Comments on: Four Years, Already...

By: Alexandria Bay, NY State | Correr Es Mi Destino

Alexandria Bay, NY State | Correr Es Mi Destino — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 01:58:06 +0000

[…] 2005, when I had to leave Canada to validate my “landed immigrant” status, I discovered the U.S. border was only a 45-minute drive from Ottawa. Since then, going Alexandria […]

By: Zhu

Zhu — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 19:14:31 +0000

So… I speak French fluently (well, I’m a native speaker), I’m also fluent in English although I’m pretty sure I have an accent. My Mandarin is still pretty good, I can read, write and speak (it was my major at university) although I don’t get to practice as much as I want to. And I picked up Spanish when traveling in Latin America. I have no problem understand Spanish speakers and I can speak without too much trouble but my grammar isn’t great. I did an interview in Spanish not long ago, if you want to laugh you’ll find it on the “fame!” page in the menu bar. I also understand basic Portuguese, same, I picked it up when traveling in Brazil.

And that’s it!

By: Jake

Jake — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 18:32:33 +0000

Hello! I came across your blog on Reddit… and I keep seeing you throw different languages around. So what all languages do you know, and to what extent?

You studied Mandarin for 12 years.. you are native in French, and I assume nearly so in English. And you make references to Spanish sometime. Is that all? I am just curious!

I am enjoying reading your story. Thanks for sharing!

By: Zhu

Zhu — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 04:25:29 +0000

Actually, make it 6 years. And I’m extremely proud of being a Canadian loser, as you said.

Believe it or not, I like this country. It is very easy to hate a place, but to question oneself… not so much. Go ahead and hate Canada if it can solve your problems!

Good luck buddy!

By: USA-Rocks

USA-Rocks — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 04:18:21 +0000

4 years of being a loser in canada!!!

indeed a good reason to celebrate.
hope you would have read this some 4 years ago:

http://www.notcanada.com/forum.htm

read through as it still be of some value … I hope.

By: Priyank

Priyank — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 00:14:40 +0000

Thats awesome Zhu, Congratulations!! I am only 1.1 years old that way… LOL I remember at the border the officer gave me permanent residence form and tore my student ID — I was almost in tears… That was the one document I used all the time in Canada and she was simply ripping it off. I asked if I can keep it for memories and she said “sure”.

Oh in Marathi (my native language), we have “tu” and “tumhi” (informal and formal) too! Transition to English is also tricky because most Indian languages do not often use polite words (sorry, thankyou, please, etc) in informal speak, we simply change the verb to formal to make it polite.

I hope you don’t lose your French accent, I find it very sexy. LOL.
.-= Priyank´s last blog ..Gajar Halva: Carrot dessert =-.

By: RennyBA's Terella

RennyBA's Terella — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:47:09 +0000

Sorry I am late, but I still want to say: Happy Anniversary! It have been great to follow you in the last years and I have learned a lot new things about Canada through your process and posts - thanks for your willingness to share your knowledge, experience and adventures! .-= RennyBA's Terella´s last blog ..Blogger from Norway visit Brussels in Belgium =-.

By: Seb

Seb — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:40:59 +0000

Canada must be such a great country to be a part of! I'm so happy for you. And as a fellow French speaker, I always found the use of 'vous' to be kind of aristocratic and weird. .-= Seb´s last blog ..Big Bear Is Watching You. Again. =-.

By: shionge

shionge — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:52:52 +0000

Hey many many good years Zhu in Canada I can see that you are very happy here and I’ve enjoyed all that you’ve shared about your life here in Canada

By: Zhu

Zhu — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:45:23 +0000

@Nigel Babu — Am I? I usually post three times a week — could never post more! I know you are looking forward to seeing pics of snow, but I can’t say I am

@Tulsa Gentleman — Thank you!

@Sidney — France is a very nice country, especially to visit. I’m not sure it’s the best place to live right now. But thousands of expats disagree!

@Nisha — I must admit I don’t know anything about Hindi. But I’m not surprised: cultures with a lot of respect towards traditions and which had or have some kind of social hierarchy often have these two forms.

@Cornflakegirl — I have been in Canada longer actually, more like 6 years. But I wasn’t an immigrant before, I had other status.

@Bluefish — It takes a while to feel different about home I guess. It took me several years… as the times goes by, you realize that you built something elsewhere.

@Abi — Same here, and I have yet to be amazed by these people’s “so-called” fluency!

@Gail at Large — Thank you! I’m happy I’m here too, Canada is a great place.

@kyh — Yes, I have dual citizenship, so two passports. Lucky me!

@Soleil — Thank you! I have actually been there a bit longer, although not as a permanent resident.

@zerosignal747 — Thank you! I often tell my friends that Canada is an awesome place to belong, and an easy place to go back to after months of traveling. The standard of living is pretty steady, Canadians are welcoming and accepting of new cultures… it’s a great place to call home.

@Graham — Glad to see you back! Where have you been? Kidnapped by the Queen of England??

It’s been actually more like 6 years but I wasn’t a permanent resident the first two years. Yep, time goes by fast…