Viewing blogs tagged Edmonton

Wednesday, August 08, 2007

Flying to Edmonton

# Posted by Joel Dixon at 08/08/2007 08:23:28

The last time I flew across the Pacific it was all new and exciting, and while it was difficult I was excited to get over to the US. This time, I knew what to expect, I was doing it on my own, and I was leaving my wife in Australia. It was tough!

Belinda took me to the airport so she could wish me farewell. At the risk of damage to my incredibly masculine image, it was sad with a few tears shed. When I went through the security checkpoint and waited alone at the departure gate, I shed a lot more tears. It had finally hit me, I wouldn't be able to see my wife for at least 100 days (I plan on coming back for a visit in November), and I started blubbering. When my plane was called, I managed to clean myself up and stem the flow of tears until I sat down in my seat, and had a little cry at the fact that this was the first International flight that I won't share with Bell.

The plane took off without incident and I started watching one of the movies on offer. Whenever something sad happened in the film, or a point where two characters displayed love for each other I could feel the tears well up. Even the silhouette of the girl on the plane's toilet lights made me all sad.

Now, I know I'm a bit of a girly man. Ever since I was a young lad I was very quick to tears. I've gotten better as time's gone on - but must admit that I did have a tear in my eye at the end of Adam Sandler's movie Click. Even though I know I'm a very emotional person, I had no idea I would turn to tears so easily when I got on that plane. I think it might have been because I was trying to ignore my emotions during the preparations for the trip, and they just kept building up inside. I also realised that I rely on Belinda's friendship more than I had thought. As I've been with here for the past 10 years, she's become a big part of my life. At this point of the flight, I was questioning my decision about working in Canada, and wondering how upset my new boss would be if I got on the first plane back to Melbourne.

Knowing I needed something to keep my mind cheery, I put on my iPod earphones and started listening to podcasts. I've been podcasting a few of my favourite radio shows for a while now which is going to help when I'm living in Edmonton. Thankfully, Tony Martin's Get This helped me keep my mind off the sad things and got me through the rest of the flight.

Towards the end of the flight I started talking to the girl sitting next to me, she was going home to Ottawa (Canada) after an extended stay in Melbourne. Laura was fun to talk to - and I started learning about the differences between Australia and Canada that I hadn't thought through. The 14 hours had gone by fairly quickly, and we finally landed in Los Angeles.

It felt good to be on my feet again, and we made the trek through American customs. As soon as I joined the long line I noticed a guy about 10 people a head of me that looked very familiar. Sure enough the girl that was two seats away from me during the flight asked "Is he from Australian Idol"? Yes, it was Dean Guyer. Almost straight after that, some middle-aged Aussie dude went up and asked for an autograph. I didn't feel like annoying the guy, so took a sneaky snap with my mobile camera.

Looks a bit like that old Bigfoot film, but believe me, it's him

After a phone call to Belinda (more tears) I hung around Los Angeles airport with Laura for a few hours, waiting for our flights (she was transferring through Chicago, I was heading to Denver). I eventually got onto that plane and soon enough we were in the air again. The Denver flight was much more manageable (only 2 or 3 hours) and I got through a few more podcasts (and no more tears thankfully). With the seat-belt sign on we started our landing - but I was a little worried. Looking out the window all I could see was farmland, and we were pretty close to the ground! Just before landing I finally saw the corner of a runway, but it was still a very rough landing.

I had around three hours to wait in Denver, which was very boring. I did notice that when I bought some food at a Mexican place the change was dispensed to me automatically by a change machine - very cool! I also went to a few gift stores in search of Colorado Avalanche gear for my wife - but for some reason they weren't selling any (probably making way for some upcoming Penguins gear).

The final flight from Denver to Edmonton went by in a breeze, as I spent most of it asleep. I was trying to stay awake so I didn't disrupt my sleeping patterns, but it was no use! When I got off the plane I mentally prepared myself for the immigration interview that was coming.

At each stop in America, whenever I went through immigration or tried to get my flight's boarding pass I had at least 10 minutes waiting while the clerk checked all of my work permit details. Because of all of this attention, I had figured it was going to be hell getting through the Canadian immigration. Sure enough, I only spent about 5 minutes waiting for the very efficient Canadian immigration people to complete my documentation. I probably would have been more impressed if I wasn't asleep on my feet!

My old boss picked me up from the baggage claim, and I went back to his place to crash in the spare room. After 30 hours in the air or in an airport, sleep came very easily!

# Posted in the Travel section and tagged as: Edmonton

Tuesday, July 03, 2007

Canada, eh?

# Posted by Joel Dixon at 03/07/2007 10:36:01

Those that know me, know I'm a huge hockey fan. When I was in high school, I had heard that some people in Canada could ice skate to work and had frozen ponds in their backyards - which sounded very cool. I also did one of my geography assignments on Canada and decided that it looked like a very neat place to live. So I just assumed that when I finished university I would find a job in Canada and live their for a few years.

Of course, when I was finishing uni I was broke and needed to get a job - so I took an offer from the company I did my Industry-based Learning for. Before I knew it, 5 years had past and I was still working for that same company (al biet with a different name), and I was still enjoying working in Melbourne.

Then, a few weeks ago I received an email out of the blue from my old boss. He was project director on the first project I work for straight after uni, and as he was originally from Canada we got a long well. He had gone back to Canada with his family, and was wondering if anyone was interested in a job. A little to-ing and fro-ing later, I accepting a contracting position in Edmonton, Alberta.

The decision was obviously very hard, and made almost impossible by the fact that my lovely wife would be unable to join me for the whole time I was gone. In the end, it's an experience of a lifetime, I probably won't get the opportunity again, and I would be working for a boss that already knows what I'm like - and I don't need to prove myself to anyone. The fact that I would be on contracting rates (and making a fair bit more than I could back home) also helped make the decision.

Thankfully, the company I am currently working for has agreed to giving me 12 months leave without pay, and Belinda is planning on visiting for a month at a time at least twice. There's lots to organise, but I'll be having a wild time when the hockey season starts up!

# Posted in the General section and tagged as: Edmonton

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Viewing blogs tagged Edmonton

Wednesday, August 08, 2007

Flying to Edmonton

Tuesday, July 03, 2007

Canada, eh?