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March 28, 2006
Immigration: Then and Now
I've been watching with horror the crap that is spewing out of my radios and TV’s about Immigration in the United States. I am appalled and disgusted that this man, actually hails from Colorado (just south of Denver) - he is the leader of some of the most vile bigoted crap I have ever seen. It saddens me to think where America is on this issue - the country that so many immigrants looked to for hope and Pride, opportunity and Freedom..is drastically changing. My parents, Grandfather and Great Grandfather all taking turns in their own way as well. Immigrants are what built the United States, first on the backs of African-Americans during slavery, then the mosaic of Europeans during the Industrial Age - Irish, Greek, Poles, Italians, Germans, Roma, Jew, Scandinavian and finally in the modern age with Mexicans, Latin Americans, Philippino, Vietnamese, Korean, Chinese, Arab and recently African. All an integral part of our identity for who we are today - good and bad.
Now we have zealots who want criminalize the process for the poorest of the poor, and if they really had their way the United States would seal her doors permanently. We are at a precipice that we seem to reach every 30-40 years or so (look back throughout history and you will see a pattern between economic slumps/wars and blaming immigrants) but this time around we have madmen in power and some of their more conservative party mates are screaming their heads off in debates about the Sanctity of America. Appealing to the fears of soccer moms' in Ex-Burbs with their SUV parked in their gated community...who forget that their last names of O'Brien, Gianelli, Cohen, Pappas or any thing ending in a -ski was once a death sentence for an ancestor not that far removed.
I hear about 500,000 pissed off Latinos marching in Los Angeles and think it is awesome. I read about a rally in Denver this weekend that was 50,000 strong and I was pissed I missed it. I would have been there in front marching with my fellow immigrant and first-generation Americans. I'm the oddity I think sometimes - having grown up in an American culture but still firmly rooted to my immediate past - not forgetting the struggles my own parents made to give me a life of opportunity.
They worked long hours, struggled to learn English by watching Sesame Street with me and constantly running into cultural and emotional barriers to remind them of the homeland they left behind. They gave me a new culture and a new language so that I could have a better life then they did, but now I seem to be standing in their exact same spot. Looking forward to another country for hope and promise because my own is so corrupt, broken and divided. A greatness on the verge of oblivion...
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
'Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!' cries she
With silent lips. 'Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!'
March 23, 2006
Sigh...
I was in Colorado Springs yesterday doing home visits with three of the kids on my caseload when I decided to stop at a restaurant between visits for lunch. I hate spending even a dime in the most homophobic/most conservative city in the country, but my stomach was gurgling and I had an hour to kill till my next visits.
I don’t mind eating by myself as some other people do. I bought a Denver Post, ordered my lunch and started reading the paper as I noshed way on my side salad, that’s when my ears caught the conversation in the booth behind me. It’s interesting when you sit down and have no one to talk to; you end up picking up the conversations going on around you.
Apparently, the woman directly behind me was dating a man by the name of “John” from Calgary, Alberta. She was lamenting to her lunch mate about the distance of their relationship and the problems the border between their two countries was causing. John seems to visit her once a month while he is down here on business. As the conversation continued my blood began to boil:
John’s Girlfriend: “You know he thinks Canada is so beautiful, but the American Rockies are really the most beautiful mountains in the world. I mean America the Beautiful was written for them you know.”
Her Friend: “Uh-huh”
JG: “And he is all depressed about the idea of moving down here to be with me and having to wait like 36 months for a work permit, but I say if he really loves me he would leave that ugly place.”
HF: “Alberto?”
JG: “Yeah…who names a state after a Spanish guy anyways? Besides, it’s not like Canada is a real country anyway.”
HF: *snickers* “yeah, no kidding.”
JG: “He’s all worried about leaving his friends and family and told me I could move up there and be able to have a work permit in like 10 months, but there is no way I’m going to live in Alberto. Besides, Alberto is way too liberal, and Canada is run by communists and stuff.”
HF: “For sure, besides you’d have to get around in a dog sled and stuff.”
JG: “Hmm, I don’t know about that…he told me he has a car. Anyway, did you see the sale at Foley’s this week?”
I was livid at this woman’s complete stupidity and ineptitude about life outside of the United States. The rest of the conversation included some gay-bashing, republican politics and what she was going to buy at Foley’s. I am so ready to leave this square state!
