exact place that I had only viewed previously on video, whilst teaching my classes. Another remarkable site was the very original Starbucks - where it all began. The exterior & interior have been maintained orginally - the way it has always been, way diffrent from the jazzy look of the Starbucks stores today. Priceless moments in history.

Varun & Vikas Taekwondo Black Belt Test

2007-08-21T18:42:00.000-07:00

Taekwondo Grading

The Grouse Grind

2007-08-01T19:21:00.000-07:00

Yes! we did the Grouse Grind - as quoted on their website "often referred to as Mother Nature's Stairmaster. This rigorous 2.9 km (1.8 mile) hike takes you straight up the face of Grouse Mountain" a winter time ski resort in our neighbourhood. We decided that it was going to be a family adventure, not a fitness test. So we took frequent breaks and managed to reach the top in over two and a half hours. It was a great experience. Varun and I may plan on doing it once more, this season as a fitness climb. We did not attempt the decent as certain sectorsare quite steep but instead took the Sky ride gondola to get down. Experienced great views of the city, the water and other mountains. Watched a couple of shows and did get to see the grizzly Bears in their habitat. Really huge creatures which weigh about 500 kg and are almost 8 feet tall.

As for home news, Mamta was issued her official BC licence to continue work as a childcare (ECE) teacher. We are still reeling with joy for that, as her international credentials from Wheelock College Boston, were accepted, sparing her the hassle of having to do extra courses or a practicum at local colleges. It was a long wait to hear from Victoria and voila ..... Praise God for that.

As for the budding computer techie 'MOI', I successfully completed my A+ hardware certification and managed to fix two computers. Besides my little company VARIKAS was born today. No points for guessing on how I coined the name (my boys). I am a lot more confident now and boy! I learnt a lot.

Summer slows down business especially for the education sector. Student enrolments drop during these months as many are travelling and are laid back enjoying longer & brighter days (5 am to 10.00pm) under the sun. Two months of flip flops & singlets before we start tucking up for the cold.

Mamta and I have fewer hours of work. Lesser $$ during these months = more free time and plenty plenty happiness. No complaints. The good thing in Canada is if one does not get an assignment due to the inability of the employer to hire you for more than two weeks you qualify for payments through employment insurance or EI. The program pays a decent sum every month till one gets back to work. Not bad at all.

The Joy of Friendship

2007-07-07T10:16:00.000-07:00

Good to have dear friends. Isn't it?

We had (a) dear one(s) over, from Bangalore - Zee and her daughter Keerthana. Zee goes back to our college days in India and Kee is looking at university education in Vancouver. We spent a great week together as a family, a wonderful time of bonding, playing music, loads of fun and above all, a total experience of spiritual exuberance.

It all began with the International day celebrations at our church. It was a great way to start the week. I am sure that Zee & Kee were totally appalled by the cultural diversity of our church community and Vancouver as a whole. We are really blessed to live in this country & especially in a city which is so diverse, that your ethnicity does not matter at all. That is Vancouver. I have mentioned this in my blog several times before but the more you live here the more you experience it. Latest statistics state that 8 in 10 Canadians are not born here. That is the highest number of immigrants living in a country in the whole wide world.

Zee's presence and sharing during the week , has further strengthened our faith in the Lord & brought about more joy reading the word. Though we have been in the faith for a while, our Bible reading was more of a ritual. We came to realize that we were idolizing it and now it has become more like a novel, a magazine, a story book, call it what you may, as it lies around the house and we get into it just off the cuff. No religiosity or legalism. Just a pure joy to do so. Thank you Zee.If Kee gets to Vancouver, it would be like having a daughter that we never had. Hope its God's plan too. We miss you folks.

The boys were away camping over the weekend with our church friends. We were not able to join them as we were helping one of our close 'friend' couple, Sophie & Simon who were overseeing the catering arrangements of an east Indian (malayalee) church as part of their annual regional conference. It was three days of hard work, but very satisfying. Made loads of friends & had a lot of fun too. Mamta & I were reminded of our banqueting days in hotels.

Lynn Valley Parade

2007-06-12T07:03:00.000-07:00

Lynn Valley - Its a neighbourhood close to home & it is where our church is located too. It is tradition for the community to participate in this parade which marks the onset of spring. Mamta & the boys had fun but as for me - I had to study for my mid term test - yup my computer course. I was seeing stars on that day trying to understand acronyms like SATA, GUI, WOW and differences between ATX & BTX motherboards. OOOO - The outcome however was not too bad, with a 78% grade after all. The best part is I just love it and I am learning quite a bit and able to confidently strip down a computer and fix it back . Hmmm - happy with myself. Sometimes makes me wonder of how in the world did I get into hospitality.

We are heading into summer, but its been kinda confusing as the cold & the rain are still lingering around. Our home band got a new guitar, last week. Mamta & the boys got me a Fender - Big Block for my B day. A great guitar, something that I always dreamt of owning. We had an Open House at one of the schools that I teach at. I was reminded of the TP Open House & the HTM skits that we staged. Besides, I had to also facilitate a case study for my Sociology class on Singapore - A country of obedient people. I got the students interested by showing them frames of Singapore from the STB website and some wanna go there now. They told me " Hey Joseph, the next time you are going down there, we are coming with you" . Well that's not going to happen as my next holiday plan is to be in Singapore, alone, like a "BUM" just hangin out with friends , old students and makkan-ing. So look out for that - maybe sometime by the end of this year if I can afford it. I, DESPERATELY NEED A BREAK.

Back to School

2007-05-09T18:47:00.000-07:00

This means both - I am into more teaching & I am back to school - studying. May 15th 07 is my last day as Operations Manager of the Harvest Project as I was offered more teaching hours by my colleges and so I had to step down. I teach all the Hospitality subjects by AHLA and a new subject which none would imagine- yes- its "Fundamentals of Sociology". As one of my masters degree is in the discipline I was offered the teaching assignment by one of the colleges here. I had my first class today and the student feedback was "we found your class very interesting" "Phew". I got through that.

The next crazy thing is I am moving from being a computer hobbyist to a computer technician. Yes - I am currently doing on a part time course at the Vancouver Community College working towards my A+ industry certification. Right now , my mind is stretched to the limits. One moment I am preparing to teach about clubs & resorts, the next moment it is food & beverage controls, then it is about human behaviour and society & finally its learning about ATX & BTX motherboards. haha. Mamta is convinced that I am totally crazy. I know it is a bit too much but for the first time in my life I have gone back to school to learn about something that has always fascinated me. No regrets. I am enjoying every minute of it.

Boys are shaping into pro musicians. Varun has many jazz concerts and Vikas is very much needed to play the drums for our worship team in church. As parents we give them opportunities though it costs us a bomb here. What they make of it is left to them. I am pretty content with their advancement in takewondo and music. I always longed to be a trained musician and its so good to learn a few tricks from your own kids through the jammin and singing along with them.

