Mr. Maple Leaf promised me a visa!

[Lily]

Utrobina, just look at RussianWind's line that is visible on the bottom of her posts

Serously, I know that it is a hard way to go, but on the other hand, a worst case scenario of my future in Canada looks to me somehow better than the normal case scenario of my future in Russia. Plus, I don't have a home in Moscow in order to return back. In theory, I could have a resort place at my mother's, but this is akin to total death  as there is no job and no life for me there.

I ask myself how Toronto is different to Chicago, the cuty where I lived and tried my marketability.

Utrobina, you are right that doctors and lawyers have a complex process to go in order to establish themselves in the profession. However, if compared with labourers, I still think that labourers have it harder, mainly because of different intellectual and educational levels. They seldom know languages well enough. They are the first who loses their wives, because wives find someone of an upper level. Educations mean information, flexibility, different mentality, willingness to network, knowledge to express themselves. If someone does not want to pursue the university for another time, they can try other opportunities. The bad thing only is when they don't look and don't see other opportunities

[docetae]

From my own experience, people who left Canada are not doing it most of the time because of struggling with difficulties. They do it because of their lack of flexibility and can not adapt their way of thinking to something totally new.

How many times I heard something bad about Canada because they don't have this or that ? People are still referring to their own country and don't try to see what is different and possible for them.

I wish you the best of luck and to the pleasure to see you one day on this side of the ocean !

[UTRO]

For some reason you consider that everybody who moves to your country must love it there a priori.

Absolutely not Russian Wind.
As I originally stated, below:

Immigration to Canada and Immigration period, isn't for everyone.

Please don't mistake me for some righteous narrow minded cad who believes that his country is superior.
My Member name here isn't Ronnie.
There are many things I dislike about my country which I far from Love. Immigration rules for one! 
I didn't go to Russia to marry a Damsel in distress.
There is an expression, of which I'm sure there is a variant in Russia too, 'I don't think My sh*t smells better than Yours'.

[RussianWind]

Please don't mistake me for some righteous narrow minded cad

Of course I don't 

[Jumper]

Lily congrats!  

That is great news!


If i remember correctly you had studied or worked in Chicago for some time?

Since i live here, and have visited Toronto,,
i can say you'll find as expected both many similarities and many differences!!
( i like both cities, but not to live in them,, since like many Americans , I prefer life in suburbia,not the big city)

Chicago is of course large and a bit more diverse ,
,few cities in the world besides new york would have the large cultural and  nationality mix of Chicago..
Toronto a bit more relaxed ,and a has a fairly large Ukrianian nationality base...?

[Lily]

Thank you AJ!

Yes, I often think how Toronto would be different from Chicago where I studied in 2002-2003. Chicago has a big Ukrainian community, called Ukrainian Village, and I even rented a home there, because it was reather comfortably to get to my school in the Loop from there. I befriended a few Ukrainians who gave me good advice about how to live there. But Chicago has an even bigger Polish community. I didn't know it until I landed there. Later T read that President Kennedy won his post thanks to lots of Poles in Illinois who voted for him, because of Kennedy's Polish brother-in-law.

One of my Chicagoan professor introduced me to an alumna who lives in T.O. Now we often write each other, she plans to leave T.O. and to settle in the States. She described me Toronto in a way, 'It's essentially the same as the U.S. but only on a smaller scale. Everything is less and smaller, and to a lesser extent.'

Another guy wrote that Toronto is like a 'one-storey America' (this is actually a known line from a Russian classic work of Ilf and Petrov, means a simple America). He meant that many of T.O. homes look like a large field of little houses with a few high-rises in downtown.

[Jumper]

Thank you AJ!

Yes, I often think how Toronto would be different from Chicago where I studied in 2002-2003.

ahh! and at that time, i was *just married*, which explains how i could possible miss that lily was in my "hood"!?!      

Chicago has a big Ukrainian community, called Ukrainian Village, and I even rented a home there, because it was reather comfortably to get to my school in the Loop from there. I befriended a few Ukrainians who gave me good advice about how to live there.
  I know the area well   We used to shop for groceries there,as they had familiar brands and things that other franchise stores do bot carry and made my ex-wife feel more at home, she still shops there ocassionally.   

