The first 2 days

Toronto Pearson International Airport, Toronto

Imagine this - you have just landed in Canada after an arduous journey from whichever corner of the earth you are travelling and even before the plane touches down you replay the first hours in a new country a countless times..

Well, sure, if this were the movies, but life is anything but the movies..sample this for reality :

1. You get on a plane ( from India, in my case) and travel half way across the world
2. Enthusiasm gives way to fatigue somewhere along the journey ( Ah! but the shore is in sight)
3. You go through the last leg of the journey and can't wait to touchdown
4. You feel thrilled by the new sights,sounds and a new realization dawns..YOU ARE HERE!

Enroute to Canada Immigration Counters

and then ..you see the serpentine queue of immigrants at the immigration section with tired but dreamy eyes -all set on you ! You get the idea..

But Hey ! Its Great, you landed - congratulations, i mean really, take a moment,click a few selfies - make it memorable. 

So begin the first 2 days, but why the first 2 days?What really can be accomplished in the first 2 days? - Just enough i say.

The first 2 days if planned well will do you a world of good,boost your confidence and set you up for the uncertainities & hesitations of the initial period ( a month probably..)

More on this to follow, but for now i recommend the following CBs ( Confidence Builders) in the first 2 days :

1. Post landing, at the airport, apply for your PR card ( the office remains open till 9pm EST so this shouldn't be a problem)
2. Apply for SIN number - Kiosks are available at the airport
3. Apply for a phone connection, can be done at Walmart 
4. Get an appointment to open a Bank Account 
5. REST / get over the JET LAG

and also, make a list of the places you wanna visit over the first week(s); don't pass this by - YOU DESERVE THIS ! 

Welcome to the North !

Canada is a beautiful country to migrate to.

It is a land of opportunities.

It is the land of immigrants.

Gutsy,hardworking people like yourselves who dreamt of a great future !

If you happen to chance upon this post and are still reading;chances are you are either excited by the prospect, or are in the process of migration or (may i dare say ) have already landed in Canada!

 Well, in either case you belong to a global band or tribe of immigrants ( or soon-to-be) who likely will find interest in the blog, the views expressed here and the events that took place in the life of a new immigrant i.e. the guy on the swing!

I didn't know a soul in the country when i landed on a cold morning in April( in-fact it was the April Fools day! , but i did not feel like one😉)

The first week is spent absorbing the sights, sounds and culture that this country has to offer.
The entire experience of shifting shores, leaving behind an established life ( for which,as you would agree,all of us have worked hard) and starting anew can be overwhelming; it will test you,as it tested me;but i can add it all works out in the end.Stick to the basics and you will come out shining!

I have experienced the above first hand; and hope to share snippets about life for new immigrants in this amazing country.

For now, i can promise its going to be one helluva ride.

Lets buckle up!