Escape to Canada! (serious topic D=)

[Optimus Prime]

Bwaa haa haaa... things are definately not going well at the moment. My job is practically non-existant, my mother's is looking to be in definite peril and mortgage rates have increased on us considerably. The savings is being sucked DRY. She's the only one with insurance, and I have lots of potentially explosive organs.

My proposal is to immigrate. Things just are full of suck and while we do have one set of relatives who might tolerate us, we cannot tolerate their children. Otherwise there's noone.

So, how's Canada this time of year? Basically, I'd be sent as an advance search party to locate a job and somewhere to live. Any areas of economic stability where I might find a job? I've done a temp job as data entry and have a strong background in customer service, so it shouldn't be too terribly tricky. I've just never cashiered.

Why just go to a new country? I do have ulterior motives, sure! I seriously do want a change, and perhaps for the better. Is so depressing here most of the time! Plus I think I'd deal alright with the climate.

... At BEST, would anyone be willing to tolerate a short brown-haired princess of darkness for a week ._.? It'd just be wicked easier than fanagling a hotel or anything provided this plan doesn't fall through. Actually, this WAS my original intention LAST time we moved, but we wus scared.

PLEASE HALP TEH ANGST!

[Toxic]

Where in Canada are you thinking of? I mean it's a pretty big country...

[Optimus Prime]

See, that's why I need some advice the primary concearn is availability of jobs and relative safety of life and limb. I wants me a job, yes, but not in an area where I'd be freed of blood and live the moment I step out somewhere =D.

I is paranoid <3.

[CrazyMrLēo]

I would suggest Calgary. The air is clean, the scenery is nice, the people are friendly, and the sales tax is low low low. Alberta's got a booming economy at present, so you shouldn't have difficulty arranging for employment.

Avoid Toronto and its environs. It's the biggest city, but it's also the dingiest and the least pleasant. You'll probably want to stay out of Montreal and Quebec in general as well, unless you're fluent in French. (If you do speak the language, you might as well look into it. It's a nice province.) Vancouver is a cool city, but good luck finding a place to live. Edmonton and Winnipeg are rather boring, but if you're in the market for a quiet little city, you'd probably be able to find something there. Ottawa is a good place to live, but a lot of jobs are government jobs, and a lot of government jobs require you to be somewhat bilingual.

Edit: Sorry for being vague, but as Toxic said, it is a big country.

[Optimus Prime]

Oh, nonono, I don't expect a total survey of the country. I'm just asking what you guys who live there know <3. Seriously, this is appreciated.

I'm trying to make sense of the immigration fees and stuffs. Being semi-unskilled labor, it could be trickier to get in. Though, I wonder if the 'skilled worker' thingy would still apply for my mom... she used to have strong management experience until her drop in eyesight. Noone here will give her a damned chance anymore. Le sigh~

Leo, do you have any idea what housing costs are in Calgary as a median? I mean, if they're markedly lower or higher than average. I used to know some French, but it's been a long time. Usually I just use it for making obtuse non-sensical statements such as 'I am the me I like'. It wouldn't be too terribly hard to use it again seriously. It's damned easier than Japanese.

[Andrusi]

Take me with you! Please! ::dragged away::

[Optimus Prime]

Andy, I'm not even entirely sure I can get in. I hope so though. At the very least it's cooler than Iowa XD granted I'd have to learn to read temperature in celcius (I know it's spelled wrong) rather than degrees. Not that I really see any relation between it and the real world anyway. Degrees make no sense.

Ideally we'd be able to get ahold of a little house and make payments rather than getting an apartment. Because I freakin' hate moving.

[NeroKid]

Leo's on crack. Toronto's cool.
Rush is cool.
Being able to laugh at the Daily Show and Colbert Report even though Bush isn't our president, VERY cool.
Free substandard health care? Eh.
GST? :-|
Spelling wourd the correct, English way? Toutally awesoume.
Degrassi!? Oh ma'am!
Did I mention we have Rush?
Oh, and Wolverine AND Deadpool are Canadian. This is important!

[CrazyMrLēo]

Sailing into destiny
Closer to the heart

[Optimus Prime]

My gods real estate in Calgary's expensive. We can't have nice things. Wonder if I'd have to get another car =\... must find a list of generally approved models...

By the way, you guys managed to kill off the remaining pockets of SARS zombies? Just wondering. I'd like in on that profession =(.

[NeroKid]

Can't tell, national secret

[Optimus Prime]

Well, then riddle me this, Vega-riffic Man. Whar can I get a house at or under 100K? Because I cannot give away my Pudding Head. Rentals hate fuzzy bundles of fun, especially since Reese and Mauly aren't declawed. Reese is a fat bastard, he is!



Mandy was a cute baby. And that dog is long since dead. Is too bad.

[NeroKid]

oneredpaperclip.blogspot.com/2006/07/503-main-street.html

[Optimus Prime]

I only have silver paperclips! They're useless!

Can I trade your eternal soul for a house? You don't use it anyway.

Thank you guys! This is actually quite helpful. I just need to find out where I can find something I can afford yet still have access to a job. Then, hopefully three years and *BAM* I'm now Canada's problem =D.

Edit: Anyone have firsthand experience with Hamilton, ON? The house prices are pretty affordable and they do at least have mall-based jobs and a 'Mart. I'd just be worried it was low because of piles of dead people which I would not want to join.

[Sz]

You know, you don't have to leave the US. It's a big place, you don't have to go to Canada to escape.

[Oni Lukos]

Tips for Celsius:
1) It's still degrees, it's just not degrees Fahrenheit. (Kelvin, however, is not degrees, it's radians)
2) Water boils at 100°, not 212°
3) Water freezes at 0°, not 32°
4) Body temperature is 37°, not 98.6°
5) Approximation's never killed anyone...well...at least in terms of temperature.

[Toxic]

But Leo, Calgary's full of hicks with cowboy hats!

Also, I could be wrong but isn't Montreal fairly English heavy?

[CrazyMrLēo]

Moreso than the rest of Quebec, but knowing French is still a good idea.

FUN FAKT: Canadians measure body temperature in Fahrenheit! WHOA

[Oni Lukos]

But...but...37 is an integer!

[Toxic]

Well actually Canadians can measure their temperature in Celsius but most do it in Faherenheit. Just like most people I know still weigh themselves in lbs.