When I was in Toronto earlier this month I was reminded about the difference regarding life here and life in Canada. My friend Alberto (no pun intended) and I took a cab to the wedding that was set to take place in City Hall. Toronto is the fifth largest City in North America, just behind Chicago in population. As we walked into City Hall and asked the security guards where the wedding chapel was I froze in my tracks. Alberto was halfway to the elevators when he turned back and asked me why I wasn’t coming. I looked at him and asked where the metal detectors were and where the baggage scanning area was. I encounter this on a daily basis when I go to Court for my kids in Denver at Denver City Hall. He looked at me, dumbstruck, and asked why on earth would we have to go through that process? It was an alien concept to him that going into a governmental building would require such measures. As we rode the elevator up I stood in awed silence.
I know I don’t know the whole story, but maybe it’s a good thing John’s Girlfriend isn’t considering moving (or even visiting) Calgary anytime soon – I just feel sorry for poor John.
March 20, 2006
Happy Spring!
I have had the most incredible, shittiest day today. All I wanted to do was come home and bury my head in my flannel sheets and not come out for a few days. The 4 inches of snow we got last night didn't help - especially with the driving I had to do today. Ugh - it's days like this I wish I was independently welathy and living on a small island in Greece. I really don't want to recount it as I'm getting a headache thinking about it.
~~~~~
But I digress. Today is the Sabbat of Ostara, the Spring Equinox, and I was actually looking forward to doing a small ritual tonight. I stopped by the store and picked up some eggs to color for this evening. I love celebrating the holidays, and I think after a purification bath, a ritual and some snuggle time with my hunny...I'll be feeling a lot better.
A Blessed Ostara to all my pagan friends and a Happy Spring to everyone.
Why?
[MASON POST TODAY]
That seems to be the $1-million dollar question lately. Sure it's been asked over the last 16 months, but now that we're getting oh so closer to actually immigrating, it's making it way to the top of the list again.
Today in our other blogging website the question was put out there in an area called "Canada Bound." This question followed a fairly negative entry about the US from a person who is angry at our country and wanting to leave:
After the last entry, whos comments seem to be being deleted at will. I was wondering just how many of the people intending to immigrate to Canada are doing so based on the fact that they despise being an American now? How many people plan on giving up their US citizenship and why? I am honestly just curious as the reason I am moving to Canada (don't get me wrong I love it here, nice people, beautiful scenery) is to be with my husband, but I will always be an American. I am proud of that because I feel like the States still has a lot to offer the world, there are beautiful places to see there too, and nice people there also. I am going to the American consulate next week to register my daughter's birth abroad, so that she will have dual citizenship (I do know they have been talking that when she is 18 she might have to make a choice, but I want her to be able to make that choice for herself at anyrate). At some point the husband and I might move back to the States as well. I don't think Bush is doing a good job at all, but its 2 more years, and hopefully us as Americans can make a better choice next time. There are people out there every in the world like Ann Coultier but we can all agree its almost comical the things she says because she can't seriously believe that stuff she is spewing, and if she does, there aren't a lot of people that will follow her. At least not the ones that can think for themselves on such subjects.
I decided to post this reply:
To be frank and honest, the knee-jerk reaction to another four years of George Bush, the almost certain repealing and set back of civil and human rights, environmental protections, continued economic policies leading to a depression, etc. triggered my husband's and my application for permanent residency in Canada, but when things calmed down and cooler heads prevailed, we quickly became "global" in our thinking realizing that there is a whole other world out there instead of the US.
We realized that living, working and thriving in another country can be a life positive move and not an escape, but rather an enlightening of our lives. A chance to experience a new and exciting culture, population and life. Quite frankly, an experience that many, many others will never be able to experience, but thankfully is an option for us.
As such, we look forward to becoming proud Canadians, while respecting and honoring our US heritage.
That just about sums it up for me.
Posted by Mason at 08:30 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBackBring Them Home Now - Year 3
37, 795 individually documented Iraqi Civilians have been killed in the Iraq War. The United Nations estimates the number is probably closer to 100,000.
In addition, 84 Journalists, 311 Civilian Contractors, 20 media support workers and 150 aid workers from around the world have also lost their lives in the conflict.
There have been 17,124 service people wounded in Iraq.
There have been 2,525 coalition troop deaths: 2318 Americans, one Australian , 103 Britons, 13 Bulgarians, two Danes, two Dutch, two Estonians, one Fijian, one Hungarian, 27 Italians, one Kazakh, one Latvian, 17 Poles, two Salvadorans, three Slovaks, 11 Spaniards, two Thai and 18 Ukrainians.
