| Jen didn't just move north of the border from the USA to Vancouver, Canada. Prior to that, she lived in Switzerland, a place that holds fond memories for her. Here, Jen shares her experiences and observations about topics like what migrating to Canada entails, the cost of housing there, and some language quirks she's adjusting to. |
 Jen Schilling |
September 10 2006
-Where were you born?
California, USA
-In which country and city are you living now?
Vancouver, Canada. The actual city is North Vancouver which is just across the Georgia Strait near the North Shore Mountains.
-Are you living alone or with your family?
I'm living with my husband.
-How long have you been living in Canada?
I've been in Vancouver since the end of 2004, but I've been living with my husband on the North Shore for about 8 months now.
-What is your age?
30 years old.
-When did you come up with the idea of living in Canada?
I had been living in Switzerland for the previous 2.5 years. I loved living in Switzerland so much, but had difficulties getting a new work permit. So I started brainstorming on my next adventure.
Many people were telling me that I'd love Canada, plus I knew I could easily get a work permit there. I wanted a place I could call home for a while, so I went for it. I also knew I'd be a lot closer to my family.
-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?
No, not at all. The waiting time is the hardest part. There is a lot of paperwork to go through. I'm still working on immigrating here which takes about a year after your application is received. I'm on my 8th month right now, so we will just have to wait and see.
-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?
I had to have my own medical insurance until I got married. At that point, I was able to have spousal medical insurance. I'll get more medical insurance too once I am a landed immigrant. As well, many jobs have great medical insurance policies.
-How do you make your living in Canada? Do you have any type of income generated?
I make a living by a few ways actually, which keep me very busy. I had already started an Internet business back in January 2004, while I was living on the Swiss border. My business is Internet-based, so I can basically work anywhere in the world.
In addition to that, I knew I needed a work permit in order to stay in Canada long term. The way I found out about getting a job here in Canada was through
CIC Canada, and through Yahoo Groups, where I learned I could definitely get a job and immigrate to Canada.
The way I got a work permit here, was by applying for it through my employer who sponsored me. Some jobs are easier than others to get a work permit, just research this part. The instructions are pretty straightforward to follow. Since this is a job which is needed here in Canada, it took about 6 months to finally process everything and get approval. I found the job all on my own through the Internet while I was still living in Switzerland actually. Isn't technology great!
-Do you speak the local language and do you think it's important to speak the local language?
English is my native tongue which is the language spoken throughout most of Canada. However, there are many people who attend French Immersion classes and know French also. All packaging of food comes in French and English, sort of like what you see in Switzerland. There were only a few extra words I had to understand. One that stands out most is the Loonie which is a $1 coin and the Toonie which is a $2 coin. I still haven't come to saying "EH!" or "Aboot," but I'm sure it will come in due time.
-Do you miss home and family sometimes?
Initially I just missed Switzerland once I moved to Canada. I missed my friends the most. I keep in touch with my family through email and phone regularly, but I miss traveling more frequently around Europe.
I do enjoy where I live because we have everything you can imagine. The ocean is just a five-minute drive away while the mountains and skiing are just 10 minutes away. The only complaint I've got is that I miss the ease of public transport such as the trains in Switzerland, as well as the incredible biking and hiking trails throughout that country.
-Do you have other plans for the future?
I'm essentially taking it one step at a time. We are currently waiting for my immigration process to be completed. I'd love to see more of Canada though, but I'll always want to travel the world. More travels will certainly come in time.
-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?
We rent our apartment. Renting is very affordable but it really depends on which areas around Vancouver you live. In general a 1-bedroom apartment can range from $650 to $1100 per month to start. You can speculate the costs for bigger accommodations to be from $850 to $1500. If you want something more high scale you will pay between $1800 to $5000 per month.
Housing is very expensive in Vancouver. You can buy a reasonable apartment for under $300K. Condos start at $420K and up mostly. The cheapest house in our area starts at $520K but for a reasonable home you will spend $650K to $1 million. Of course, if you move outside of British Columbia, housing is much more reasonable. You can find houses starting at $120k in the province of Ontario and Quebec easily.
-What is the cost of living in Canada?
I'd say it's just slightly more expensive than the West Coast of the US. I'd also say it is fairly comparable to Switzerland. We pay 13% taxes here on all goods, which can be a big difference with larger purchases. Taxes on income are quite high also. I'm not an expert on rules so I'm always still learning.
-What do you think about the Canadians?
I fit in just the same, so really I can't say I've experienced this type of trouble. I've always been able to do this wherever I have lived though. The locals are very friendly and go out of their way to be polite for the most part.
-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Canada?
If you are not a legal resident, opening up a bank account, renting a house, or finding a job is very hard. Essentially it's the same as in any other foreign country.
-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Canada?
Do your research before you move. Yahoo Groups is a great resource for immigrating to Canada. Talk to other people, maybe even bloggers for great inside information.
-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Canada?
Expat Travels: From Switzerland to Canada
Flickr: Photos from thnkfst
CIC Canada
Yahoo Groups: Canadian Immigration
