I've Landed!

I did not succeed in finding employment under a Labour Market Opinion. I interviewed for one last week, but I wouldn't commit to the length of the contract (two years) because let's face it, I wasn't going to work in the kitchen at Julio's when I could be making some real money elsewhere. It was then that I knew I wouldn't be getting an LMO, so we made one more effort--entrepreneurship. I am by no means a business-minded individual, but I do have some great ideas for education, so we picked my best idea (a series of learning game apps that provide special education students remediation of prerequisite materials before learning new concepts, connected to a web-based database so teachers can monitor progress and easily tie it in to IEP goals) and I started writing a grant proposal complete with business plan.

Space Cats GCF game
(Yes, I was going to hire an animator)

The whole thing was actually kind of exciting, but at the same time I had a tough time writing it up because starting a business like this is so risky, and risk-taking like that is not my nature at all. Well I was writing up proposals for game apps and modules on Friday when I got the call from my father in law that the letter came from Immigration Canada. The letter specifically has written that applicants living in Canada are to either go to a border or the airport in order to officially land as a permanent resident. So Saturday we dropped the kids off at Courtney's parents and went to the airport. Upon finding the border services office, we were told that they couldn't do the job unless I landed on a plane, which isn't what the paper work said, but they wouldn't help us, so we drove to the border. 

It was a beautiful day, and we enjoy driving down to the border, so we didn't mind so much. I dropped Courtney off at the Canadian border office because leaving the country for her means she'll have to surrender her permanent residency card, which we didn't want to do on the same day for time reasons. I went through to American soil and turned around to land in Canada. I was expecting a drawn out interview, but the guard asked me two questions, "Have you been convicted of any crimes since filing?" and "Have you ever been fingerprinted?" (Which I have, for my teaching background check - they still let me in). We waited while he did some paperwork and then he called me out and declared me a permanent resident of Canada, with all the rights and privileges of a Canadian citizen, sans voting. That's right, I can now be as apologetic and hockey-crazed as an ordinary Canadian citizen. But more importantly, I can work. I can't teach right away--my application for an Alberta teacher's license is still in evaluation and I'll write more on that process later--but I can do just about anything else. We drove home with a sigh of relief, but also with anxiety to start looking for work.

Canadian Citizenship Ceremony

Source: McGill University

I had the privilege of attending a Canadian Citizenship Ceremony today. No, not my own (I'm not even approved as a permanent resident yet), but my brother-in-law's wife, who is from Jamaica. The ceremony room was filled with friends and family of the new Canadians. A judge gave a speech before the 81 applicants took the oath of Canadian citizenship. It was an excellent speech; a few things stuck out to me

• Canada is the "Great Experiment": Every American has been told that the United States is the Great Experiment--in democracy. Canada is apparently the Great Experiment in multiculturalism. Long ago the United States was a "melting pot" of ethnicity, but after over 200 years of immigration, people in the US predominantly see themselves as American because they are so far removed from their family's immigration to the States. While the race statistics are even more predominantly white in Canada, and the ancestral breakdown is not as diverse, it seems like a more diverse place. One thing I've noticed here is how many people identify with their ethnicity more than in the states. I feel like people retain their English accents for a while here (I hear them a lot) and it's okay to speak speak your native language (especially if it's French, which is the co-national language). The most common theme I've noticed is a general acceptance of all cultures and a lack of racism. I think that is what is meant by the Great Experiment. They don't just want to have many cultures living together, but they want to do so in an inviting way that promotes the spirit of community, and I think they do that very well.
• 'Many of you have come seeking refuge from oppressive governments, war-torn countries of fallen economies': That we be us. The third one, yeah, that's what we did.
• 'The country is made great through volunteerism': The judge advised the new citizens to volunteer, to become part of the community and help others, and also take advantage of the many programs offered by individuals volunteering to teach youth. I thought this was very wise of him to suggest. 
• 'Canada is the greatest country in the world. Not the most famous. Not the richest. But it is the greatest because it is the best place in the world to raise a family': Whether or not this is true, I cannot say with a great deal of certainty. What I can say is that Calgary is a very family-friendly city, and I am happy to start raising my family here now. 

When he finished, the immigrants stood and took the oath, then each was called to the podium to receive their certificate of citizenship and shook hands with the judge and an RCMP officer, better known by Americans as a Mountie (Royal Canadian Mounted Police). I thought this was fitting because you'll be hard pressed to find anything more Canadian than a Mountie in full dress uniform.

