Life’s Ideas

It was my first Christmas in Canada and it’s a white christmas. We just moved here last October 20, 2008 so we don’t have close friends yet. It was just the two of us but I didn’t mind. He is the one person I would always want to be with.

Just a few days before Christmas, We went shopping for Christmas decorations at Linens N’ Things. We bought a 6’2 inches pre-lit Christmas tree, two Christmas stockings, a wreath and lots of Noma Christmas lights. When we got home, we assembled our tree and decorated it and added more lights. We wrapped some gifts and placed it under the tree . We also installed lights over the windows inside the house.

Our Christmas Tree

When Christmas eve came, I cooked roasted turkey and chocolate cake. It was my first time to cook something like that but it turned out excellent because I already searched the internet for the recipe and tips on how to do it. We ate before midnight strikes and we kiss and hug each other and exchanged gifts. My gift to him is a Citizen Eco-Drive watch. He chose this watch because it has a feature that is useful for pilots. He is not a pilot but he took flying lessons before and would want to pursue that later on. My gift from him is a magic sing. It was a surprise from him. I told him before that I wanted a magic sing but I didn’t expect him to buy it for me for Christmas.

Our Noche Buena

After our exchange of gifts, we called our parents in the Philippines and greeted them. Then we installed the magic sing and sing to our hearts content, oblivious of the world around us. We slept very late and woke up late the next morning. There was no need for me to cook because our roasted turkey is far from gone.

Christmas is being at peace with the world, with your family and friends. If you have peace of mind and love in your heart, then you have everything to be thankful for.

Tags: Add new tag, chocolate cake, Christmas, citizen eco-drive, magic sing, noche buena, noma lights, pilot, roasted turkey, watch, white christmas
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It was good news to us when my husband got a job contract in Regina but there was also some worry to it. We were living in Edmonton and Regina is city in another province. That was a very big move, literally. We had to do a lot of arrangements. His contract from his previous employer already ended so this part was already cleared.

We had a one-year lease contract to our apartment so we were worried they might actually charge us for the remaining two months short of one year. The administrator told us that they would not charge anything to us if we just take one of their apartments in Regina. So that solved the problem. It was convenient for us to just go online and chose one that we liked. The administrator was the one making the arrangements for us in Regina.

Next we had to contact our providers to cut off our cable TV, internet and telephone line. It was easy since the utilities had no contracts. My husband phoned some moving companies and asked for them to make us a quote, should we decide to avail of their services. They were all asking for more than 3,000 dollars. That’s a lot of money. We could afford it if we were up to it but then we had better use of that money. That’s when we decided to just rent U-Haul van for one way. They only charge less than 800 dollars for a minimum of four days. We could just return the unit at the nearest U-Haul branch in Regina.

Our Neighborhood in Regina

Now the hardest part is the packing of our things. We boxed all the appliances and furniture that still had boxes. We bought several large plastic bins with covers at Zellers for the things that did not have a box. We also bought two sturdy hand trucks to help us with the heavy items. Once we were all packed up, three of his closest colleagues agreed to help us with the loading of the things in the van. We just treated them to a lunch of pizza.

After loading everything, my husband installed the towing equipment so we could just tow our car while we drive the U-haul. It was pretty convenient, no need to spend on gasoline for the car. It was his first time to use a towing equipment with no help. It was hard for us but we got through it. It was almost dark when we were ready to leave. We had a coleman full of drinks and finger food so we could minimize stoppings. We drove more than 800 kilometers and we could not speed up because we’re driving a van with a towed car behind. We practically did not sleep and we arrived in Regina before sunrise. The Boardwalk administrator was not in the office yet so we had to go to Tim Hortons to have some coffee and breakfast while waiting for 8:00 a.m.

We met with the administrator after breakfast and we got the keys to our new apartment. This time, we unloaded and unpacked everything with just the two of us because we didn’t know anyone to help us and there was no available men to do the labor. It seemed almost impossible for just the two of us, having to move the bed and the treadmill but we did it. We were able to return the U-Haul van on time.

This is how we Filipinos are. Sometimes we have to go through inconvenience if it means spending less.

