Dear friends:

So far my friends are sending their success stories, but now let me share my story of failure with you. After living and working in Middle East for about 18 years, I migrated to Canada with my family. We all are excited and waiting for our dreams to come true.

I was in touch with a real estate agent so I purchased a house in Markham in 3 weeks after landing. We spent these 3 weeks in a hotel close to airport. My top priority was to settle my family and then to start my new career here. It took us about 4 months for settling down including documentation like SIN card, health cards, children admission, legal formalities about the house purchase, house furnishing, kitchen equipment, utensils, buying 2 cars (one for myself and other for family) and computers etc. The life was great.

After getting over with the initial settlement phase, I started my job hunt. I subscribed all the major newspaper and also paid some money to a professional organization to prepare my resume. Since, I spent my whole life in banking sector, had a very rich experience in working with national and international banks so I was very confident that I’d get a good job soon. When I got no positive response for my job applications in the next few weeks, I engaged a professional employment agency to get me a job. I paid them some $ 10,000 for the assignment. It was just a shear bad luck or market situation that they also failed to get me a job. I got some unsuccessful interviews; most of them irrelevant and were not matching with my experience. I visited many social agencies, met with employment counselors, and attended the job workshops. They all guided me to applying for a job, interview preparation, developing a network, but nothing worked. I don't blame them. They did what they are supposed to do.

I migrated to Canada for a better career. Mentally and physically I was not ready to do the factory and warehouse jobs. Each passing day was adding to my frustration. My savings were evaporating fast, future was bleak and I had no clue that what to do next?

Having seen all the roads blocked, I called my immediate past boss in the Middle East, and asked him if I could come back? Time was right and the bank was expanding. He asked me to apply again, I did and I was hired. What to say now? It's almost 4 years that I'm here and my family is in Canada. I don't want to dislocate them again and to disturb their education.

My wife is trying hard to look after children and kitchen, but often runs into problems. Her social circle is limited to some housewives like her, whose husbands are out in Middle East for job. My Children are also disturbed and not doing well in their education. I try to fulfill all their requirements, and keep visiting them at least twice a year. Children are growing and so their expenses. I can't think of leaving this job and joining them in Canada. It seems that I have to spend rest of my life working here. Pray for us.

Fareed Bhalla