Our home hunting is still on. Prices are overly inflated so Mamta and I are taking it in stride and playing it a bit cool. Vancouver may not have a "bubble burst" but prices should settle down to something more realistic in future. Right now they have gone through the roof.

Changing Season Changing Life

2007-04-02T16:52:00.000-07:00

I know it is long overdue for my monthly posting. Was waiting for Easter and boy oh boy it was a good one. Our church group met at L&J's place ( Lay Ann & Joe's home), the home that we always have our big group gatherings . With its breath taking views & the location, we are all grateful for these folks being such great hosts. We invited Joy from our church in Singapore who is a student at UBC to join us for the Easter party. We had a great time , steak-ing , sipp-ing & talk-in.

Winter is on its way out, but not giving up so easily. We are into spring, but still get that occasional hail stone showers & snow with longer sunny breaks. When I say "sunny" I mean the light not the heat. It could still be 5 degrees with all the sun and you need a jacket for sure.

Recently I was re designated as Operations Manager for the Harvest Project, working on new projects & partnerships for growth of the organization. Juggling work alongside my teaching jobs, I decided on quiting the Harvest but my boss seems to be able to accommodate my weird schedule. Trust me it is weird. Not sure on how long I would be able to hang on.

Mamta & I have slowly begun viewing homes. The boys are adamant about living on the North Shore (North Vancouver) which is a highly expensive neighbourhood. We therefore have to be content buying an apartment for now, as homes are over half a million. With snow capped mountains behind you, the sea in front of you and living with nature so real that the occasional bear , skunk or raccoon could stray right into your backyard, I guess there is a price to pay. The trade off is an apartment in this setting to a big house on a flat land 30 kms from downtown Vancouver.

February - The Party Month

2007-03-08T00:31:00.000-08:00

Well I know it is the Valentine season. It is also the boys birthdays and our wedding anniversary, yes all in the month of Feb. How cool is that? Vikas had his friends over on the 15th , Varun-my dear leap year born ( technically is only 3 years old although he is 15) is still planning a hang out with friends. As for dear wifey & me , we had a Boston Pizza lunch. Would have preferred something more romantic but the boys always win. Varun's birthday gift was a 3 day ski trip to Whistler with the church youth group. Boy oh boy, I wish church was this fun in my growing up years.

Still juggling three jobs on part time. He he he. The Harvest Project has re designated me as their Operations Manager. Hmmm! So two teaching jobs & one in operations. Not a bad mix at all. Just need to cope with 3 bosses. How do you like that? It may seem chaotic and unsettled but I just love the adventure, the uncertainty & living on the edge. If not, I would not have moved thrice around the world.

We did our taxes for the last year. A very different experience from Singapore. Over here, you got to be careful to incorporate all rebates & concessions, to pay a lesser tax on your net income. This is directly linked to how high your benefits would be for the year. Though people grumble, I find the tax system to be very fair. It provides a lot of concessions for the low income groups, but taxes the high income bracket quite heavily. There is a lot of government support & programs for the less fortunate. So no person would starve or be denied medical attention based on their social status. Ain't that cool.

Weather wise, we are getting into spring with daylight saving moving forward by the end of this week. Days are getting longer, but the cold & snow still linger around. It is a fact that global warming has really impacted weather worldwide. The mountains however had a great season with plenty snow and so ski slopes have been doing well this season.

Grateful

2007-01-31T18:00:00.000-08:00

Well there a lot of things we got be grateful for. The easy transition to Canadian life. For the three jobs that I juggle haha. Revi called me a "typical immigrant". Two teaching jobs and one with a Christian non profit. I teach all days , in the mornings and work for the Harvest Project in the afternoons. Kinda hectic for now, but I am getting into the grind. Well, this job change forced us to pick up our second car. Good excuse - I need to leave home at 7.00 in the morning. Mamta & the boys could have found it tough without a car. So went out there and bought myself a second hand Toyota Rav 4. I always wanted an SUV and so I just decided to be nice to myself.

The new institution I teach at is the Tourism Training Institute, a popular college with the local Hospitality Tourism industry. I am glad for the job as it places me in a better position to acquaint myself with the local industry personalities in Vancouver. We have just been here for over a year and our income levels are in par with Singapore. Really blessed is all I can say. Teaching Canadian students is also so different as they are very vocal and need a lot of energizers during classes. They do not have the 'sir' thing here. So I am just 'hey Joseph'. I am also coping with a need to change accents and expressions. We cant deny the fact that Asian English is Brit tainted with our own accents and they have a real problem comprehending that

I am so glad that I have a fair bit of international knowledge at least Asia and beyond, for many Canadians I have spoken to have not heard of Singapore, before. Well dear Singaporeans dont freak out. Those who know it think it is a part of China. hahaha. We need to have an NDP type show here

Living in Vancouver - A Reflection

2007-01-11T13:11:00.000-08:00

Looking back at, what I expected of Canada and what I have seen and experienced in a year, life has just been the exact opposite to the many myths that I had about living in a highly "westernized" , predominantly "white" country. I meant the snow what were you thinking about?

Vancouver, one of the most popular Canadian cities ranked as the most livable in the world, is in the state of British Columbia. When I landed here from Singapore, I was surprised to see the mix and diversity of the people living in this city with origins to every single country around the world. Most of them call this their home, but still follow their ethnic way of life which adds to the excitement and variety to all that you see, live and experience. Having experienced my first multi racial exposure in Singapore living amidst 3 predominant races, things got a lot hyped on getting here, experiencing in the true sense REAL multi ethnicity.

As for your spoken language, my pastor once told me that if a person speaks English with a non -Canadian or typical English accent , then he is not dumb as it is proof that he could speak a second language and that means he had a smarter mind that enables him to do so. So you just need to speak English here, nobody cares about your accent.

As for fairness, it cant be better. I landed my third job yesterday, oops don't freak out . I now have two part time teaching jobs and have converted to part time with my present employer. Two of these companies are predominantly white dominated. If I have landed jobs totally based on my merits well it does speak a lot of this society

As for Canada (whatever I have seenof it ), God just decided to put so much beauty & nature into this place that you can't miss it being a part of your everyday life. We did have bitter cold spells last week with temperatures dropping to -18 and below. One of those evenings as I was walking back to my apartment from my car, I was thinking to myself " do I want to get back to warmer country" - No way this where I want to be where 6 is considered pleasant and 22 is considered very hot. I think I found my place at last. hahaha. And as for the boys, they still sleep with a fan on at night.That is kind of crazy, I know

Our Family - One Year

2006-12-31T11:25:00.000-08:00

Friends are our family here and being a part of a church has made it much easier for us to settle here. Having always lived away from our real families for the past 12 years we have realized that the only family we can create for ourselves are good friends. Our Singapore family is just great friends and today its the same in Vancouver. Thank God for friends

We had a home cell X mas party. Turkey, X mas pudding and all. Some vino too. Had the gathering in one of our friend's homes. A million dollar property on the mountain with has the entire view of downtown. A lovely place and well maintained.

