First let’s start with the introductions. My name is Nelly, I’m French, 28 years old and I hold a Bachelor degree in Tourism, and a Masters of Marketing/Communications. After I graduated, I decided that rather than seek employment in France, I would set out for Ireland, where I spent an incredible, unforgettable year. I worked for the Tourism Office in Dublin, where I was able to hone my English language skills through daily practice. But after a little over year in the ‘land of Guinness,’ I returned to France in the hope of finding interesting employment. Unfortunately, my search was in vain…
Looking back now, I realize that despite my return to France, I still had a strong desire to continue my foreign explorations. In fact, deep down I knew that I would soon travel to distant horizons, even though I didn’t know where or how. All I needed was an opportunity to present itself…which it did, last November.
By chance, I heard about possible career options within Canada through my employment councilor, who suggested that I visit an international job fair. While there, I happened upon a booth promoting Quebec. I spoke to a recruiter who mentioned the up-coming Destination Canada forum, and after submitting the required application, I soon received an invitation.
Beginning at 8:00 a.m. on the morning of the fair, chaos reined. I was amazed at the number of French who were so eager to work in Canada; clearly a destination of choice. Booths promoted the various provinces, employers and opportunities…it was well organized, if a little overwhelming. I was instantly attracted to the booth representing British Columbia. I was in awe of the gorgeous scenery depicted on the posters, and the idea of finding work in that province appealed to me almost instantaneously. As I wandered around, I happened upon the booth operated by go2, which was staffed by Lynne Henshaw…a woman to whom I will be eternally grateful.
I credit Lynne with opening my eyes; she’s a big part of the reason I find myself in BC today. She explained that the province was in the throws of a labour shortage – and with the imminent arrival of the 2010 Olympic Games, she said that people with hotel experience, and who also spoke both French and English, would be in high demand. I hardly needed to hear more! The idea of working in an Olympic host city, in my chosen field of tourism, was all the motivation I needed. Upon leaving the forum, I was on a mission!
But first things first: I needed to obtain a VISA. My application was sent to the embassy three days after the forum, where I applied for a Working Holiday VISA, which is available to young people between the ages of 18 – 30, and offered to citizens of the EU, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. The requirements are fairly straight forward: CV, letter of intent and a sufficient bank balance (700 Euros for each of the first three months of the intended stay). Generally, these applications are processed within five to 12 weeks. And after eight interminable weeks, I finally got the green light.
After having obtained my VISA, the real preparations were about to begin. Obviously, moving to the other side of the world requires some planning and organization. I stumbled upon an internet site
www.pvtistes.net which is dedicated to Working Holiday Makers. The site details everything from departing France to landing on Canadian soil, and also includes useful tips on employment, lodging and establishing a social life.
The second hurdle was finding a place to stay. I knew that I didn’t want to be landing on Canadian soil without pre-arranged housing. I wanted to avoid the fall-back of a youth hostel, which is a popular choice among my compatriots. I quickly found out that lodging was very expensive in Vancouver, so my best option was shared housing. Through the ‘pvtistes’ website, I linked to Craigslist, which I discovered to be an invaluable resource. It was through this site – which lists employment opportunities, accommodation and items for sale – that I was able to find my current job, my apartment and even a vacation rental property for my parents’ upcoming summer visit to Canada!
I responded to an ad placed by a Belgian and an Iranian seeking a roommate; and as it turns out, they’ve been wonderful. Not only did they pick me up at the airport, they went so far as to make up my bed in preparation for my arrival. I was delighted! I live in South Granville, a beautiful and central area of the city; where shops, restaurants, beaches and public transit are all close at hand.
After all my preparations, all that was left to do was purchase an airline ticket, ensure that my travel documents were in order (international driver’s license, passport, identity card etc.) pack up my apartment – a big thank you to my brother for all his help! – and bid ‘au revoir’ to my friends and family.
The day of my departure, my anxiety began to mount; saying goodbye to my parents wasn’t easy, but I persevered and didn’t lose my motivation. I can be fairly hard-headed at times, and I live by the motto ‘If you believe, you will succeed.’
On the 12th of March 2008, after 19 hours en route, with a brief stop in Montreal in order to obtain the required permits from Citizenship at Immigration, I finally set foot on Western Canadian soil.
I spent my first few days exploring the city, and also ensuring that all my affairs were in order. I opened a bank account, obtained a SIN number and bought a Canadian telephone. Admittedly, I felt like a fish out of water for the first few days, but I quickly began to adjust. There was no language barrier since my English was already quite good, which was also helpful when it came time to find employment. I find the Canadian accent to be readily understandable, and I found Vancouver to be a friendly and lively city. Canadians themselves seem to be very respectful and welcoming people.
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Three days after my arrival, I went to a social gathering organized through the Working Holiday Makers website. While some attendees had arrived in Canada with their significant other, or with a friend, the majority were single and looking for adventure. But everyone had a common goal: to seek out new and enriching experiences, both personal and professional. We were all in the same boat: far away from family and friends and from all things familiar. For many, this was the third or fourth country visited. It seemed that we’d all been bitten by the travel bug, and agreed that after the taste of freedom it was difficult to contemplate settling back down in France.
