I don't know why the time I take now between writing my posts seems to be getting longer and longer. Maybe because I have just been busier with other things...or there does not seem to be enough to write about.
Some things that have been going through my mind recently:
I just met a lady the other day, who was a Doctor in India, but because of the weird Canadian system of not taking another country's educational degree as a valid one, is not a Doctor in Canada. Did you know that it is not legal for her to use the title 'Dr' in front of her name here until she is certified and licensed with the Canadian degree? I thought, poor lady..going through all those years of studying and being called a Doctor in India and being treated with so much respect there, but is a 'nothing' here. She catches three buses and two subways to reach her twice a week course in Toronto, and comes home to her five year old (who stays with a neighbour) at 11.30 pm. Her husband works the three to three shift at a factory, and comes home only at 3.30 am. She was a Doctor in India??!!
We just started Christmas shopping! I love the stores here, the decorations in front of the houses, and the music that seems to be playing from every nook and corner of every mall...enticing shoppers to buy things no one could possible ever need.
Suddenly noticed the number of groups, agencies, homes etc advertising on t.v and newspapers for donations. Christmas is the time to give and there are plenty out here who seem to need. From homeless, to underpriveledged to the sick. It is nice to see so many people give their time, as well as money and actually go out in the cold to stand in lines to help those more deserving. Many familes take their kids too, to teach them the art of giving the time to help others.
We were so excited about snow initially. From 'Hey come and look at this, it's SNOWING!', now it is...'Oh, it's snowing again!'. Shovelling the snow is a real pain. You have to shovel it during the snow fall, before it gets too high and hard. We learnt this the hard way. The snow piles around the driveway where it meets the street were so hard by the time we decided to clear it, that we couldn't! Now there is just enough space for us to reverse the car out! Luckily the rest of the driveway is clear.
Melting snow refreezes. This ice makes it dangerous to walk on sidewalks without being careful. Roads become so slippery and you see cars sliding all over the side streets which are not cleared like the main roads are.
In a week, we are off to the United States. We decided to drive to Ohio where we will spend Christmas with a friend and then to Nashville to visit my sister-in-law.
Will write all about our trip when we're back..in the meantime,
HAPPY NEW YEAR to everybody!!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Monday, November 10, 2008
Monday, and the cold week ahead...
This morning my family woke up extra early. Today was special..it was my nephews second birthday. He was in India, and both my kids were feeling sad that they were missing his party. So, we planned to get onto Skype at 7am our time, and 5.30pm Indian time, and with the help of technology, we were able to see the entire party and sing the birthday song along with the crowd. It was nice....almost like being there. I also got to talk to many of my friends who reminded me of the life I left behind in India. Yes.....they rubbed it in!!
Lots of thoughts as I sit to write my post today:
First, our shipment from India came finally.....after three months at sea and practically going all around the world. It was NOT home delivered like you see in the movies.
First, we had to go to the bank and make a deposit in the shipping companys bank account. Then they sent us the clearance by email and told us which warehouse our things were in. Then we went to the warehouse, where they told us that we would have to come back with the clearance from customs to be able to pick up our stuff.
So the next morning, my husband and I drove to the customs office, near the airport. I have to say that the officers there were extremely polite, smart and knew exactly what kind of questions to ask. Our things were all old and used, mostly clothes, book and the kids toys. After putting a value on our goods, which we did ourselves, they decided not to charge any amount as they were all personal things and as immigrants you are allowed a one time shipment. We were thrilled!
Then, we went to the warehouse. This is where we kind of hit a road lbock in the sense that, they said they would deliver the boxes to our driveway (not anywhere inside your house) and you have half and hour to take all the boxes and give them back the skids. Skids are the wooden frames that they put all your boxes on, which can be lifted by the forklift. Now, we were talking about a lot of boxes and just two of us, (the driver of the truck was not going to help). Also, they would charge 200 dollars for delivery and an extra 40 dollars for every half hour after the first thirty minutes. It was just too crazy, so we decided we would pick up and take the goods home ourselves.
Renting a U-haul, we brought the boxes home in two installments. They were crated, so at home we got a crowbar to open the boxes and then unpack all the things as we opened them.
My husband left for India the same week, so after he left I spent the week opening crates and lugging things from the garage into the house and finding a place for everything. The kids were so happy to see their things........my daughters stuffed toys, her puzzles, her nintendo ds (which was packed in the shipment by mistake) and my sons Harry Potter books, chess board and remote control car. Little things to us...but big things to them!
