no more trips to grafton street, no more going there

[canadianchia]

I guess I haven't written anything besides interview questions in a while, so here's a real post. I briefly mentioned this before, but the bank did return all the money to my account that was charged by the guy who stole my bank card number. That was a big help, because it had been really really stressful not being able to access my money at all

Comments

[mkdonut]

I was long distance for the first half of our engagement and it was so tough, everything was uncertain- his leaving school and finding a job, me quitting my job to try going back to school, and we just got really lucky. We set a date the week we got engaged and then I got into nursing school and found out I'd be in super stressful classes and taking finals up until the week before the wedding.

But what is meant to be will be even if you do end up long distance- we lived together all summer 2008, he left for grad school and we became long distance, got engaged and were still long distance- it made us want to be together even more.

Hang in there!

We also waited from April to August for his employment to become officially approved (gov't clearance forms and background investigation)! He got it, but waiting to know officially was hard!

[canadianchia]

Yeah, I know doing long distance is possible - I mean, we were long distance for 2.5 years before I came up here. I just don't want to have to go back to that after living with him, you know? But hopefully it won't come to that. *crosses fingers*

Thanks!

[mkdonut]

I really hope you find a job in your field soon! Does Canada allow substitute teachers like the US? and does part time work count as enough to get a work permit? What about temp agencies? I know you'll find something soon :)

[canadianchia]

Thanks, me too! I'm sure they do have subs, but I doubt they'd hire an American as a sub, or even a regular teacher, because they've probably got plenty of qualified Canadians for that. Probably the same deal with temp agencies. And yes, part-time work can count for getting a work permit, but you still have to be qualified.

[mkdonut]

I hope the background stuff gets through soon!

Have you thought about volunteering somewhere or tutoring kids? That would be a way to make connections at/near places you might want to work. Just a thought- volunteering is rewarding and can be a lot of fun.

Also, if you have any neighbors with kids you could babysit them for some extra money, and that's tax free :)

[canadianchia]

I have volunteered before and absolutely loved it, but unfortunately I don't think that's an option right now. I asked my contact at the school board if it would be possible for me to work on a volunteer basis, and he said that could be dicey with the unions. And I have been looking for babysitting jobs as well, but it seems most people are looking for full-time nannies, which a) would involve taxes in most cases, and b) I would feel bad taking a position like that knowing that I'm trying to find a full-time job and that I'd leave as soon as I got one. So I'm definitely trying here; it's just nowhere near as easy/simple as looking for a job in the States would be.