About Me – Professor of Canuck Studies
How’s it going, eh?!
It’s Shelli! Thanks for visiting!!!!! I am a Japanese-American valley girl from Los Angeles who works in the film industry in the costume department. In 2009 work sent me to Alberta, Canada for the film “Inception”. That was the moment where I met my Canadian husband Jeff – on top of a snowy, snowy mountain.
I’ll give you a brief explanation for the title of my blog. When Jeff + I were dating – we mostly emailed, texted + talked on the phone since he was in Vancouver + I was in Los Angeles. “Howzitgoineh?” was his usual greeting over the phone – SO CANADIAN!!!!
In the beginning the blog was a way to keep family + friends updated while I was in Hawaii for my wedding. And now it still helps me stay connected to loved ones + keep them up to speed with what’s going on in my life!
I will take you on a journey of my adventures, mishaps + good fortunes, as I make my way around this magical, wacky land called Canada! Join me as I gallivant around Vancouver! Traipse through Alberta! Wander Ontario! Jeff + I are a couple of thrifting, vintage hoarders, so you’ll encounter some of that craziness as well!
We wrangle two half Yankee half Canuck toddlers + they are a hoot! I spend a lot of my time chasing these two around while looking like a hot mess.
It’s been 4 years since I moved to Canada + I am still acclimatizing! Please join me in my attempts as I take a crack at demystifying the Great White North!!!
Love you all!!!
how's it going, eh? 
Nice site.
I was searching for resources in LA for my Canadian Immigration photos when I found your site. I worked with Jeff on Hell on Wheels last summer.
Say hello to him for me.
Gregory Lemkin
VFX Supervisor
WOW!!!! What a small world!!! I will definitely tell Jeff hello! Immigrating to Canada, eh? Good luck! It really is a process, isn’t it? Yes, check out A1 Livescan in downtown Los Angeles – they are really helpful!!! http://www.a1livescan.com/
Re: “being newly wed to a crazy, Canadian muppet.” Why is it that my family is constantly being referenced as Muppets? 🙂
Is that really the case?! Well then, – I’ve married into the right family!!!!!!
Hi Shelli,
My wife and I are going through the exact same thing (I’m a Canadian, she is not.) So your stories are helpful and entertaining. I was wondering though- can you wait to get the medical exam AFTER the application is processed? I have heard two different things, as a friend of mine is also going through the same process as us. His wife didn’t get the exam, and once everything else was cleared with her paperwork, they told her to go get the exam.
Thanks for reading my blog!!! It’s all so confusing, isn’t it?! I’m embarrassed to say that Jeff + I haven’t turned in our paperwork yet! It is really a pain in the butt. That’s really interesting that your friends were told to get the exam after the paperwork was processed. I’ve never heard that one before!!! The doctor sends the results to the immigration processing center + you add your receipt from the doctor into your completed paperwork package. All I know is that the medical exam should be the absolute LAST thing you do – as in all of your paperwork is ready to go. I know this because I’ve jumped the gun + done the medical exam TWICE. Since I’ve taken it twice + I’ve already surpassed the 12 month validity mark since I had my most recent exam, our immigration consultant told me to send in both of my exam receipts anyways. She said it will be up to them once they’ve received our paperwork to decide if I should take a third exam. Does this help??? Post this question on the Road to Canada forums – it is a MAJORLY helpful site!!! http://roadtocanada.com/forums/index.php Good luck + keep me updated!!!!
Hi Shelli,
I came across your site researching FBI Channelers of all things! Love your blog. I’m in the process of sponsoring my wife to Canada (I am a Canadian permanent resident) so your blog is very relevant to my experience! Speaking of FBI Channelers, sounds like that worked out for you? I have heard mixed reports about CIC accepting results from Channelers, since the cannot apostille the results. But I also heard that CIC does not need it. So I was googling to confirm one way or another. Did you have any road bumps using them or was it accepted no problem?
Thanks and looking forward to reading more of your blog! 🙂
Ki
Embarrassingly enough, we have yet to turn in our paperwork ourselves!!! And it’s been past a year since I did my FBI Channeler submission, so that means I had to do it again!!!! But this time I just went ahead + did it through the FBI (still waiting to receive the documents for that). I don’t see anything wrong with Channelers. The agency that recommended the process for me were a legit, reputable company that worked in immigration a lot. But don’t take my word for it!!! It doesn’t hurt to get more opinions on the subject!!! I’m so glad you’re reading my blog!!! There’s so many gray areas when it comes to immigrating to Canada + if we all helped each other out, hopefully it’ll become more clear!!! Thanks for reading!!! Let me know how it goes!
