westcountrywandering

Wednesday’s Weekly Update No.8

I have, finally, got some good news to share this week and I’m going to tentatively say that I’m feeling quite excited. Last week was a bit of a turning point so if you missed the update, you can get up to speed here: Wednesday’s Weekly Update No.7

1. The Job interview. As you know, I had an interview yesterday for a TTOC position with District 57. The interview was far more rigorous than is usual for a supply teaching position in this country, but lets be honest, I loved the opportunity to wax lyrical about education! At the end they informed me that they were happy to welcome me to District 57. So that’s it, I have a job in Canada! And not just any job, being a TTOC is the perfect position to learn about and experience their education system, so I’m chuffed! Now the question is, does that mean we can go? Here is the current Covid-19 related guidance for temporary foreign workers from the Canadian government website:

As a worker, your travel is essential (non-discretionary) if you’re in either of these situations:
You’re a worker who meets all of the following:
– has a letter of introduction for a work permit (open or employer-specific)
– has a valid job offer
– can work once you enter Canada and complete your 14-day quarantine (unless you’re exempt)

Point one, the work visa, I’ve had in place since June. Point three, somewhere to quarantine, we have been renting a house in Prince George since July and I’m definitely keen to begin work once the 14 day quarantine is completed. Point two, valid job offer, we are painfully close. Immediately after the interview I sent though all the documents to confirm my qualifications and now all I’m waiting for is an email containing an official job offer/contract. Once that comes through we’re good to go. Finally.

2. Good news for Bally The Greyhound. In Wednesday’s Weekly Update No.5 I set out our increasingly expensive and absurd options for flying Bally to Canada. The Toronto option involved a 43 hour drive and the Vancouver option was double what we were originally quoted. Good news though, our Pet Travel Agent has confirmed the price of a flight to Vancouver and it’s not double the price we were originally quoted. Phew! It is more expensive. But what isn’t now, thanks to Covid-19? In a hilarious turn of events we also have to obtain a special permission for him to enter Canada. I really hope that involves some kind of citizenship test with questions such as ‘What experience does your animal have with bears?’. All being well, Bally should be able to fly to Vancouver once we have completed our quarantine. I’ll keep you posted on what the ‘special permission’ involves!

3. The plan. I’d love to report that it’s all systems go here. That I’ve fallen back in love with packing cubes and that we are busy saying teary goodbyes to loved ones. But for the moment we’re proceeding cautiously! We’ve had too many set backs to get excited until I have an official job offer to show to immigration. That said, my To Do List does have some enticing items including: sell the car* and print travel documents. We are planning to complete the two week quarantine in our rented house in Prince George. Which means that (with great disbelief that this could actually, finally, be happening) I’m also looking into getting the necessities for our two weeks of being house bound. Item number one on that list is getting the internet set up!

What’s Bothering Babs?

Babs’ question: How are you going to quarantine in your house, isn’t it unfurnished? Do you want to borrow an old beach lilo to sleep on?

Hum, thanks for the offer. It’s a good point though. It is a bit mad to spend two weeks trapped inside an empty house. I should explain that it would cost about £1000 to rent an AirBnB, money we’d be mad to spend when we are already renting a place. Plus, we just really want to get to the house. Thankfully, our lovely Landlady has offered to help with groceries. Plus we are planning to get a few things sent there in advance. At the very least, a mattress! So hopefully we won’t be needing the old beach lilo!

*It’s silver and it’s an Astra and it’s quite nice. Thus ends my knowledge. But if you need a car, hit me up, ‘cos that babies gotta go!

Wednesday’s Weekly Update No.7

I have good news and bad news to share this week! The IRCC (Canadian Consular in London) finally replied to my email. You can find out about my previous communication with the IRCC here: Part two: How Coronavirus derailed our plans for moving to Canada (scroll to May/June) and check out Wednesday’s Weekly Update No.5, which explains why I got back in touch with them three weeks ago

1. The bad news. For the fifth time Canada have extended their border closure with the USA. We’ve been here before, ya’ll know the score: we wait until the end of the month for the news that they are remaining closed to the rest of the world and the game goes on…

2. The good news. I have an interview with District 57 to be a Teacher Teaching On Call, basically a Supply Teacher. Good news indeed, as with a job I can enter Canada right now, but we mustn’t get too ahead of ourselves; this isn’t going to be a golden ticket into Canada. Assuming they want to employ me, I won’t have a formal job offer for weeks yet. It also may not lead to work for months because I have to have the BC Teaching Certificate in place before I can work as a TTOC. And as I explained in Wednesday’s Weekly Update No.3, getting certified can take months and months . But it is a foot in the door of District 57. And it is, finally, some positive news to share with you.

3. The IRCC’s reply. Frustratingly, the IRCC’s response was very similar to what they said in June. In short, they can only confirm that I can to ‘proceed’ to Canada, but my entry will depend on the decision of the boarder agent who processes me on arrival. Additionally, they issued another exemption letter. Let me remind you of our previous experience with one of their so called ‘exemption letters’: Part two: How Coronavirus derailed our plans for moving to Canada (scroll down to May for the unpleasant tale of how I was denied boarding!). The bright sparks among you may have noticed something about this game of Snakes and Ladders we’re unwittingly playing: we are right back with the same dilemma we were trying to figure out in my very first blog written in June: A little less arrogant about how far a British passport and a smile can get you.

Only this time it’s…

Option one: Attempt to fly.

Option Two: Give up.

What’s Bothering Babs?

Babs’ Question: “What are you going to do now?”

We’re not ready to give up yet. But believe me, we’re nearly at that point. Which means we’re going to throw everything we have at it, before accepting that 2020 has beaten us.

Step one: On Monday I emailed the IRCC back to get some confirmation on a few things, including… What does ‘proceed to Canada’ actually mean? I’ll keep you posted on their response.

Step two: Prepare for my interview.

Step three: As it really helps prove that our travel is non-discretionary, we are going to continue renting our house in Prince George for one final month.

Wednesday’s Weekly Update No.6

If you missed the previous update, here it is: Wednesday’s Weekly Update No.5. But in short, last week involved a lot of email sending and this week is involving a lot of waiting for replies.

Canadian Boarder. It’s that middle week again in this strange new normal of ours. The week where my disappointment about Canada not opening has worn off and, rather against my will, my hope starts to grow that Canada will reopen their boarders or make some concessions which would allow me to enter. Once again, we anticipate knowing more about the US/Canada boarder by the 15/16th, then the rest of the world/Canada boarder by the 31st. And once again there is little hope of anything changing.

Nomads again. After two weeks back in the East living in a friend’s house, while they were on holiday, we have now commandeered my sister’s house while they bask in the Cornish sun. At least if Canada all falls through we’ll have some reference should we take up a career as House Sitters.

Making a break for it?! You may remember that last week I told you about my emails to the IRCC London and IRCC Canada. We sent emails explaining our situation (not for the first time!) in the hope that they would offer advice and/or confirm that we (well, I) had permission to travel to Canada. We’ve been hinging our hopes, with regards to making a break for it, on their responses. And what have we heard? Nothing. Which is rather disappointing. Plus the super high temperatures in Southern England are not helping make the waiting game any less frustrating.

What’s bothering Babs?

Babs’ Question: Are you still renting a place in Canada?

Yes, but probably not for much longer. The 15th August, our agreed date to review the situation with the landlord, is creeping closer. Little is likely to change over the next three days so it appears we will probably have to give up the house.