The question obviously was asked if I would get Canadian citizenship when I'd become eligible. I could think of three possible advantages of becoming Canadian:

1. I could vote. But seeing that our current riding has given 70% of the vote for the last six elections to an MP who is likely the next Prime Minister of Canada, I'm not sure if that matters much (it would be more important for city elections, though).
2. I could run for office, like City Councilor or the School Board. But hmpf. 
3. I wouldn't have to deal with the US government for a passport, about taxes, about, well, anything. That alone actually might make it worth it.
4. I could be disappointed when my Olympic hockey team doesn't win gold instead of pleasantly surprised when they do well or satisfied as long as they don't trash the Olympic Village housing like they're the Rolling Stones--oops, I don't think that was one of the reasons. But the Olympics are coming! If Ryan Miller or Jonathan Quick get hot, this could be the year (hahaha).

I finally got a job...sort of

I suppose I should mention that I finally found a way to work. I applied for many online tutoring jobs based in the US last month, but none of them got back to me. I did, however, get a response from an English tutoring business based in Taiwan. The entails me sitting at the computer with a webcam, leading groups of 1-6 clients from Taiwan and China in discussions provided by my employer, TutorABC. I'm able to do this job because the company functions out of Taiwan, so I pay Tawianese taxes and the whatnot and they deposit my check into my paypal account. It sounds pretty sketchy, but I figure if they were actually a shady business they'd promise to pay me more than $8.50 a session + performance bonus.
So for this menial salary (which, on average ends up being $10/hr) I get up at 4:30 AM to tutor people across the Pacific Ocean before they go to bed, and sometimes get a session in the afternoon, when they wake up. I don't get great hours, and I don't get many hours, but it's better than nothing. And I don't have to wear pants to work, which is cool.
This is where I am now, but better things are on the horizon, I think. More on that, later.

Immigration Consultants

Back in October I wrote about Mexi-Can, the company that 'imports' Mexican workers to come work in Canada. Even though I have an in with some people at the top they have not been able to do anything for me by means of finding work. I have been able to find other companies that recruit foreign workers for business, though. As I searched for international recruiters I also found a few immigration consultant agencies that supposedly help people get LMOs. I explained what this is in my very first post and I have explained it to so many people since moving here that I never want to talk about it again.
Well, one day I was contacted by an East Indian guy who called himself an immigration consultant who asked for some information about my situation, and HE told me that I didn't need an LMO. He said since I had been approved for sponsorship I should be able to get a work permit. I couldn't believe it, mainly because everything on the CIC (Canada Immigration and Citizenship) website says that you can't when you apply from outside the country. So I was suspicious, of course, especially when he told me he could get me work permit in a month if I pay him $1000 to file my paperwork (it costs $150 to do it yourself). I tell him, "This is incredible. I was approved for sponsorship over three months ago. If we had known we could do this we would have applied for it three months ago. That's when he tells me, "Oh, you were applied three months ago? Don't worry about getting a work permit. Your permanent residency should be approved within the next three weeks."
First of all, I'm dumbfounded, especially since I thought I would be consigned to a long 15 month wait (as per the website's information). He told me that those times are the longest processing times, for like conjugal partners applying. As an American who has been married five years, it should be quick. Second of all, I really start to question this guy's credibility. He obviously knows nothing about immigrating to Canada. Except he really threw me of because he was no longer trying to sell me a $1000 service.
So I start calling around for other opinions of immigration consultants in Calgary. The first two wanted me to come in for a consultation session and pay them $100 or more for a session. Finally, I got another East Indian guy, and he answered my questions. He confirmed that in my position I was ineligible for a work permit. I pressed him for a time estimate for a married American and he told me six of seven months. This was a little longer than the other consultant's estimate, but still short enough to give us some hope that we should get it soon.
I'm not sure if an immigration consultant can really help you decrease your processing time. Mainly I think that they just make sure that you have all your documents so you don't end up getting your paperwork sent back. I'm lucky to have a detail-oriented wife who would actually be a great immigration consultant. Now it's just a matter of waiting. I don't think we'll have to wait as long as I used to think, though.