One American solider has been listed as captured.
Thank you and rest in peace.
In the past I have listed the names of the deceased soliders, but last year some of their family members found my blog and were upset by it, so I've decided to leave it blank this year out of resepct for them. Just try to imagine what 2,525 names would look like...
Posted by Nikolas at 06:34 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBackMarch 18, 2006
Helpful Links & Websites
Mason found this nifty website the other day - to be honest, I had no idea it existed! We are starting to slowly get excited (and anxious) about our upcoming move. I think the coolest thing I felt when I looked at the site was the fact that in the languages displayed to the right I saw Greek. I've so been longing to be part of a Greek Community again and just seeing that made my heart swell.
So, for all of those visitors (new and old) to LWB I thought I would give you a listing of sites that have been invaluble to us while we were "in process". Hopefully, for those of you following your dream like we are...this will help to pass the time till the next letter :-)
Ontario Immigration (Looks like a great site for helping to plan your first few weeks in Ontario. I'm sure other provinces will have something like this as well.)
Carolyn's Canadian Immigration Information (We found this a while back, and even though Carolyn hasn't updated it in a while it provided us with a good long look at the whole process.)
We Move To Canada (Of course, I can't leave out the two people that started it all, and helped me to find my sanity! Check out the How to section on the right side of the blog.)
Government of Canada (It's always good to learn about the system you are moving into!)
Canadian Immigration for Same-Sex Partners (A little GLBTQI specific website for immigration.)
Canada Border Service Agency (No one ever seems to tell you about that mysterious declaration form listing all your worldly possessions that's needed when you finally land. Here is the form from the web for downloading)
Newcomers to Ontario (Specific for Ontario, but if you do some searching I'm sure they have one for other Provinces.)
Becoming Canadian (A great website by the CBC - I think it was meant to educate the Canadian public about immigration, but it's helpful none-the-less.)
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (Of course I can't leave out the place where you have to start all of this.)
Hope it helps.
March 14, 2006
Genet Tags LWB
"List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre, whether they have words, or even if they are any good, but they must be songs you’re really enjoying now. Post these instructions in your blog along with your seven songs. Then tag seven other people to see what they’re listening to."
New LWB resident Genet tagged me with this meme after he was tagged, and so-on and so-on. So here it goes...enjoy the craziness that is my iPod:
Γιώργος Αξάς - Nτιρλαντα (Greek Music)
Madonna - Isaac
P!nk - Stupid Girls
Weezer - Beverly Hills
Flipsyde - Someday
The Fray - Over My Head/Cable Car
Sarah McLachlan - World On Fire (Bloom Remix)
Feel free to do this in your own blog if you like ;-)
Posted by Nikolas at 09:38 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBackThe Long Road Ahead
Mason and I had Realtor Chris over to the house this weekend for some dinner, catch up on some gossip and to talk about our house. Since the plan is to move by September 1st - we thought it would be a good idea to talk to him and see what we need to do to get the house ready to sell. After living here for 6 1/2 years I had forgotten all the ins and outs of moving. Before this house we had been renting and it was a hell of a lot easier to give our notice to the Landlord and move our shit out. Now we have to repaint some of the inside and all of the outside, fix up some things around the house that we had been putting off, and of course de-clutter. The next three months are going to busy for sure...ugh.
In other news, I've started re-reading "Living and Working in Canada." We had bought the book last year in anticipation of a speedy application, read it and then promptly put it back on the shelf. I'm taking some time now to get re-acquainted with it. It really is a great resource about moving to Canada. For all the stuff people talk about Americans and Canadians having similar cultures, after having visited Canada and reading this book nothing can be further from the truth. I think speaking the same language (minus the extra u's), watching the same TV shows and movies, wearing the same fashions and living on the same continent gives the impression of being alike, yet it is deceiving.
I've been doing some research about banks, and trying to figure out which one we'll use when we get to Toronto - and right off the banking issue is different. There are 7 chartered banks that do most of the banking in Canada, and all of them charge you a fee for using their services - from writing checks, to using your bank card, to making withdrawals. Unlike the US where there are thousands of independent banks and they usually waive the fee if you sign up for direct deposit or keep at least $50 n your account - in Canada the fee always applies and is rarely waived unless you keep a large balance at all times. Another difference is that Mortgages usually require at least a 25% cash deposit, where in the US some people can actually finance 100% of their home loan. In Canada, any job usually requires some type of contract (ranging from 6-months to a year) - in the US contracts usually only apply to those mucky-muck jobs like CEO's for Enron, VP's for AT&T or Directors for Fortune 500 companies. It's definitely going to be interesting.