Life is back to the groove after the weekly break and all the binging on food. Have a new Executive Director and guess what, he is Aussie. Funny eh! Getting used to "hi mite" and "good die"

Merry X' mas

2006-12-09T18:46:00.000-08:00

Wish you all a merry X'mas. It is party time here. Attended a recent party hosted by my organization as an appreciation to our volunteers who contribute several hours supporting us in making a difference. It was wonderful to be with about 100 of them, all under one roof chatting & enjoying a meal.

X mas celebrations are very Canadian in tradition over here and it is interesting to participate and learn a new cultural way of doing things. It is as big as Diwali in India or Chinese New Year in Singapore. Its all festive, people happy with families, lots of fun , partying , food & drinks. Our family here -is our church family and we love the diversity and the special bond we all share with one another.

There is also the long X mas break that I am waiting for. I would be off starting 23rd Dec till 2nd Jan 07. I need it a lot as it is so busy now with several activities, all around. Food donations keep coming in non stop and as of now I have a full warehouse, a 20 ft shipping container all filled up and food spilling into our lobby and guess what - there is more to come. WOW, such great spirit of giving and that goes for cash donations too. Our church has also a planned series of activities for the season, concerts and dramas and that keeps us entertained.

Merry X mas to you all once again as we truly celebrate what Christ did for us.

White As Snow

2006-12-03T18:39:00.000-08:00

Yes we got hit big time. It was surprising that we got a taste of the east coast weather, with snow, freeze and all. Was cool - I mean "really" cool haha. Schools were closed so the kids had a great time , with snow ball fights, snowboarding down the little slopes & making snow men. Mamta & I got a taste of snow driving coping with having to shovel, scrape ice off the windshield and off course the skidding and hydroplanning effects. Mamta experienced a full skid , her car turning completely at a right angle while negotiating a turn. Drivers expect the unexpected and drive patiently. That helps a lot.

I get a weeks break for X mas and I am looking forward to that. Would love to make a trip to SG but have a lot to do with friends here, X mas dinners & lunches. Being our first X mas with them I guess we should stay.

The latest development is that our home has become a music studio. We had to buy a piano as Varun has been a dedicated pianist for over four years with just a keyboard at home. He now plays for the school's jazz band and the real thing is needed for practice. We got him one, a month ago. He now owes me a year's salary from his first job, wonder when that would be. Vikas learns drums and so needs a kit to practice. We rented an electronic drum kit just two weeks ago. So there we go "boom boom boom". Feels real good playing jam sessions with the boys, music from contemporary Christian to secular rock, pop & jazz.

Trick Or Treat

2006-11-24T11:17:00.000-08:00

Good to be around a time of festivities ie Thanksgiving to Christmas - the great spirit of giving - especially working for a non - profit helping the poor cope with the cold winters and tough times that these harsh months bring on. Must have heard of the storms that we had in BC, flooding parts of the lower mainland. Our water turned murky but is still safe to drink.

It has started getting cold ( 2 to - 6 deg.) with rain & snow, and windchill dropping temperatures to - 17, but we need all that for the bright colorful beauty that emerge during summer & fall. Snow is on the mountains and the ski slopes are getting ready for rush times ahead. This morning the boys and I were admiring the beauty of snow sprayed mountain slopes which appear grey for now as we were driving to their schools and Varun said "Wow , I love the winter". I share his thoughts as winter brings with it, its own beauty.

A joint church food drive by the youth for Halloween brought in quite a good quantity of food by way of donations. As you can see in the picture, young people coming together in costumes for a good cause. It is also a good experience to listen to X mas carols on the radio as you are driving with snow falling around you. Hmm the real thing. I never imagined I would ever experience that & it is hard to believe that I am part of such a setting. Thank you God.

Back to Vancouver Weather

2006-11-01T09:27:00.000-08:00

Fall is here and temperatures have dropped since last week, with ice and mild snow on the mountains. We have between 2 and -4 degrees but the colors of fall are just so amazing. I never knew that leaves on trees had other shades besides just being green or brown. Its cold, sunny and colorful as you can see the picture with Mamta in it. Its hard to comprehend the beauty of our surroundings but just makes one wonder of how much more beautiful paradise would be.

I have offers to teach more hospitality subjects from a few colleges but I am spending time with my present organization as they need me most of all with the X mas season coming on. I continue to teach part time with Century College and they have asked me to teach two new subjects for the next semester, front office & housekeeping. Hmmm.... Must start preparing for that. Teaching pays well and part time is the best as you do your hours and still have time to do other things.

Met a new couple in church who have moved from Singapore. Well glad more people are choosing Canada to 'Down Under' hehe. Have met many folks who have lived in Australia and several Kiwis who have relocated. They say its a lot better here. I don't know what that means. Well for folks looking to migrate, start looking this way. Winter is coming soon and hope we have a nice snowy X' mas ths year

One Year Now

2006-10-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

We are just over Thanksgiving weekend ( and eating too much turkey) and I realize its gonna be a year since I left Singapore. Looking back, its been a wonderful year with all going well for us by the grace of God. I just realize that the lesser you look back the easier it is to adapt to new changes. In our case our church has played a major part in helping us cope with the transition by helping us find new and dear friends. We feel like, we have lived here for ages. Mamta and I serve on several ministries in every possible way. We have also had several opportunities to meet many Singaporean families settled here. Many have lost their Singaporeaness -haha- having made Canada their home.

The boys are growing by the day.I am glad that they are into music as I get to jam with them. Its something we guys look forward too. Mamta has got her BC driver's license and we already feel the need for a second car. Spoilt brats.... My organization is going through a lot of changes at the top. So it is department heads running the show for now. Besides the season for giving has begun and oh boy! food that is donated by the community is able to fill a whole warehouse and a 20' shipping container. I shall post some pictures in my future blogs. I have never seen so much generosity ever before in my life.

Its beginning to get cold now and that means a wardrobe change. We are now looking forward to X Mas holidays where we get a whole week off. Yipee!

Capliano Suspension Bridge

2006-09-06T21:55:00.000-07:00

Well its my "mother's name and my game". Visited the Capilano Suspension Bridge which extends across a deep canyon on either side of the Capilano river. Well the sights are great at 100 feet above ground level walking into treetops, but the most exciting part is the gentle sway of the bridge as people clutter funnily from one end to the other - some scared, some attempting to walk faster to counter the sway, hahaha. Watching each ones expression was fun. Somebody must have a good laugh at my expressions too. My mother is 70 and boy she survived it hmm actually enjoyed it a lot.

