moving home to canada

markjrn · Mar 3, 2005

Hi, I notice that you're in Maine. Are you near the border? I have a good friend in Fort Kent.

I recently moved back to Canada after spending some years in the USA. I missed home alot. Unfortunately, I now feel like a stranger here.

Anyways, what kind of advice are you looking for in particular. Maybe I can help?

Mark

maritime nurse · Mar 3, 2005

Hi There,

We are way down past boothbay harbour,by the water. Where did you live and how long? We did go to Texas first but a little too violent where we were. I guess I was wondering how the transition went, how it was going across the border, were you able to find full time work? I seem to keep getting offers for temp full time or casual. Don't really want to move my whole family for less than full time work. Was in hard getting used to things?

Thanks

Maritime Nurse

markjrn · Mar 3, 2005

I love Maine. I was once asked to take a travel position in Boothbay Harbour, but turned it down at the time. Now I'm wishing that I would have gone.

I live in the west, and do have a full time perm position. But, I'm having a really hard time adjusting. The whole seniority issue is making my life difficult - I get treated like I'm stupide or don't exist most of the time, by the nurses that have "been there longer". I have been bashed because people think I am an American nurse. I never get challenging patients, but none of the new people do. I'm guessing I will head back down to the US again.

Anyways, the border was not difficult, but it took alot of planning in advance. We needed to have a list of items that were packed in each container and their approximate value. We had to have all the paperwork and checks done on the vehicle in advance, and pay the RIV fees at the border. The officer tried to tax us on our vehicle, but we fought it and won. I think the key to a successful move is doing your homework, being prepared and talking to the people (hopefully always the same guy) at the crossing you will be using. And then you have the provincial and federal vehicle inspection processes to go through.

Just an FYI - a friend of ours, years ago, were moving back to Cornerbrook. When they reached the border, they lost their truck because they didn't own it outright, and were still making payments on it. If this applies to you, you might want to look into that too.

The entire moving process was impossible, and unfortunately, the end results here have been disappointing.

maritime nurse · Mar 6, 2005

Sorry about the delay in replying, working lots.

We were thinking about using a travel company, hopefully that will help with records of what we have. Sorry to hear that going home was so bad for you and you were treated poorly, have you thought about going to another hospital instead of moving back? I guess that is something we are afraid of too, That and not making enough money to survive. We have already looked up stuff about the cars and should be ok. Thanks

markjrn · Mar 6, 2005

Sorry about the delay in replying, working lots.
We were thinking about using a travel company, hopefully that will help with records of what we have. Sorry to hear that going home was so bad for you and you were treated poorly, have you thought about going to another hospital instead of moving back? I guess that is something we are afraid of too, That and not making enough money to survive. We have already looked up stuff about the cars and should be ok. Thanks

I guess if the moving company is going to pack you, they can also keep track of every item you own. Make it their problem! :) lol

We are still trying to decide what we're going to do. We don't really want to go back, yet we aren't going to stay here. We just need a really good hospital to go to. If you run into one, let me know, please. :)

Money is always a concern. We're making about $30/hr here, but taxes are huge!

CanuckRNX2 · Mar 12, 2005

Hi there,
I'm looking for any advice on moving back home to canada,preferably NS or NB,I have been in the US for 10 yrs now and miss home alot. I'm in the process of getting my license in both places. Kinda feel stupid wasting all that time and money on greencards but there's no place like home.Thanks in advance !

Hi Maritime Nurse!

I just read your post. My husband and I are in Maine as well. He is from Nfld and I am from NB. We too are homesick. We both just renewed our greencards, it was somewhat of a painful process.We also started out in texas and decided that it was not where we wanted to have children.So here we are.

You said you are in Boothbay area. We are in the Augusta area.

I was sad to hear that Markjrn is not having a very good transition back home but we often feel that if we are to ever to go home it will never be the same as we remembered and that we would be doing it to be closer to our families again. It does get lonely here at times.

Whre did you go to Nursing school? Year of grad?

maritime nurse · Mar 12, 2005

Hi Maritime Nurse!
I just read your post. My husband and I are in Maine as well. He is from Nfld and I am from NB. We too are homesick. We both just renewed our greencards, it was somewhat of a painful process.We also started out in texas and decided that it was not where we wanted to have children.So here we are.
You said you are in Boothbay area. We are in the Augusta area.
I was sad to hear that Markjrn is not having a very good transition back home but we often feel that if we are to ever to go home it will never be the same as we remembered and that we would be doing it to be closer to our families again. It does get lonely here at times.
Whre did you go to Nursing school? Year of grad?

Hi There,

It's really nice to hear from people from home. I'm from NS and my husband is from NB. We've been here about 10 yrs in Newcastle. I went to school in Saint John, graduated in 95,how about you guys?