The week he wasn't here, the kids slept with me in our bedroom. We double checked all the doors at night and got phone numbers from the neighbours just in case of a middle of the night emergency! It was great that I got my license, because I was able to drive to the stores, school and library, instead of being stuck at home all day or depending on someone else. You learn to be self-suffient here, which in a way is a good thing.
It gets dark by 4.45 or so now, which is so strange. You start to feel sleepy earlier because of all that darkness, and it takes some time to get used to the fact that there is so much happening outside even though it is dark.
We went for Madagascar last week, reached the theatre which was unusually crowded and packed with kids. By the time we got to the front of the ticket line, all the tickets for Madagascar were sold out and we ended up watching High School musical. My daughter loved it, my son told us midway that he was not feeling well and my husband and I finally understood that time has caught up with us...and we did not see what was so great about the movie!!
This week we booked tickets online and saw Madagascar yesterday. It was great! Had a nice weekend with the kids.........oh yea, Sunday school. Both kids have speaking parts in the Christmas pageant two weeks from now. They have to try out their costumes next week as well as the dress rehearsal and carol singing practice.
On the business front, we have started advertising our products and services, flyers went out today in a local newspaper, and we took part in an artisan show and had a stall. Keeping our fingers crossed that some sort of billing starts and we get the business off of the ground.
Just listening to so many immigrants I have come to a few conclusions:
1. The majority of the immigrants you see are qualified to be doing much more than what they are. Doctors and Lawyers from India are now security officers or bagging groceries at walmart. Most of them are doing classes or courses to get certification to practice what they are qualified for. For many, this can take years.
2. Many families want to go back to India...they realize that they made a big mistake in immigrating. But they can't because they have burnt their bridges in India, or sold everything they had to come here. Ego.....with everyone in India thinking the family here is doing we well, how can they go back and say they didn't make it?
3. Many of the double income couples have one set of aging parents here to take care of the kids. How unfair is this? The older people cannot drive, speak english (the majority) or do anything else all day but take care of the kids and the house keeping. Many of these older people want to go back to India, but they can't because they are dependent on their children who need them in Canada.
4. The ones that do make it here..........the very few...........are the lucky ones. The majority have both husband and wife working (in India many of the wives had the priviledge of staying at home and taking care of the kids and home), as well as taking care of all the housework once they get home. No cooks, maids or drivers........many have left these behind in India to make 'it' here in Canada.
5. I also noticed that many of the immigrants I spoke to, either did not have a job yet in India or had a low paying job. There was no way they could have afforded a car or a home, but here in Canada, with most low paying jobs, you can still get credit or a loan and buy these things. For many immigrants, the car and home is their dream come true...............
6. So it really depends what kind of a life you had in India that you left to come here, that eventually determines your happiness and how you settle down. For some it is a struggle, for some it is an opportunity to acheive more than they ever dreamed.
I had this post drafted so many times without posting it. Finally I have down so much of what I have been waiting to say..........
This week, we had our t.v on all day watching the terror that unfolded in Mumbai. My father-in-law always stays at the Taj or the Oberoi and we called India immediately to find out where he was. Luckily, he did not have a meeting that week and was safe at home in Chennai. But his friend lost his wife in the Taj shooting and I lost my senior from school. Ashok Kamte, one of the three top cops who died the first day. He leaves behind his wife and two small children. For Indians abroad who watched from so far away, it was hard not be be able to be one of those lighting candles or taking part in the peace rallies.
Happy Thanksgiving to all those in the U.S, and oh..........twenty four more shopping days till Christmas!!
Peace.............!
Lots of thoughts as I sit to write my post today:
First, our shipment from India came finally.....after three months at sea and practically going all around the world. It was NOT home delivered like you see in the movies.
First, we had to go to the bank and make a deposit in the shipping companys bank account. Then they sent us the clearance by email and told us which warehouse our things were in. Then we went to the warehouse, where they told us that we would have to come back with the clearance from customs to be able to pick up our stuff.
So the next morning, my husband and I drove to the customs office, near the airport. I have to say that the officers there were extremely polite, smart and knew exactly what kind of questions to ask. Our things were all old and used, mostly clothes, book and the kids toys. After putting a value on our goods, which we did ourselves, they decided not to charge any amount as they were all personal things and as immigrants you are allowed a one time shipment. We were thrilled!
