New Canadian from B'ham

I'm new to the group and would like to introduce myself. I'm so excited there's so many Canadians out there and a couple from Birmingham! I'm not entirely sure of the format of this group, but really look forward to 'meeting' all of you!

My husband (Adam) and I moved to Birmingham 6 months ago, a week after we got married. I'm working as a genetic counsellor at the Women's Hosptial and he's training to be a chef. We lived in Vancouver before that, but I'm originally from Ontario.

We love it here but still don't know if we're going to make it our permanent home. . . .my contract with the hosptial is for another year, and given the NHS crisis I'm thinking my contract may not get renewed. But that's a long way from now.

Anyway, I really look forward to chating with you all.

Leanne

Hey Leanne

Welcome to the UK. My name in Patti and I have been over here for about 7 years. My hubby is a Brit and we move around quite a bit qith his job. We are currently in Leicestershire, about 1 hour on the train to get to Birmingham. I quite often go to Birmingham to shop at the Bull Ring.

I am originally from Ontario as well, Belleville. Where are you from?

Hi Patti,
Thanks for you message! Wow, 7 years. . .I guess that means you must like it over here? I've been to Leicester once, is that in Leicestershire? That would make sense... I'm still trying to get the areas down. I was there for a conference though and didn't get to see the city at all though.

I grew up in Thunder Bay, ON did my undergrad in Guelph, ON and then worked in Kingston for a couple of years before heading off to Vancouver for a couple of years. I've driven through Belleville many times while I lived in Kingston, but never actually got to stop and see the city.

Cheers,
Leanne

I wouldn't say that I like it, but needs must. We are hoping to evenyually move back to Canada, but it seems to be easier to get good jobs over here. Neither of us have been to University and as you know that makes it very difficult to get a good job back home. Companies over here seem to be happy to take people on and train them up to their standards without a Degree.

We are going to Canada in June for two weeks and I can't wait. I have been back four times in 7 years and each time we go we just end up sitting around with the family. This time my hubby wants to do some site seeing so I will take him to Niagara Falls, the CN Tower and we are going to a Blue Jays game.

One of my brothers lives in Kingston, he is a nurse in the OR at Kingston General. The other lives in Toronto and is a fire fighter.

Don't worry about not getting to see Leicester, we live about 30 minutes north and I hate going in to Leicester. There isn't much to see there. I used to work there but have managed to get a job closer to home.

How funny. . I worked for KGH, but as a genetic counsellor so didn't come accross the OR folks at all.

I know what you mean about job training here. . it's fantastic! They actually pay you to do your training as oppossed to shelling out thousands of dollars in CA to go to school. The NHS is paying my trainning to be a phlebotomist. My husband's training as a chef, and although he's not getting paid it's free! (As oppose to the 30 000$ we'd have to pay back home for the same course).

Being here does have perks!

Leanne

Come to Wales! It's better!


Welcome to the board!

Thanks! And what's great about Whales-I've never been? I'm actually planning a week there in the summer in Pembrookshire. I hear it's suppose to be lovely.
Leanne