I like the hospital I'm at mostly because of my coworkers but I guess I still don't feel like I belong here sometimes. When we travel to see our families it's almost 10 hrs, to go to the rock must take you alot longer than that. Do you get home often?

Hope to talk to you again :cheers:

CanuckRNX2 · Mar 12, 2005

Hi There,
It's really nice to hear from people from home. I'm from NS and my husband is from NB. We've been here about 10 yrs in Newcastle. I went to school in Saint John, graduated in 95,how about you guys?
I like the hospital I'm at mostly because of my coworkers but I guess I still don't feel like I belong here sometimes. When we travel to see our families it's almost 10 hrs, to go to the rock must take you alot longer than that. Do you get home often?
Hope to talk to you again :cheers:

I graduated from Saint JOhn in 1990. My husband grad from Cornerbrook in 1991.

It only takes me 4 hours to go home, but yes we plan on 12 hrs to the ferry then the ferry ride and another 3 hours from there. We don't get to nfld very often, we are hoping to go this year. ( it will be three years since our last trip)We go to NB a couple of times per year. We havae 3 kids , two dogs and two cats. travel is not always easy.

I don't work a tthe hospital anymore, I am doing case management for workers' comp, and my husband just resigned from his job ( in occupational health)and is taking classes to get his degree. Hoping that he will be able to get his NP, then my secret plan is to move back home! My children are not keen on the idea of moving. A little nervous about starting all over with new jobs, new schools, new mortgage etc....

I have been looking at Career Beacon though and it looks like there is a ton of jobs in NS. Is that were you would plan on going back to. I love Saint JOhn so that is my goal. But with no hospital eperience( or acute care) in over 6 years I don't see a whole lot for me to do there anymore. People are a little different here and it sometimes feels that you are an outsider.

We are in South China.

Hope to talk again soon, take care.

maritime nurse · Mar 12, 2005

I graduated from Saint JOhn in 1990. My husband grad from Cornerbrook in 1991.
It only takes me 4 hours to go home, but yes we plan on 12 hrs to the ferry then the ferry ride and another 3 hours from there. We don't get to nfld very often, we are hoping to go this year. ( it will be three years since our last trip)We go to NB a couple of times per year. We havae 3 kids , two dogs and two cats. travel is not always easy.
I don't work a tthe hospital anymore, I am doing case management for workers' comp, and my husband just resigned from his job ( in occupational health)and is taking classes to get his degree. Hoping that he will be able to get his NP, then my secret plan is to move back home! My children are not keen on the idea of moving. A little nervous about starting all over with new jobs, new schools, new mortgage etc....
I have been looking at Career Beacon though and it looks like there is a ton of jobs in NS. Is that were you would plan on going back to. I love Saint JOhn so that is my goal. But with no hospital eperience( or acute care) in over 6 years I don't see a whole lot for me to do there anymore. People are a little different here and it sometimes feels that you are an outsider.
We are in South China.
Hope to talk again soon, take care.

Wow your up as early in the morning as we are, kids y'know. We have 2 little ones and they keep us busy.

My husband is from Saint John, graduated from SJHS in 87 and works here now as an electrician. We just went to SJ over xmas and then on to NS, long trip but so nice to be home until I filled the gas tank and then almost cried :cry: I sometimes forget the difference. Do you bring tons of food back? My freezer is full of bread right now. LOL

I work in acute care in a rural hospital so I get to do a bit of everything, we get day old babies up to 109 yr olds if you can believe it.You kind of have to be a jack of all trades, master of none. I like the flexibilty that I have and most of the places I talked to in NS want you to accept temp full time,part time or casual and like you I don't want to sell my house on the possibility of full time, It doesn't feel secure enough. Then again maybe I'm just chicken :chuckle

Hope to talk to you soon

code_nurse · Mar 14, 2005

Hello there Maritime Nurse

I've been a nurse for 10 years in Beautiful Northern New Brunswick. I'm working as a nurse manager on a surgical unit and can tell you you wouldn't regret making the move to a peaceful little town...My oh My do I sound like a recruiter or what? LOL Let me know if you're interested and we can talk some more.

Code Nurse

gchelak · Mar 14, 2005

Hi there,
I'm looking for any advice on moving back home to canada,preferably NS or NB,I have been in the US for 10 yrs now and miss home alot. I'm in the process of getting my license in both places. Kinda feel stupid wasting all that time and money on greencards but there's no place like home.Thanks in advance !

Hi:

I am moving back to Canada as soon as I finish school (nursing) and my suggestion to you is to get your dual citizenship if you have been in the US for more than 5 yrs. You never know what the future might hold- and you will be able to work in either country. Dual citizenship is OK between Canada and the US and takes about 4 months tops and about $300.

Good luck!