Then, we went to the warehouse. This is where we kind of hit a road lbock in the sense that, they said they would deliver the boxes to our driveway (not anywhere inside your house) and you have half and hour to take all the boxes and give them back the skids. Skids are the wooden frames that they put all your boxes on, which can be lifted by the forklift. Now, we were talking about a lot of boxes and just two of us, (the driver of the truck was not going to help). Also, they would charge 200 dollars for delivery and an extra 40 dollars for every half hour after the first thirty minutes. It was just too crazy, so we decided we would pick up and take the goods home ourselves.
Renting a U-haul, we brought the boxes home in two installments. They were crated, so at home we got a crowbar to open the boxes and then unpack all the things as we opened them.
My husband left for India the same week, so after he left I spent the week opening crates and lugging things from the garage into the house and finding a place for everything. The kids were so happy to see their things........my daughters stuffed toys, her puzzles, her nintendo ds (which was packed in the shipment by mistake) and my sons Harry Potter books, chess board and remote control car. Little things to us...but big things to them!
The week he wasn't here, the kids slept with me in our bedroom. We double checked all the doors at night and got phone numbers from the neighbours just in case of a middle of the night emergency! It was great that I got my license, because I was able to drive to the stores, school and library, instead of being stuck at home all day or depending on someone else. You learn to be self-suffient here, which in a way is a good thing.
It gets dark by 4.45 or so now, which is so strange. You start to feel sleepy earlier because of all that darkness, and it takes some time to get used to the fact that there is so much happening outside even though it is dark.
We went for Madagascar last week, reached the theatre which was unusually crowded and packed with kids. By the time we got to the front of the ticket line, all the tickets for Madagascar were sold out and we ended up watching High School musical. My daughter loved it, my son told us midway that he was not feeling well and my husband and I finally understood that time has caught up with us...and we did not see what was so great about the movie!!
This week we booked tickets online and saw Madagascar yesterday. It was great! Had a nice weekend with the kids.........oh yea, Sunday school. Both kids have speaking parts in the Christmas pageant two weeks from now. They have to try out their costumes next week as well as the dress rehearsal and carol singing practice.
On the business front, we have started advertising our products and services, flyers went out today in a local newspaper, and we took part in an artisan show and had a stall. Keeping our fingers crossed that some sort of billing starts and we get the business off of the ground.
Just listening to so many immigrants I have come to a few conclusions:
1. The majority of the immigrants you see are qualified to be doing much more than what they are. Doctors and Lawyers from India are now security officers or bagging groceries at walmart. Most of them are doing classes or courses to get certification to practice what they are qualified for. For many, this can take years.
2. Many families want to go back to India...they realize that they made a big mistake in immigrating. But they can't because they have burnt their bridges in India, or sold everything they had to come here. Ego.....with everyone in India thinking the family here is doing we well, how can they go back and say they didn't make it?
3. Many of the double income couples have one set of aging parents here to take care of the kids. How unfair is this? The older people cannot drive, speak english (the majority) or do anything else all day but take care of the kids and the house keeping. Many of these older people want to go back to India, but they can't because they are dependent on their children who need them in Canada.
4. The ones that do make it here..........the very few...........are the lucky ones. The majority have both husband and wife working (in India many of the wives had the priviledge of staying at home and taking care of the kids and home), as well as taking care of all the housework once they get home. No cooks, maids or drivers........many have left these behind in India to make 'it' here in Canada.
5. I also noticed that many of the immigrants I spoke to, either did not have a job yet in India or had a low paying job. There was no way they could have afforded a car or a home, but here in Canada, with most low paying jobs, you can still get credit or a loan and buy these things. For many immigrants, the car and home is their dream come true...............
6. So it really depends what kind of a life you had in India that you left to come here, that eventually determines your happiness and how you settle down. For some it is a struggle, for some it is an opportunity to acheive more than they ever dreamed.
I had this post drafted so many times without posting it. Finally I have down so much of what I have been waiting to say..........
This week, we had our t.v on all day watching the terror that unfolded in Mumbai. My father-in-law always stays at the Taj or the Oberoi and we called India immediately to find out where he was. Luckily, he did not have a meeting that week and was safe at home in Chennai. But his friend lost his wife in the Taj shooting and I lost my senior from school. Ashok Kamte, one of the three top cops who died the first day. He leaves behind his wife and two small children. For Indians abroad who watched from so far away, it was hard not be be able to be one of those lighting candles or taking part in the peace rallies.