Posted by Nikolas at 09:34 PM | Comments (8) | TrackBackMarch 13, 2006
Turn Your Head and Cough
So today was the day for our Canadian physicals - Mason picked me up and we headed to the doctor's office that does the procedure here in Denver. Nice office and staff, they were very pleasant and helpful and were happy to help us out. Apparently, we are the first "Toronto" couple they have seen in a while, most everybody else is heading to Vancouver. We filled out a some forms on health history, provided them two passport photos and the paperwork we got from Seattle...and then we waited.
I got called in first...a nice nurse greeted me and did my height and weight (thank the Gods she did it in Kilograms, because I didn't want to know!) and then a quick read of the eye chart. Then onto blood pressure and temperature checks and finally I had to pee in the cup and get undressed in a drafty hospital gown. Some waiting and then the Doctor came in - nice woman, very friendly and happy for us both on our journey. We did a medical history, some deep breaths, a poke and a prod here and there and then came the infamous part of any male medical exam...I dropped the boxer briefs and it was "turn your head and cough."
Just as I thought I was done they had me go to the lab and I got my blood drawn. They only check for HIV and Syphilis - which I am sure I am fine, but I always hate getting the test and then having to wait. It reminds you of that very first test you got as a Gay man, and recounting every episode of unsafe sex you had prior to that test. Ugh... Anyway, there was no check of your cholesterol or anything else...so you could be a ticking time-bomb of hardened arteries and Canada doesn’t care...but you better not have any STD's! Mason finished right after me, we paid our $800 (ouch that hurt) and then headed to the radiology lab down the street for our chest X-Rays. This is the last hurdle...we pass this part of the application process and we're in. Oye.
Posted by Nikolas at 04:26 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBackMarch 11, 2006
Questions and Goodbyes
A freind recently asked me in an e-mail why we decided to move to Canada. Ever since our letter this week, the topic has been on my mind a great deal, so I answered him and thought I would share my thoughts with cyberspace:
Q: What made you decide to apply for Canadian Residency?
A: This is going to be an involved and in-depth because since the events of the past week I have been asking this very question to myself. Initially? It was about an 85% reaction to the 2004 election - I think I actually downloaded the forms that night from the CIC site. We were part of the 500% increase spike in Internet Traffic at Immigration Canada, lots of people were interested in moving to the Great White North, but once you get a look at the paperwork involved about 90% said....ehhhh, we can hold off till 2008. Mason and I however talked about it a great deal, we researched, visited and discussed everything about Toronto and Canada. Soon the initial reaction to the election slowly stopped being our main reason. Don't get me wrong...Shrub has seriously fucked up this country and his social policies and economic programs are going to have decades of influence in where we head as a nation (besides Diebold has made sure that all the elections are fixed for Republicans now.)
But I digress, the move started to become more about both Mason and I feeling the need to leave Denver and get a fresh start in a place where we would be accepted and celebrated for who we are. If it wasn't Toronto it would have been San Francisco, Boston or New York - but Canada as a nation has a great pull on our souls and we feel "at home" there. Life is too short to be miserable, so we decided to follow our bliss and make Canada our new home. After 12 years Denver has been good to me, but I'm ready to move on and experience something new and different again. For Mason, it's something totally new since he has never left Denver or Colorado in his entire life. It's for many reasons - political, social, personal, spiritual...but when it comes right down to it - I see it as a another chapter in my life.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On a totally different topic...
