If someone had asked me few years ago about Canada, maybe first thing that would strike to me is “Oh! It is the country next to US”. That’s it! But now, our whole life circles around this country especially around Toronto.
This section of the Blog, I would like to talk about our journey from Bangalore to Toronto. All the phases we crossed to reached this successful phase of life.
It was in late 2008, when recession had hit UK, the company which Pavan worked asked us to return to Bangalore. We had many dreams to achieve by being there, which didn’t materialize as we returned in a short time. This made us come to a conclusion that it would be we who would decide to stay or not in a country and not the company who decides to relocate us.
During early 2009, when the immigration consultant asks us to choose with in a list of countries, we only know that we just pointed to Canada. Other than that, we didn’t know anything about Canada. We applied for the immigration status by Aug 2009 and researched to find that it would take a minimum of 2 years for us to get the status.
By May 2010, we had brought a new SX4 car, moved on to an independent accommodation near office; just chose a new job and reached almost a settling mode in India. By then a bell rang to our surprise we have received the Permanent Resident status in Canada which we never expected to arrive so soon.
We didn’t know to feel good that we have acquired the status or feel bad seeing our current settled situation. We consulted few forums and friends as how to proceed further. Some told us that we are really lucky to get it so soon, but others mentioned that we can defer going at the moment and in some cases of forum, they also mentioned to go to Canada get the PR card and come back home country to can go later to Canada within 5 years of time. Somewhere in heart we both wanted to go explore but we were not sure, how well we will be successful.
One day we decided that let’s pull out all our savings, to sell the car, planned to quit the new job and take what comes to just go and try our luck. We were ready to take that lifetime risk of going and exploring what is in store for us at the cost of burning our lifetime savings. We both were ready to face it. Initially the plan was Pavan and I landing in Toronto while I would return back to Bangalore in 4 weeks or so while Pavan would stay back in Toronto and check out the job opportunities. Then as days passed by, we thought that if both of us look for job opportunities we have double the chances of getting a job. And also, we felt very incomplete without one another. We felt we will be strong together compared to just the job security of one in Bangalore.
Now the next thought came to us was, whom do we know in Canada? We didn’t know anyone in Canada. Not even a friend’s friend or even relatives. As a quest we started to grow our stranger network in Linkedin, orkut and word of mouth networking asking just anyone we meet if they can refer us to their friends or relatives. We badly needed someone to support us just morally and we were ready to pay them, but wanted some reliable sources. In the middle of our quest, I met a good person online via linked in who resided in Ontario suburbs for decades now. He is very elderly person and we both had many online skype conversations with him. During our initial conversations with him, he insisted us not to come to Canada due to bad weather and taxes being high. Later when he figured out we had made up our mind, he did offer us to stay with him. Only thing which bothered us was his heavy built Dog at his home due to our earlier bad experiences with Dogs. We then thought, let’s go for it come what may as we are getting a support from an elderly person.
So once for all, we decided to clean up the savings in bank and try to cash in more money by selling all the liabilities and assets. Gradually, I quit my job first and then Pavan quit little later due to our varied notice period to the organizations we worked. We decided our travel dates to be early Feb and booked our tickets in advance. All set in our mindsets and few of our close friends knew something is going on.
In the meantime, I got a travel assignment for 3 weeks to UK in very short notice. I had to pack up in 2 days and landed in UK. There fortunately, I met a new friend who happened to drive taxi in UK. His name is Honey Singh. He really helped me from the day1 of landing in UK till I left UK back home. As I can talk to any stranger on earth, I happen to tell him about my travel plans to Canada. He did mention about his whole family including parents, brother and sisters are residing in Toronto, Canada. He did mention that I can approach them for any support in Toronto. I was little reluctant to ask, but I did ask if his brother can drop us to our online friend’s place in suburbs of Ontario. Even I was not sure, if that works out but at least I made an attempt to ask Honey bhai (By now, we were so close, I used to call him Honey bhai). Soon I was back in Bangalore from 3 weeks assignments.
Later, it was the time to let our parents know more about our plan and the final dates of flying to Toronto. We never mentioned to our parents that we both had quit our jobs. Already the emotional bond between us was growing stronger due this decision of going far from them; we didn’t want them to worry about our job while we are in Canada. So we mentioned that Pavan took an internal transfer from his current organization. This was a big relief to them and felt very happy about our visa status as well our work.