Happy Thanksgiving to all those in the U.S, and oh..........twenty four more shopping days till Christmas!!
Peace.............!
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Halloween Fun!
What is Halloween? This is the day your child will want to walk on and on and on, and not once say, 'I'm feeling tired, let's go home'.
What can I say......it was an evening of fun watching all the kids (and some teens and adults too) dress up in all kinds of different costumes, knocking on strangers doors and getting bag fulls of treats!
This is a day when most people, whether they have kids or not, will sit by their door with a bowl of candy, appreciating all the different costumes and maybe even saying hi to a neighbour for the first time.
Around six in the evening, both my kids put on their costumes and got ready with their treat bags. My son was Harry Potter and my daughter was Hannah Montana. Yes, blonde wig and everything!
We, yes, me too.........set out and started on one end of our street and made our way all the way around to the other side and back home. Parents follow their children around to make sure they don't get into any trouble. Some children are also too small to go alone and are too shy to knock on doors. I also saw some who were the opposite of shy, demanding more than what they got!
We got back home, emptied the bags and then went around to the street behind our house, as some of my sons friends lived there. By the time we went around two more blocks of houses, some of them decorated like the scene from a scary movie with sound effects and everything, it started to get too dark and we went back home. We had kids knocking on our door too and at around nine we put our porch and front hall lights off so that no one would come after that.
After dumping all the candy, lollipops, chocolate, chips and drinks on the floor, both my kids took stock of their 'loot' and seperated them into different piles according to whether they liked the treat or not. One lady gave them cans of baked beans (yes I checked the expiry dates) and another lady gave them cans of Coke. So, some people give away strange things too.........
With enough chips to last a month of school snack time, my kids put their costumes away and agreed on one thing.........Halloween rocked!
Tomorrow we put away all our Halloween decorations..........and get ready for the next merchandising event.........Christmas!!
HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO EVERYONE !
What can I say......it was an evening of fun watching all the kids (and some teens and adults too) dress up in all kinds of different costumes, knocking on strangers doors and getting bag fulls of treats!
This is a day when most people, whether they have kids or not, will sit by their door with a bowl of candy, appreciating all the different costumes and maybe even saying hi to a neighbour for the first time.
Around six in the evening, both my kids put on their costumes and got ready with their treat bags. My son was Harry Potter and my daughter was Hannah Montana. Yes, blonde wig and everything!
We, yes, me too.........set out and started on one end of our street and made our way all the way around to the other side and back home. Parents follow their children around to make sure they don't get into any trouble. Some children are also too small to go alone and are too shy to knock on doors. I also saw some who were the opposite of shy, demanding more than what they got!
We got back home, emptied the bags and then went around to the street behind our house, as some of my sons friends lived there. By the time we went around two more blocks of houses, some of them decorated like the scene from a scary movie with sound effects and everything, it started to get too dark and we went back home. We had kids knocking on our door too and at around nine we put our porch and front hall lights off so that no one would come after that.
After dumping all the candy, lollipops, chocolate, chips and drinks on the floor, both my kids took stock of their 'loot' and seperated them into different piles according to whether they liked the treat or not. One lady gave them cans of baked beans (yes I checked the expiry dates) and another lady gave them cans of Coke. So, some people give away strange things too.........
With enough chips to last a month of school snack time, my kids put their costumes away and agreed on one thing.........Halloween rocked!
Tomorrow we put away all our Halloween decorations..........and get ready for the next merchandising event.........Christmas!!
HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO EVERYONE !
Sunday, October 26, 2008
For Halloween, which is on the 31st of October, most families decorate their homes with pumpkins carved out to look like scary faces, spider webs, black cats, skeletons and some even have fake grave stones. Read my post of the origins of Halloween and you will get an idea of why all the gore! This is a picture of the outside of our house. The web is made of a nylon net material, and it sticks to the wall with the fibre. You can stretch and pull it in any direction.......very cool.....as my kids say!
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Ramblings..
With no specific topic in mind...I thought I'd begin this post with something that has been happening here in a place called Barrie, near Toronto.
About two weeks ago, a fifteen year old boy had a fight with his parents because he had been playing with his Xbox day and night, until it had became an addiction. He was playing online with friends as well as with strangers, and his behaviour at home had changed to the extent that he would break things whenever his parents confiscated the Xbox.
He ran away from home on Thanksgiving day. He has been missing ever since. The day before yesterday, his parents said they would give five thousand dollars to anyone who has any information on the missing teen. Today, after the parents kept adding to the amount and made it 25 thousand, Microsoft Canada added another 25k making it a total reward of 50,000 dollars.