This attraction is part of my neighborhood too and being residents of the state of British Columbia we just pay one single entry which is valid for any number of visits for a year. That was a real deal. Probably the family is "gonna be well suspended" over the canyon for a year now. Mamta has also started driving around and that gives me the opportunity to enjoy the sights around me as a passenger. Fall is here and it has begun snowing on the mountains in BC and the neighboring state of Alberta. Temperatures have started going down to 13 and it is beginning to get cold. Boys are happy and so am I.

I have also begun part time teaching on Mondays with a private community college. It pays well and I guess this should get me back to what I love to do the most "teach and work with students"

Whistler

2006-08-25T15:31:00.000-07:00

With my mum visiting us here in BC, its a great excuse to travel around and see places. Well Whistler mountains were the first on our list, the proposed venue for the 2010 Winter Olympics . It is just about a 2 hour drive from where I live and is connected by the Sea to Sky highway. YES you really feel like going from the sea to the sky with breathtaking views of the ocean alongside snow capped mountains.Well as the driver I had to concentrate on the driving while the rest of the family in the car would go "WOW! Look at that".

"Look at what?? I only see the car in front of me". Well it was not that bad. We made several pit stops to enjoy the scenic sights that gives you a hint of what heaven might be.

The state of BC is known as "Beautiful British Columbia" and it is so truly beautiful. The next time I plan to do this route by train in winter by the Whistler Mountaineer where one would be able to appreciate the same landscape in a different season. The trip is kinda pricey but what the heck, you got to do it sometime.

I do miss having my buddies around when I go on such trips. Think of our snorkeling /fishing trip to Tioman with Neo, Hsien Wei and Nair. Wish oneday we guys could do something similar in this part of the world.

Revi Nair get your butt back here wher you actually belong. hahaha

Hot Days

2006-08-02T22:29:00.000-07:00

Vancouver experienced its hottest days in the past week. Temperatures peaked to an uncomfortable 35 degrees. Man, was really hot. Well, its gone back to the pleasant 25 to 13 range with fall coming around the corner. Still, comfortable to wear shorts and singlets. I just love the cold weather here. All my life I have never been a big fan of the sun and yes I am convinced now. Well people here use words like "what a Gorgeous day" to describe a sunny day and I am like "whaaat, its crazy hot out there".

This picture is taken in my own neighbourhood. Yes it has the mountain, the sea and all the boats. Its just WOW. Summer is time for celebrations. Lot of outdoor activity, live bands at street corners, parades, al fresco dining, beachside BBQ's and international firework competitions. People lug around their own boats behind their cars and trucks and enjoy rides and fishing. Someday I want to get my own boat too. Its so much fun.My mother is visiting us and boy! she just loves it here.

I am would be starting to teach part time at a private college (Century College) from September in the Hospitality Management programme affiliated to the American Hotel & Lodging Association training and certification. No points for guessing the subjects haha - F&B Management and a new subject Leadership and Management in the Hospitality Industry. Looking forward to that. My full time job with the Harvest Project - a non profit is also going well. I am glad that I am adding value to the organization and have been responsible for greatly improving and enhancing the services to the community. Just heard the good news from my Programme Director today. Mamta is doing great as a childcare teacher with loads of assignments coming her way. She is also managing time well , balancing both family and a career. Its possible to do that here, as family is above all else. God has been really good by providing all our needs. Yes we have now become "pseudo Singaporean and real Canadian"

Happy Canada Day

2006-07-02T20:55:00.000-07:00

Well I can see myself doing a monthly blog update in future with us settling in well by the grace of God. A snap shot of the month gone by:

>Mamta has settled well as a childcare teacher with good assignments coming her way

>I completed my Foodsafe course which is the equivalent of HACCP required by all F&B professionals

> Had my first moment of fame in the Northshore Outlook, a weekly where I was featured alongside my boss appealing for more food and donations from the community to support our programmes

>My first stage appearance in church as part of the worship team, playing the guitar and singing support. I never expected to be able to do that so quickly as it took me a year in our church back in Singapore to start serving in the worship ministry

>After church we visited an Asian Mall and wow! had great chicken rice and char kway teow. The whole mall experience was like back in Singapore, Chinese medical halls, fish ball stores , roast duck and chicken stalls. We would now keep going there again and again. hahaha.

>Summer holidays have commenced for a boys which means 2 months off school. They now spend time working as volunteers in my organization.

>My mother would be arriving from India next Sunday and so Mamta and I would be pampered for the next 3 months. We just love it when our mothers visit us, as we become children again.

Touring Vancouver n' Victoria

2006-06-03T16:57:00.000-07:00

Went on a trip to Victoria with extended family that visited us from across the border - the US. Was real good trip with loads of new experiences. Driving our car on to a huge ferry on to multi storey carpark, being transported to Vancouver Island and then travelling by road to Victoria, the capital city of British Columbia. The beauty of the sea and the land was breathtaking. At Victoria, the Butchart Gardens was in full bloom with all kinds of flowers in exotic colors I have never seen before. Well this is how close one could get to a preview of paradise.The fauna and flora is so different from what I have seen in Asia. Bears and deers in your backyard , raccoons in your garbage bins, coyotes walking along your street, skunks in your laundry room, squirrels much bigger and bushier and the crows the only familiar being - "hats off" to their survival, any where in the world, sun , moon, snow or rain ha ha. Got to move around quite a bit in Vancouver and my own neighbourhood and discovered the awesome surroundings I live in, suspension bridges, waterfalls, creeks and trails. Too engrossed with career, must change, must change!!!!!! Need to spend more time enjoying the beauty of this place.

Mamta (my wife) has begun regular work as a childcare teacher and so finances have improved. Yeah maan! Varun (my older son) is preparing for his dan 2 in takewondo. Though the boys are black belts from singapura they feel takewondo here is the real thing as it is taught by Koreans. They use weapons and practice attacks with full body contact. Besides all belt levels are certified by Korea. They just love their classes here. It costs us a bomb in comparison, but I feel they should not give up just because of high fees considering the years they have worked towards getting a black belt. In return I hope they remain filial and do not kick my butt in my older years.

A picture with Totem poles from Indian reserves. When I say Indians I mean "Natives" not the "MAAMA" Indians hehehe

Meeting A Blog Reader

2006-05-23T17:15:00.000-07:00

Well, have you actually met someone you have known on the net. I had my first such experience.

Mel & Ben are from Singapore and stumbled upon my blog in their search for information on migration to Canada. They had their papers approved but were faced with several questions and concerns like most new immigrants, who plan on actually relocate here. Mel kept in touch with me and I provided them with information needed from time to time. Finally they landed a couple of weeks ago and our families met at the Lynn Valley church.Was great meeting them and spending time with a family from Singapura. No need to put on a show maa. Just be as Singaporean you wanna be. Felt real good.

Was kinda thrilling to know that my ramblings on a blog actually helped a family in their relocating to Canada. Anybody wanna buy my story? hehehe .