Days ran by very fast when our relatives and friends were informed. Pavan had got relived from his official services and took a good break enjoying home food and pampering by his parents. At the other hand, I was still stuck at office giving my last few weeks of service at the organization. I could see some bleak chances of getting an onsite opportunity / internal transfer from my organization. I was told to wait and wait till the ball rolls which I couldn’t do after completing 3 months of notice period. I was still positive that things will fall in place when I move to Canada.
The final day of flying up-up in air came! That was the month of Feb 2011. Full emotional drama was seen clearly all around; tears rolled uncontrollably and kerchiefs/tissues were seen all over the place. Jokes apart! We both were trying to balance by not letting anyone around know the emotional, financial, professional downtime we both were going through. All we did was to say “Bye-Bye” and “Please take care of your health”. Deep from our heart, we did not want to make our dearest and nearest parents worry about us. We appreciated all our close relatives who supported us by telling us they are there for our parents.
Most of my time while boarding flight I was silent controlling the tears falling. I didn’t want to show Pavan that I was feeling weak internally. At one point when we sat in flight it came to my mind, we are leaving our own people by empting up all financial savings and giving up our well set career and currently we are nowhere (as we were in air J). We had nothing to lose is what we realized! Then again silence prevailed! We didn’t disturb one another this time in flight. We took a good nap by then we reached London.
First thing we did is to call Honey bhai to say that we are heading towards Toronto and requesting again if his brother can come to airport to pick us up. He said, yes that should be fine. We had Honey’s family number with us in Toronto. Everything was communicated and we knew we will land by around 7.30PM in Toronto. We then stuffed something in our stomach so that our mind doesn’t think of food again as it had many other things to think about now. Now we were all set for another 8 hours flight. We little knew as to what all we have to face when we land in Toronto.
We landed safely, completed our immigration called up Sunny’s family in Toronto asking to drop us to the address in suburbs. The temperature outside the airport was some double digit in number but definitely in minus. We somehow figured out that the other person was waiting for us. His name is Sunny Singh who was Honey’s bro. Sunny was waving his hand at the car parking; we saw him but couldn’t go due to the snow/rain fall and also the -17 temperature. Never in life had I imagined that I could survive in minus temperature. Well! This time we realized yes, we can!
By the time we board the car, it was almost 10PM and the suburbs distance from Airport for around 1.5 hour drive. Sunny requested if we can come over and stay at his place that night so that he can drop us the next day. We were reluctant initially as we wanted to check with our online friend (whom we called uncle). Then we somehow felt that is a better idea as we are under an obligation now and conveyed the information to our friend.
We reached Sunny’s place in Brampton. We both were so exhausted and dying hungry. To our surprise, we saw a stunning huge detached home which happened to be Sunny’s home. Frankly, we never ever expected any such kind of accommodation. We were welcomed so lovingly by Sunny’s mom, dad and sisters. They were so adorable and smiling. We felt like talking to our parents and meeting our family. They were waiting for us to join their dinner. I have to mention here about our online uncle who didn’t really bothered to ask us about our dinner. We felt we were blessed, we do not know if we have to call this as our elder’s good karma which was with us. We were served such good food with all the varieties. We were given the Master bedroom accommodation and one of the best of best treatments.
The next day we left to online friend’s place as we had promised him that we would stay at his place. Sunny’s bhai dropped us to their place, as we both sensed that things were not as welcoming as we saw in Sunny ji’s place. Sunny ji also felt something may go wrong I guess. He mentioned to us to return back to his place as this place doesn’t seem to work out. We also felt somewhat insecure as the Dog was our major issue. The Dog was so furious that he happened to attack us the very first time he saw us. As our online friend would work in another city, he wouldn’t be home for 4 days a week. We were asked to be friends with the Dog or else we cannot live there. We were so scared and perplexed that we decided to call Sunny bhai. Thankfully Sunny-ji was around the corner hopping we may need him. He immediately came back picked us up and we left to their place.
One thing after all this I have to mention here is, if that day Sunny’s family hadn’t been there to support us, we wouldn’t have seen this day today. I would say Hats off to their family as they supported us morally and loved us like their kids. We were given all freedom in their place. I would cook my south Indian food like rice, daal, dosa. Aunty loved both of us so much that their love can never be weighed to any monetary element. Roopa and Sona who are Sunny’s sister would treat us like bhaiya and bhabhi. Uncle was all time jovial and helping us to forget our sorrow. All in all, we were with the reliable, lovable and enjoyable people around us.
