Friday, August 24, 2007
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Eh?
I received a phone call yesterday from a Toronto recruiter. He was looking for someone with very specific experience to fill a position for a client. After first listening to him, and then explaining that did I not have the experience he was looking for nor was I looking for a position in Toronto, he asks me, "Do you know anyone who has experience in (lists what he is looking for) ?" The thing I found amusing is how he ended about every other statement or question with "eh?"
Prior to moving to Canada, my only experience with the phrase "eh?" was with Bob & Doug McKenzie and their skits on Saturday Night Live. I always assumed it was an exaggeration, but moving to Canada has, among other things, shown me how little I really know. The phrase "eh?" is very popular. "Eh?" knows no bounds; it is used by everyone regardless of their educational background, socioeconomic, geographical, or political affiliations. The only person I haven't heard use this phrase is the The Kid. He has escaped this influence, thankfully.
I was talking to my husband about something inconsequential one day. I asked him, "What do you think about that, eh?" As soon as the word exited my mouth, all I could do was cover my mouth with my hands in hopes of preventing another one from slipping out. He immediately turned to me and with a huge grin. He laughs and says, "That was a real one. You said it and it wasn't a joke so don't try to say it was!" I felt like I had sinned against nature. I immediately entered my bedroom, closed the door, and atoned for my sins with self mortification by flogging. (Ok, not really, but I haven't said "eh?" since.)
It is quite obvious that some people are having a tough time understanding Canadians, so the following will run through a very brief translation of the Canadian 'dialect' and hopefully ease some minds out there. "Eh" is a useful word that is very important and is the basis of all Canadian communications. It is used in conjunction with other words, or simply by itself. The tone or the slight differences in exclamation also changes the meaning:
Eh? = what did you say?
Eh? = what do you think?
EH? = something to say just to end a sentence.
Ehhhh!! = WOW!!
EH!? = what do you mean?
Eh?? = your joking!!!??
EH!! = Hello..(you off in the distance!!!)
Eh? want a doughnut or some Tim Bits?
Eh! = sure!!
Eh!Eh! = coffee double-cream too please!
Eh? = what you say when you realize you have no money to pay for it.
Eh..cmon, eh? = asking them to let you pay for it next time.
hey..eh! = want to go to the drive-in movie??
Eh...uhuh = yes sure!
Eh..y'know = I'll pick you up at 8:00 (8:30 in Newfoundland).
Eh..cmon!! = well that's early..but ok.
Eh..wanna? eh? = lets fool around ...
EHHHHHHH = sounds coming from the car.
hey..um..er eh... = I'm pregnant!
EH????????? = how did that happen?
EHHehhEHHehhEHHH = sounds from the delivery room.
EHHH-ehh, EHHH-ehh = baby's first cry.
Ehh..whadya think eh? = marry me.
So, now you too, Dear Reader, can use "Eh?" properly. Just don't do it around me.
Prior to moving to Canada, my only experience with the phrase "eh?" was with Bob & Doug McKenzie and their skits on Saturday Night Live. I always assumed it was an exaggeration, but moving to Canada has, among other things, shown me how little I really know. The phrase "eh?" is very popular. "Eh?" knows no bounds; it is used by everyone regardless of their educational background, socioeconomic, geographical, or political affiliations. The only person I haven't heard use this phrase is the The Kid. He has escaped this influence, thankfully.
I was talking to my husband about something inconsequential one day. I asked him, "What do you think about that, eh?" As soon as the word exited my mouth, all I could do was cover my mouth with my hands in hopes of preventing another one from slipping out. He immediately turned to me and with a huge grin. He laughs and says, "That was a real one. You said it and it wasn't a joke so don't try to say it was!" I felt like I had sinned against nature. I immediately entered my bedroom, closed the door, and atoned for my sins with self mortification by flogging. (Ok, not really, but I haven't said "eh?" since.)
