A Canadian Immigrant's Story

Whistler, BC 0

Culture / Daily Life / Food / Public Transit / Shopping / Travel

Canadian Immigrant’s Life (video 41 and beyond)

I took the leap of faith and migrated to this country without even a glimpse of an immigrant’s life in Canada. So, I created a YouTube channel to help new and future immigrants prepare better for their journey ahead. Canada has given me so much so I am passing the blessings forward to you. All the best! 50 Landing in London Heathrow + Central London Evening Stroll This video shows a hassle-free flight from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to London Heathrow Airport (LHR) as well as an evening stroll to admire Central London. 49 Travel from Vancouver to London Heathrow...

Life in Canada 0

Daily Life

Experience Life in Canada in Full Color (1-40)

Life in Canada is challenging but fulfilling. Watch these videos to experience life as a Canadian Immigrant in full color. 40 2023 Summer Festivals in Vancouver Recap Before autumn comes, I’m sharing one of the reasons why I love summers in Vancouver. Here are some scenes from some of the memorable festivals across Metro Vancouver. 39 Quarry Rock Hike Hiking is always a rewarding experience as I get to see nature’s artwork in all its glory after a challenging climb. I am thankful that beautiful British Columbia offers numerous world-renowned trails. Visit Quarry Rock with me. 38 2023 Powell Street...

King's Cross 0

Travel

The Canadian Passport and Its Perks

The Canadian passport is one of the most powerful passports in the world. As of 2023, it allows its bearer to travel visa-free to over 180 countries. While Canadian citizenship has many benefits, I consider having a Canadian passport one of its greatest bonuses. The convenience and ease of travel is especially important for people who have family and friends all over the world. Let’s talk about three of the advantages of having a Canadian Passport. Savings on visa application costs Visa applications are never free. In fact, it is expensive. My brother and I visited the UK at the...

Calgary Tower 0

Places in Canada / Public Transit / Travel

Exploring Serene Calgary in Less Than 24 Hours

Calgary is a cosmopolitan city with a serene small-town vibe. This sentence pretty much sums up my impressions of Alberta’s largest city. In this blog post, I will share my detailed impression of “cowtown”. This post is complemented by my YouTube video with a similar title. Come and join me on a quick visual tour of Calgary by clicking this link. Trains seem to be the most common mode of public transportation. While exploring Downtown Calgary, I saw trains every few minutes. But throughout my short stay, I only recall seeing a bus twice. The CTrain is the quickest public...

Summer in Beautiful Vancouver 0

Daily Life / Uncategorized

Summer in Canada: Things That I Love and Don’t Love About It

Summer in Canada brings me so much joy! The familiar warmth that envelopes me, the brightness that lifts the gloom from rainy Vancouver, and the energy that radiates from communities are exhilarating. There are things that I love and don’t love about this season. So, if you are thinking of moving or visiting Canada during the summer, this blog post is for you. Summer in Canada Tidbits Months The seasons are defined by the sun’s movement in the sky.  For the northern hemisphere, summer starts at the summer solstice when the sun is farthest north.  It ends at the autumnal...

Mounties on a Photoshoot in Vancouver 0

Daily Life

Canadian Slang Words that Immigrants Need to Know

New immigrants who are fluent in the English language encounter challenges when talking to Canadians. This is because Canadians use slang words in casual conversations. So, I listed 15 Canadian slang terms and their meanings to help immigrants and even visitors during their first few days in Canada. Double-double You’ll usually hear this Canadian slang at a coffee shop.  This is the popular Tim Hortons brewed coffee with two creams and two sugars. Canadians love their coffee. So here are additional terms that may help you.  Regular is brewed or black coffee with one cream and one sugar.  If you...

Fun Canada Day 2022 Event in North Vancouver 0

Culture / Things To Do in Canada

3 Fun Events in Metro Vancouver that You Shouldn’t Miss this July

The month of July brings so much fun!  If you are a new immigrant, here are 3 fun events in Metro Vancouver that you shouldn’t miss when July rolls in. Canada Day Canada Day is the most important celebration in the entire country.  On this day, special events are organized in various locations to offer enjoyment, knowledge, and connections for attendees of all ages. There surely is a celebration in almost every community throughout Metro Vancouver. After all, Canada Day is one of the most awaited and fun events in the metro. Canada Day 2023 at the Shipyards (North Vancouver)...

Canada housing 0

Daily Life / Finances

5 Canada Housing Issues That an Immigrant Should Know

So, you’ve decided to move to Canada.  The next biggest decision would be “Which area in Canada would you call home?”.  This article lays out 5 Canada housing issues that will help you choose where to settle in your new country. With the current Canada housing issues, inflation, and employment scenarios, the decision to settle in a certain area requires a lot of thought.  Your desired lifestyle, availability of jobs, and other factors should be considered in the decision-making.  However, this article focuses on solely financial considerations to help choose the best area for you. Lack of Affordable Rental Housing...

Resumes and Documents Can Be Printed at Public Libraries 0

Job Search

Tips for New Immigrants: Printing Resumes and Other Important Documents

In this digital age, we hardly need to purchase and maintain a printer at home.  However, there are times when we need to have physical copies of our resumes and important documents.  This post will give new immigrants tips on printing resumes and other possibly life-changing documents. Immigrant serving organizations When I was new to Canada I took part in a program that prepares new immigrants for the Canadian labour market.  Aside from joining workshops and mentorship opportunities, I also took advantage of resources that were made available to us.  I remember updating and printing resumes using the organization’s office...

Walmart 0

Shopping

Walmart and Superstore Mini Grocery Battle

If we compare Walmart and Superstore, which one will win? In this post, I will share my thoughts. As a new immigrant, one of the first questions that came to mind was: Which is the best place for grocery shopping? Honestly, the best grocery store depends on the shopper’s lifestyle, needs, and preferences. With sales and promotions, the top choice may change from time to time. As someone living alone, Costco’s cheaper but bigger portions do not work for me. As expected, Asian groceries are my go-to places for special items. But, Walmart and Superstore are my usual choices for...

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Travel

What is the Best Airline to Travel Between Canada and the Philippines? 

If you are a new immigrant to Canada from the Philippines or are planning to visit the beautiful Philippine islands, you would surely ask “What is the best airline for traveling between these two countries?”. Honestly, I don’t have the absolute answer to this question.  But, I can tell you which is the best airline I have flown with based on my personal experience in the economy category. I have only really traveled between the two countries four times, each time with a different airline.   In this post, I will share my experiences because they may help you choose the...