Sad reality

I thought living alone will be easy.  I never thought that boredom can kill me.  Almost a month since I moved in to my apartment, and living by myself is fun yet sad.  Thank God I have my internet installed after a week of moving in, or else I might be crazy by now.  Now I wonder how my mom manage to live by herself while we are away.  Back in the days I was still in PH, I used to call her during my break and made sure she's ok.  Now that I am in the same situation, I can say that living alone, well, I mean technically alone can be boring most of the time.

I found myself crying last night and felt the world is against me.  I don't have friends to hang out with, I don't have family in CA that could give me a hug when I feel depressed.  Yes, you read that right, I am depressed.  I don't know why all of a sudden I am feeling this, seems like my hormones are kicking in.  Saw my husband and daughter's pictures in a birthday party that made me cry out loud to the extent that I can no longer breath.  I told myself, I should be there, we are family, we should be together.

I woke up this morning and the feeling is still the same.  I have no one to talk to and decided to message my husband.  I don't want him to worry but I feel like going crazy if I won't tell anyone about what's happening.

Believe me, living in the different side of the world with only few friends and some distant relatives is a challenge.  Yes, they are there to help you but of course they have their own lives too.  Sometimes I'm thinking how I survive by myself and how I control my emotions seeing a family doing groceries together, seeing friends having a good time and witnessing couples fetching their partners at work.  I used to be in their shoes but now, I'm ALONE, just M-Y-S-E-L-F.  And I explode!  I can't tolerate the emotional pain anymore.

The last time I experienced depression was when my first month or 2 living in Canada and yet, here again.  The struggle is real.  My husband wants me to go out, then what? go to the mall by MYSELF and see families or group of friends hanging out? I'll end up envious of them.

I know no one can help me, but myself.  I know I'll be fine.  I'll be alright.  They'll be here. SOON. and I will say I HAVE MY FAMILY and I am NOT ALONE.

Sponsoring spouse and dependent child to Canada

When I was still preparing the application for my husband and daughter, I tried looking for blogs about how the application goes for Family visa to Canada.  Seems like there's none and decided to create one to help the spouses of Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents of Canada to unite with their loved ones.  :)

There are two process in applying for a family visa application. First, they will determine if your sponsor meets the eligibility to be a sponsor.  Second, principal applicant's background check which takes place in the visa office where the applicant resides.

Before we proceed in discussing the requirements and process, let me share who can be sponsored under the family class:

-Spouse of Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident
-Dependent child of sponsor and/or of the principal applicant
-Common law partner

To apply for this type of visa, the completed application must be submitted once at Case Processing Centre in Mississauga, Ontario.

Questions I asked myself before I applied for my family:

-Can I sponsor my spouse or family even if I'm working part time/temporary/casual?
Yes.  The sponsor for family visa application doesn't require to meet the low income cut-off provided by CIC.  Yet, the sponsor needs to prove that he has a job to support the needs of his spouse or family.  If the dependent child has dependent child of his own, that's the time the sponsor is required to meet the low income cut-off.

-Can I sponsor my spouse or family even if I just arrived in Canada last year?
Yes.  There's nothing in their website that restricts the sponsor to apply for family visa even if the sponsor arrived in Canada in less than a year.

-Can my family do the upfront medical?
Yes.  Applicants under the family visa category can do the upfront medical and submit the receipt together with the application as a proof that the applicants are already done the medical exam.

-Can I still apply as sponsor even if I don't have the Notice of Assessment or Option C print-out?
Yes.  Make sure that you provide an employment certificate, pay stubs and a letter of explanation why you cannot provide the mentioned requirements.

The answers above are based on my personal experience.  I applied for my family while I'm on a temporary job, arrived in December 2015 and No Option C print-out, yet I got approved as Sponsor. :)

I only followed the checklist available in the CIC's website and did a lot of reading before I decided to sponsor them.  We all know how hard it is for us to be away from our family.  Applying for a family visa takes a lot of time, money and effort.  I would just suggest to be careful in filling-out the application forms, do not staple your documents and separate the documents of sponsor and PR applicant/s.

