Fist week in Canada

The past week we had ups and downs. 

David and Masha has started school at Marie de France. Finally, after 6,5 extra weeks of vacations. 

David got into CM2 (intensive english program) where the program is one week in French and one week in English. It started good for him, as I can see, a friend of his is coming over tomorrow for a swim-play date. 

Masha started in Mat2 a day later, and she loves it. The quite I got form her is, "we have to work a lot". Well, comparing to a Danish kindergarten, when one just plays, here there is stuff one should do, and there is a homework once in a while. 

So, while our kids were in school, we were busy battling the bureaucracy. Oh, bureaucracy, bureaucracy, bureaucracy. Sometimes one thinks that if you move to another country things will be easier, it will be less bureaucratic, people will be more understandable. In some cases things go so smoothly, in some, well not that easy.  Like how can you explain a canadian export in Danish society that Frederiksberg municipality is not the only municipality in Denmark. And why does one needs to explain that at all? 

Any way, one thing we have learn a hard way, and I believe it will take us years to get used to, is the politeness of the people. Even if you don't have everything for the file, if you are not qualified or something, they will not yell, they will not shout, they will not tell you everything what they think about you, not, very politely you will be asked to complete the file, to come back, to wait, etc. That is something we have to learn to deal with, something one doesn't see too often in danish public offices. But one thing remands the same....

Friends in need are friends indeed

Well, nothing has changed since the last update. We are still waiting, and waiting, and waiting.
This past month I have realized that I am so blessed with the friends. Each weekend we have been invited over to different states (NY, CT and PA) and different houses to spend time with real people. That is such a blessing. We spend time to go on a hay ride and apple picking, we went to have face painting and make hot  dogs on an open fire, we observed Amish and played boardgames and just had a great time.
I  could never imagine that I will be seeing some people 10-12 and 13 years later. The amazing thing is that it felt like time had never passed. All of us have kids now, married and settled (apart of me, I guess). All are happy, got what they wanted and living the life it looks like they are enjoying. And it is so great to see and to be a little part of it.
THANK YOU ALL, REALLY. We feel so blessed.
On the dark side of things - nothing had happened. We are busy counting to 10 and not to yell at the company with the inhuman way of treating us. We are busy not to scream at the top management for they lack of management skills, cooperation, sense of reality and human kind. We are busy doing things ourselves, as this is the only way things can and will be done, as company doesn't care. I would never imagine in my life, that I will be facing such a test. This is a test for our patience, our family life, for our kids and our insanity. And I know with Gods help we will come as winners, with out heads up.
Today I have decided to post a new cartoon as a comment to the excuses our lawyers came out with. They have been calling the Quebec authorities for the last 14 days with no respond, or were they not? The question remains open, because I still believe in good in people.

Cultural shock I guess

Normally, I am a very positive person, but recent events made me so mad that I simple in need of telling my thought and concerns.
I can't believe what Morten is facing at his office.
First, as you know, we are still in New York City, waiting. Understand me correctly: NY is definitely not the last place on earth you wouldn't want to be stuck at. But 5 weeks in a hotel room with 2 kids? Again, I would be fine with that, but then, comes the twist.
Our lawyer, who was representing us for Canadian authorities, changed jobs. We were not informed about that. When we learned about the change, a while later, we had to sign a new agreement, signed by Simcorp as well, to allow us to get a new representative. But what happens next is beyond my understanding. Now, we have to wait additional 2 weeks to be approved of our new representative. The decision is made, but in order for us to get the papers, we need our new representative to be approved.
The second thing is more about me. 2 managers at Simcorp expressed a desire to hire me, due to my knowledge, skills and experience. Sounds good, right? Well, when Morten gave my CV, to one of managers, he was informed that there is just a little thing. We needed to clear 'husband/wife' issue. Fair enough. As US HR was sick for almost 2 weeks, we have contacted Danish HR and required information. And we got it, quite quickly, efficiently, with the case a, b, and c explanations. So there were, of course, no problem, as it was not a problem for more then 10 people we know of. But... The comes the most unspeakable thing. I would understand, if they were interested, I would understand, there were many better qualified apprentices. But this is not the case. They were first asking about my interest for working for the company, was is just for being polite? And that is definately not the skills that are lacking, ok, I would say the guy with this kind of experience:
2006-2008
• Worked for the summers of 2006, 2007 and 2008 by offering labor services
• Gained valuable mechanical experience while earning money for college
If this is more suitable for the company then my skills then I am way too wrong.
The worse part about that the manager, looks into Morten eyes and lies. Just lies. How on earth one should be able to work under that kind of manager, how, I ask myself. I don't know if he thinks that Morten is stupid, or naive, or both at the same time. Why not to say the truth. Why?
Anyway, I needed to say that out loud.
I am proud of Morten that he keeps his cool. I do, and that he somehow deals with all this situation. He is the best.