Wascana Park

Regina Administrative Building

Wascana Lake

Tags: apartments, Boardwalk, moving, regina, Tim Hortons, towing, U-Haul, zellers
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    Banff is part of the Canadian Rockies in Alberta. Being there is being at peace with the Creator.  It’s incredible how nature can be perfect in all its asymmetry.  All the sceneries in Banff are breath-taking that it would surely captivate the hearts of everyone who goes there.

    Lake Louise is my favourite part of the Canadian Rockies. When I saw Lake Louise, I felt like I wanted to stay there. We almost spent the whole day there.  The view is the combination of the majestic mountains, the clear and still lake water with the reflection of the mountains, the clouds  and the plants, simply enticing. Even if you are visiting the Canadian Rockies for Lake Louise alone, it would still be well-worth it. This is also where the best hotel is located, the Fairmont Chateau.

Lake Louise

Fairmont Chateau at Lake Louise

Lake Louise

Lake Louise

    Lake Moraine was our next stop after Lake Louise. It is a much smaller lake but it’s also very beautiful.  There is also a nice biking and hiking trail there.

    The next day we went back to Lake Louise for a horse-back riding to Mount Agnes. There is a trail for those who want to go there on foot but I just had to try horse-back riding.  The ride was scheduled for four hours. It was really fun.  We took beautiful photos along the way. There was Mirror Lake, the Beehive and best of all, Lake Agnes on top of the mountain with a teahouse in front of it.

Passing by The Beehive on Horseback

Lake Agnes

    Then off we took the Banff Gondola to Sulphur Mountain. From there, we saw a good panoramic view of Banff.  We still had to climb the steps to the top but it was nice, the air was cool and there were amazing views along the way.

View of Banff from Sulphur Mountain

View of Banff from Sulphur Mountain

View of Banff from Sulphur Mountain

There are many good accommodations in Banff, depending on how much you are willing to spend. As for us, we stayed at Rundlestone  Lodge then at Juniper Hotel. We did not really have enough time to plan for the trip so our choices were limited but still, everything went smoothly.

After my first trip to Banff and Lake Louise, I still feel like I have only tasted the icing of the cake. I still have to go back so I could taste the cake itself. Until then, Banff and Lake Louise.

Wildlife at Banff

Tags: Alberta, Beehive, Canadian Rockies, gondola, Juniper, Lake Agnes, Lake Louise, Mirror Lake, Moraine, Mount Agnes, Rundlestone, Sulphur Mountain, teahouse
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Jasper National Park is part of the Canadian Rockies in Alberta. My husband and I went there to celebrate my birthday. We drove all the way from Edmonton but it was a nice drive. There are roadside rest areas inside Jasper with spectacular views that we couldn’t afford not to stop and be enthralled, even if we did not intend to rest. There were times when we just did not stop for the views but upon the sight of wild animals grazing near the road.

We stayed in Becker’s Chalets for two days. The good thing about it, is that you can cook your own food because the chalet has a well-equipped kitchen and dining room. The chalet could accommodate a family with three children so it was quite comfortable for just the two of us. We brought two Coleman coolers with us, one for the drinks and the other for the food. I mostly cooked our meals so we really felt very much at home there.

Becker’s Chalets – Our Home in Jasper

During our first day, we went to Medicine Lake. The lake was almost completely dried up during that time because it was almost winter. Next stop was Maligne River. We took a cruise by the river going to Spirit Island. Along the way, we saw two bald eagles. The view of the spirit island is one of the best you can have in Jasper. Then off we went to Malign Canyon then Athabasca falls and Athabasca river. There was a part of the river that’s so noisy then a few steps ahead, the river starts to calm down. 

Medicine Lake – Fall 2008

Lake Maligne

Spirit Island

Athabasca Falls

On our second day, we took the Jasper Tramway and got to the top of Whistler Mountain which is 7,452 feet above sea level. There we had a stunning panoramic view of Jasper. From there, we proceeded to Columbia Ice fields. Sadly, the Ice Explorer bus was not available to take us to ice fields so we just managed to walk up to the mountain until we could see some glaciers.