It is quite obvious that some people are having a tough time understanding Canadians, so the following will run through a very brief translation of the Canadian 'dialect' and hopefully ease some minds out there. "Eh" is a useful word that is very important and is the basis of all Canadian communications. It is used in conjunction with other words, or simply by itself. The tone or the slight differences in exclamation also changes the meaning:
Eh? = what did you say?
Eh? = what do you think?
EH? = something to say just to end a sentence.
Ehhhh!! = WOW!!
EH!? = what do you mean?
Eh?? = your joking!!!??
EH!! = Hello..(you off in the distance!!!)
Eh? want a doughnut or some Tim Bits?
Eh! = sure!!
Eh!Eh! = coffee double-cream too please!
Eh? = what you say when you realize you have no money to pay for it.
Eh..cmon, eh? = asking them to let you pay for it next time.
hey..eh! = want to go to the drive-in movie??
Eh...uhuh = yes sure!
Eh..y'know = I'll pick you up at 8:00 (8:30 in Newfoundland).
Eh..cmon!! = well that's early..but ok.
Eh..wanna? eh? = lets fool around ...
EHHHHHHH = sounds coming from the car.
hey..um..er eh... = I'm pregnant!
EH????????? = how did that happen?
EHHehhEHHehhEHHH = sounds from the delivery room.
EHHH-ehh, EHHH-ehh = baby's first cry.
Ehh..whadya think eh? = marry me.
So, now you too, Dear Reader, can use "Eh?" properly. Just don't do it around me.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Perchance to Travel...
By now, I have completely severed all contact with CIC. I do not have anything left to send them or to say to them. I have even given up hope of ever seeing Nemo again and I cannot even muster the energy to call them.
Regrettably, I think I will soon be feeling their presence in my life in a most unwanted way. I have begun to diligently look for work in my field in the U.S. Having completed several phone interviews, I will soon be flying to the U.S. for the more formal face to face interviews. I know that the minute my plane crosses the border into the U.S., I will likely not be returning 'home' to Toronto if CIC has anything to do with it. After realizing that I am out of status here in Canada and after being threatened with deportation by the friendly CIC agents, I can foresee no other end to this dreaded tale except being refused entry into Canada at the airport.
I am almost excited about returning to Pearson Airport and seeing things happen. My husband has our MP's phone number saved into his cell phone, just in case I do get detained. We might as well bother Len a bit, even though he warned me not to travel. "It is really hard to get a job without an interview, in my experience," I will tell him. The only thing I dread is knowing that I will probably be sitting somewhere in the airport for hours while the paper worshiping Canadian government employees go and shuffle papers.
My attitude of shaking things up just as much as we can prior to sticking a fork in it continues. We might as well get our money's worth out of this whole fiasco since it seems unlikely that CIC is going to bother refunding anything, even the overpayment.
Regrettably, I think I will soon be feeling their presence in my life in a most unwanted way. I have begun to diligently look for work in my field in the U.S. Having completed several phone interviews, I will soon be flying to the U.S. for the more formal face to face interviews. I know that the minute my plane crosses the border into the U.S., I will likely not be returning 'home' to Toronto if CIC has anything to do with it. After realizing that I am out of status here in Canada and after being threatened with deportation by the friendly CIC agents, I can foresee no other end to this dreaded tale except being refused entry into Canada at the airport.
I am almost excited about returning to Pearson Airport and seeing things happen. My husband has our MP's phone number saved into his cell phone, just in case I do get detained. We might as well bother Len a bit, even though he warned me not to travel. "It is really hard to get a job without an interview, in my experience," I will tell him. The only thing I dread is knowing that I will probably be sitting somewhere in the airport for hours while the paper worshiping Canadian government employees go and shuffle papers.