Max Hall, CFL quarterback

Max Hall was the starting quarter back for three of my five years at BYU. His record was 30-6. I watched him throw some great passes to win big games. I also was present for a nightmare rivalry game on the road (5 INT, 1 Fumble lost), watched him track every intended receiver from the snap, and saw his top two receivers actually make great contributions in the NFL before being sidelined with injuries (Collie and Pitta). Hall's NFL career ended in glory--with a concussion on a daring play to make the end zone to lead his team to victory, and now he is settling out the twilight of his football career in Winnipeg. The following photos came from a search for Max Hall Winnipeg Blue Bombers and another Max Hall throws ball off goal post (He hit the goal post passing to a receiver in the end zone. And he hit it REALLY high). I hope you enjoy.

http://www.windsorstar.com/

o.canada.com/

www.winnipegfreepress.com

cbc.ca/

www.chrisd.ca

www.edmontonjournal.com

www.cbc.ca

www.windsorstar.com

www.chrisd.ca 

The Grey Cup

Let me first relate how I was bedazzled, upon moving to Calgary, by the Calgary Stampeders. I just happened to be moving to a city where the CFL team with the best record also called its home. Two weeks ago the ended their season on top and by so doing had home-field advantage in the Western Finals. Just so you know, this is amazing luck to walk into a winning sports team. At the time my sport-fan spirit was crushed by the average play of the 49ers, the sub-par play of the Bulls, another quick playoff exit for the A's, and a Sharks team that had just lost, like 4 of their last 6 games, and did not look nearly as super-human as they did in the first 8 games of the season. So I was excited to see them make it to the playoffs, but was not surprised when they promply lost to were steamrolled by the Saskatchewan Roughriders. 

The Stamps are one of eight CFL teams, the others residing in Vancouver, BC, Edmonton, AB, Regina, Saskatchewan, Hamilton, Ontario, Toronto, ON, Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Montreal, Quebec. The most prominent differences with American football are that there are 12 men on a 110-yard field, only three downs to get a first, legal forward movement before the snap by receivers (like the arena league), and the goal posts are positioned on the goal line of 20-yard deep end zones. The game is played a bit differently due to the rules, and I think it's entertaining, plus I like finding players from the states who I knew from their college ball days, like CJ Gable, and BYU's very own Max Hall (who led the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to a horrific season. In his defense, his O-Line was even worse than the one that protected him in his two-game starting stint with the Cardinals).
So last week we watched the Roughriders play the Hamilton Tiger Cats (affectionately known as the Ti-Cats) in the 101st Grey Cup. Yep, since 1909 when the University of Toronto Varsity Blues beat the Toronto Parkdale Canoe Club 26-6, the Grey Cup has been a staple of early winter in Canada (minus four years during The Great War). Courtney's dad watched the game with me with interest, rooting for Saskatchewan if for no other reason, just to see the West beat the East (it's a thing, a blog post should follow), because as far as I knew the only other game he had watched all year was the Stamps game a week before. Around town, though, people have the Stamps' logo on their car and on flags, just like the Flames (actually, due to the unfortunate season ahead for the Flames, I think I see more Stampeders logos). The city really supports their team, which is fun. For the Grey Cup kids on hockey teams sell tickets with game scores on them as a fundraiser (For a $2 ticket win $500 if your score is the endgame score, and so on). It most certainly is a part of Canadian culture, which I didn't think it would be.
Saskatchewan won this game quite easily behind a superb pass-rush and a record-breaking game by their running back. Maybe next year, Stamps.

American Thanksgiving in Canada

I love Thanksgiving. If for no other reason, for the pumpkin pie. It's my favourite. We were going to do a big American Thanksgiving feast, but as it approached, I just wasn't feeling it. I was craving some pie, though, so I made a couple on Thanksgiving to eat as I watched football on the couch all day. And that's when it hit me, if I'm not going to be with my whole family on Thanksgiving, the holiday is really just about football and pie. I don't need no stinkin' turkey. (Okay, who doesn't love leftover turkey. Next year for sure)

Quick note: Watching the two classic games (the Lions' and Cowboys' games) I realized Thanksgiving separates football fans into three groups of gratitude. 1) Lions fans: At least we have one of the most talented players to ever touch the planet (Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson) 2) Cowboys fans: At least we aren't Lions fans 3) Everyone else: A least we aren't fans of THOSE teams.

That being said, I did miss being with my family. First of all, because I love them. Second of all, I had no one to tell that great thought about gratitude of football fans. Courtney was out that night, so I had leftover pasta for dinner with the girls. Here's the spread for our three year old. In addition to pasta she wanted a pomegranate, orange melon, and tortilla chips. What more could one possibly ask for at Thanksgiving time?

The next day, of course, was Black Friday. Canadian retailers, for the first time ever, celebrated with huge sales like the stores in the States. The main flaw: everyone's working still. Some people did go out at 7:00 and got some good deals (Courtney went with a friend and saw a guy at Target try to sell a $100 32' TV. There was a whole display full of them. Untouched). The sales extended through the weekend, though. We went in the afternoon to Toys R Us, where it was busy, but not anything close to a Black Friday Toys R Us. It was nice to almost finish shopping for the girls in one stop. So it was different Of course Boxing Day comes up at the end of the month, and that's a different story. But we'll get there when we get there.