iPopAlomo:
I been no wan talk before... But at this point... I need to share to some ghost reader that'll be needing this sometime in the future.

I'll be starting a new role on Monday... Dream job that comes with all the PERKS of a big company downtown OTTAWA.

It wasn't easy, I'll be honest but plenty observation and work got me in... and if you ask me... Most of them follow me come from Nigeria.

Unlike most people... I had no friends and/or family living in Canada. So that itself shows say nah Baba God follow me come.

But the biggest decision i took coming here was emptying my cup... I had to start from scratch... I got a job less than a month of landing that pays a little over minimum wage... It paid the bills, i am a good cook and I was comfy. but that no be wetin carry me come here as iyawo dey UK... I was always looking for that oppurtunity. Three months in my old role... I started Job hunting again... I got a juicy position with NCR and i got dropped for not having a G licensce... (I got my G - licence a month and a half later, re-applied to NCR, only if they call me tomorrow or something). I got another interview with survey monkey (Fortune 500 company), I did the networking, added people on linkedin, met people for coffee, did the due diligence, I know I did well... only to be told my SaaS skill wasn't Canadian enough.... That shii pained me... That shiii pained me entyer blood because i knew that was a stupid excuse to drop me after doing really well...

abbey4christ:
Congratulations iPopAlomo, people are always scared of starting from the scratch. Canada no won send you even if you're a manager before you left Naija, you must be humble to climb that ladder but that "we have moved on with other candidates" dey pain Thanks for sharing, but wait did i see 42%

Collintos:
By Golbon

I do not regret moving away from home and experiencing a new life.

But I do regret choosing Canada over Europe (I did have the choice).

Here are a few things I am sure the responses, especially the ones from those who have ‘just’ moved here and likely wrote the comments in their ‘high’ of traveling do not cover.


Please could these be true at seniors in the house

Collintos:
6 - Unless you are an engineer or have an MBA or, if you are a real estate or car sales agent (or wish to become) forget about doing anything ambitious. You could have all the qualification in the world and work in Walmart and enjoy your 4 K salary with benefits (many people are happy with that and do put aside their goals and settle with having enough pay to get by as an ultimate). And if you refuse to work for years on years in job for which you are overqualified, you are pointed at as a sloth who doesn’t want to work. Your success is measured by salary, pension, and mortgage, not if you are happy with your job (it's actually the norm to hate your work). Ironically no one wants to talk about numbers when it comes to money. There is a presumption everyone's wellbeing and financial condition is safeguarded by some godly ransom that they digged up from the graves of their ancestors.

7 - Dishonesty. The way [most] people do not tell you what they mean and confuse you with their actions and words is astonishing here. Barely anyone is straightforward, and humor is the lost word in Canadian English. Everyone seems to have a stick up their arse (and you will become like that too). People only open up after getting absurdly drunk - mainly for a few seconds before they lose the ability to collect their conscious.
(Edit: there is a general assumption that people in countries with Arctic climate and low-density populations have bigger bubbles around their selves, are more difficult to connect and are easily out of touch with their emotions. I cannot speak for Scandinavia for example, but, have heard foreigners from dense societies feel the same about them. Take this tho; emotional has negative connotations in Canadian English. So you know who you are).


11 -Universal Health Care: it’s there, it’s good, so long that you are not actually sick or require an emergency. I cannot count the number of times I have heard people they were kept in the ER for hours with no rimary care, no drugs nor testing because there were no specialized doctors available to look t them (this goes from food poisoning to having a broken bone to anything else). I am not talking about medical mistakes. I am talking about a sever shortage in doctors.



12 - Unemployment Benefits; I am not going to say it is awful to have help when you become unemployed (but I guess most governments in the world have something along those lines). It is relatively easy to get the few hundred dollar checks and it can cover some basic costs. But the thing is, those who actually rely on this money either torn apart native people, and you know that their conditions go back generations (again I am not going to elaborate on what has happened to the indigenous peoples of Canada, you do your research) and their unemployment in a colonial system that is not compatible with their lost traditions, is not something that can be fixed with a few hundreds of dollars per month, but needs a historical healing. The other benefactors are lazy entitled [often local white] people who do not look for work, do not accept low wage work, and do choose to beg on the streets (because they can collect some more from kind people who help them) while they reside in social housing or dirty cheap team houses. Often drunken bad-mouthed homeless people who are plenty in the richest cities of the country - you only need to take a 5 minute walk n downtown Ottawa or Toronto, for example, to realize poverty is not something specific to ‘the developing countries’. But interestingly, there are no videos or pictures showing this type of thing to the enthusiastic immigrants as ‘Canada’. No, Canada is not only its homeless people. Neither it is its national hockey team. But there are these issues here, like anywhere else in the world and the spotless imagery many people have of this country is simply laughable.


Please could these be true @ seniors in the house??

einsteino:



Your moniker is to die for, lol. I have had to completely quit drinking because I am still on G2. I never thought I could but it was between risking a DUI that could send me back to naija, vs Uber anytime man sips something. I can't afford taking an uber and still pay pricey car insurance, I have to maximize my money's worth lol.