My attitude of shaking things up just as much as we can prior to sticking a fork in it continues. We might as well get our money's worth out of this whole fiasco since it seems unlikely that CIC is going to bother refunding anything, even the overpayment.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
FOSS notes, part III
Stardate 8.3.2007: The last 2 missing documents from my original FOSS notes request found their way from the local CIC office to my mailbox. By now, I really don't even care what they say other than to check to ensure the information is correct. There are 2 pages entitled Work In Progress - Remarks, and they read, in part:
Well, finally, after months and months (yes we have hit the 18 month mark) we get to the heart of the matter. CIC doesn't like the fact that I am older than my husband and that we are of different cultures. It is comforting to know they do not like our marriage ceremony either. At this point, it is all academic anyway. I do not have anything left to send them to prove the validity of our marriage, so they have to base their decision on what they have. I certainly can argue this is no way can ever be construed as a marriage of convenience, because I can find better employment, health care, housing, grocery stores, and just about everything, in the U.S. If I was after convenience, I would of, and should of, stayed there. But I look at this information as helpful when we get to processing my spouse for U.S. immigration and am better prepared, so for that, CIC, I thank you and flip you the bird simultaneously.
16JUN2006 SPOUSAL APPLICATION; HPM R00163XXXX FOR $1675.00 SUBMITTED - OVERPAYMENT OF $485.00. 1344A COMPLETED BY SPOUSE ON FILE... JWWW/IPS
CASE REFERRED TO CIC ETOBICOKE 3296 FROM B6604 07NOV2006 - HPM RECEIPT #R00163XXXX FOR $1675.00 TAKEN - O/P OF $485.OO FOR RPRF REDUCTION NOT REFUNDED AS FILE IS BEING TRANSFERRED TO CIC. SPOUSE IN CANADA APPLICATION RECEIVED 15FEB2006. SPONSOR XXXX XXXXX XXXXX APPLICATION INCLUDES DEP. SON - XXXXX XXXXX DOB: XXXX XXXXX PA HAS LISTED DTR O/S - NOT INCLUDED - XXXX XXXX XXXX DOB: XXXX XXXXX RCMP PASSED 20JUN2006 FBI CERT SUBMITTED - NO RECORD. PA SON HAVE VALID PASSPORTS FROM THE USA - BIRTH CERTS SUBMITTED AS WELL. RECORD OF MARRIAGE SUBMITTED - DIVORCE CERT FROM PA. PA WAS BORN XXXXXXXX & SPONSOR WAS BORN XXXXXX - AGE DIFFERENCE. PA & SPONSOR FROM DIFFERENT CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS. PHOTOS SUBMITTED SHOW ONLY A VERY SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE & IT WA A VER PRIVATE MARRAIGE CEREMONY WITH A SMALL GROUP IN ATTENDANCE & THEY WENT OUT TO DINNER AT A RESTARANT.
Well, finally, after months and months (yes we have hit the 18 month mark) we get to the heart of the matter. CIC doesn't like the fact that I am older than my husband and that we are of different cultures. It is comforting to know they do not like our marriage ceremony either. At this point, it is all academic anyway. I do not have anything left to send them to prove the validity of our marriage, so they have to base their decision on what they have. I certainly can argue this is no way can ever be construed as a marriage of convenience, because I can find better employment, health care, housing, grocery stores, and just about everything, in the U.S. If I was after convenience, I would of, and should of, stayed there. But I look at this information as helpful when we get to processing my spouse for U.S. immigration and am better prepared, so for that, CIC, I thank you and flip you the bird simultaneously.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Finding Nemo II
Nemo is still missing and I have given up any hope of ever seeing Nemo again, but I make one last attempt at recovering my fees and my conversation with the paper worshiping CIC agent goes something similar to this:
Me: "I am calling to ask about getting a refund of my fees if I withdraw my application."
CIC: "After reviewing your file, it appears we started processing on it in June 2006 so you would only be entitled to the Landing Fee to be refunded."
Me: "I still am overpaid by $485 for that Landing Fee, why haven't I received that yet?"
CIC: "That refund is automatic when we start processing your file."
Me: "But you just stated you started processing the file in June 2006. I am not eligible for a full refund because you started processing my file. Shouldn't I have received the refund of the overpayment by now?"
CIC: "Your file was transferred in November 2006 to the local CIC. At that time they elected not to process your overpayment refund."