When we first started the whole process of moving to Canada I searched out for similar people to find out what we needed to do to prepare for it. One of the first blogs I found was Laura's at WMTC, since finding the blog Laura and I have e-mailed back and forth, forming a friendship and learning from each others trials and tribulations in the immigration process. One of the cooler things that Laura did in documenting her and her partner's move to Canada was detailing the last few weeks and months living in New York City. She did this really cool thing where she made sure to experience and visit the people, places and things in NYC that were important to her before leaving. I kind of picked this up earlier in the year when I went to the National Western Stock Show, but since our timeline is a little more solidified now, I thought I would make a formal list of some of the things I want to do before I leave Colorado... since I had either A) Never done them or B) Will miss it terribly when I go. So here it is:
A) Attend the National Western Stock Show
A) Go on a tour of the Celestial Seasonings Plant in Boulder
A) Go on a tour of the Coors Brewery in Golden
A) Go on a tour of the Denver Mint
A) Have dinner at The Fort
A) Visit the Royal Gorge
B) Spend a day in Boulder
A) Visit the Cow Palace in Lamar
B) Attend the Capitol Hill People's Fair
A) Visit the Colorado History Museum
A) See the Body Worlds 2 Exhibit at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science B) Go to Six Flags Elitch Gardens for a day
B) Stay for a night in The Brown Palace
B) See Rocky Mountain National Park one last time
B) Catch a Colorado Avalanche Game
A) Take a class at Colorado Free University
B) Finish my Tattoo at Bound By Design
A) Drive up Pike's Peak
B) Go gambling at Central City/Blackhawk
That's it for now, I'm sure I'll come up with some more over the next six months.
Posted by Nikolas at 09:23 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBackMarch 10, 2006
Morning Absurdity
Checking my on-line newspapers in the morning has been a habit of mine since I started working at my present job. I take a few moments with my cup o’ java and scan the pages of the Rocky Mountain News, Toronto Star, Globe & Mailand H Kathimerini.
Something in the Rocky Mountain News caught my eye this morning. Our state legislature is debating two proposals – one to ban gay marriage and the other to establish domestic partnerships – the same rights as marriage but not the word. Well the neo-conservatives in Colorado Springs will have none of that…they want both banned!
Anyway, on to my point, in the Rocky Mountain News this morning a columnist makes a comment about how the new Domestic Partnership Bill would require Gay and Lesbian couples to pay 5-times more in fees then their straight counterparts. The money will go to investigating discrimination against GLBT folks, but the point is that the fees for straights and gays will be unequal, for basically the same service. There is a section on the website to make some comments back to the reporter – when I saw what was written this morning I nearly spilled my coffee on myself. Here are some lovely excerpts:
Ya know, I'd rather be on the Religious Right than the Religious Left-Out of Heaven. – Anonymous
Ask a child if it is o.k. for a man and a woman to hold hands and they will say 'yes.' Ask them if it is o.k. for a man and another man to hold hands and they will say, 'yuck.' Children know...... – Anonymous
Hey, do us all a bigger favor and move back to Canada. BTW, no one is jealous of perverts – Anonymous
Fine....My name is the Majority....as in most of the people of the U.S.A.........AND........most of the people in the world........AND........the majority of the people throughout the HISTORY of the WHOLE HUMAN RACE. And guess what, the majority is right on this one! – The Majority
Hey.....the truth is a 'beech' ain't it? You don't have to be religious to KNOW that that kind of behavior is wrong. Just ask kids....they shudder at the thought, because they KNOW it is wrong. – Anonymous
Wrong,Wrong,Wrong,Wrong,Wrong,Gay marriage or unions of any kind.It's wrong!Vote in November to stop it. – Tracey
The name is a crock. How can you have 'rights fees' when what these perverts are doing is wrong!? – Anonymous
Your thinking is just as abnormal as these so called "relationships". It should have never even come to this. Maybe you should talk about something more worthwhile. Remember, these people chose their lifestyle. They weren't born that way.It is sad that Colorado has even allowed these type of licenses. – Anonymous
Now there were some positive comments, but the ones listed above just frosted my tushie. If I EVER need a reason to remember why I want to leave the State of Colorado – this post is it.
March 07, 2006
Tips & Tricks for Immigrating to Canada
Following Laura's lead on her blog, I thought I would do a posting about tips and tricks around the process with CIC - here's what I have learned so far (this is by no means legal advice):
1) The e-client on the CIC website is pointless, all it ever says is In-Process, and you will drive yourself crazy if you check it once per week to see if it has changed. Just file it away on your favourties list.
2) You do not need to spend huge amounts of money on an immigration lawyer if you are a skilled worker. Just double check your work and proof-read, proof-read, proof-read. Make a copy of everything you have and send it in.
3) Even though the new applications ask for an FBI clearance, they expire after one year and you have to request new ones (we learned this the hard way through our recent letter.) Once you are getting close to the one year mark on your submitted application you might want to consider getting new fingerprint clearances and have them ready.