As Asians we are so easy going. Anything also CAN. Lunch at A&W also can. No frills needed eh!
Mel and Ben are back in Sg after endorsing their entry for permanent residence. They plan on relocating by the end of this year cause they JUST LOVE IT here. Who would not? Great place, easy going people, a decent lifestyle and an abundance of beauty and nature around you. To all the Guys! Summer in round the corner and the girls would add to the beauty in their summer wear . Anybody visiting? Hahaha

We had a hot day last week with temperature peaking at 30 but that was it. Its now back to the wonderful 12 to 16 range. Phew! I thought I was back on Sentosa. Thank God. Days are longer with sunrise as early as 4.45 am and sunset as late as 9.30 pm. Nice to have the sunlight almost all day long.

The Job That I Do

2006-05-08T19:51:00.000-07:00

Working for a non-profit Christian organization is really a great new experience to me. I have no staff but just volunteers and it is so amazing to see people serving with so much dedication, contributing hours to work for us. I manage all the support departments which comprises of a food warehouse, a kitchen, a grocery store and a retail shop. All of these functions help people and their families who need to cope physically and need emotional support as a result of a handicap, drug abuse, retrenchment, divorce or a disease which at times is terminal.

Last week the chief of police for North Vancouver volunteered and worked for me for five hours. I gave him a decent assignment but to my amazement he chose to do the cooking for the day and the dishes instead. Well this was "The chief of police" and he was there working like an ordinary guy. No press no photos just he all by himself. WOW. This was something. This is something we like most of this country. People prioritize being humans first. Your status in society does not matter at all.

In my current position I get to meet people and make friends. This is helping us settle faster in this new country we now call home. Culture and habits are different and I am learning fast. My colleagues are a great bunch. Job gets tough at times and there is always 200 things to do at the same time but no pressures at all. Maybe it is my kiasuness from Singapura.

Food is something that is so unique to Singapore. Guys! no challenge from Canada. I am always learning American vocabulary. A shopping cart is called a "buggy". You say "shower" not "bath" , where do you "live" instead of "stay", you don't say gents or toilet but say "bathroom" and "elevator" for a "lift". I am not kiddin but people look at you absolutely blank (blurr sotong) when you use new terms here. In Asia we are much quicker and adapt faster. hahahah. We can be proud of that

Time Off in Tranquility

2006-04-25T17:52:00.000-07:00

Was away on a staff retreat to an exotic place called the Harrison's Hot Springs a lovely resort by the lake, a two hour drive from Vancouver. The route was so beautiful with the sun emerging more often as it is spring time now. The drive to and fro through the Canadian countryside was real breath taking. Never have I seen or experienced anything like this before.

The resort is located on the banks of a fresh water lake ( well you got to remind yourself it is a lake as it is so vast amidst snow clad mountains that it looks like the ocean). Besides working through our workshops, it was a great time to bond with my new colleagues and what better way to do it but while soaking together in a hot spring fed outdoor pool with temperatures as low as 8 degrees on the outside . I remember trying that in Korea during one of my educational tour with the students.Well wonder how often one would get wet and be able to stand in swimming atire at 8 degrees. Worth trying that hahaha.

Well getting used and learning Canadian expressions in English. You use the word "eh" ( aiyee) to end a sentence when you need to be expressive, like "that was really good , eh". They are not familiar with "the coffee is piping hot" Piping ooh makes sense. "Hot" could mean spicy or hot (temperature). I said "my younger son ape's me a lot" and they felt that it was an interesting expression. They think my surname "Dharmaraj" sounds cool and not Indian. hahaha. During my retreat had a lunch session with big boss and discovered that he is so much into Indian food. Well he knew more than I did. Reminded me of my dear friend Hsien in singapura. Handphones/mobiles are called cell phones.

Settling In

2006-04-10T19:46:00.000-07:00

Well I know it has been quite on my blog. Well no news means good news. I like my new job with the Harvest Project. People are friendly and what amazes me most is that 99% are all volunteers and their work great attitude towards contributing to society by working for a non profit organization like ours. I am really amazed at their dedication to do so. I work from Tuesday to Saturday ( half a day) for the Harvest. A good rest on Sunday with church and family and back to Pizza Hut on Mondays to run an opening shift as a shift manager ( cause the guys asked me to work for them, whenever I could). I like it this way. No more crazy working hours. Mamta started work today with a childcare on a partime basis. My son Varun (the older one) is looking out for a summer job to work along with his friends. I would just say that the Lord has been real good in settling us in. We love our church and have joined a home cell too.

Our neighbourhood has become WOW with the onset of spring. It is so beautiful that as you drive or go for short treks the whole setting amazes you. I know why the state in known as Beautiful British Columbia. That slogan in printed on every cars license plate here. It makes a lot of sense now. The sun sets at 8.30 PM and I heard it would go on to 10.30 PM in summer. We now have long days which is really exciting.

The boys are doing well in Takewondo with Korean instructors. The real thing hahaha.They like the classes here, being able to use real weapons.School is equally fun. They insisit that we have to continue living in North Vancouver , which is one of the most expensive localities in North America. Buying property for now seems like "no way" but we are looking out too (on the side). I shall post up some pictures of the spring scene here in my next post. Adios till then.

Halifax - 20 Years to Meet a Friend

2006-03-19T23:25:00.000-08:00

It is spring break for schools. My job transition granted me a week's work stop. Had two free air tickets for a local airline -West Jet. So my little son Vikas and I decided to fly to Halifax to meet an old friend Umesh who was my course mate in hotel school. The travel time was almost 7 hours across Canada and the time difference was 4 hours. Strange that you live in a country which is so huge that even the time zones change from city to city. Well Halifax , has weather changes every half hour. It could be sunny one time, then rain, followed by hailstones and flurries ( light snowing) all in sequence. Wind speeds could be around 50 kms per hour with wind chills dropping temperatures to -12 to -14. Don't let the sunny picture deceive you. Wind chill at the time was really BURRR.

Cant complain as a new immigrant. I got a full time job and a part time job ( whenever I can) as shift manager with my "good ole" Pizza Hut. Attended an interview with a private business college and may start teaching adjunct from May 06. My wife is all smiles now as she has started receiving her monthly "ang pow" ( child benefit) from the government, for my two sons which is a decent sum. Only mothers get this money. So sad for fathers, we work our butts off just to pay taxes while mothers and children get all the benefits boo hoo.

Changes And Changes

2006-02-28T10:05:00.000-08:00

It has been very exciting with CHANGES ( my favorite) the past few weeks. Found a church and at last "I QUIT Pizza Hut. BOOO HOO". Jobless???? No way. Well I landed a job with a Christan organization known as the Harvest Project http://www.harvestproject.org/ which provides support to people on the brink of poverty to recover in life. My job title is Project Co ordinator. I would be starting on March. 22 nd.