Once you submitted your application, the first email you'll receive from CIC is the Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR1), then the Sponsor's Approval (SA).  In my case, I haven't received my SA yet, but I tried calling CIC and they confirmed that I got approved.  2 days after calling them, my husband received his AOR 2 emailed by the Canadian embassy-Manila.  From there, you will know if you still have additional documents that need to submit.  After the AOR2 and no additional documents required, you only have to wait for the Passport request from the embassy for visa stamping.  :)

Spring in Winnipeg

When you think winter is over, uh oh! Not for Winterpeg!  Winnipegers loved the weather in the past week because we were having +6 and snow melted.  When roads are almost totally dry, I think the snow missed Winnipeg and started to fall last Tuesday, just in time I was about to go home from work!  Good timing, eh?  I wasn't prepared then, and when I got off from the bus and walked towards home, my coat and shoes were covered by snow.

Who am I to complain?  I am in Winnipeg and it's not impossible to happen!  The next day, I was planning to just wear rubber shoes and to my surprise, the surroundings were all white!

I guess I should name it "White Holy Week" ?

Life of a new immigrant in Winnipeg

It's been a while folks!  I've been in Winterpeg for nearly 2 months and still adjusting to the weather, culture and simple life that this City has.  I arrived in first week of December and since then, I've been looking for work. It's true that opportunities here are endless, it's just up to you if you are comfortable working in a different field.

Life hasn't been easy since I arrived, especially if you migrated alone. The first night was terrible.  Sleeping without my husband and my baby was a torture.  I even experienced chilling outside until I arrived in my destination because I didn't check the weather (stupid) and just wearing a leather jacket plus a not waterproof boots.  But guess what, I'm still here, embracing what Winterpeg has to offer.

It is important to gain friends in a new environment, aside from building your network, you can have someone to run to if you need to have your resumes printed, go together and job hunt or simply catch up. I have a small circle of friends I met during the Entry Program and Employment Workshop hosted by Manitoba Start and still keeping in touch with them through Facebook.  Cool, right?

I would advice aspiring immigrants of Winnipeg, Manitoba to attend the MB Start.  They will help you create your targeted resume, how to be employable and gain confidence during interview.  You can also use your Career Coach as your Reference in Canada when you apply for a job.  

Job hunting isn't easy.  I'm telling the truth not to disappoint you but to open your eyes to reality.  I got my first job in a call center, attended a 1 week training (too much information that has to be taken up I guess for more than a month) and went to work for just a day.  Yes, you read it right, just a day.  Why? Because, I've realized that I'm not right fit for the job.  Yes, you'll just answer calls for 8 hours and stuck up yourself in front of the computer and give information and process your callers' request. But that's not me.  I used to work interacting personally with people.  I give up the job and look for another one.  I had 3 interviews this week, and luckily got a job that I wanted.  It may not be full time, but I know that I'll enjoy it.  While the other company invited me to 2nd interview in a different area and that will be on Monday.  

Like any others, I felt depression, I can even feel it until now.  There are times that I lock myself in the washroom and cry. I lie down, gather my thoughts then cry.  I always tell my husband that I'll just wait for my PR card and I'll go home.  However, I've realized, when I go back to the Philippines, I will also look for a job, we will look for an apartment, bring up our daughter to school and many more.  The same way that we will eventually do when they arrive here, so better yet build a career in a first world country where medical assistance and school for our kid are free.  Not to mention, there's also an allowance for our baby monthly.  Isn't it a good deal?

Now that I can write about my thoughts, I know I have gained now myself back.  Well, I'm inspired of the call I received this morning that I got the job. :)  So for newcomers, we've all been through that, just remember that Winnipeg is a place to be!  

Peycie's pre-birthday shoot

I still can't believe that I'll be having a toddler in less than a month! Photo s*cker I am, I won't let her birthday passed without having a photoshoot.  Remember my last post about the Baby Shower Studio?  Well, this time we didn't avail their service, not that we don't like their work, but because we are in a budget especially that I am now a stay-at-home mom for 4 months already.  I don't want my husband to shoulder the burden of my kaartehan.