The police suspect that someone who had been playing the online version of the game may have lured the boy away for 'whatever' reasons. Because of the reward money ,people from hundreds of kilometres away are driving in to Barrie to help find the missing boy. (I have to say that many people are also joining the search, not for the reward, but because they just feel like helping)
Microsoft is looking at the boys Xbox to find out who the online players were. So far the Xbox had about two hundred online tagged names. The police are now looking at that list to look for leads. His bicycle was found in a ditch, which was not good news.....anyway, will keep you posted.
But why I brought this up was to warn parents who are reading this about the dangers of kids playing games online. Stranger Danger is out there....so please make sure you know what your kids are doing online!!
Driving around today we noticed many houses with pumpkins, skeletons, spider webs and scare crows outside...............which can mean only one thing here..........Halloween!
Speaking of Halloween, we decorated the outside of our house today too! With a fake spider web going across the wall outside the house, to a cute halloween sign hanging from our doorway. This is so that kids know they can come to our house for candy. (will put up pictures by tomorrow) Homes with no decor means that there is no candy being given away there. Both my kids are very excited and have already planned to go to all the houses on our street.
Here's wishing everyone a HAPPY DIWALI!! Firecrackers are on sale here in stores but so far don't know if you can actually burst them on the street in front of your house or not. Will wait and see what others are doing and then write about it here!
It was down to minus two degrees with wind chills of minus ten this last week and snow is predicted for Tuesday. So it looks like winter is about to begin..........something I'm not sure I'm looking forward too!!
Until later............
take care!
About two weeks ago, a fifteen year old boy had a fight with his parents because he had been playing with his Xbox day and night, until it had became an addiction. He was playing online with friends as well as with strangers, and his behaviour at home had changed to the extent that he would break things whenever his parents confiscated the Xbox.
He ran away from home on Thanksgiving day. He has been missing ever since. The day before yesterday, his parents said they would give five thousand dollars to anyone who has any information on the missing teen. Today, after the parents kept adding to the amount and made it 25 thousand, Microsoft Canada added another 25k making it a total reward of 50,000 dollars.
The police suspect that someone who had been playing the online version of the game may have lured the boy away for 'whatever' reasons. Because of the reward money ,people from hundreds of kilometres away are driving in to Barrie to help find the missing boy. (I have to say that many people are also joining the search, not for the reward, but because they just feel like helping)
Microsoft is looking at the boys Xbox to find out who the online players were. So far the Xbox had about two hundred online tagged names. The police are now looking at that list to look for leads. His bicycle was found in a ditch, which was not good news.....anyway, will keep you posted.
But why I brought this up was to warn parents who are reading this about the dangers of kids playing games online. Stranger Danger is out there....so please make sure you know what your kids are doing online!!
Driving around today we noticed many houses with pumpkins, skeletons, spider webs and scare crows outside...............which can mean only one thing here..........Halloween!
Speaking of Halloween, we decorated the outside of our house today too! With a fake spider web going across the wall outside the house, to a cute halloween sign hanging from our doorway. This is so that kids know they can come to our house for candy. (will put up pictures by tomorrow) Homes with no decor means that there is no candy being given away there. Both my kids are very excited and have already planned to go to all the houses on our street.
Here's wishing everyone a HAPPY DIWALI!! Firecrackers are on sale here in stores but so far don't know if you can actually burst them on the street in front of your house or not. Will wait and see what others are doing and then write about it here!
It was down to minus two degrees with wind chills of minus ten this last week and snow is predicted for Tuesday. So it looks like winter is about to begin..........something I'm not sure I'm looking forward too!!
Until later............
take care!
Thursday, October 16, 2008
After raking up all those leaves from your drive way and lawn, you have to empty it out into these bags that you buy from any home convenience store. You leave it outside the house on garbage day, and it gets picked up. If you put it into the wrong kind of bag..say a plastic one...they will just leave it there for you to dispose of yourself. You have to use the right bags..or else!!
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Licensed to drive!!
I started this post the day before but finished writing it only this morning:
What a nerve wracking day it was yesterday......I had my drive test scheduled for 2.20pm and by 12.30 I was a nervous wreck! I don't even know why I was so nervous...I was confident about my ability to drive, but I think it was more of the 'how is the examiner going to be?' sort of thoughts running through my mind.
