Julie's Immigration Story
This is Julie's Story. She immigrated to Canada as a single girl.
As a young adult, living in Europe, I was getting bored. I had a good job, friends and family, but I longed to explore more of this world. I had travelled Europe and England, now it was time to see the other side of the ocean!
My younger sister had been an exchange student to the United States 8 years earlier and she wanted to go back. We decided to go together. In order to stay for a longer period of time, we had to immigrate. I was unable to get a "green card" to enter the US, there was no need for people with my profession in the USA.
Then our focus turned towards Canada and we applied for immigration. We were successfull and one hot August day we arrived in Toronto, Canada
Later I would realize that this day was the beginning of my new life here. We stayed at a cheap hotel or bed and breakfast, and immidiately began looking for housing and jobs. I was lucky, within a week I found a job in an officetower along the lakeshore.
It was soon clear that I was overqualified and although the company offered to find me a transfer within the company, I found a better job a month later, where I stayed for the next 3 years. My sister had to rewrite a nurses exam which she passed and she was soon earning as well.
We rented a house near High Park with new friends we made, shared a car which we used to take trips to explore our new neighbourhood and surrounding towns and villages.
My new job allowed for lots of overtime, which I let accumulate in days off and after one year of working hard we were able to take 6 weeks of holidays which we spent traveling Canada and the US by Grey Hound Bus and a little bit of hitchhiking.
In the wintertime we would go skiing or go to winter carnivals, even the Quebec Winter Carnival. We'd go south to Mexico to climb the pyramids or sunbath in Alcapulco, summers spent camping in Alconquin or other provincial parks, viewing incredible wildlife.
Three years later I met my future husband, he was a young farmer renting a farm. We were able to buy our own farm in the countryside by the time we got married with the help of Farm Credit Corporation, who financed our mortgage. Our business grew with the help of Canadian Marketing Boards, which ensure a steady income and security. Canadian Banks provided us with operating loans at reasonable rates
I have taken several college courses over the years to update my education, computer, bookkeeping, agriculture and language. Courses can be taken online. As well as courses for fun like photography, sewing, flower arranging, crafts etc.
I am also a volunteer in my community, where I am a member of the local ladies service club. We became Canadian Citizens, which was one of the highlights of our life here.
By Julie
