What do you have to lie about if you immigrated to Canada?

Every year about 250,000 permanent residents come to Canada. Sometimes more, sometimes less.

New immigrants come to seek old things: better life, more money, something better for themselves and their children.

Most of them are not rich. They saved some money, they are qualified to come and live in Canada, but most of them still facing on of the biggest problems: finding a job.

For me it was never a problem to find a job in my old country, but when I came to Canada and became immigrant, everything changed. Nobody needed me there.

To make things worse we moved to a small town south of Hamilton and there a middle aged immigrant woman with a thick European accent that betrayed you right away, without local experience and local education was completely out of place...

The worst thing was that nobody told me anything. I was walking around trying to find a job in all wrong places, places that would never in a million years hire me because they have a lot of qualified people with Canadian experience, who is eager to take the position: just pick and choose. But they never told me that and I continued to walk around, to send my resume, trying to get noticed, to get an interview.

And they would invite you , polite listen to you and very politely tell you that they will call you next week as soon as they would make a decision. And you sit and wait and they never call, because they never intended to call anyway.

That faceless politeness was more damaging than real rudeness.

It took me quite a while before I realised how everything worked, what unemployment meant to a reluctant immigrant, to any immigrant for that matter.

I was not better or worse than anybody else. It's just every employer tried to hire the best and I definitely did not fall into that category.

I needed a lot to learn. Well, if I was alone without a family, I would have left for sure and went to a big city, like Toronto, to get more chance and more experience, but I had to consider my family so I had to stay. I tought it would be better, I was wrong...

We bought a house, kids were going to school. I spent 10 long years in a small town of Brant county, without a job or education, reluctantly. Of course I was busy, helping my kids, my husband's business. Helping, helping, helping... Nothing to myself.

Finally I got some job at Tim Horton's. I had to lie about my education. I did not put on my resume that I was a University graduate, you do not need that to serve coffee and donuts, that's for sure. I learned that in order to get any small job, you have to go down, you have to forget a lot of stuff that you know in order to earn some money. You have to lie.

Now I am in Toronto. With my present employer I did not have to lie about my education.

May be because I work for a company, that was created by my compatriots, who needed me with all my education and more. But sometimes I think: what if I tried to get the same job but in a similar Canadian company, were all my bosses were Canadian born people, would I've been hired, especially if I did not lie about my education? Probably not.

Reluctant immigrant: socialism and welfare, view on unemployment.

In my old country and I should remind my kind reader, that I am from former Soviet Union, living in Canada now. In my old country there was no welfare, no unemployment. Under socialism of course, not afterwards, after it fell apart. May be Gorbachev pushed it down a little bit faster, may be not. I don't know. I am not a politic. Just an ordinary person. If there are bread and butter in the store I will buy it. If not, I go by...

In my old country under socialism everybody was entitled to a job and everybody had one, no unemployment, unless you are too old or too young to hold one - you have a job. If you are really sick and cannot work - you will get a small pension. To survive on that pension - is another story.

But when you are dead your problems are dead too, so it's a solution in away and your well-meaning relatives can help you to survive if they have means to do that.

Here in Canada there is unemployment. In 2005 we had 1,679,800 people collecting welfare.

I do not think that numbers have cringed since then. Five years ago my middle son was working. Now he is not. He is getting welfare. He is sitting at home fully depressed on a medication, lost all drive to get up and go, and he is not even trying.

I think that feature of socialism - absence of unemployment is really good, as it eliminates fear of loosing your job, loosing your means of existence. When you are working you are connected to the world, you do not feel worthless, stupid, you fell needed. I wish we had something more elaborate, than welfare. Some kind of job replacement, if you understand what I mean. When you have to work, may be a manual job, may be primitive one for you paycheck. Sort of workfare, not welfare. Until you can find a better job.

You have to do something if you are not a complete invalid and can do something with your arms and legs. Not just getting miserable money and feeling bad about it. And may be we should teach at school more survival skills, to learn how to live without “things” and how to be flexible in difficult times.

We should help people to relocate to different places, with more chances to find a job, teach children how to cook well on a small budget, how not to waste money.