Not of any help, was hearing many people relate their stories to me about how they failed the test so many number of times and for what reasons. Some of them:
There are people here who have done the entire test perfectly, only to be told at the end that they failed. Why? Because they forgot to put their seatbelt on. Automatic fail!!
Another lady backed up into a concrete post when asked to reverse park and another man (both from India) parallel parked hitting both cars he was trying to park between. These are not novice drivers, but just nervous drivers because you have this examiner watching your every move!
So I sat in the car for half an hour and waited for the examiner. It turned out to be this really nice Lady, who asked me to show her that the left and right signal lights and brake lights were working on the car that I had brought with me for the test. You have to come in your own car. Since I did go for lessons with a driving insturctor, I took his car for the test. Then after asking routine questions like if I wore glasses, how was my health etc she asked me to start the engine and move out of the parking slot.
Then she asked me to drive onto the main road, with regular traffic and take left or right turns in advance of signals to give me time to change lanes if I had to. Once inside a residential area, she asked me to show her 'down hill parking, a three point turn and a left turn on the four way junction'. By this time, I was not nervous at all and just followed her instructions. She then asked me to drive back to the test drive centre and reverse park into one of the parking slots. Luckily I had practiced and managed to put the car in perfectly! She immediately told me that I passed and after giving a thumbs up to my instructor who was nervously waiting for me, I went inside the Drive Test office to get my new license!!
What a feeling of instant freedom. I drove my kids to the library in the evening and my daughter to school this morning.
So one more thing done in Canada..........next on the list is to go to the police station.........I'll tell you why in my next post.
Bye for now
What a nerve wracking day it was yesterday......I had my drive test scheduled for 2.20pm and by 12.30 I was a nervous wreck! I don't even know why I was so nervous...I was confident about my ability to drive, but I think it was more of the 'how is the examiner going to be?' sort of thoughts running through my mind.
Not of any help, was hearing many people relate their stories to me about how they failed the test so many number of times and for what reasons. Some of them:
There are people here who have done the entire test perfectly, only to be told at the end that they failed. Why? Because they forgot to put their seatbelt on. Automatic fail!!
Another lady backed up into a concrete post when asked to reverse park and another man (both from India) parallel parked hitting both cars he was trying to park between. These are not novice drivers, but just nervous drivers because you have this examiner watching your every move!
So I sat in the car for half an hour and waited for the examiner. It turned out to be this really nice Lady, who asked me to show her that the left and right signal lights and brake lights were working on the car that I had brought with me for the test. You have to come in your own car. Since I did go for lessons with a driving insturctor, I took his car for the test. Then after asking routine questions like if I wore glasses, how was my health etc she asked me to start the engine and move out of the parking slot.
Then she asked me to drive onto the main road, with regular traffic and take left or right turns in advance of signals to give me time to change lanes if I had to. Once inside a residential area, she asked me to show her 'down hill parking, a three point turn and a left turn on the four way junction'. By this time, I was not nervous at all and just followed her instructions. She then asked me to drive back to the test drive centre and reverse park into one of the parking slots. Luckily I had practiced and managed to put the car in perfectly! She immediately told me that I passed and after giving a thumbs up to my instructor who was nervously waiting for me, I went inside the Drive Test office to get my new license!!
What a feeling of instant freedom. I drove my kids to the library in the evening and my daughter to school this morning.
So one more thing done in Canada..........next on the list is to go to the police station.........I'll tell you why in my next post.
Bye for now
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Election Day today!
Today is October 14th, the day after Thanksgiving...and also Canada's election day. It has been so low key compared to the U.S election fever, but interesting none the less. Todays 'Toronto Star', our newspaper, had the different parties put up a small writing on their last overall say in why people should vote for them.
Today our lawn is COVERED with half of the leaves from the tree outside, and I guess we have to clean it up. Didn't realise what a mess it makes as well as the eye sore it becomes when all your neighbors clean up their yards and you don't!
Today I met two Ladies, one who is from Tamilnadu originally and has been in Canada for eight years. Her family became Canadian citizens and are voting for the first time. The second lady I met, was an anaesthetist in India but could not practice here because she has to first get a degree from Canada for her license. So she goes twice a week to Toronto from Brampton for her classes and works on the weekends at the cash register in a petrol pump. Her five year old son is dropped by her in the morning in school, and is picked up by another family memeber. It is not easy for many immigrants coming here. She will finish her course and then be eligible to try for a job in the hospitals here.