Well the pizza hut job was not what I always wanted but I grabbed it to maintain cash flow. It was really discouraging as pay was poor and since I was on a salary I was overworked every day working 55 to 60 hour weeks. If it were hourly I would have been smiling to the bank but on salary no way.The hours of work were also crazy and I had a "chaotic gaabbra" manager.

All I can say now is I see God's plan in my life. I was brought here to this specific part of Vancouver to rent and settle, for this purpose and besides my new working place is just walking distance from home . hehehe like TP was. Well what makes me very happy is I could be the only Asian working for this organization which is completely Caucasian. Well a sad thing to mention here is, asian bosses always exploit their own kind and it really matters when picking up a job here. SAD eh!

My job is a 9.00 to 4.00 with sat half day and Sunday Monday off. I work 37.5 hours a week which gives me time to take on another part time job, study or start up something of my own.What makes me happier is that the Lord had planned for me to travel across continents to come and work for people in need here. Its all so amazing. Thank you folks for all your comments on my blog.Keep it going.

Back After A While

2006-02-21T09:24:00.000-08:00

Well had no time to update my blog , well blame my job for it. "F&B" aaahhh! I have decided to move on from my current job. Just waiting for the next one to come along. It is a typical 12 hour work with all promises "broken". Well being from the industry that is not a problem but I just feel I got to make a change to what I am used to doing, always. I wish it happens soon. Well the new adventure I had yesterday was , I had no drivers for an hour and I had to do my first pizza delivery in my car ( well there are no scootys here, like in SG for pizza delivery Its all cars here hehe). I got a $3 tip. So excited.

Mamta has become a volunteer with the pre school that is attached to my son's school. She loves it and she also needs to clock up Canadian work hours to apply for her childcare teacher's license. The month of Feb. is exciting for the family with the boys B'days and our wedding anniversary. So its party time for this month.

I think we have found our church. We've been moving around quite a bit visiting several churches but have found our calling to be a part of the Valley Gospel Church. (www. valleychurch.ca) . The congregation is vibrant and mixed. All people are friendly and what I like most is there is no propaganda and high focus on fund raising like most contemporary churches. Its the gospel that is the focus and that has what has got our minds set on this church. Besides they have a great youth and Sunday school wing which the boys liked very much.

Boys are continuing takewondo as black belts but the training here is by Koreans and it is the real thing in comparison to SG. But the fees are also a "Real thing" $180 bucks a month. ahhhh its hurts.

High School & Life in BC

2006-01-24T10:33:00.000-08:00

Varun started high school last week. He got to see marijuana, pony tailed guys, gays, pink & green hair colors and gals in all kinds of attire and make up. I know he must have felt very different but he is coping well. Thank God that he is more mature than I am at times and has his head on his shoulders. He has slowly begun adapting especially his dress sense in line with the trend, like wearing bermudas in temperatures as low as 5 deg. You guys must try that. hahah. He has made a few friends and likes it here.

Harper from the conservatives won elections and would be our new PM. As for life in BC it is so strange that BC does not recognize qualifications from other countries or the rest of Canada except BC itself and the US. I wonder what the state has on its mind but I thing its crazy. This being the case most migrants from abroad and within Canada will have to re-certify, study etc AGAIN.This includes driving. You need a BC license which I managed to get on my first test. Thank God for that. Driving rules are so different here. A lot works on intuition, safety checks ALL the TIME and courtesy. You got to drive very patiently so don't plan on getting to any place, in a rush. I am planning on developing my hobbies into a small business on the side.Hopefully I could establish that in the long run and began working for myself for the longer you work in a salaried job you pay high taxes and the more you earn the more you pay. Does not make economic sense in the long run.Low earnings is best as the benefits are higher and taxes are lower. So set off on your own if you can.

Rewarding Moment

2006-01-16T09:47:00.000-08:00

It was the first day of school for Vikas my eight year old son and we were glad that he was not nervous and was in fact looking forward to it. When he got back from school we needed an update on how it WAS! He just hugged me and said "Thank you dada for bringing us to Canada. This is the best school I have attended in my life". Though young, he qualifies to comment on that as he moved three childcares before starting primary school in Singapore.

Class sizes are small with just 20 students in a class. No exams for a long time to come, more play n teach styles, SCHOOL BAG WITH NO BOOKS hahaha and he got to have tea with the principal.Teachers are so friendly and his name was made familiar to all his peers even before he got there. He has made friends now and they get to play in the rain. We are now waiting for Varun, to start high school soon and would like to hear his experience having moved from Dunman Secondary in Singapore.

We are settling down slowly but steadily and having invested in a four wheel for 7000 bucks we now have family mobility which is very important here as the city/ country is so vast.

Thank God For Friends

2006-01-03T11:46:00.000-08:00

Have found good friends here mostly from our Singapore contacts. The Kumars had us over for Xmas lunch after church and wow we just gobbled up the sambal prawns. Shiok really shiok. I really missed SG. They had a HUGE house, boy!! and it happens to be so affordable by Singapore standards. Am I looking at one, maybe hahahaha.
A SURPRISE. I was working on the 26th Dec, busy at the cut table, chopping up pizza's from the oven when I heard two familiar male voices at the waiting area of my restaurant call me "HEY JOE". I just turned around and froze. It was my church friends from Singapore Lawrence and Ben with their families standing at my door. I was too stunned to react and the probability of they having found me at my work place was just too amazing. They were here on a holiday unable to contact me and while visiting the tourist spots in my neighborhood , were looking for a restaurant to dine. They saw me crossing the road at the traffic lights, as I had just stepped out to change my mobile plan for my phone and followed me on my return.WOW just amazing to experience something like that. The next day was meeting of families at a great Chinese restaurant downtown. The crabs and the Peking duck were just yummmm.Well to make me even more home sick I spotted a shelf like NTUC in one of the mega stores with yummy noodles, yeo's jasmine tea and all brands from our heartland.MISSING Sg but LOVING BC. Strange feelin eh!

Merry X mas

2005-12-24T10:42:00.000-08:00

Its wonderful to read all your comments on my blog. Well X mas I think is not going to be in snow this time as it is raining here, not snowing. Getting good at managing pizza's dine in and delivery haha. I am glad that I am back to an operations mindset in mind and body. I realized that I can handle pressure a lot more easier than previous times. I go about whistling away when all hell breaks loose and my staff are amazed. I tell them its the Singapore way of working chuckle! haha which I know is not true. So you folks must maintain that cool image I am creating here for all Singaporeans.Family is here so it makes all the hardship worthwhile. My next step is to become mobile. You need a car here. Will be doing my road test soon for my BC license. Merry X mas to all you folks. Appreciate all your comments.

