Too early to go home, too early to decide to stay

Didn't snow on Friday...made a nice change.  Snowed yesterday though, snowing now.  Lots of snow here.  We blame the weather.

We've been here for 1/3 of a year now.  A pulse survey was issued last night to assess the mood in the camp. Three sections, free text responses. Participation was optional but encouraged, then a rumour went around that 100% participation was expected and the mood changed to one of compliance.  The surveys covered:

1. Things that I like/love about Canada
2. Things that are annoying in Canada
3. Things that "grind my gears" in Canada

When the survey closed participation was at 100%.  I put this down to enthusiasm, engagement but mainly because all partcipants had to put up with me standing over them threateningly until they completed the survey.  Early analysis shows a trend towards snow and snow related matters, although I am advised that the results are not scientifically significant, unlike the snow, which is everywhere.

Results are below and completely anonymous so that no one can ever tell who said what:

Things that I like/love about Canada

• The weather, scenery, elements, space, walking around,
• Snow
• Not working nights
• Cheap travel to the city
• The city
• Watching the small person play in the snow (learning to play)
• "Christmas, because there was no school"
• "Weekends, when we go somewhere"
• Bayblades

Things that are annoying in Canada

• Mummy shouting at me
• Not having a car
• Not working
• The boredom
• Not enough salt on the pavements
• Too much salt in the food (none left for the pavements I guess)
• Snow
• Cars turning right on a red regardless
• Letting the kids watch TV at school lunchtime

Things that "grind my gears" in Canada

• nil
• nothing yet
• The Ghost ride at SnoopyLand...oh, and all rollercoasters!

So analysis tells us that the one with the job would like more time away from work.  The one without the job wants to go to work. The one that gets all of the attention wants more attention and everyone wants a car.

Action planning is now in place, to buy a car and to go somewhere at weekends.  Snow is predicted for the next 40 days so additional tunnel digging is being discussed.  A snow man may appear at some point, although it remains the wrong type of snow for now.  Tickets to Snoopyland have been purchased, but we won't be going on the ghost ride - no way.

Wanted Abroad?

Many years ago I worked in a building 2 miles from my home.  I saw my colleagues everyday that I was at work.  We socialised together - within my terms as an introvert obviously, no clubbing or dancing.  My whole world was very small back then.  Over the years my jobs changed, I moved firms.  My colleagues and I worked in different buildings, over time in different countries.  My parents retired to continental Europe.  My world gradually got bigger although I hadn't physically moved. 

Today I work everyday, over the phone, IM and email, with friends in at least 6 countries.  If we are talking about colleagues rather than friends then that is more like 20 countries.  There is a saying that the world is a much smaller place these days. At the risk of sounding like Sheldon - no, the world has not got smaller.  Travelling just got quicker.

My job is global but the world isn't. Global is a philosophical concept not a map location.  This has been brought home to me these last few months...

I went to the US in November and had to spend a fair while at border control answering questions about the purpose of my travel.  I was simply going to meet, face to face, people I work with every day.  Seems that I need a visa to do that, something about protecting US jobs from folks overseas...I was confused.  The act of being in the same room caused the drama.  Banned from re-entry pending a visa.

My husband is looking for work here.  He has a visa that permits him to work in Ontario, but finding a role is hard because whilst he has the paperwork that says it is okay, there are now laws that restrict firms from hiring temporary foreign workers.  It is to do with protecting the opportunities of more permanent folks, and we get that, but the grit in the wound is that we are being taxed on our Worldwide income...so our logic goes "not keen for him to work here, and contribute, but happy to tax him for work elsewhere.

There are borders everwhere and it is all about tax and $'s. I know that it is for security too, but not at this level.  As my knitting friend said to border security when they questioned her having knitting needles on a flight "I am knitting a jumper, not an Afghan!" 

I have been listening to the BBC this week - they are all afeared of Romanian invaders.  For folks in Europe, debating being in the EU and fearing an influx of folks I say "come live here for a few months, and remind yourself what the borders mean...they prevent you doing what you take for granted; they see you paying huge taxes accross a border; the import taxes of food stuffs is enormous; paperwork and beaurocrachy slows things down and you end up supporting people who are taking out of society whilst preventing them from contributing.  You kind of get the thing you are trying to avoid.

When does it start getting like Star Trek where we all work on the same blue sphere?

Happy New Year

I love New Year, the season not the party party part.  Never a fan of social gatherings New Years Eve is my introvert hell.  Forced to go out, and stay out for hours. You can't call it a night and slope of home early without people thinking you are an alien.  It's great in movies but in real life it has always felt like a night at the pub that went on 2 hours too long.  Not a problem these days though, as having a kid is the best excuse to stay in at the end of December.

Two of my dearest but long lost friends have their birthdays on New Years Eve. They both used to share stories of being forgotten rather than celebrated....too much party spirit to notice they wanted a party.  As you can tell December is far from being my favorite month.  I have a genuine physical reaction to all of the "joy and wonder".  December sees me having to consciously manage my health for fear of slipping downwards.  My black dog, as Winston would say.

But that's why I love New year! because it is the start of the journey! the possibilities! the adventures.  Horticulturally I can start to plan my veggies,. Thinking beans, cucumbers, tomatoes  and lettuce.  Its not clear yet if that will be in the tiny back yard or in a comunity garden.  Fingers crossed for the later.  Crossed extra tight.

A few years back I took an online course called big-dreams-small-wonders.  I needed some motivation to redirect my life.  I had lots of ideas but everything seemed impossible.  Like many people I was happy enough but not content.  It felt too easy to just carry on in the same routine.  I don't mind routine in small measures, but the idea of thinking big was inviting.  The course helped me work out what I wanted in my life and what I could happily let go of. I dreamt of a move abroad, for adventure and working through the course helped me go from "that happens to other people" to  "I want to do that.  I will do that". And I did.

The course is hosted by my friend Louise.  We worked together 10 years ago.  When she left I got her desk. I sat in her chair and I saw the view from the window that she saw...not sure if that was inspiration to live life, or a desire not to spend years staring at a 1960s block of flats in West Croydon.  There are people who talk about doing stuff and there are people who DO stuff.  Louise is my inspiration to do the latter.

So, starting Monday, I am taking the course again.  It's fun and helps me to focus on what I want to do rather than being carried through life on a cloud of "busy, coffee and wine".  I see wine in my future though, let's not be ridiculous here.  But it's too easy to get tied up in busy stuff and forget yourself. And my husband wants me to visualize getting him a Land Rover Discovery..." You got us to Canada, now we need a car"