4) Even though it might seem like CIC has lost your file, or it ended up propping up the coffee-maker in the break room in Buffalo...have faith in the process. I recommend you use the time to immerse yourself in Canadian culture. I highly recommend buying a subscription to MacLean's, checking CBC or CTV on-line for news and trying to catch The National on TV if you can. Also major cities have some great outlets - we subscribed to Toronto Life which has great little city guides every month on a variety of topics (health, schools, art, etc) and has also let us get to know Toronto better. I also check the Toronto Star every morning along with my local paper - it helps to make you feel like part of the culture.
5) I highly recommend visiting the Canadian city or province that you plan on moving to and go on a fact-finding mission. Talk to people in your field about job prospects; e-mail them in advance to set up appointments if possible. Mason and I have visited Toronto three times since we sent our application in, and one of those times Mason did some informational interviews. Make sure the city/province and you make a good "fit".
That's it for now, I'm sure I'll come up with some more later :-)
Transitions
First off, thank you for all the kind words in my post from yesterday - they were all warmly received and very much appreciated.
Today, I seemed to wake up with a spring in my step and a smile on my face. For the first time in a long time I walked into work and didn't have the dreaded feeling of being chained to my desk. Knowing that six-months from now we could be in a moving truck heading East (and then North) and free from this job, this city, this state...thrills me to no end. I told a couple of girls at work, but I'm withholding the information from the Queen B until I absolutely know for sure and have the landing documents stapled to my passport. Of course you know that I couldn't wait even a day to jump on our list of things to do from CIC. I got my fingerprints completed and mailed off today, and Mason was able to get his later this afternoon. Our online investing portfolio has been cashed in to pay for the landing fees and our physical exams which are going to cost $400 a piece (no it can't be covered by insurance, and there are only two doctors in Colorado who do the exams.) I scheduled the exams for next week, and completed all of the newly requested paperwork last night before I went to bed. All that's left is to get new passport photos for the medical exam process - which we're going to do this weekend.
It struck me for a moment today that our lives are going to change significantly over the next few months. If this stuff goes through quickly and we get the landing documents back before May 2006 (provided we pass the physicals) we will soon have to put the house up for sale, pack all of our shit and make another trip to Toronto to find a place to live. It's exciting and frightening at the same time, but more importantly the severity of it is truly hitting me. We are really doing this, for better or worse, we are really doing this!
The hardest thing is going to be telling people. Mason and I have crafted this e-mail that sits in our "Draft" folder in Outlook. We periodically update it, and tweak it as the letters come in or circumstances change. We talked about when to send it out - and we settled on when we got the next letter...which is now. So why do I struggle with the idea of sending out? We only think it's fair to let family and friends know our intentions - they'll have six months to get in all their "Nick & Mason" time in before we are gone. This e-mail was a way to let them all know that - some of them have long thought Canada was a joke, however, now the idea has turned solid and it's arrival will soon be affecting the very day-to-day today actions of our lives.
I'm unsure of what to do with that....
Posted by Nikolas at 04:13 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBackMarch 06, 2006
Speechless
I was going to write a long and eloquent post about the wedding this weekend, but it'll have to wait.
I was going to write about meeting old friends and making new ones I met in Canada, but it'll have to wait.
I was going to write about my experiences of wandering the streets of Toronto, but it'll have to wait.
I was going to write and whine about how much longer was it going to take for Mason and I to realize our dream of moving to Toronto, but it'll have to wait.
...because we got a letter in the mail today:
Dear Applicant:
This refers to your application for permanent residence in Canada.
We are pleased to inform you that we expect to finalize your application without an interview. In order to continue processing your application for admission to Canada, you are required to submit the following...
It arrived today, the day of my return from my incredible trip to Canada. Poor Mason was sitting on this surprise and didn't give it too me until after dinner - we both started crying right after I read the first sentence. This is it, this is really it! New FBI checks (our old ones are a year old), a medical exam, new application forms (they changed the old ones) and of course a check for CAN $1950 for the Right of Permanent Residence Fee. Oh my god....we will be in Toronto in less then six months.
Holy Shit do we have a lot to do....and I'll have a real update coming soon about the trip.