Jasper Tramway

Looking down from Jasper Tramway

view from the top of Whistler Mountain

When we went back to our chalet, we were exhausted yet more than contented. We could not get enough of what we just experienced during the past two days. We decided we were going to plan another trip to Jasper in the near future.

Castle Mountain

Columbia Icefield

cracked glacier

Tags: Alberta, athabasca river, Becker's Chalets, Canadian Rockies, canyon, columbia ice fields, Jasper, maligne, river, spirit island, whistler mountain
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     The Canadian Rockies is one place in Canada that you must not miss in your lifetime. It is in the province of Alberta and has four parks; Jasper, Banff, Kootenay and Yoho.  The place is so vast and breath-taking at the same time.  There is something in the Canadian Rockies that makes it almost magical. The place is amazing all year round although during winter, it is too cold for you to go out and enjoy the views.

     The Canadian Rockies is nature in its purest. It is a combination of landforms and water forms, of mountains and lakes, of canyons and rivers.  Seeing animals in the wild like elks, deers, mountain goats, moose and bears are a bonus, too. There are also a lot of things to do there like hiking, mountain climbing, horseback riding, water rafting and kayaking. It’s a good place to shed off extra pounds without even noticing it.  When you go hiking there, you will hardly notice the distance you have covered because of all the beautiful sights along the way.

Canadian Rockies

     Personally, I think the best time to go there is during late Semptember  when the plants are changing colors.  Remember to bring your best digital camera with extra battery and your most comfortable walking shoes. One trip to the Canadian Rockies is only the first of the many visits anyone can make.

Canadian Rockies

Canadian Rockies

Tags: Alberta, Banff, Canadian Rockies, Jasper, Kootenay, Yoho
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Edmonton had been my home for barely a month. My husband actually lived there for almost nine months. He worked there as an IT Consultant with the Office of the Solicitor General. Before I joined him last September 2008, he was living alone in the one-room apartment at the 7th floor of a high rise building somewhere downtown. He chose to live there because his office is just a few blocks away. He didn’t go out much then, just went to play golf once in a while with officemates.

view from our apartment

When I joined him later last year, he sort of showed me around. We go out a lot. My first taste of Canada was in Edmonton, the Olive Garden Italian Restaurant. I like it there, place was cozy and warm. Food was great and serving was huge. We could not finish everything we ordered so we had the leftover boxed for take out.

Edmonton Admin Building

The next day, he took me to his favorite supermarket in Edmonton, the Save on Foods. It was the first supermarket I had been to in Canada. We got a push cart and we walked around the whole supermarket so I could just get a quick glance of the whole store. I instantly liked it there. My husband told me to pick anything I want so I just went on getting things that I wanted to try. When we got to the counter to pay, that was the only time I realized that I picked too much. Other stores of which we are frequent visitors in the area are Canadian Tire, RCS, Zellers, The Bay and Sobeys. As Asians though, going to an Oriental store or restaurant is always something to look forward to and Edmonton has many of those.

We also went to the West Edmonton Mall. It became at one time, the biggest mall in the world. It has a roller coaster and other rides both children and adults would love. It also has a man-made beach inside with artificial waves that would make you feel you are in a real beach. We just watched a movie there and pick up some winter clothes for me since I only have clothes made for the tropics. I believe you cannot go around the whole place in one day especially if you have kids with you. The place is just so huge and so many things to do there.

The best part of my stay in Edmonton is going to Victoria Park. It was in the middle of fall, so the leaves are starting to yellow. I was really amazed of how beautiful the plants and trees were, when they change color. The park was teeming with plants and trees with leaves of different color; yellow, red, green, etc. The lake is also home to many species of animals including fowls and birds.

Victoria Park

Then last October 20, my husband got a job in Regina so we had to get ready to move out of Edmonton. We then decided to visit the Royal Alberta Museum because we may not have time to do it in the future. I had a nice time there. I especially enjoyed watching the exhibit of the different kinds of crystals and the wildlife that can be found in the province of Alberta. We only had a little over an hour before closing but we managed to cover everything there is to see.