Family and work

2005-12-16T22:07:00.000-08:00

Well family arrived and had a jet lag for 4 days. They are all well now and enjoying the sun in the midst of the cold air, snow and ice. The sun is only a symbolic light coz it has no heat here. Work is the same. Having worked in the F&B business now in 3 countries I am confident to say it is the same crappy firefighting everyday all over the world.X mas is fast approaching and our home is yet to be furnished. Well need to get our act together. Driving here is on the right so I need to go for a complete re certification to get my license. Thanks to all who drop notes to me on the blog. Really makes reading all the more interesting.

Snow and Snow

2005-12-03T21:40:00.000-08:00

It has begun snowing here. Well I feel like part of an X mas post card walking in the snow to work. Work is typical F&B. As part of my training I am working with a guy who has made Pizza Hut pizzas for 15 years. That I guess is a bit too long to be doing pizzas. He is old and cocky coz his world his just about making pizzas. Reminds me of my days as an intern. "My dear students" I can relate to all your agony of internship but so late in life for me is kinda nonsense. Well its all about pizzas. Keep the focus. Soon I would be the "PIZZA MAN'S" boss. hahah.
My staff are a mixed bag. Whites , Persians, Chinese and Indians. Its exciting to hear my delivery drivers speaking mandarin. Feel Singapore sick, as in homesick not "SICK". Its a new and exciting experience. Life is tough here as in Singapore minus the stress level. Life goes on here and people are never too rushed. The Canadian greeting is "Hi there , how is it going? So remember that when you visit me.

Newcomer surprises

2005-11-24T18:59:00.000-08:00

Well life is getting into a routine so nothing much on that front. Tossing and making Pizzas as all new staff need to go through a standard training whether you are a manager or a crew. Unlike Singapore's service industry workforce, people here have long working experience just doing a task. This makes a manager's life a lot easier.

Listing down some surprises you could experience as a newcomer

1.POT(marijuana) is the local smoking scene here. I am able to clearly recognize that acrid smell from my younger days having been in a band and all and I smell it in the air like cigarette smoke when young people pass me by. I think POT is more widely smoked here than cigarettes and so there are junkies galore

2.In buses you need to step on to the first step for doors to open when alighting. Buses are old but have special external stands to carry bicycles for bikers using the bus and are fitted with a great hydraulic platform that lowers down to the pavement to help persons with strollers or the wheel chair bound to board with ease.

3.Never live close to a stadium when a hockey or football game is on. Its just crazy if you not part of the scene. I just live across so i know now hahah. It is the GREY CUP finals a big Canadian event this weekend, similar to something like the worldcup soccer finals

4. You are paid weekly or bi weekly. That's cool as you don't have to wait until the end of the month to party.

5. You can buy a 10 year old car for 5000 bucks. I am going to hahah.

6. Your body's a wonderland.. haha i am not singing but telling you something. Its 1 degree today with the bright sun in the sky and I walked around not realizing it at all. For people here its hard to imagine a country like Singapore being 30 to 35 degrees everyday. So don't dread cold countries, your body just adapts.

7.Eating out is really expensive. Beer is cheap. So drink more beer. You'll blend well with the crowd "STONED"

Settling In

2005-11-16T17:00:00.000-08:00

God's great! Things just took a turn for the better. Accepted a job with Pizza Hut as Asst. Manager . Pay is fair, perks are good and covers family too. That's what one needs to start with. As for home , WOW , that gives me more joy and a little sadism to tease you all in Singapore. Well I did not take up the place I had planed on but found something closer to my place of work.

Managed to get a decent apartment about 15mins from my work place and guess what its a great neighborhood. Its called NORTH VANCOUVER. I have a mountain with snow for a back drop ( the Grouse mountain with its ski slopes) and the entire Vancouver city skyline for a view across the sea and if you need to visit me by public transport you would have to take a huge ferry that seats 200 people called the Seabus. hehehe. I will be paying a HDB 3 room rental for all that. hahaha. Well for the price you pay you get good stuff here. Carpeted apartment , kitchenette , heat, hot water and a VIEW. Check this link http://www.pbase.ca/stock-photos-canada/northvancouver/ for some pics of my neighborhood. hahaha I know its real wicked. But I guess that's what I came here for and I am going to enjoy every moment of it. Career can take a back seat. Just need a job here to move on. Too high a pay you pay more tax.Well in the worst case scenario there is always welfare. hahaha. So no point worrying as things are so different here. People here aspire to become bus drivers. I wonder what can be so attractive? Once I find out I shall post it here.

So for now job and home are done. The idea of a job for a new migrant here is "take what you get" coz without Canadian experience you may end up waiting forever for the right job. So I thought grab something first and then keep looking. I would be back in the grind starting this Monday coz like all F&B business the P.Hut guys need you "NOW". They were pretty impressed with my resume and after two rounds of interview offered me the position with probability of moving up to a store manager in six months. Cant ask for better things on a new turf. Only hard part is back to F&B ops. booo hooo.

Thank you all for all the great messages. I enjoy reading them. Makes me feel at home. Keep it coming

Hope , a job and home

2005-11-13T16:55:00.000-08:00

Well Pizza Hut loved me. Two interviews and they offered. Not bad for just 2 weeks in a new country. But I had to put them on hold coz I dun feel good to sign on and leave in six months as I know quick service restaurant's training is intense (having been trained in the KFC brand).It would be so unprofessional to say adios if the govts much bragged about job fair lands me a better job by the end of November. The guys I guess are pretty desperate and are willing to wait hahaha.

I then realized 1st Dec is round the corner and I don't have a place for the family to land. So I decided to put home above all else and began my search. Had to see what's convenient for the family moving from Singapore. Too scenic and Ulu Ulu they might feel bored. Then I had to look for crime spots and neighborhoods. Guess what I might be actually living, in a Chinese Korean neighborhood hahha. The schools are newer in this neighborhood coz the old schools may look like the Singapore construction bunkers for workers hahahah but who cares education is great and its free.

My experience locating the property was kinda tough. Its raining now and the temp is 4 Degrees. So with wet shoes and a map I was walking an entire neighborhood to find the place I was interested in. What life we have in Singapore the housing agents drive us around. Here you go and find your own home. Well managed to locate the property something like a semi D and the building manager was Yugoslavian. He looked and sounded like he'd been in a war or used a weapon before in his home country. Tough looking guy but the moment he heard I was from Singapore he was happy "good people, honest" is what he said and he claimed that the two countries are friends. Sigh that went off easy. Well he has not met the ah pek taxi driver singaporean yet , he might change his mind. haha.