I love the way your blog makes me feel. so I’ve nominated you for a blog award 🙂
http://tkmorin.wordpress.com/awards/
WOW THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!! That is the GREATEST compliment EVER!!!! So sweet, I appreciate it!!!
Hi Shelli! I have been quietly, but thoroughly, enjoying your blog. So, to share your blog with people who visit my blog, I’ve nominated you for the Sunshine Award. I hope you can accept. Either way, you can read about it at http://tkmorin.wordpress.com/awards/ Thanks for keeping us entertained, at the very least! 🙂
Wow! Thanks so much!!! I love your blog so much!!! I learn so much every time I read it!!!
Thank you! Oh, that makes me happy … Appreciated! 🙂
Ah, you live in Vancouver. You get the great weather. My relatives live over there as well on Victoria Island. BTW, I am an immigrant and now a naturalized Canadian. I am happy you commented on my comment and I found your cool blog.
Wow! I hope to get my dual citizenship one day!!! Thanks for coming by my blog!
Howdy, just popped on over from my previous comment about Nanton. Isn’t this interesting? I, too, am an Asian-American who married a Canadian born and raised in Vancouver. Did you get your residency? For me, getting the paperwork together was a longer process than waiting for the PR card. Haha ~M.
YESSSSS!!!! More expat friends!!! Woot!!! So do you guys live in Vancouver? It’s so sad. We JUST turned in our immigration paperwork. It only took….oh about a year + we finally gave in + hired an immigration lawyer to help out. I can’t WAIT for it to all be overrrrr!!!!!
Yes, live in East Van, actually. Wish I had known you sooner… I would’ve helped you with the paperwork and avoided hiring a lawyer. I did it on my own and it was a breeze after the giant mailer went thru the post. Then I got my approval about 6 months later and another couple weeks or so for my PR card.
We live in East Van(ish) as well! We had to hire a lawyer, unfortunately. It’s a loooong story!!! Wow you got your PR card so fast!!!!!! I applied inland which I still can’t decide which is more favorable….
Inland, meaning Canada? Or US? I sent my documentation to the Buffalo location. The Canada website specifically states that applying through US is nearly 3x’s shorter than going through Canada (there’s a chart somewhere in that site). Seeing as I would like my residency earlier than later, I sent it to Buffalo. I think I’d have waited another year had I sent the paperwork to Canada.
Yeah I know it takes longer….I applied inland Canada…my lawyer really urged us to go that route. We need to go get coffee when I get back to Vancouver!
That would be great! When do you return?
Not till September – but let’s keep in touch! It’s so hard to make friends when you’re not allowed to work + you’re new in a city!!!
Hi Shelli. Thought you should know that I dig your blog so much that I’ve nominated you for a Sunshine Award. 🙂 If you don’t accept it you won’t hurt my feelings; I just want you to know how much I appreciate your hard work and your venture into the world of Canuck studies! http://beyondpaisley.net/2013/06/04/sunshine-award-me-awwww/
THAAAAAAANKS!!!! Canuck studies is a wacky, wacky field to be in! I’m going to write a textbook for my university – Great White North University. GWNU!!! I’m going to go find some investors…
Saw your blog name and almost thought you were one local gal (with the pidgin l’dat). The “eh” part threw me off. LOL. Aloha!
Wow! What island are you from??? Thanks for visiting my page! Mahalo!
Thanks for the follow! Great blog–I look forward to spending more time here! :o)
Woohoo! Yay, thanks for reading!!!
Hope it all goes well.
Thank you!
Hi Shelli! I am so glad to have found your blog! Guess what? I am a Canadian who married an American, and now I live in Chicago! *LOL* I am really looking forward to reading about your adventures in Canuckland! 🙂 Cheers, Cher from Chicago! xo
HI! Yay! I’m so glad you found my blog! Thanks for reading!!! Chicago is an amazing city full of art + culture + YUMMY food!!! Lucky!
Hi there! I look forward to reading more and I’m glad to be following you!! Please stop by The Chicago Files anytime and we’ll have to compare notes! 🙂 The food here is the BEST I’ve had anywhere on the planet! *LOL* I was just at the Art Institute today to see an exhibit on………FOOD! *LOL* Have a great weekend, Shelli! Cheers, Cher 🙂
Shelli,
you have definitely not stopped being well, let’s call it “unusual.” Your blog is awesome, your writing amazing.