There are always places to go and things to do in every city. They are the same reasons that would make you want to come back to a place where you have been before. As for us, we would still want to come back and visit Edmonton again soon, not only for the places to go and things to do there but for our friends that made us feel we belong there.

Tags: Edmonton
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I arrived in Canada last September 24, 2008. I flew in from the Philippines on Cathay Pacific Cebu-Hongkong-Vancouver. My final destination was Edmonton but I had to go through the Canadian Immigration Services in Vancouver first because Edmonton Airport is for domestic flights only. There they had to inspect my identification documents (i.e. passport with visa and confirmation of permanent residence) since I came in as a landed immigrant from the Philippines.

     I was picked up from the airport by my husband at Edmonton airport. He has been here in Canada for almost three years now. He told me before that there are many nice things here in Canada that I need to see for myself because he can’t fully describe them. When we drove out of the airport, I could not help myself but be amazed at how different everything seemed to me. I came from a province in my home country which is to me, quite wonderful but then there I was, in a strange place about to call it home.  Almost everything is different from what I was used to. The streets wider, the architecture and size of the buildings and houses are different  from where I came from.  The people are so diverse, the plants and trees are of different species, too.  Yet though all of those strangeness, I felt the warmth of home.

Edmonton

     I felt at home because  I had been so looking forward to this moment when I can finally reunite with my husband. He went to the Philippines every Christmas season just to be with me but this time, we will be together not only during Christmas but everyday of the year. I felt a positive kind of high being in this strange land because this is my home, where my family will be from now on. I have always loved the place where I came from but this strange place which offers us a better life is so easy to love. There are so many wonderful things to enjoy here, nice people, clean environment, better opportunites and best of all, this is where the love of my life is, my husband.

Edmonton

     Home really is where the heart is. It is the place where you can be at your best. Home begins with the inside. With my husband around, the place doesn’t feel strange anymore because he is there to make me feel at home and in the end, that’s all that matters.

Victoria Golf Course

Tags: home, strange place
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Getting Ready  for Canada

     Leaving for Canada as an immigrant was a life changing decision for me.  There’s a lot of preparations to be done beforehand. I was going to my new home where almost everything is new to me and at the same time, I was leaving my hometown where I knew I would always come back every now and then. This means I was going to leave some personal things behind that I may need when I get back in the future. I have also some personal gifts and memorabilia I kept as treasures which I intend to bring with me in the future when hopefully we will have our own house. I also had to pack personal things I was going to need in the place where I was going since I was going to Canada for good.  I found that making a checklist on what to bring with you is very important and to do it the earliest possible time is even more important. I had to start doing my checklist even before my visa arrived. I had to add some things every now and then as soon as they came up.

My checklist on what to bring includes:

I.                    Essential documents

1.       Airline tickets and boarding passes

2.       Philippine passport with the Canadian visa and CFO seal stamped on it

3.       Confirmation of Permanent Residence

4.       List of what I was bringing with me in Canada

The new Philippine passport>

 

II.                  Important documents

1.       Birth Certificate Marriage Certificate

2.       Baptismal Certificate

3.       College Transcript  of Records

4.       Resume

5.       Employment Certificates from past employers

6.       Certificates from Trainings and Seminars attended

 

III.                Others

1.       Money in pesos for airport fees and meals

2.       Money in dollars for airport spending outside the Philippines

3.       Notebook or organizer containing addresses and phone numbers in case of emergency

4.       Ipod or Mp3 player with a good quality headset

5.       A pocketbook

6.       Maintenance and emergency medicines

7.       Toothbrush, hair brush, facial cleanser and moisturizer

 

     I put the  items I placed in the Essential documents and Others in a convenient place in my carry-on bag for easy access.  They got me through the long trips and boring airport stops. Checking flight status every now and then was also helpful. Having my phone book on hand is very important so I could inform my husband, who picked me up at the airport, in case of any flight status change.

     You can never know when a trip will go wrong but planning ahead always makes me thankful that I did. I made sure I had something to keep me busy during like reading a novel or listening to my ipod, but not too busy to check my flight status and keep an eye on my belongings at the same time.

Tags: Getting Ready for Canada
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