Wednesday’s Weekly Update No.9

WE’VE MADE IT!!! Five months after I was meant to arrive and seven months after we moved out of our house: we arrived in Canada on Monday (31st August)! I’m still in utter disbelief, but absolutely ecstatic to be here. I’ll write a more detailed blog about the experience of emigrating during a global pandemic when I’m a little less jet lagged. But for now, read on to find out why we were finally able to leave the UK.

1. What happened over the last week? As you know from Wednesday’s Weekly Update No.8, by last Wednesday we were tantalizingly close to having everything in place, we just needed the paper work from my new employer. The official documents came through from District 57 (my new employer) on Thursday. However, while there was a contract there was no official offer letter with the word ‘congratulations’ and an official start date on letter headed paper. Knowing that my job status would (literally) need to be in black and white for immigration to let me in, I emailed back requesting an official job offer letter. Thankfully, they obliged the next day. So by the end of the day on Friday we had all the paper work we needed. During Friday and Saturday we said goodbye to our grandparents, set up the internet in our house in Canada and packed our bags. On Sunday we bought our plane tickets, using the credit note from the time we were denied boarding. The next day, Monday, our oldest friend (and brother-in-law) drove us to Heathrow Airport. Hardly anyone knew that we were going; instead of a teary goodbye my Mum and I chuckled about who would cook tea after we got back from Heathrow, because I was so convinced something would go wrong.

2. The flight(s) and immigration. We cleared though the screening (to check that your travel to Canada is non-discretionary) at Air Canada’s check-in desk with relative ease (the only issue, ironically, being with one of Jacob’s documents). This was the point at which we were informed that I was not permitted to travel back when we tried to go in May, so this felt like a good start. Fueled with Yo Sushi! we boarded the plane and nine nervous hours later we touched down in Vancouver. Nine hours is a long time to wait to hear your fate. I’d love to tell you that I was as cool as a cucumber, but that would be a complete lie. Thankfully, because so few people are arriving into Vancouver at the moment we were at the front of the passport queue in no time. The boarder services agent checked the documents which proved we were entering for work, checked our quarantine plan and stamped our passports. Round one complete. After collecting our bags I headed to immigration alone for the final hurdle. Far from the sour faced driving test type I was expecting, the chap who processed my visa was delightful. After some minor hiccups with their printer, I skipped out to meet Jacob officially a Temporary Foreign Worker in Canada. After a short, but extremely atmospheric, flight to Prince George, over the mountains and into the sunset, we arrived at our final destination.

4. What next? When our quarantine plan was checked upon arrival at Vancouver we were warned that breaking it could result in a million dollar fine. So first things first, we’re staying inside for 14 days! Once this is completed our top priority is getting the final team member, Bally-the-Greyhound, here. As well as attending an online training session for my new job, I need to complete all the usual immigration tasks: bank account, social insurance number, driving licence. Oh and we’re in our beautiful, but unfurnished, house. So we’ve got a bit of shopping to do! Thankfully, our wonderful landlady sorted us a bed ready for our arrival, but I’m ready to eat dinner not sat on the floor!!

What’s Bothering Babs?

Babs’ Question: What was the flight like?

Really, really pleasant. We had a full row to ourselves and the plane to Vancouver was basically empty. I can’t say I enjoyed having to wear a mask for 25 hours but, you gottta do whatcha gotta do! I can’t wait to write a full blog about the whole experience: how it compared to flying pre-covid, the screening which took place to check if we had any symptoms and the incredible flight into Prince George.