Haha! I take that as a compliment Professor Baker! How time fliiiiiies!!! So glad to hear from you!!!
um – we’d like to visit your place and maybe buy stuff. But your address is not on here anywhere. Where are you?
Hi thanks for your interest! We live in Vancouver, but we don’t sell from home or have a store front. We are in the process of selling at vintage shows + maybe setting up an ebay + etsy account. I am not sure what you are looking for, but if you need to contact me, email me at howsitgoingehblog@gmail.com. THANK YOU!
Hi Shelli
My name is Lisa and I live in St. Louis, Missouri. Thank you for sharing your journey with all of us Canuck loving people. I would really be interested in your process you took to file for permanent residency in the great white north. I too have a boyfriend that lives in Canada and I’m wanting to move there too but the task is daunting. I am actually leaving next Thursday for my 6th trip in a year to visit my love. Maybe we could connect and chat about your experiences with immigration and the process. I would really appreciate any help from someone who is going through it. It really scares the day lights out of me.
Hi Lisa! Thanks for reaching out! Yes, to be honest it’s a really daunting experience. You can send me an email + we can keep in touch that way! I’ll try + answer as many questions as possible for you!
Hi Shelli,
My husband and I are planning on emigrating from Sherman Oaks, CA (Holla Valley Girls!) and I had quick question about entertainment industry work. I’m a nurse so my job is easy to research (and find) but my hubby is a TV editor, reality shows, talk shows, that sort of thing. Do you think that he would be more likely to find work in Vancouver or Toronto? I can work in either town and while I would absolutely prefer moving to Vancouver (especially North Vancouver, looks perfect for our young family) maybe Toronto is better? Any insight?
Thanks so much! Love the blog, you post such great photos!
Hey Tracey! I would say move to Vancouver because then we could hang out! Haha! There is a crazy ton of film/tv work in Vancouver right now. But in terms of reality + talk shows, Toronto may be a better bet. There isn’t much of that here in Vancouver. But please keep in touch + let me know what you guys decide! North Vancouver is super family friendly + the winters are MUCH milder as opposed to Toronto! Oh, I’ll be in Agoura Hills in December + January – so if you want to meet up to chat about it, email me!
Hi,
Can I just move to Canada as long as I have proof of income, a place to stay and then apply for citizenship while there?
No unfortunately. You’d have to apply for a visa. Either a work visa, or visitor visa, etc. I married a Canadian (so he sponsored me) + it still took me two years to get permanent residency.
Hello Shelli! I’m a college student in Turkey and I was checking immigration details of Canada. Then suddenly I found myself, reading your beautiful memories on this page! I really liked your page! I thought you may give me an advice to move in Canada and where to start. Believe me it’s very difficult to find out where to start sometimes… To be honest, me and my boyfriend really want to move there, find a suitable job in our professions and start a life together. It’s a dream for now but who knows right :)? I’m here to hear your suggestions. I hope you show me at least where to start. Kendine iyi bak 🙂
Thank you so much for your kind words! Here are some helpful websites!
Citizenship + Immigration: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/index.asp
Road to Canada:
http://roadtocanada.com/forums/index.php
My guess would be to apply for work visas? I married a Canadian so he is my “sponsor”, so I went that route. I am no expert, but maybe you could check out the forums on Road to Canada. They are very helpful!!! Good luck!!! Take care!!!
Thank you so much 🙂
Hi
My name is Joyce, I am a marketing executive at expatfinder.com which is a leading expat information and services website.
I saw on your blog that you are and expat. I wish to interview you to further share some of your tips. The questions are mainly about the housing, the daily life etc.
It just takes 5 minutes (or more depending if you have lots to say 🙂
Of course, if you accept we can add a link to your blog or some of your website.
If you are interested to participate at this project, please send me an email at interview@expatfinder.com.
Hi! I love your blog. I understand being from a place where people express themselves openly and then moving to a place where people are more subdued and introverted. Not sure if I’m reading into your blog, but from what I gather you are an expressive person and I know that Canadians place more value on being nice than telling it like it is.
When I moved to Boston I found that the only emotion that was socially acceptable to express, at least publicly, was anger. I HATED it for so long and then I learned to be introverted and just release the my self-expression and joy in private. Being forced to keep to myself more helped me grow spiritually. Instead of constantly discharging my emotions outwardly, I learned to move through them quickly inside, and getting to a place of deep peace and silence, which I discovered is the New England aesthetic.