The Best and Worst of it All!

Photo Courtesy: Unsplash

All my life, I’ve shuttled between India and the Middle East. Growing up in Oman, then moving to India and again moving to the UAE, I was familiar with the region and its ways. Never in my wildest dream did I think that I would move to a faraway land, miles away from home. “Come what come may, Time and the hour runs through the roughest day.”

Dubai – glitz, glam and the Desert sun. I love everything about this city. It grows on you. I remember, while moving to the UAE, dreading it. I did not want to spend the rest of my life in a desert. But the city and its people grow on you. Its futuristic charm, vibrant lifestyle, cool hotels, beautiful beaches, and how it astonishingly covers every cuisine from around the world. You may complain about the relentless heat of the desert, but I love it. There’s more to this city and the country than its stereotypical image. While we love the quality of life the country puts forth, we expats still struggle to find stability and job security.

Toronto – breathtaking landscapes and endless “sorry”. The beauty of this country’s mountains and lakes is a sight to behold. A rough day can easily be turned around if you hit a nearby walking trail. How can you say no to a good lungful of FRESH AIR? Remember how we were all confined within four walls in 2020? I’m definitely not taking this luxury for granted anymore in my life. And let’s not forget the famous Canadian politeness. They’d apologize for apologizing! But I must admit, the brutal Canadian winters were a whole new experience for my poor Dubai soul! Anyhoo, it is too soon for me to love or hate this city, but I’m giving us time – time to work on my Canadian love affair.

While I didn’t intend to turn this into a Dubai vs. Toronto story, it feels nice writing down these random thoughts that pop into my mind. Back to my story: In between all the touristy stuff, my husband and I stepped into exploring the uncharted territory – the Canadian job market. We updated our resumes, networked, and embraced the lessons of patience (as if we had a choice). We’ve all heard about how difficult it is to get through this job market. In fact, I had only heard stories of how hard it is to find a job in Canada. And thus, I’m not going to repeat that here. What could have been a depressing story, turned out to be a great one – the sweet taste of success. My husband landed his first Canadian job in October and I got mine in December. We finally landed a job that felt like the perfect fit. Not all employers are hell bent on interviewing candidates with Canadian experience nor do they exploit the lack of Canadian experience by offering low pay. It is a tough market; no arguments on that, but if you are persistent, hardworking and optimistic, you’ll find your way.

Next up was the house hunt, and let me tell you, it was an adventure on its own! I dived into the world of real estate listings armed with a pen and a notepad (just kidding, I used my phone, you silly). From being rejected by real estate agents for not having enough credit score (miracles don’t happen in 2 months), to being offered dumpster basements in the outskirts, to finally landing our perfect nest in a beautiful neighborhood – I felt like Goldilocks, trying to find the one that was “just right.” House visits were like stepping into different lives. From cozy family time to laughter-filled game nights, I could almost hear the echoes of happy moments. After a handful of house visits and discussions with various realtors, it happened – that eureka moment! We found a house that spoke to our hearts. It wasn’t the biggest or the fanciest, but it felt like home. Indeed, a match made in Canadian heaven!

As days turned into months, I realized that this city has a charm of its own. I still dread the harsh winter, the terrible emergency room experiences and the lack of my favorite shawarma but there is something about this city that makes a part of me happy. On that note, cheers to the adventure and many more laughs along the way.