The next week after our arrival, Pavan fell sick as he caught flue. We both were very much worried as I had an interview scheduled in the downtown at the same time. We had to make a decision whether to see the doc or to attend the interview. Again Sunny-ji helped us; he took me to the interview and then took Pavan to the doctor. Everything was so well managed. Thankfully, I happened to clear the interview. I was asked to join the firm as earliest as possible. We all were so happy about it. Shortly, a next question came up. We didn’t know how to commute all the way from Brampton to Downtown Toronto. So we started to look out places around the subway train connectivity with in the city limits. We found a basement available at Don mills and Sheppard. Again Sunny Bhai helped us shop all the stuff needed for our home and moved our stuff to the basement.
We moved in to the basement accommodation within 10 days of our arrival to Toronto. The past 10 days we had seen enough of life and believe me without a strong backing from Sunny’s family we wouldn’t have made it so far. Slowly, we started getting settled. I started going to job, days rolled by and Pavan wasn’t get many opportunities. We both were getting tensed as to what else to do to get a job. We had tried all possible ways. Then one day, one of Pavan’s ex-colleague who happened to see a vacant position in his firms referred him. Pavan appeared for the interview with every other candidate. Finally, Pavan made it to the last round and got a job. We had by then completed 2 months in Toronto.
This is when we had kick started the reaping phase in our life. We were surrounded by limited friends but good ones. We had completed winter times by then, Sun was coming out slowly and the snow was disappearing. We started to look out for another place to rent as basement was not to be meant to live longer. We found a very good place right in the middle of the busiest and happening place in Toronto called the North York City center. We found a furnished place to live on the 30th floor with one bedroom which had direct access to Subway trains and super market. We waited for 3 months in the basement by paying advance to move in to this new place. Even though it was slightly over our budget we felt like living in dignity and with the right community. This place gave up new hopes to life and a broader sense of thinking in life.
Days rolled by and I got a very great offer from a highly reputed organization. Though it was little inconvenient from a travel perspective. I made up my mind to join the new organization and took this change more positively. This change of my organization and the move in to the new home happened to be at the same time. As I mentioned earlier, everything happens is for a good cause which comes with no clause. Being in this great workplace and great location to live we planned to made up our mind to own a condominium (similar to apartment) instead of renting one.
In the event of searching a new condominium unit we met a good stranger named Manju who is now no more a stranger to us. He came into our lives as a realtor and stayed in our hearts as a very good friend. Not just the business perspective even with during our personal crisis he supported us. We were going through a great turmoil during our decision making phase of buying a new property, Manju always backed us up saying nothing can go wrong. He was always there for us not only when we called him to view the listings but also when we were stuck in some decision making situations. Even though we both were very streamlined in what we wanted in a home, Manju helped us to be more mature and confident when we made decisions. Always his personality and experience would make us realize one thing for sure; however one reaches the peak point in his life “Attitude will make him reach Altitude and sustain there”. I believe that one cannot be called as great human being just by the money he makes, but he is great by the way he handles the situations in the worst moments of life. In a way, Manju has set a great example to us and we love him and respect all his valuable suggestions. We hope to remain in his heart too for a long time.
So All in all, we finally decided about a condominium unit in the same busiest and the happening area of Toronto. After a long circus we got the mortgage provider bank finalized. Finally we are closing the deal of our new home and moving into it in the month of November. We have named our new home as “Shri Naguvana” which is a combination of our names “Nagaswetha-u-PaVan-a. Naguvana means “Let there be Smiles which is infinite as the number of trees in the forest”.
Recently I have cultivated a habit of writing some small poems in English and my mother tongue Kannada. This one i have written to invite our friends to our new Home:
Days are rolling by to bring us happiness at its best,
It is the joy of getting into a new cozy nest,
We would like to welcome you to be our guest,
Bring your well wishes with you, we will take care of the rest. :)
Hoping to see you in our new home named "Sri NaguVana" :)
-- written by Swetha Pavan
I have one more poem to share which is written in my mother tongue "Kannada".
I would like to conclude this blog by saying; we came to Toronto 9 months back with nothing. No jobs, no friends, not much money. Now we have good friends, great family, reasonable assets and our own nest to live in. What more to ask for when one has seen nothingness in life! I am glad that we are really blessed to have great people with great personality around us!
Today we have got our home registered on 24th Day of the November 2011. It is one of the blissful days of our life which we would remember for all of our lifetime. We booked our condominium unit on the Thanks giving Day of Canada and got it registered on the Thanks giving Day of US. So both the countries thanks giving days are very memorable to us. Check out our thanks giving gift.
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