So not bad for two weeks. Kinda got a place and a job offer. What more could one wish for. The only thing I am struggling with is loneliness. Its something I find hard to cope with being my usual talkative self. Attended a traditional Anglican service. Was so traditional that I felt I was living in the 16th century in England. Well so long folks and thanks for all your messages. IT REALLY MATTERS

Job Hunting

2005-11-09T19:43:00.000-08:00

Man, the support by the govt. and related organizations are fab. I was given a list of 10 govt assisted job seeking agencies to visit to help me with the job finding thingy when I landed. I never took it to seriously but on Tuesday decided to visit one. I was really surprised as all services are funded by the Govt. and its FREE. This includes resume writing, internet access, printing & photocopying services, interview skills training ( 3 day work shop) , then informing you of jobs that come by and helping you visit all kinds of job fairs. I was assigned a case manager who would keep in touch till I find a job and will provide all assistance and making recommendations to prospective employers. No wonder all are so relaxed out here. This is called the "hidden job market" and this has a 80% success rate. Satistics in Canada show that newspaper and internet only have a 8 to 10% success rate. Job placements through the gift agencies have the highest success rate.

I visited China town and felt home sick. The Mc Donalds girl never smiled hahaha. This made me miss Sing. all the more. Asian food in food courts here really suck. I am craving for some good blachan or chilly. Food is also expensive, maybe coz I stay downtown. I keep visiting the suburbs and things there are slightly cheaper but nothing to beat Sg. It was cold, raining and windy today. Boy my hands froze exposed to the winds. Need to go and shop for some fancy warm accessories otherwise I could become a snowman soon. Well keep those comments going. Keeps me smiling. God bless

Cold Updates

2005-11-07T07:03:00.000-08:00

Ha ha I realize that weather has become the centre of my life now. Its around 5 deg now. Well took my first skytrain ride out of downtown into the suburbs. There are only 3 type of fares starting at $2.50 $2.75 and $3.50 for blue zone, red and yellow zones. So depends in which zone your station is. No gantries to enter. So buy your ticket and just board the train. You can use the same ticket to hop on to a bus etc etc to reach your destination. So no smart card needed. Glad I took the ride to go to church as where I stay right now is like living on Shenton way. No diff from Singapore. The train ride opened my eyes to the whole new world of "out of town". wow this city is too big and just 1million people living here. Imagine the whole expanse looks like the Paya lebar landed houses. hmm good site. The sun peeped yesterday and I tell was the most beautiful sight I had seen in days. I know I hated the sun in Sg but here its a blessing now hahaha.

This city is huge. Just a single neighborhood called Surrey is as big as Singapore and there are 12 such neighborhoods. Mind you this is just Vancouver and not Canada. Met ex TP lecturer Mr. Victor and his family. He showed me around his neighborhood which I felt like mini Singapore. Mostly Asians all speaking Cantonese and market like Giant . His house has three levels and on the mountain. You can see the city just below. You can also go Salmon fishing in the river behind his house. I am only used to the Taman at Bedok jetty hahhaa. Darren the fishes here are just 45 to 65 pounds. Had roasted pork ribs with rice for lunch. Was real good. Ms. Ivy Tans favorite.Was a great Sunday outing. Thank God for good people

Moving On

2005-11-05T09:08:00.000-08:00

The temperature has dropped to 3 deg C and the nights have become wet and cold. Experienced a heating breakdown at night. Man was it cold ??? Well systems are back to normal now and thank God for that. Mr. Victor ex TP staff contacted me. Meeting him and his family at church this Sunday. Will be taking the sky train for the first time. Really looking forward to meeting a fellow Singaporean use all the lah lah. Mr.Nair had mentioned that the weather becomes an obsession here. How true, I am hooked on to the weather channel most of the time. When the weather channel predicts an increase in temp you actually feel happy. Like today it was 3 deg this morning report said it would move to 8 deg by midday what joy I feel hahah. The eastern part of Canada and the mountains of the West have started getting their share of snow.
New stuff that I learnt :You need to activate your phone card at the cashier when you buy one.
You dont need to pick up an accent as people here speak english in their own accents and all goes.Nobody minds it.

The Dark Side

2005-11-03T07:10:00.000-08:00

Its amazing that you find a lot of "ang moh" beggars here sitting out in the biting cold and begging in style " Hi sir, you got little change to spare?". Its not coz the country does not care. Actually the country cares too much that these fellows never have to work a day but they choose to be this way as most of them are drug addicts. Its quite a serious thing out here and if you not used to it well you can be very disturbed by it. But amazingly drug related crime in almost non existent unlike the States.
I went for a job fair to HMV, yes the music store and happened to pass by the sleazy part of town. Porn, toys, DVD's, books, peep shows all galore and legal hahaha. Window shopping was good enough for me. hahahah. Its true. I cross my heart

Surprises

2005-11-03T06:49:00.000-08:00

The YWCA Hotel is WOW for the price I paid. I could not ask for better. One should stay at this place as it is conveniently located near to all the top hotels and you pay one days hotel rate for a months stay at the YWCA. Good deal.
My first surprises: 7 Eleven sells no beer or alcohol. All booze is sold at a liquor store. Never step out in the rain and cold in sandals. Its a bad idea. At the Malls you pay at "Service" not "Cashier". Greet everybody around you "Heeey How u doin maan?"
Banking: The tellers are friendly but care less for a manager. Even managers q up with the rest to help process your accounts. While I was in the bank the fire alarm went off. ( too much money haha) It was a false alarm like we always hear in TP but guess wat in 2mins flat there were 2 huge fire engines outside. WOW.
Everything is expensive as a lot of taxes get added on. So its not the price you see on the shelves that you get.
Overall life here is a variety of sorts.So many types of people , freedom galore and you can be anyone you wanna be. Nobody cares and the best part is you are accepted. Courtesy is paramount everywhere and it feels good to be greeted and to greet all the time.

Travel

2005-11-03T06:19:00.000-08:00

Leaving Singapore was sad but the excitement to explore the unknown and the great security check for flying North West ( trust me they dust your undies in the packing too) kept the impending sadness at bay. Glad the students were not gathered in masses ( boo hoo not popular) except for guess who BELINDA "never say die gal" and Justin. Thanks for the parting gift at the airport. The flight was long and on reaching Portland I was really concerned about the security checks on US soil. ( Thanks to Mr.Nair's scare stories). It was intense but was very professionally done. Well the interesting sight was seeing "Ang mohs" doing jobs as escalator repairmen and toilet cleaners. Feel so shiok hahaha. It was another world. The phone services were not the best at Portland. The next surprise was my flight from Portland to Vancouver on Horizon Air. It was a 20 seater plane and I had to run across the tarmac braving the rain and a temp of 9 C to get to the aircraft. Coming from Singapore my entire body froze in a minute. Lesson 1 - Need to clad yourself well coz its not cold but blasting cold. The flight was bumpy and got to Vancouver at last. The airport is as good as Changi and as Mr. Nair said, the immigration staff are mainly Canadian Sikh gals. Welcome to Canada was next. I got out after all the paper work and went to the Taxi Q. True enough I almost got into the drivers seat coz its left hand drive here hahaha. Strange all traffic moves oddly. Kinda got used to it now.