Iryna Stadnyk, a food counter attendant from Kyiv tells her story about her work and life in Canada

"If you are ready for big changes, make this step. It doesn't matter where and how you start working. The program for food counter attendants opens an opportunity to come and work in Canada, to make new friends and to achieve your goals", - Iryna Stadnyk, a food counter attendant from Kyiv tells her story about her work and life in Canada.

Looking for opportunities

The life for me is facing changes and achieving goals and dreams all the time. My decision to move to another country has been one of my dreams for many years. I was trying to go to London, to the US, Germany and Sweden, but every time it did not come true because of different problems. After all my previous efforts I didn't even think it could happen that I would live in Canada.

Canada is one of the world's best countries to live in and it has a huge Ukrainian Community. One of Ukrainian newspapers has announced that "One has to be proud to be a Ukrainian in Canada". And I decided to try it! ILC gave me this opportunity to go to the country of my dreams and to settle there.

I was born and lived in Kiev, graduated from the University and have worked as a financial analytic for 3 years. My life in Ukraine was full of travelling, friends, family but I was looking for more adventures and wanted to see what I could achieve in another country, with a different culture, different language, alone, just me and my skills.

First step in making my dream come true

I have known about ILC for some years already and one time I decided to ask what they could advise in my situation - if there was any chance to go abroad. One of the best opportunities was to obtain the position in a fast food restaurant in Canada. I came to ILC office to the presentation of this program; after that ILC teachers have tested my level of English. This was my first step in the whole process that started in July 2010 and in September 2010 ILC contacted me and told me that the Canadian employer received a positive LMO and sent the contract on my name. 

I started preparing everything I needed to go abroad. Supported by ILC staff I went through all process: filling in the applications for the Canadian embassy, passing IELTS exam and medical examination. I would like especially to thank ILC for preparing me for IELTS exam. I had only 10 days to prepare for my exam and ILC teacher did her best to help me via online English lessons to prepare for this exam. In a few days I was ready and I passed the exam successfully. After IELTS I passed medical examination. Then I got my long-expected visa and on December 7, 2010 I landed in Canada!

Working in the new country, meeting new people

Now I live in Atlantic Canada in a small town in the province of Nova Scotia. It is a beautiful place with nice and friendly people. I was a little shocked at first, as I used to live in Kiev, to see crowds of people outside and, and here I didn't see anybody on the streets! Another thing is that it seemed that nobody was walking, just me, everybody was driving a car. When I first came to the store I didn't know what to buy: there were a lot of different products. I started looking into food baskets of what another people were buying and it turned out that Canadians like pre-cooked food: pizza, sandwiches, and snacks. Actually, talking about food, it really has a different taste here: milk, meat, bread. But after being in Canada for over 1.5 years I got used to this.

After arriving to Canada I experienced a culture shock: everything was new, unusual and strange - from language to food and people. Strangers told me "How are you?" or "Such a beautiful day today, eh?" just in the store or outside and it didn't matter that they didn't know me, they just tried to talk.

So, when we arrived (there was another girl from Ukraine who came with me the same time and to work in the same place), my current employer met us in the airport and drove us to the hotel. We stayed there for the first month and later we moved to the house where we lived for the whole next year.

It is important to say that we were one of the first Ukrainian people in this town and at our work place. I had a great opportunity to improve my English in such a way. I spoke only English because I didn't have any other choice. But I'm also happy to say that my fellow workers study Ukrainian to help ease my transition! At first, it was easier for me to speak English than understand. In some weeks I had a little bit of a language shock, when I stopped both understanding and speaking! But everything changed quickly and the language is not a problem at all anymore.

How is the work in the restaurant, what is the salary and expenses?

On the third day after arriving I started to work. I work in a fast food restaurant 40-48 hours a week according to my contract. Managers make the schedule 2 weeks ahead so I can know my work days and make plans. Work hours are very different: it could be an early morning shift or evening hours. It can also depend on the person: I can take 40 hours on and have 2 days off. What about overtime? I've never had it, just regular hours. My wage is the minimum wage approved by the government. I started from 9.75 $/hour, but it's enough to pay for the apartment rent (350-400 $/month), food (120-150 $), clothes, pubs on weekends, gym, cinema and still to have a chance to save money. Having even the minimum wage in Canada allows paying for all your needs and still making savings. This is the main difference between Ukraine and Canada. My work is not so difficult. It includes serving customers, cleaning, dealing with money, but the most important things are to SMILE and to BE FRIENDLY!  

On Christmas time, Easter and summer time we have work parties (Xmas gift, bowling with food and drinks, cinema with popcorn) - these activities are enjoyable. When I just came to Canada, my employer invited me to have Xmas dinner with his family. It was a wonderful and such a memorable day - first Christmas in Canada. I felt like I was in a movie. Decorated houses, lights and candles on the windows, Xmas trees and gifts - it was amazing.

Assistance with adaptation

I still have a lot of questions about my rights in Canada, about work permit, visa, contract, rules... I still often need assistance. And the first one who helps me is ILC. We communicate via Skype with the office in Kiev, with the office in Saskatchewan and every time I get help when I ask for it. It makes me more confident that I am not alone in a foreign country and that I can always have support. My life changed during these 19 months being it Canada. I have got used to many things that were so strange for me before. I am not a resident of this country yet but I have already started the process. Hopefully this time will come soon. My English became fluent. I had a chance to communicate only with Canadians here and had free English classes to improve my skills. I passed my driving exam and I already drive my own car. I changed my place of living for another one that more comfortable and quiet. Well, I started taking some things different, taking them as they are.

Nobody told me that life was easy here and without any problems. Still, if you are ready for big changes, make this step. It doesn't matter where and how you start working. The program for food counter attendants gives an opportunity to come and work in Canada, to make new friends and to achieve your goals. And after that everything is up to you.