*squeal*
:-)
Timeline thus far:
Application Submitted: 02-14-2005
Application placed in queue: 03-21-2005
Transferred to Seattle Consulate: 02-09-2006
Application almoist finalized/request for additional info: 03-07-2006
March 05, 2006
Friends, Laughter and Poutine
The wedding was absolutely fabulous on Saturday - to be honest this is the first free chance I've had to take a break since the festivities. With the ceremony and the reception yesterday (and not going to bed till 5am today), not to mention clean up and tidying up today I'm exhausted.
I realized yesterday that this was the first real Gay Wedding that I had ever been too. I had kind of written off my expectations since Mason and I had our "wedding" a few years back. While it was special it wasn't legal - I won't trade that day for anything, however, at the exact moment the Justice Of The Peace formalized Geoff and Bob's marriage I almost lost it. It felt so freeing, so whole, and so normal to be able to be a part of society and to have someone say...it's OK. It was a tribute to what freedom and equality is all about.
It wasn't only that though...the reception held at the art studio was a broad spectrum from Canada - inner-city Torontonians, suburban housewives, business associates and Bears from the Gay Village, family from Hamilton and friend's mothers from Nunavut. Not to mention the Visitors from the US and Ottawa. As Geoff's Dad gave his speech he spoke with such pride about his son, and with a deep honour for Canada...for being true to all its citizens.
I spent the past few days falling in love with a city and a country that I feel will last forever. I feel at home here amongst my friends, and am eager to make new ones and find a job, a home, a life in Canada. I even scoped out the job market at the wedding, got to drive Geoff and Bob around in their car and learned the city streets and even looked at some places that we might want to live in when we get here. I'm really ready CIC, I feel like I got a little bit of Canadania running through my veins...I'm ready to move.
However, I think today was by far the nicest day. After cleaning the studio up the group decided to get something to eat. We found this greasy spoon in the West End and filled our aching and hung-over tummies with Burgers and Caesar’s (my new favourite drink), Poutine and Beer. I was in heaven at that very moment - from the conversations, to the knowing glances, to the erupting laughter and sense of not only community but also friendship.
I'm not ready to head home tomorrow but I have to. Who knows - perhaps Toronto will call us sooner then expected. More on the trip when I get home and I'll post some general pictures too :-)
March 04, 2006
Toronto The Good
So far Toronto has been wonderful - cold, but wonderful. It has been so nice to see all of my old friends and to make some new ones. We spent most of the past few days working on getting the space cleaned up and organized where the reception is going to be held. It really is a cool studio in the West End.
Yesterday, I gave Geoff and Bob their wedding gift from Mason and I - a day at the Spa. Everyone needs a day of pampering and what better time then the day before your wedding :-) So while they were being pampered or a few hours I decided to set off and explore the city. I ended up walking from King Street West and Portland to King Street East and Jarvis. It was really cool to explore the different little areas of the city ike the Fashion District, Downtown, Queen's Park, PATH, Union Station, Chinatown and many others I can't remember.
As I walked I kept asking myself if this is where I wanted to be, and the overwhelming answer each time was yes. While it might be frightening or different to move to a new city I am excited by the prospect of discovering the nooks and crannies of Toronto and making new friends, like Genet. It was really nice to meet him and have coffee in the East End (see I'm learning my lingo) and also make a new friend in this big city.
I told Mason that when I landed in Toronto on Friday I got the same feeling I do when I land in Denver after a long trip - the sense of being home. I really hope that our dream comes true soon and that we can be here by the end of the summer.
BTW, Laura, I did an informal poll amongst my freinds and yes...they find it strange that we wear our shoes in the house and that we go out to eat lunch so often. Check out Laura's post about all of that here.
Anyway, it's time for me to help the Bride and Bride, er Brinde and Groom, er Groom and Groom...whatever...prepare for their big day.
Have a nice weekend everyone.
Posted by Nikolas at 06:31 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBackMarch 01, 2006
Going Home
Many of you may be sick of hearing my whiny Canadian posts, but you'll just have to deal with it...I get to go home tomorrow :-) More and more I feel connected to the City of Toronto and the Country of Canada. It's not a matter of if we get in, but when we get in - and I feel like that time is approching soon.
This trip tomorrow will have to be enough to tide me over until the move becomes permanent. The main reason I am going is in order to celebrate Geoff and Bobby's wedding and spend time with some old friends, but it's also a chance for me to reconnect to the place that my heart wishes to call home.
Don't know if I'll be able to update from Toronto...if not I will see you all Tuesday.
G'nite.
Posted by Nikolas at 09:49 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