If you live on a very limited budget, may be you better sell your car and rent the cheapest apartment possible, or rent out part of your own place to somebody else and DO NOT SMOKE! You cannot afford that.

Well in this slack economy we need some sort of socialism, just a little bit. Like free medical help, when you need and possibility to find a job when you need it. Is it too much to ask?

I don't know, I am just a reluctant immigrant and I still have a job, thank you.

Suddenly unemployed,what should you do in Toronto, Ontario ?

First of all do not panic! It's bad, it's unpleasant, it's unpredictable, but it can happen to anybody.

Lost job is not the end of the world; you'll get another one. You should and you will, - it all depends on how badly you need one.

As I said: do not panic. Check your finances.

Ideally you should have some savings at least for a couple of months. Okay, if you still have some money and can pay your rent, mortgage, bills, car insurance - fine. Take a deep breath, have some rest for a couple of days, and start writing your resume - you’ll need it as soon as now.

Call people you know and get some referrals.

Call people you hardly know you might get some referrals too if you ask. You never know.

Once I was looking for a job. Suddenly a person called who knew my husband from ancient times to find out how he is doing, and after a brief conversation I asked for a referral for myself.

And you know, I actually got one.

I was invited for an interview, I did not get the job but I've got a chance.

If you do not have any financial cushion whatsoever - try to find a job fast (lot's of resumes, calls to organizations that are hiring don't be shy - there is nothing to lose.

If your prospects too slim you need to find ways to make some fast money - to sell something or simply downgrade. Try to find a temporary job through employment agencies or sell something valuable if you have, for quick cash.

At http://www.kijiji.com/ there are always some general labor jobs, worth considering.

Cleaning services for women and landscaping, security for men – why not?

Babysitting or telemarketing – it’s all good, when you do not have any money.

“AP Personnel” – Employment Agency on Steeles, I do not remember the exact address.

It's between Keele and Dufferin St. on Steeles West.

Girl by name Iris is a very nice person there (if she is still working there) and might help you. She helped me all right and I held a job for almost a year through this agency and a short one later. It was a manual, low paid job, but who cares, I needed one to pay my bills.

If you know somebody who speaks Russian, you can get some telephone numbers from Russian newspapers. They publish some job openings through agencies and carry ads directly from employers, and I found my current job through an ad in the Russian newspaper.

Unfortunately I cannot recommend any Russian agency (they all speak English by the way)right now, because so many of them closed their doors due to lack of jobs and slack economy.

You have to realize that your situation is not unique and everybody can be in your unemployed shoes.

At least we have welfare in Canada and you are not going to live on a street hungry and abused if you chose not to. But you have to be careful and exercise all options and don't wait for a job to fall from sky. It usually never happens in real life only in some Hollywood movies. And do not be too choosy, grab anything to survive, better job will come later, but you have to eat now. Am I right?

Overpiced opportunity with no money for you.

Who are most MLM members- crooks or maximus ignoramus - just brainwashed confused people? And if you want to become a MLMer, what category are you going to refer yourself to? Okay, let's begin with ignoramus part.
You are invited to join a program, company, meeting. You come open minded willing to learn. You get a lot of information, none of it can be confirmed, it’s just a word of mouth (of your upline).He is the person , whose income directly depends on your participation and he has to convince you to join and to spend as much money as possible on this opportunity.
Even if the main product of this company is not a scam, if it is really good, in order to pay the commissions, bonuses, what not, it has to be overpriced and it usually is.
And its uniqueness and benefits of using usually are overly exaggerated and overestimated . Recently in a Chinese (I should say Eastern) Supermarket I noticed a bottle of Noni juice - $4.50 for a bottle.
I remembered the MLM I tried to participate in, where you have to pay 75 bucks for a bottle to distribute.
$75 for bottle of a juice? Who is going to buy it? - Some schmuck or completely confused and brainwashed person, hypnotized with perspective of big bucks, if he would manage to find another schmuck to buy into the program.
The juice has to do miracles, but the miracle is way too expensive!
Recently a new MLM company emerged on the market. It sells American silver coins.
Okay, it is something that sounds better than a juice, but still. What's the point of buying a coin that costs $90 plus shipping and handling, when you can buy the one for $20 and enjoy it just the same? Why, we always try to save money, but not in MLM?
As soon as we joined the MLM clan ,we are closing our eyes and just shedding our money left and right regardless.
Is it a mass hypnosis? I am curious.
I want an opportunity to make money without buying next to useless overpriced products, and I do not want market the C-R-A-P (sorry, let's call spade a spade). As one marketing lady told me: Why you are so worried? Just dump the f* product, it's just $25. Look at the OPPORTUNITY!

