Hi all...we're actually doing it! Heading north at the end of the month.

[fudge stripe cookays]

I haven't been around much since the giant gay purge a couple months ago, and reprehensor and I haven't been donating since then either.

I got laid off from my job here in May (we moved to Wisconsin in 2007 so I could work on my book). I've had 3 interviews and had 3 positions fall through. Our lease is up at the end of October.

Since we really don't want to fall through the cracks because of my MS and the pre-existing condition clause on insurance, and because my unemployment will run out in May, we're heading north and I'm becoming Canadian. Not sure about citizenship yet or if I'll just be a permanent resident. We talked about it a few years ago but didn't quite make it up. We headed here so I could do lots of genealogy in the areas around Chicago, Madison, Milwaukee and nearby spots. I got lots done, so that's good. Now I can move onto all my Albertan and BC cousins, their pictures and stories. I have about 1300 pages to my book, so now it's time to head into the next phase of research, the Great Northwest. As soon as it's legal for me to cross the border again I'll be heading to Washington and Oregon to meet cousins there too.

We're going to have to stay with my mother and father-in-law in Wabamun, outside Edmonton for awhile until I can get a work permit, but hopefully the economy will start picking up right about the time I start looking for a job.

If you're in Edmonton or Calgary and want to say hi, let us know. We'll probably visit Calgary a bit in the spring/summer since we have lots of friends (and I have relatives) down there.

fsc and reprehensor

[The Hope Mobile]

1. Best wishes! We have family there too. Good people! nt

[CHIMO]

2. Hi And Welcome

Hope you get settled in just fine.

[RedSock]

3. welcome!

... we applied in 2003, moved in 2005, and are thrilled to be here.

[fudge stripe cookays]

12. Wow! Great blog!

Thanks for the tip on the DMV. I definitely need to do that today. Something I hadn't thought of!

[Kerrytravelers]

15. OMG! You are the We Move to Canada people!!!!!!

I have Laura's blog bookmarked in my favorites. It has been a wealth of information for us! Wow! How cool!!!!!!!

[Spazito]

4. Welcome to the Great White North!

It IS white right now too, lol! I live just outside Edmonton and we have snow, not tons but still .....snow! The job market here in Alberta seems to be better than in other provinces even though there has been a definite slow down especially in the north. Alberta is, ya know, considered as Texas north or Texas-lite, lol, but there are liberal 'enclaves' to be found especially in and around Edmonton!

[fudge stripe cookays]

7. We'll have to try to hook up soon.

Unfortunately, I have to wait to get a work permit (I have to come up as the spouse of a Canadian citizen, unfortunately because of my MS). That means I have to depend on reprehensor to get a job first so we can begin processing the paperwork. That could take awhile.

So this is going to be a long cold winter in the wilderness. I'll be begging him to take me into town a LOT so I can go do research at the Provincial Archives. Just so I don't lose my mind.

The mother and father-in-law have been letting us know about the snow, and friends in St. Paul have been posting updates on Facebook. I am SO not looking forward to this drive. I'm used to the Texas part (since that is where I'm originally from), so it's probably more like home to me than other provinces. :D

[Spazito]

8. Hooking up sounds great...

I don't envy you the drive as the weather this time of the year can 'turn on a dime', just make sure you have good winter tires. LOL re 'the Texas part', it's not really very bad here, at least around the Edmonton/St. Albert area. Calgary leans much more 'right', not my favorite city for many reasons.

[fudge stripe cookays]

9. I guess I'm unusual in that respect.

I adore Calgary.

My memories of it are all of happy times of my first few visits to Canada being courted by reprehensor, getting to know his friends, eating out at various places (Nellie's, Chianti's, the River Cafe). And I love the fact that there is a bookstore, a coffeehouse, or a pub on just about every corner!

I'm not as fond of Edmonton, but I'm hoping it will grow on me more. The visits there have mostly been family, so more low-key, dutiful daughter-in-law type socializing.

reprehensor assures me our tires are in good shape. I asked him if we needed some chains for the mountain passes in Montana, and he says no. I hope he's right!

I've considered St. Albert for the future. I like my wide open spaces, and his family is all around Stony Plain/Spruce Grove/Wabamun, so it would be close, but not TOO close.

[Kerrytravelers]

5. Congratulations!

We're soon to follow! The papers are getting in order, we're saving for the move, Mr. kt is networking for that job, I'm getting my teaching credential transferred and completing all the additional work needed prior to landing. We're targeting being in Canada within 2 to 2 1/2 years.

[fudge stripe cookays]

11. You'll make it...

Look us up when you get here.

[Kerrytravelers]

17. I sure will.

Keep us up-to-date with any tips and advice you have!!!!

[Fiendish Thingy]

14. Can you point me to info on transferring teaching credential?

We're landing in BC in November, and hope to relocate permanently within a couple of years. My daughter is in college completing her degree to be a high school English teacher, and I've encouraged her to look into Canadian credentialing requirements. She will have a California credential, don't know if that would be a different process than transferring from your state. With all the cuts to education in CA, I told her to research other options. Good luck to you!

[Kerrytravelers]

16. I'm in California, too.

I have a Multi-Sub CLAD with Special Ed hours and under NCLB, I am HQT K-12 in all subjects except for Physics. Currently, I am an Independent Study Teacher K-12.

The link Internationally Educated Teachers on the Ontario College of Teachers has a link Evaluation of Your Credentials. In addition, I've looked to see what is required to earn a credential in Ontario, compared that with what I had to complete and then written a detailed description of each of my classes and my experience so they get a very clear picture of my education and my credential.

[auntAgonist]

6. best of luck to you and reprehensor!! I'm envious

I would love to move home to Ontario but we both have decent jobs here in MI for now and we've almost got the mortgage paid off.

I hope only for good things for the two of you. Edmonton, from what I remember is beautiful. I had relatives in Rocky Mtn House and Red Deer.

travel safe FSC!!!

:loveya: and it's good to 'see' you again.


aA
kesha

[fudge stripe cookays]

10. If you get up for a visit, let us know.

:D

[Fiendish Thingy]

13. Congrats! We'll be landing in BC in November

The day after Thanksgiving- plenty to be thankful for this year!