Congrats on the new job, care to state what industry/profession it is? It would help someone in a similar field know what is applicable or perhaps reach out to you for tips.

iaatmguy:
no basis for comparison, especially from third word country immigrants like India and co, then we remember those immigrating from a nearly failed state like Nigeria .if you know you enjoy court order being flouted, death traps called roads, paying for road worthiness for plying a swamp, booby trap roads, have a rethink about relocating to the great north white. Canada no be heaven, but no be from mouth of a Nigerian, we suppose dey hear that one.


Happy immigration to all and sundry

iPopAlomo:



Job Field: IT
Specification: Technical Support Specialist
Company: classified Evul laughter.


The job description is mostly what you need to get a job here... Your resume most match the Job description 110%. That gets one foot in the door... The rest is up to you.

Leave a really good impression and hope for the best.

Here nah Jungle... And I realised Canadians are very laced... Nigeria finish work for my body as I'm of both worlds... My children will probably have their primary education here... Then secondary and technical school in Nigeria or something... Then come back here.

For B. Sc and whatever.

einsteino:


Lol I.T and finance have it the easiest here, though it is I.T that has the better remuneration of the two. For some other field, like engineering, it often isn't a plug and play scenario as the industry is very risk averse. There is a reason why international students land "core" engineering jobs much faster than experienced immigrant engineers. Then again it is best to have an open mind and chase your goals.

I have been thinking about where my unborn should be raised. I am at a dilemna because I know I don't want them completely raised in Canada, but there is so much about Nigeria that leaves me sad and hopeless for the country. The mentality and culture that is evolving in Naija isn't one I fancy. Yet there is a lot of pros to growing in Naija that I feel it is necessary my kids live and build some roots there a bit and not merely visit. I watched Akon talk about how his Dad sent him and his siblings off to Senegal, only visiting the U.S, until they were done with secondary school. He makes it seem like he got the best of both worlds from it but I wouldn't want to assume everyone gets the same result from that experience. I wish I can learn of more cases like that, to help me draw an informed conclusion.

Another issue is, would you relocate to Naija with them or would you just ship them out to boarding houses while you stay back in Canada?

einsteino:


Lol I.T and finance have it the easiest here, though it is I.T that has the better remuneration of the two. For some other field, like engineering, it often isn't a plug and play scenario as the industry is very risk averse. There is a reason why international students land "core" engineering jobs much faster than experienced immigrant engineers. Then again it is best to have an open mind and chase your goals.

I don't have a family but have thought a bit about where would be best to raise my unborn(hopefully I am fertile cos we can't be too sure yet ). I am at a dilemna because I know I don't want them completely raised in Canada, but there is so much about Nigeria that leaves me sad and hopeless for the country. The mentality and culture that is evolving in Naija is one that I detest. Yet there are a lot of pros to growing in Naija that I feel it is necessary my kids live and build some roots there a bit and not merely visit. I watched Akon talk about how his Dad sent him and his siblings off to Senegal, while they only visited the U.S during hols, until they were done with secondary school. He makes it seem like he got the best of both worlds from it but I wouldn't want to assume everyone gets the same result from that experience. I wish I can learn of more cases like that, to help me draw an informed conclusion.

Another issue is in whose care and discipline would you entrust them? Would you relocate to Naija with them or would you just ship them out to boarding houses while you stay back in Canada?

iPopAlomo:



Primary school here in Canada...

Secondary school back in Nigeria...

University back in Canada...

And they'll be staying with my mom... Lol... Not traveling back with anybody...



I want them to understand that there's lights out and data cap and nights where you drink garri to bed.

The few Africans I've met born here in Canada don't really have a clue... I turned out okay and I really pray my kids turn out okay as well... That is what I can't teach but I can influence...

Nickshrapnel:

The bolded really got me laughing
Nigeria might get better by then don’t you think?

iPopAlomo:



Primary school here in Canada...

Secondary school back in Nigeria...

University back in Canada...

And they'll be staying with my mom... Lol... Not traveling back with anybody...



I want them to understand that there's lights out and data cap and nights where you drink garri to bed.

The few Africans I've met born here in Canada don't really have a clue... I turned out okay and I really pray my kids turn out okay as well... That is what I can't teach but I can influence...

bily:


Haba! You want to expose your kids to the risks in Nigeria because of UP NEPA and GARRI??!

when you can simply turn off the lights in Canada which will save you money

And they also sell garri in Canada... They they can as well drink garri to bed

iPopAlomo:



Baba... their father (Me) grew up in Nigeria... even if we did go outside... we were still rooted... A little pain hurts no one... I have seen what too much comfort does to the mind here... you no go understand.

vickertony:
hello everyone,

Been a silent reader of this thread for a while now.

I'm still in Nigeria, what's bothering me right now is capital, guys how did you raise capital for your travels?

I need suggestions my people, this month makes it a year I finished nysc..

No better job yet, I love to move soon.

I need suggestions my people..



Regards
everyone.