Me: "So, I do not get the full refund of my fees when I withdraw my application because you HAVE started processing my file. I do not get the refund of my overpayment of $485 because you HAVE NOT started processing my file. Am I understanding this correctly?"
CIC: "It is a little bit more complicated that that. We have manuals of procedures are are to follow and the procedure was not to provide the overpayment refund at that time."
And so goes CIC and their pretzel logic. I am waving the white flag.
Me: "I am calling to ask about getting a refund of my fees if I withdraw my application."
CIC: "After reviewing your file, it appears we started processing on it in June 2006 so you would only be entitled to the Landing Fee to be refunded."
Me: "I still am overpaid by $485 for that Landing Fee, why haven't I received that yet?"
CIC: "That refund is automatic when we start processing your file."
Me: "But you just stated you started processing the file in June 2006. I am not eligible for a full refund because you started processing my file. Shouldn't I have received the refund of the overpayment by now?"
CIC: "Your file was transferred in November 2006 to the local CIC. At that time they elected not to process your overpayment refund."
Me: "So, I do not get the full refund of my fees when I withdraw my application because you HAVE started processing my file. I do not get the refund of my overpayment of $485 because you HAVE NOT started processing my file. Am I understanding this correctly?"
CIC: "It is a little bit more complicated that that. We have manuals of procedures are are to follow and the procedure was not to provide the overpayment refund at that time."
And so goes CIC and their pretzel logic. I am waving the white flag.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
The fat lady sings
After much debate and emotion, my husband finally jumped onto my sinking ship. He agrees with me now that this Canadian immigration process is the worst mistake that we have made. We both agreed that sitting around waiting endlessly, especially, when there is no light at the end of the tunnel is futile. We have done our time in prison (i.e., Canada) and now it was time to actually move forward with our lives.
After we carefully assess our options and specifically lay out what we want our lives to be like (and no, sitting in Prison waiting, is not it), we decide that perhaps it is time to make a break for it and run for the border. There is no point in waiting for CIC any longer. I already know that the medical exams performed in November 2005 expired 1 year after. I know that the criminal checks have expired as well. These items will be 2 years old when and if CIC get around to picking up my file again and with my experience with the friendly immigration officers, its not likely they are just going to waive those away. We decide to let the Canadian immigration process run it's course, not unlike a bad infection, but there is little point in trying to prod movement out of it.
So, in this new light of possibly getting our lives back again, I look back to the U.S. and start my search for a job. My husband and I will switch seats at the table and I will sponsor him into the U.S. and leave Canada far, far behind. Unfortunately, the only difference is he will have to wait in Canada strictly for financial reasons. The way I feel now, I don't even want to come back to visit as I don't want Canada to have one penny of mine. Additionally, if CIC decided to drop a Permanent Residence card in my lap right now, I would probably use it to start a fire.
The fat lady is singing, but she hasn't quite finished her aria.
After we carefully assess our options and specifically lay out what we want our lives to be like (and no, sitting in Prison waiting, is not it), we decide that perhaps it is time to make a break for it and run for the border. There is no point in waiting for CIC any longer. I already know that the medical exams performed in November 2005 expired 1 year after. I know that the criminal checks have expired as well. These items will be 2 years old when and if CIC get around to picking up my file again and with my experience with the friendly immigration officers, its not likely they are just going to waive those away. We decide to let the Canadian immigration process run it's course, not unlike a bad infection, but there is little point in trying to prod movement out of it.
So, in this new light of possibly getting our lives back again, I look back to the U.S. and start my search for a job. My husband and I will switch seats at the table and I will sponsor him into the U.S. and leave Canada far, far behind. Unfortunately, the only difference is he will have to wait in Canada strictly for financial reasons. The way I feel now, I don't even want to come back to visit as I don't want Canada to have one penny of mine. Additionally, if CIC decided to drop a Permanent Residence card in my lap right now, I would probably use it to start a fire.
The fat lady is singing, but she hasn't quite finished her aria.
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