Canada life for 'Kells girl

When Michelle Tobin came to selecting a location to spend a year or two away, she decided on Vancouver, on the west coast of Canada, between the Rockies and the Pacific coast. The 27 year-old from Kells made the bold decision to travel to the city on her own. She knew a friend of a friend who lives in Vancouver, no-one else, yet that didn't put her off. It wasn't a random choice. She did her research and decided it was worth a shot. She obtained a year's visa through USIT, secured a three-year career break from her civil service job, and bid farewell to her friends and family before making the long trip across the Atlantic for her first visit to Canada's west coast. She liked the idea that Vancouver lay close to mountains and the fact that, in less than an hour, she could be in the middle of some truly spectacular scenery. The great outdoors - the hiking in the summer, skiing in the winter - greatly appealed to her. It's not a move she has regretted. With her 12-month visa about to expire, Michelle has applied for a two-year extension. She wants to stay and taste more of life in a city and a country which has been left relatively unscathed by the worldwide recession. “Vancouver is not a typical city because you have all the views of the mountains. It's on the coast as well so you have all the mountains and beaches right beside you,†she told the Meath Chronicle from her Vancouver apartment. “The skiing season is about to start now so you can do a full day's work and go off and ski for the evening. It's a real active, outdoors kind of place.†There are times when she gets homesick and misses family and friends, yet there are enough Irish in Vancouver to assuage any homesickness. With the help of Skype and other modern techno wonders, she keeps in close contact with home. Then there are the ubiquitous Irish bars and a vibrant GAA scene. It's not difficult to come across the Irish brogue there. Increasingly, more young Irish are moving to the city that has attracted increasing numbers of migrants with more than half of the 2.1 million population found in the metropolitan area speaking a language other than English. There appears to be construction opportunities on offer, she says, with the job situation in general a lot better than at home. To earn a buck, though, you need to be prepared to work, and work hard. It took some time for the Kells girl to find employment. She contacted agencies, made phone calls and was eventually rewarded for her persistence when she landed an administrative post in British Columbia University. Initially, it was temporary, then she was offered a full-time position. She was more than happy to accept. “It took me about two months to find work. It can depend on the time you get here, it can take a little time to get something, you just need to keep plugging away. You need to have your CV up-to-date when you get here. I went to agencies, you go in for interviews but you have to keep calling back.†She warns that it is “quite expensive†to live in a city like Vancouver and anybody thinking of moving there should ensure they have a considerable sum of money to keep them going while they go about landing a job. When she walks around the streets of the Canadian city, she feels safe - the crime rate is low compared to places like New York. Indeed, Vancouver has been recognised as one of the most 'liveable' cities in the world. It's an assessment with which Michelle Tobin would undoubtedly agree.