"When I get the giggles...It's game over"

Happy Friday, so glad this week is over. It been a wet and miserable one. Next week is meant to be nicer though so I am looking forward to that. As I mentioned in my most recent post, we had our English test last weekend as part of the PR process. I could lie and say it was easy but it wasn't, to be honest I am a little nervous about the results. I know what people might be thinking "but you can speak English", well this bloody thing was strange. 

I was okay with the listening and writing pieces, it was the reading that I struggled with. With the type of dyslexia that I have reading would be what I find most challenging. So I will forgive myself if I don't do well there. The speaking section however, that was a whole different ball game. Firstly, your speaking to a computer with a headset on. Secondly, the questions they give you are ridiculous and lastly when I get the giggles... it's game over, and that is exactly what happened!

There was one question I got, talk about why you should be allowed bring your own snacks into a movie theatre?  You had to talk for 90 seconds about it, 90!!! You would be surprised how long 90 seconds is when you have to talk rubbish. Well I started off well saying that, "it would save people some money as they wouldn't have to spend it at the cinema".Then I went on to talk about people with allergies and how, "it would be great for them as they could bring gluten free snacks such as"...and I paused, not because I couldn't think of gluten free snacks but simply because I was about to erupt with laughter as I felt I sounded like this.....

Yes, all I could think of was Miss Teen USA 2007 while taking a rather important English exam, Ugh! I got a fit of giggles and I have no idea what I said after. I would love to be the people marking these tests, the stuff people must come out with. 

Anyway, to try forget about the fact that we may not be fluent English speakers after all, we headed to Koreatown to eat. We have heard lots about Korean BBQ and really wanted to try it, so we found a really nice place called Arisu. 

The tables are set up with a BBQ in the middle. You pick from a wide range of meats and they bring it all out raw for you to cook yourself. A variety of side dishes is included to go with the meat. It was such a nice experience and the food was delicious. The prices were very reasonable too. I would definitely go again and to Koreatown in general, there was some cool bars around there that I want to try in the summer.

On Sunday, we went for walk and ended up getting some nice photos of the Toronto skyline from a place called Polson Pier. Of course we couldn't finish the day without eating (my favourite thing to do) so we went to one of my favourite Mexican restaurants, El Catrin in the Distillery District. Sitting outside eating fish tacos and drinking sangria was the prefect way to end a rather odd weekend of activities. 

Have a great weekend!

Talk soon xx

Zita J

We made a decision...

It's been a busy couple of weeks here. Do I always say that at the start of my posts? Maybe, I am always busy! Lol! Anyway, it has been particularly busy lately and I will fill you in on why that is. So if you read my post a couple of weeks back about when I came back from Ireland after Christmas you would of read how we were trying to make decisions on how long more we are going to stay and what route to take next. When it comes to us, we are the worst decision makers. We can't even decide what to watch on Netflix or what food to order, " I don't mind, whatever you want", so you can imagine what making this BIG decision was like.

We kept putting it off and when people were asking me what I was doing they thought I was keeping it a secret when in fact, I still had no idea what I wanted to do. A few weeks ago the time came to really think and talk about it. Since our visas are up in July we were really running out of time. We looked at all the visa options. To get a one or two year extension on a work visa is very difficult here. You have to basically get your employer to apply for what's called an LMIA, which is essentially trying to prove to the government, that I am irreplaceable in my role in work. Like I know I am irreplaceable  but I dunno does Canada know that yet! Haha! So that option was gone.

The only other option really and the one we went for is Permanent Residency. Yes. As scary as that sounds, permanent residents of Canada. Before I get a text from my sister who will be reading this, no I am not staying here permanently, I promise but yes I am staying a little longer. <insert monkey holding eyes emoji here>. Well that's if we get accepted etc but that is the plan anyway.

We have started the process and by god I am sick shit of it already. It's a long and pricey process but hopefully it'll all be worth it! I am not ready to leave Canada yet. I still have goals I want to achieve and places I want to see. I just don't feel ready to say goodbye to my second home right now.

I will keep you updated on my new visa journey. Wish us luck, we have our English test on Saturday. Yes, we have to do an English Test even though it's our first language. Lets hope we pass. Lol!

This wasn't an easy decision, missing family and friends is definitely the hardest about being away and I do have moments when I think this could be the scariest decision I ever made but you have to take chances in life. You are only young once. While Ireland will always be my home, for now Toronto has stolen my heart!

                         

Talk soon xx

Zita J