I am tired to be poor...

I am very-very tired to be poor. To think about money every day. Of what I should or shouldn't buy. Of what I want and cannot have.

May be it's not fair. Not fair towards people who are living on the streets right now and do not have a place to go or somebody to talk to. Who is sick and scared and abused.

I still have my job and place to live and I am not hungry.

But is it enough to a human soul? Just shelter and food and nothing else? Do I have to be content with that or go for something else?

The problem is I do not know how.

How to free myself from fear and dependancy on my everyday's toil ?

How to obtain some freedom to do what I want?

Is it really possible, or is it just a hopeless fantasy of an overworked individual?

Somebody told me: you have to be born in this country. I am not, sorry.
Does it mean that I have to work hard all my life with nothing to show?
Is it a punishment for being an immigrant,a reluctant immigrant? I don't know. I know I cannot come back. This is my home, my country, my destiny.
I am still alive and still looking for something, something that can feed my soul and give me more meaning to my life. I am still looking...

The Spring and new ideas

The Spring is here. It's such a lovely time in Canada!
After long cold windy nasty period, suddenly everything is bright and blooming. Gentle rain washes the pavement, making everything look bright new.
I finally moved from my old place. This new apartment is new indeed. The management made a complete renovation, everything shines and my only wish is to have less noise as my new apartment goes close to main intersection of Keele and Sheppard and traffic never stops there. Big city never sleeps but I do, and sometimes I have to make tough decision at night: fresh air of the noise. If I am too tired I shut my bedroom window but no fresh air then...
Well life is not perfect, but we have to try and make the best of it. I wish I had more time to do things I like, unfortunately it's not the case. I have to be creative and find some time to learn new things because old ways to work and sustain yourself are not efficient nowadays, I have to find something else.
Now I am really interested in network or affiliate marketing, but the learning curve is quite challenging when you have to work 6 days a week with lots of chores on the 7th. But is it something new for a reluctant immigrant? Isn't it something that I usually do: lots of work and little rest? Well, stop complain, old girl, and get on with your choirs. Faster you finish - more free time for yourself. Very simple formula.
I guess I have to go. I come back when I will find the network marketing that I think will suit me, well I will tell you anyway about my findings. So long!

I am tired...

I am s-o-o-o-o-o tired. I moved. I cannot believe I did that.

I was contemplating to do that for 4 years(!), yes. I am like a scared cat, afraid of changes. May be I am sick of changes. I am clinging to what I have vs what I might loose. If it makes sense. Or may be I am just like an old cat who likes his dirty sofa in a dark corner...

Anyway, I did that. My new apartment bright and clean, my new home. Well, it's rented, but it's mine and I love it. A little bit small, well, not a little. But freshly renovated and bright.

Windows go south, so it will be probably hell - hot in summer. It's okay.

Most of my days I spend at the office with air condition at work anyway.

I still have my old stuff with me and my two cats. They are adjusting too.

And my two kids (though not kids, but for a mother her child is always a kid) still with me. There is a certain comfort to know that somebody still needs you. I would hate to come home to an empty space, though one day I probably have to face it, but not now, and I am happy about it.

I ditched my cable TV, I will try to live without it, and to save some money, and ditch my second job, so I can have some days for myself or for some Internet ventures may be.

I want to spend more time doing some creative work and write something more useful and share some ideas with others.
I see new MLMs being created, I am interested - just do not havetime to investigate. Well, it's life. You have to be patient. You have to be grateful for whatever you have already and just exercise your options however small they might me.
It's your fate, fate and virtue of a reluctant immigrant, a penniless one for sure.