Moving with a Pet...

I have moved over 10 times - 6 times with my cat.  You could say that we are pretty seasoned movers!  However, this newest move in my series of moves might prove a little tricky! How do you take a cat to Turkey??

In the midst of the my anxiety about going back to Turkey, one happy thing I am focusing on right now is that my cat is coming back with me!  I thought this would be fairly straight-forward, but anyone who knows Turkey knows that nothing is ever easy there!!

Before I came back to Canada, I started researching what I needed.  Most websites about pet relocation had conflicting information.  Not a great start.  Some said one set of documents was needed, other said a different type of document was needed...one said definitely microchip and another said no microchips needed...and no where (even on the Turkish Government's website!!) did anyone specify exactly what I needed to do.  How frustrating!!!  I even called the Turkish Consulate in Toronto and then the Turkish Embassy in Ottawa and was told two different things...an ominous beginning maybe?

When I arrived home in Canada, I called a vet that was referred by a friend and they were able to tell me exactly what was needed!  So, shout out to the ladies at Cambrian Animal Hospital in Sudbury!!  Unfortunately, they weren't able to provide the services there, but at least I was now armed with the info I needed!

Anyone who is looking to move to a foreign country - the first thing you should do is go to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's website.  They have a comprehensive list of what is needed for each country.  They also recommend that you call the consulate of the country you are moving to to verify any information (depending on which country you are moving to this may or may not be helpful!).  To move to Turkey, I needed to have an International Health Certificate and all vaccination certificates.  You can print out the International Health Certificate on 8 1/2 x 14 legal size paper from the CFIA's website, then bring it to your vet to be filled out.  Then you need to mail or deliver it to your closest CFIA office (Sudbury's is in North Bay).  The official veterinarian signs and stamps it and then sends it back to you (in the enclosed self-addressed envelope of course!).  This process takes about a week (if you use priority post).  The lovely folks at Baxter Animal Hospital were really helpful in filling out the forms and getting the necessary information for me.

Good luck to anyone trying to move with a pet!  It may be difficult but I know it will be rewarding!

Minx - the soon to be international travelling cat!

Here's the link to the Export page of the CFIA's website - 

http://www.inspection.gc.ca/animals/terrestrial-animals/exports/eng/1300388920375/1300388985791#petcom

Sad Day...

Well, in 5 days I'm heading back to Turkey...my visit in Canada will be at an end.  

It's kind of bittersweet.  

I'm really looking forward to going back but at the same time, preparing to go is really difficult.  

This past weekend I emptied out the storage locker I had been renting for the last year.  I sold all my furniture and gave away tons of clothes, shoes, and small items.  I loaded up a big cargo van (thanks Enterprise!) and carted the rest of my stuff to my dad's place.  Yesterday, he and I went through the remaining boxes and gave away even more stuff.  Today, I went to see a guy who wants to buy my car.  We'll be doing that trade off on Friday afternoon.  Doing all this is a relief (less things to pay for while I'm away) but also really saddening.  I feel like my life in Canada is ending.  Even though I know in my head that I will be back here in a year, it doesn't feel like this is my home anymore.  My poor head is so mixed up!!

bye bye car....

Long Time...

Wow...so it's been two months since I've last written here....Sorry to those who actually read this!  Let me start with the same lame excuse that everyone seems to use - I've been sooooo busy!!  This is actually the truth though...

Since I've last written here, I left Wall Street and started a new position and presently I'm back in Canada (just for a visit though!).  I'm heading back to Turkey in less than a week and I've got mixed feelings about that...anywho, first things first - Wall Street.

So, I left my position as Service Manager for WSI in August.  Not with any hard feelings though. I still highly recommend this institute for anyone thinking of moving to Turkey or to any other country with a WSI location.  It's a fantastic school for those just starting out in the ESL teaching world and I enjoyed working there immensely.  Through this institute I've met so many interesting students and fellow teachers - and also the love of my life!  So it was with some trepidation that I set out to follow a new path.  

When I get back to Ankara, I'll be working as an English Coordinator for a private school.  I'll mostly be managing 16 other English teachers and not really do much teaching.  I feel more comfortable in a management position, so we'll see how this new job fits me.  However, the school has some pretty high expectations about their English program and I feel some pressure about reaching their set goals.  It's always scary to leave a cushy job to try something you've never done before but it's exciting and that's what I'm looking for!

Before I left for Canada, I had an opportunity to meet all my teachers and staff and I'm super excited to get back and get into the swing of things there!  I'm also interested to see what it's like working in the private education system in Turkey.  Should be interesting to say the least!  I'll keep you posted on that!

So, presently I'm in Canada at my parents home in Northern Ontario.  It's been so great to see my family and friends - and it almost feels like I haven't been gone for an entire year!

Coming back, I've noticed many things...here's a short list:

- people follow traffic rules here and get angry if you don't!
- things are expensive!!!  yikes! food, clothes, everything that I thought was reasonably priced before I left seems to have shot up in price!!!
- I really missed the changing of the leaves in fall and I'm so happy I was here to experience it!
- you have to pick up your own garbage at a restaurant - in Turkey, you just leave your tray or garbage on the table and someone comes by to pick it up.  As a result, the restaurants are always very clean - the ones here have ketchup on the tables and litter on the floor...
- TV commercials are ANNOYING!  In Turkey, you don't have nearly as many commercials, and they are generally concentrated at the end of the program  instead of every 5 minutes as in Canada
- North Americans eat a lot of prepared foods
- gas is cheap!
- customer service is 100% better in Canada
- there is a lack of outdoor seating areas at cafes and restaurants
- you can't smoke in public places here!  I really miss that!  Smoking inside still happens in Turkey - yuck!!!
- life feels like it stood still here - everyone and everything is pretty much the same as when I left.  That feels somewhat disappointing...

These are just some of the things I've been noticing here. 

Earlier I said I had some mixed feelings about going back to Turkey.  I'm mostly worried about how I will re-adjust to my 'normal' life back there.  When I went 1 year ago, I wasn't homesick at all.  Everything was really new and exciting so I didn't really have time to be homesick.  Only when there were a few weeks left before leaving for Canada did I get a wave of homesickness.  I'm worried that this time I'll feel that right away.  I'm not going back to something new and exciting - it will be life as usual when I return.  So, what will that feel like?  Sometimes I wonder if it will be a relief to get back there.  But then I wonder if it'll be the same as last year - I'm going back to the same home, yes, but I'm also going back to a new job with a new schedule and a new expectation...so maybe I'll be too busy once again to notice where I am and who's missing in my life.  Also, it'll be different because U will be there to welcome me back and we can get back to our normal lives with our friends and routines so maybe that will cut the feelings of homesickness as well.  I guess only time will tell!