Since the time of that initial gathering, we’ve become quite a tight knit group. It’s simply wonderful to be able to work and live in English, and then reunite in the evening to speak in French together. I’ve also been fortunate enough to participate in Vancouver’s Francophone Festival; not only are there many Quebecois and French in British Columbia, but there are also a number of other nationalities. While walking down the streets of Vancouver it’s not uncommon to hear Japanese, Chinese, Spanish or Italian. Not only is Vancouver a very multicultural city, it’s also very fast paced. It seems that everything moves more quickly here: friendships, relationships and contacts all grow very quickly.
On a professional level, I’d set the goal of obtaining employment in a hotel. And I quickly discovered that job opportunities were abundant. Two weeks after sending out my CV, I’d already had numerous interviews. I decided to hold out for the perfect job.
After three weeks, I interviewed for a position with Pacific Coach Lines, a transport company that shuttles tourists between Vancouver, Victoria and Whistler. PCL also arranges hotel reservations, excursions and other tourism related activities (museum visits, whale watching tours etc.) During the interview, I was impressed by the organization’s ambiance. The group was young and international, and this was perhaps more enticing than the job itself. I was thrilled to be offered a position of Client Councilor, due to start only three days after my initial interview.
At first, I found the position very stressful. While no one was at fault, I initially felt excluded. I began training with two Canadians, and I really felt out of step as a result of my nationality. Even more challenging was to try to advise and sell clients tourism products that were completely foreign to me! I’d only just arrived in Vancouver myself, so I had to redouble my efforts in order to familiarize myself with products and services in my second language. I wanted to prove that I was capable and a fast learner.
But, as with every job, I learned to let time take its natural course.
It’s now been three months since I started my new job. I love what I’m doing, even if it’s still very stressful at times and we do work very long hours. My responsibilities are varied: hotel reservation and hotel consults for clients over the phone, facilitating excursions and transfers, face to face contact with clients at their hotels or cruise ships, logistics and route planning for daily excursions, product sales at the bus station, client relations via email and fax…and the list goes on. We work very closely with a variety of tourism operators and organizations (hotels, tourism offices, travel agents from around the world…) And with summer upon us, clients are becoming more numerous, which means even more stress! I’ve learned that rapid response and flexibility are two essential components when it comes to operating a successful transport company. But we’re kept on our toes, and we’re certainly never bored. Working daily in a high stress environment has certainly fostered strong bonds with my colleagues, many of whom I would now count among my friends. Cooperation and solidarity are essential in a workplace like mine.
In my time with PCL, I’ve also had the good fortune to travel to Whistler on three separate occasions, as well as to Victoria once, in order to promote our tours and services to various hotels. Both destinations were superb, and I loved the opportunity to work while traveling.I’ve also found that there are other advantages of working in the tourism industry. As a result of a challenge offered by Tourism Vancouver, I won a ‘passport’ that allows me to gain free access (for myself and a guest) to a vast number of the region’s tourist attractions. I was given this passport for participating in a challenge that required me to visit 15 museums and tourist attractions and fill out a related quiz. Since obtaining this passport, I’ve visited Grouse Mountain, Capilano Suspension Bridge, numerous museums and I’ve taken a carriage ride through Stanley Park and a boat cruise…I could go on! Suffice it to say that Vancouver is becoming as familiar as my own backyard.
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After three months, I feel I can offer my first evaluation. Thus far, I’ve gotten an interesting job, lovely roommates and a great group of friends. Even if it is expensive, I still love living in Vancouver. It really is worth a visit. The city is in a constant state of change; construction and road work abounds, and it’s obvious the region is readying to welcome the world. It’s extremely pleasant to live in close proximity to both the sea and mountains, and outdoor activities abound. The city is young and dynamic. I can’t wait to introduce my family to the city’s extraordinary charms.
There is still a lot that I haven’t yet seen. I’d love to travel the entire province, not to mention have the opportunity to see the country in its entirety. My next stop is Tofino, situated on Vancouver Island. I’m also busy preparing for a week-long trip to the Rockies. The Canadian countryside, surrounded by lakes and mountains, inspires big dreams!
A lot of people have told me that my decision to come to Canada was very brave; while others still don’t understand my desire to travel. And then there are those who have encouraged me, and told me to seize these opportunities because they don’t come along every day. Besides, I wasn’t tied down and nothing was keeping there. As far as I’m concerned, there’s nothing to regret. Thus far I can honestly say that this was the right choice. Granted, there will be hard days, but I’ve never shied away from a challenge. Adapting to a new culture and to new customs isn’t easy, but by far the biggest challenge is being away from friends and family. The time change can make it difficult to stay in touch, but thanks to the internet and a web cam, I can eat my breakfast while staying in touch with loved back home.
I don’t know what my future holds. For example, a year ago I never could have imagined that I’d end up in Canada, on the other side of the world. So, what do I hope for? I’d like my experience in Vancouver, in beautiful British Columbia, to continue. I’d like this experience to continue to be a powerful and enriching one. In my current situation, I’ve gone from one surprise to another…And I’d like to extend my VISA so this adventure can continue. But since the future is so uncertain, I plan to enjoy myself and profit from every new experience. I’d love to stay though 2010, so that I can participate in what will surely be the experience of a lifetime. I’d also like to explore more of the country, I feel drawn to its vast beauty. When on a journey of discovery like mine, it’s so important to remain open to new experiences. Don’t be afraid to embrace life’s adventures, and know that British Columbia and Vancouver are sure to welcome you with open arms. If you choose this path, you won’t regret it!
— Nelly