Our shipment from India should reach Canada today, and I guess reach our house sometime later this week.
Hope things are fine with all my readers out there......
Have to go rake up the leaves from the yard.........................see you!
Today our lawn is COVERED with half of the leaves from the tree outside, and I guess we have to clean it up. Didn't realise what a mess it makes as well as the eye sore it becomes when all your neighbors clean up their yards and you don't!
Today I met two Ladies, one who is from Tamilnadu originally and has been in Canada for eight years. Her family became Canadian citizens and are voting for the first time. The second lady I met, was an anaesthetist in India but could not practice here because she has to first get a degree from Canada for her license. So she goes twice a week to Toronto from Brampton for her classes and works on the weekends at the cash register in a petrol pump. Her five year old son is dropped by her in the morning in school, and is picked up by another family memeber. It is not easy for many immigrants coming here. She will finish her course and then be eligible to try for a job in the hospitals here.
Our shipment from India should reach Canada today, and I guess reach our house sometime later this week.
Hope things are fine with all my readers out there......
Have to go rake up the leaves from the yard.........................see you!
Monday, October 13, 2008
Come October, come the Turkey and the Crazy!
Hi and a Happy Thanksgiving to everyone out there from Canada!
Today, the second Monday of October is the Thanksgiving holiday, and everyone is closed to celebrate.
Thanks is given at the close of the Harvest season for the bounty of crops. If you heard of the term, the Thanksgiving Classic, no it is nothing to do with some old fashioned way of eating a turkey. This is one of the biggest football events in Canada, and it is played and televised nationally on Thanksgiving day. So, today, many Canadian families will cook and eat a big turkey dinner, with mashed potatoes, peas, corn and blueberry pie. Many will watch the football game on t.v and celebrate the day with other family members and friends.
The day, the second Monday in October was proclaimed to be the official day of Thanks by the Canadian parliament on January 31t, 1957.
Many stores are selling their turkeys at half price today, and all pie fillings, pie crusts etc are all selling at bargain prices. After tomorrow, no one is going to need these items and I wonder what the store does with all the left over stocks!!
What are most Indian families doing today? Probably what we are doing.......household chores, cooking for the week, taking the kids out for a meal....of their choice.......and catching up on emails to family and friends in India!!
Now, I mentioned the Turkey......here is the crazy.............Halloween!!
You should see Walmart. Went there yesterday, and it looks like half the store is just set up for the wonderful marketing magic of Halloween. From decorations like paper streamers to plastic skeletons, scarecrows, lighted up pumpkins, costumes of everything from witches, to Harry Potter and Princesses, to loot bags, make up, and tons of sweets, candy and give aways. The prices range for any income group to be able to slurge on that one day...a day that the kids look forward to as much as Christmas or their birthday!
History says that Halloween actually started from the Celtic days, when after the harvest they would take stock of their animals and see how much meat they had to see them through the winter. At times, the killing of these animals resulted in sickness or diseased crops. This fine line between the alive and dead......somewhere crossed into Halloween. A night where people started a tradition of bonfires with scary stories, visits to haunted homes, and decorating the home or lawn with a pumpkin or Jack-o-lantern.
Halloween is celebrated on Ocober the 31st and on this day, especially children, dress up in whatever costume they like, and have parties in schools as well as community centers etc. In the evening, once its dark, children walk door to door with their costumes on, and say, 'trick or treat', and the person in the house will give the children some candy. Some people give baked goods, candy apples or even stickers and small toys.
Adults and teenagers have dress up or costume parties to celebrate Halloween and it is generally a day of crazy fun!!
My son has decided to be Harry Potter, and my daughter wants to be Hannah Montana. We picked up the blonde wig yesterday, and I have to say that she looks nothing like Hannah Montana and its hard to say what or who she looks like.
Will write more about this after Halloween and take some pictures too.
Yesterday we went to the Queens Quay in Toronto. If you are in Canada and have not taken a walk there.....do it today. It was an amazing experience, just walking along the deck, with all the ferry's and boats rocking in the water and the sounds of the waves hitting the rocks surrounding the atmosphere. There was a Chinese man playing a stringed instrument, and it just sounded so beautiful in the background. There was also a guy, who called himself the Fire Guy, who did tricks with whatelse, fire!
We took a short ferry ride and saw a lot of people with different kinds of boats out, enjoying the afternoon.
There are many eateries here, things to do like music shows to watch and street performances that pop out in front of you as you walk.