Anyway, let me first show you my DIYs used in her photoshoot.  I never thought that I have a hidden creativity in my voluptuous body until I created these:

Paper pompoms and picket fence :)

I made the pompoms using crepe paper and with the help of YouTube, while the improvised picket fence was made of illustration board.  Over all, I was really happy seeing the result.

Let me share with you some of Peycie's shots last Saturday and how we used those props.

My little fairy

You might be wondering where are the pompoms, well we used them on the later part of the shoot.  I'm having trouble uploading it, so please forgive me for that.

It was a tiring yet a fun-filled afternoon!  I can't get over with the cuteness of my daughter, just like they say "love your own". :D

CFO Seminar

Who says I'm not busy the past few months? Yeah I know!  I only have 58 remaining days before I fly to Canada.  

In my previous post, I shared with you how I processed my nomination up to my immigrant visa application.  Here in the Philippines, before you leave the country as first time immigrant, it is mandatory to attend the Pre-departure Seminar (PDOS) provided by The Commission on Filipino Overseas (CFO).

Once you got your visa and have a tentative date of departure, schedule your PDOS appointment.  Simply follow the steps below:

1.  Go to CFO website www.cfo.gov.ph

2.  Click the R&R PDOS on the lower left side and you'll be directed to this site: https://cfo.ph/PDOS_Reservation/

3.  Confirm/Verify your email

4.  Fill-out the registration form - Make sure that you have with you the necessary documents needed in registration

5.  Choose your preferred schedule of seminar

6.  Check your data in the registration form 

7.  Submit online your registration form

8.  Print your barcoded confirmation form

Don't get confused on the barcoded confirmation form and online registration slip.  You can go without the online registration slip (this slip gave me headache looking for one) as long as you have the barcoded confirmation form, you can attend the seminar.

Procedure at the CFO office:

1.  Show your barcoded confirmation form to the reception

2.  The reception will give you a number and a color-coded ID, in my case, it was color green

3.  Wait for your number and window where you'll proceed to flash in the monitor

4.  Present your barcoded confirmation form, passport, CoPR copy (The staff will ask you what is your expected job in Canada)

5.  Pay P400 at the cashier 

6.  Proceed to the orientation room (2nd floor for Canada)

7.  After the seminar, the facilitator will return your passport with the CFO stamp and a booklet about Canada :)

It's only a 2-hour very informative seminar.  

Camp Netanya The Little Santorini of Batangas

We booked our stay at this resort last May for Aug 8-9, 2015.  Making a reservation wasn't easy as they only have 2 contact numbers, no Facebook and no email.  Luckily that we were able to talk to somebody who confirmed our booking.

Despite of the bad reviews of the other guests, we gave it a try.

It took us 5 hours to get to Camp Netanya coming from Bulacan, including our stop overs.  Check-in time is 2:00 p.m. and we arrived just in time.  Thanks to our Waze app!

The resort's structure is Santorini inspired and the view was spectacular, I must say.

Breathtaking view

The resort consists of 10 rooms and they don't accept walk-ins.  The infinity pool is from 2 to 15 feet.  They don't have a restaurant but you can ask them to cook for you, however they have 1 common air-conditioned room with 2 sets of dining table.  The resort isn't strict like the others.  

My little girl enjoying the pool

Common air-conditioned room

Room 

-Rate:  P5,000 for 2 pax but can accommodate up to 8 pax

-P1,000/excess person

-No television

-No refrigerator

-No telephone

Comfort Room

-They don't have hot/cold shower :(

Food

-Pay P300, and the chef will cook your lunch and dinner (you're the one to provide the rekados, of course :D) 

This resort is not senior-citizen-friendly because stairs are everywhere!  However, every corner is perfect for picture-taking!  

View from our room :)

Sad to say that Camp Netanya is temporarily closed starting August 10.  The resort is for sale and will probably resume their operations next year.  They will also renovate and add some amenities so expect a higher rate in 2016.