 But Chicago has an even bigger Polish community. I didn't know it until I landed there. Later T read that President Kennedy won his post thanks to lots of Poles in Illinois who voted for him, because of Kennedy's Polish brother-in-law.

Chicago has a VERY large polish community..!! they jok ethat it is more than warsaw
 
One of my Chicagoan professor introduced me to an alumna who lives in T.O. Now we often write each other, she plans to leave T.O. and to settle in the States. She described me Toronto in a way, 'It's essentially the same as the U.S. but only on a smaller scale. Everything is less and smaller, and to a lesser extent.'

Another guy wrote that Toronto is like a 'one-storey America' (this is actually a known line from a Russian classic work of Ilf and Petrov, means a simple America). He meant that many of T.O. homes look like a large field of little houses with a few high-rises in downtown.

I would say this is a very accurate description.  "little america, or america's "hat" , i like Toronto.
I'm not a fan of cities in general,nicve places to visit and have fun, but not for me to live ,
but toronto has a nice atmosphere that is comfortable

 

[Lily]

AJ, what does it mean 'to be in your hood'?

[boaterguy]

AJ, what does it mean 'to be in your hood'?

  LOL He means you live in the same neighborhood or area!

[Jumper]

AJ, what does it mean 'to be in your hood'?

lol lily, boater guy is correct.

it is american ghetto "slang" for living in a certain area or neighborhood.

originally it  was associated with the unpleasant parts of any city,and still is.
for example parts of the southside,  and certain rougher areas of the west side of Chicago would be called "the hood" by its residents and by others.
It became kind of over used , and people started saying it as a  joke,
 "Hey now you're in  *my hood* "  wether the area was ghetto *rough* or not..
( neighborhood )

[Ridersfan]

 In between these cities, I heard that Moose Jaw has good outdoor hockey rinks.    

Yes it has some great outdoor rinks if you don't mind freezing. Currently a new indoor arena is being built. Moose Jaw is my hometown and I have lived here most of my 51 years. Not the most exciting place to live but there is a lot of Ukrainian heritage and culture here.

Lily, congratulations on being granted your visa. I hope that you find Canada to your liking and that your transition goes smoothly.

[Lily]

Now I am a holder of an immigration visa to Canada!

[Rina_G]

My congrats Lily!
Good luck on another side of ocean!

[Turboguy]

Wow, that is great news Lily.  Congratulations.

[SANDRO43]

Heartiest congratulations, Lily . How are you going to celebrate, a bath in maple syrup ?

[Lily]

Thank you my dears  So far I don't think that I am going to celebrate it in any way here. Celebration is good when shared, and I cannot share it with anyone but you gals and guys

Sandro, I did not forget that you asked me about that music chapter in book. Will post later, ok?

[OlgaH]

Congratulations Lily!!!

[SANDRO43]

Sandro, I did not forget that you asked me about that music chapter in book. Will post later, ok?

Lily, no need at all to hurry, I'm sure you have more important things on your mind now .

[sunandsail]

Congratulations Lily.   I remember you posting you were going to Toronto.   It is a beautiful city and from my visits one that seems to embrace a lot of cultures - cultures that appears to coexist more peacefully than perhaps elsewhere.

The boardwalk by Lake Ontario is a fun place to walk on a summer evening.

[IAmZon]

BIG Congrats!  I hope this is a good first step for you to find all that you are looking for ..

[JR]

Wow Lily, big step...Yay for you!!!!

[UTRO]

Lily! Congratulations, we are so so Happy for You!!

When do you intend on Landing?

Meanwhile, Welcome to Canuckstan!!! 

Dave and Sveta

[Lily]

Thank you all my darlings! 

UTRO, I am going to buy a ticket for May 22nd, it arrives on about early afternoon, Saturday in T.O.

By the way, does YYZ stands for Pearson airport?

[wiz]

Thank you all my darlings! 

UTRO, I am going to buy a ticket for May 22nd, it arrives on about early afternoon, Saturday in T.O.

By the way, does YYZ stands for Pearson airport?

Lester B. Pearson International (YYZ) Canada

Congratulations and good luck Lily

Wiz

[SANDRO43]

By the way, does YYZ stands for Pearson airport?

Yannis already replied. For similar future needs, check the Index of IATA 3-Letter Airport Codes (http://www.airport-technology.com/codes/) .