It cost us 12 dollars to park the car for two hours. You need at least two to three hours minimum to enjoy what the Queens Quay has to offer. They also have child friendly activities in the main pier building.
We saw many people riding their bikes, roller blading, taking buses and trams and also just walking with thier pets.
Enjoy the pictures...........and will catch up with you later.
Love to hear your comments or questions...........keep them coming.
Oh and from my earlier post, Jim Carrey was the right answer for my question.........and the only person to answer right on that one was Anitha Bennett from Chennai!!
Bye for now........
Today, the second Monday of October is the Thanksgiving holiday, and everyone is closed to celebrate.
Thanks is given at the close of the Harvest season for the bounty of crops. If you heard of the term, the Thanksgiving Classic, no it is nothing to do with some old fashioned way of eating a turkey. This is one of the biggest football events in Canada, and it is played and televised nationally on Thanksgiving day. So, today, many Canadian families will cook and eat a big turkey dinner, with mashed potatoes, peas, corn and blueberry pie. Many will watch the football game on t.v and celebrate the day with other family members and friends.
The day, the second Monday in October was proclaimed to be the official day of Thanks by the Canadian parliament on January 31t, 1957.
Many stores are selling their turkeys at half price today, and all pie fillings, pie crusts etc are all selling at bargain prices. After tomorrow, no one is going to need these items and I wonder what the store does with all the left over stocks!!
What are most Indian families doing today? Probably what we are doing.......household chores, cooking for the week, taking the kids out for a meal....of their choice.......and catching up on emails to family and friends in India!!
Now, I mentioned the Turkey......here is the crazy.............Halloween!!
You should see Walmart. Went there yesterday, and it looks like half the store is just set up for the wonderful marketing magic of Halloween. From decorations like paper streamers to plastic skeletons, scarecrows, lighted up pumpkins, costumes of everything from witches, to Harry Potter and Princesses, to loot bags, make up, and tons of sweets, candy and give aways. The prices range for any income group to be able to slurge on that one day...a day that the kids look forward to as much as Christmas or their birthday!
History says that Halloween actually started from the Celtic days, when after the harvest they would take stock of their animals and see how much meat they had to see them through the winter. At times, the killing of these animals resulted in sickness or diseased crops. This fine line between the alive and dead......somewhere crossed into Halloween. A night where people started a tradition of bonfires with scary stories, visits to haunted homes, and decorating the home or lawn with a pumpkin or Jack-o-lantern.
Halloween is celebrated on Ocober the 31st and on this day, especially children, dress up in whatever costume they like, and have parties in schools as well as community centers etc. In the evening, once its dark, children walk door to door with their costumes on, and say, 'trick or treat', and the person in the house will give the children some candy. Some people give baked goods, candy apples or even stickers and small toys.
Adults and teenagers have dress up or costume parties to celebrate Halloween and it is generally a day of crazy fun!!
My son has decided to be Harry Potter, and my daughter wants to be Hannah Montana. We picked up the blonde wig yesterday, and I have to say that she looks nothing like Hannah Montana and its hard to say what or who she looks like.
Will write more about this after Halloween and take some pictures too.
Yesterday we went to the Queens Quay in Toronto. If you are in Canada and have not taken a walk there.....do it today. It was an amazing experience, just walking along the deck, with all the ferry's and boats rocking in the water and the sounds of the waves hitting the rocks surrounding the atmosphere. There was a Chinese man playing a stringed instrument, and it just sounded so beautiful in the background. There was also a guy, who called himself the Fire Guy, who did tricks with whatelse, fire!
We took a short ferry ride and saw a lot of people with different kinds of boats out, enjoying the afternoon.
There are many eateries here, things to do like music shows to watch and street performances that pop out in front of you as you walk.
It cost us 12 dollars to park the car for two hours. You need at least two to three hours minimum to enjoy what the Queens Quay has to offer. They also have child friendly activities in the main pier building.
We saw many people riding their bikes, roller blading, taking buses and trams and also just walking with thier pets.
Enjoy the pictures...........and will catch up with you later.
Love to hear your comments or questions...........keep them coming.
Oh and from my earlier post, Jim Carrey was the right answer for my question.........and the only person to answer right on that one was Anitha Bennett from Chennai!!
Bye for now........
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Pictures....!!
Just put up lots of pictures that we took this weekend. Some of Lake Ontario, downtown Toronto and the Queens Quay where we went today.
The pictures say it all........................
The pictures say it all........................
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