Prudento:
Hey Guys, please I need opinion of those who may have experience renewing their passport at Nigerian embassy in Ottawa. I applied for it this week hoping I would be allowed to choose a convenient time. I am in Saskatoon and I wanted to choose January for cheaper flight, you know ���. Buth they're giving me next week appointment. I called their line today and the voice prompt says "those who want to rescheduling their appointment can come at any day...convenient for them". Please is it true that I can just go in January? I need to confirm before booking my flight but they're not picking up my calls. Please help. ���

iPopAlomo:



Baba... their father (Me) grew up in Nigeria... even if we did go outside... we were still rooted... A little pain hurts no one... I have seen what too much comfort does to the mind here... you no go understand.

Folafikemi:
Been reading all these not-so good information someone wrote here judging from his experience. And sometimes I can't help but wonder why you think cos you experienced that, it should also be same with me and every other people.

I really need to know whether any of us were forced with this relocation decision and when you were coming did you not know that changes, pleasant and not-so pleasant will occur?

This aside., for my naija folks, how on earth will u ever compare a developed nation with naija in any way regardless of whatever status you had back in naija before relocation.? If it were that good for you back there why did u relocate to Canada if at all you must relocate having to spend such money, time and energy only for you to come over here to read some demoralising story from someone who has no idea of what it takes to live in naija... Oh!

I have only spent 1month here in Regina and for each passing day I have no regret whatsoever. Getting a job here is not automatic just like in every other climes. Why the thought of having to land and getting all ur desires automatically met. People who thinks like that are only greedy and also an ingrate.

At least here you have peks to lay claims in even if you never get jobs {for families with child{ren} you get child benefit, what you never had in naija} , lots of other different opportunities abounds here and there, just that people don't take the pain to read and get right information. Can you compare been jobless in naija with been jobless here where you can at least take up survival jobs and pay ur bills till u get back in ur feet.

I can state here without mincing words that this country has lots of potentials for you to attain your goals if only you can be patient and consistent. Don't be afraid to start from the beginning if you have to, after all that's the purpose of relocation. If you can by yourself sell ur houses, lands, vehicle and other material things to come over here, what took you years to achieve and fear no catch you to dispose them only for you to come here come read something online and u want to start having a rethinking, infact I pity you o..

Get your head thinking straight and put ur hope in God. Do the best you can and get that little job to start with and if it's the big one go all the way for it. Its ur life not anybodies and you should take responsibility for every cause of actions you take. Get advices but weigh your objectives before taking decision cos you get to live by whatever decisions you take.

And above all don't regret doing things, only learn from your mistake and move ahead. Whatever did not stop you from getting to Canada can never stop you from making it in this land.

I rest my case. Na your hand e dey o...

maternal:


How would you feel if your kids died of something, which could have been easily treated in Canada ?

toboy:
Aunty!
One month is just too early for you to understand certain things! Though my experience is different cuz I have lived here for 4 years as a university student I can literally identify with every single thing they're saying because I have seen people pass thru similar experience. Words like that are rare to come by so It's better you pay attention to them and pick lessons from it for you benefit. If heard those words 4years ago, I could have tried to do just one thing differently over these years.

iPopAlomo:



Oga... calm down... you're awfully pessimistic... You always think of the worse possible situation which is definitely far from the case...

What could easily be treated in Canada that cannot easily be treated in Nigeria...? what is the bases of a life threatening disease in this conversation...?!! My idea for bringing my children to Nigeria is to instill a form of MORAL EDUCATION it'll be really hard to instill in Canada.

How does that bring room to cancer or Leukemia into the topic... Mr maternal, I do not know what is wrong with you but clearly, it is a lot...

I'll be sending my children to Lagos... I'm sure you know... sending them to the best schools or taking them to ST. Nicholas is the least of my problem... And as you already figured out... If it is the welfare check you're scared of sharing (the same money you were using to BUGA some weeks back to feed me) Keep your money... I advice you use that money to treat yourself... You need help. Big Help!!!

P.S;
If you want to come at me... Please do... I enjoy that... Don't bring my family in... You crossed the line with that post but right now i am in a happy place. It won't harm you to ignore me as much as I ignore you... I told you already... If nairaland had a block/hide button... we won't be having this exchange... until the forum applies the neccessary upgrades. Steer clear maternal... steer clear. peace

maternal:


I don't even recall having a conversation with you. In all honesty, once I log off I don't know or remember anyone. The only person I remember is salf. Either way, you remembering me, especially this rant says a lot. But what I ask is a serious question. Do you really believe the hospitals, emergency response, safety,etc is on par with what they have in Canada ? If your child dies from a treatable medical emergency in naija, how would you feel ? I ask because I've seen this happen.

iPopAlomo:


Do you see your kids dying...? as for me i dont...

And again keep stupidity to yourself. you'll be seem more wiser that way.

maternal:


Yes I do. Not by my hands though, and after me. That I could never forgive myself.

maternal:


I don't even recall having a conversation with you. In all honesty, once I log off I don't know or remember anyone. The only person I remember is salf. Either way, you remembering me, especially this rant says a lot. But what I ask is a serious question. Do you really believe the hospitals, emergency response, safety,etc is on par with what they have in Canada ? If your child dies from a treatable medical emergency in naija, how would you feel ? I ask because I've seen this happen.