A New Adventure

I was having a coffee with Barbara, at the Sheppard Centre Mall, and we were having a good old moan about all sorts. As usual, I was moaning about living in Canada. Well, the hurdles I have faced so far here.  It's all about change and I have yet to embrace this move to Canada as something that I was happy to do. I feel this move was imposed on us, we didn't really have much of a choice but to come. Sounds sad, but that's how I feel.

The adventure awaits

This morning I had return to the Service Ontario at Sheppard Ave East, to try to get my name corrected on my Ontario Health Insurance Card.  A typo had occurred on my first card and I ended up with a card that said I was Sun Yin Chong. Mistake made by Service Ontario, but I have to make the journey to have it corrected. My first attempt was thwarted by their computer systems being down. Today, all systems go, and I was seen after a short wait of about 35 minutes. I explained what had happened, and requested my married name be put on the card, and showed her my marriage certificate. She wrote on the form my new name, Sun Yin Jordan..... Grrrrrrr! Luckily I spotted it, and said, my name is Su Yin Jordan, she had my passport, my marriage certificate, the form where I had written what my name should be, she even had my driver's licence.  Oh, she had my work permit too. Which she queried, and asked for Dave's work permit, which I didn't have, and why should I have it, I have my own, for effing sake. She then told me, that because my work permit was granted because of his work permit, for anything official, bring his work permit along..... I am telling you now, I really do not understand this country and it's pedantic laws, red tape and whatever effing else! A lot of swearing in this blog, sorry, but it's good to let of steam. I said, I haven't got it, she said, it's ok, as the reference number for Dave's work permit was on mine....... sigh, could she not have checked that first before making me feel as though I had forgotten something and that I was going to have to make another trip.

Anyhow, all was ok in the end, I had my pic taken again, bet I looked like a dragon,  can you blame me? Well, I can't. Things don't have to be complicated, or am I complicating things for myself, I get so confused, I refuse to think anymore, just get the stuff done and I can carry on living here with minimal hassle. I have taken a customer feedback form though. I might well suggest a few things to them so they can improve their service to newcomers to their country. My old health card was returned to me, with a hole punched in it, and a document stating that I had made a name change, which she asked me to check was correct, and it was, bye bye Sun Yin Chong, welcome back  Su Yin Jordan.

I left feeling like I had achieved something. On my way back to the shopping centre where I was meting Barbara, I picked up an unopened packet of Kleenex tissues, clean outer packaging, lying on the snowy pavement,  just what I needed and my nose was beginning to run. Lucky or what?  I got to the food court, where I had arranged to meet Barbara and wandered into a shop as she hadn't arrived and picked up some costume jewellery that was reduced. Nothing like a bit of retail therapy for that oh so temporary feeling of gratification.

My pretty bangles

It was over coffee that Barbara told me how when she had to move to Canada more than 22 years ago, she told herself that it would be an adventure. She had moved here with her 8 year old son from the UK, after a breakdown in her marriage. She found a job that she loved, and says she had a brilliant time for many years. Now though, she thinks the novelty's worn off, well after 22 years, I guess that's allowed.  I told her I have tried to see it as an adventure, but there are hurdles in the way, no pain, no gain I guess.  I am hoping the hurdles will get less and less with time and then it will just be little blips and bumps.

Is this what awaits me?

The good things about being here?  Jasmine is happy again after a sad year in Trinidad, Mitchell is doing very well in school as is Jasmine, Dave has a great job, we live in a condo with a pool and gym, Dave has a Lexus to drive, we have been skiing, I live in a mini Chinatown and have access to all foods Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indian.  We have our health, we are together, we are loved... all things positive... we have shelter,we are warm, we have made some connections....Jasmine went to her first girl guide session today, she had a fantastic time. I met some parents from the school at Guides pick up time and they are trying to get me to join the PTA, here we go again...... hehehehehehehe

Yes, it is an adventure, I will learn to embrace this, next on my list of things to do is to find a paid job. I have been volunteering at school which has been great too. Upwards and onwards, bring it on.......

My next adventure?????