The diary I kept in Canada chronicle for me how arriving in Canada is different from leaving England, and how that hope of my wife joining me turned in to a nightmare.

 It came with a list:

 1. Go to Driving license Office

2. Apply for Social Insurance no.

3. Apply for Medical Insurance

4. Immigrant centre and settlement agencies for job hunting

5. Sort out Car insurance

6. Buy Second hand car

7. Visit new plot

8. Join Library

9. Join Sports centre

10. Collect Crate

 
6 November 2006

The flight passed by quickly reflecting my urgency to arrive.  I worked my way through three films with the last two giving me a break from reading – my concentration was shot.  At the end of You, Me and Dupree  I started to weep uncontrollably.  It was full-on a film my wife would enjoy – a couple who get wed and then break-up only for the Dupree guy to bring them together again.  Hollywood and Happy endings – made for each other. It hit me harder after such an emotional departure my wife at Gatwick. 

 After then watching the Devil Wears Prada – “lite” story lacking real bite, I then found myself in tears again watching another movie about couples splitting up and getting back together again.

 Having been processed by the Immigration Office but now holed up in a hotel somewhere in West Ottawa miles away from the airport  The process is quiet, almost subdued.  Hugely underwhelming and strangely unreal.   Oddly little different from visiting the post office to sort out the redirection of one’s post.  It ventured no further than form filling, verification and a few questions about what was happening here and now.