About Me

Moving to Canada has been an exciting yet challenging journey for me as I try to adjust to a new lifestyle, different culture, and cold weather.

When my now husband John asked me to visit him in July of 2014, the plan was to spend the entire summer with him and then head back to Manila.

At that time, I was working at one of the leading newspapers in the country and had just received permission from my boss to go on a two-month vacation.

But things changed when I officially moved to Canada on the 20th of July of that year. I thought 60 days were all I needed, but I was wrong.

As you spend more and more time with a special person, it becomes clear that a few weeks or a few months are not nearly enough to get to know them.

Days have passed by so fast, and my vacation was closing in. The thought of having to return home and leave John behind made me dread opening my inbox, because I might find my boss’ e-mail asking when I was coming back.

I loved my job, but the relationship with John was even more important. He told me that he wasn’t ready to send me back yet!

Because of all those reasons, I had to ask my older sisters’ opinion and advice about the situation. They gave me their blessing and supported my decision to stay here with John.

After weeks of thought and consideration, I decided to quit my job. It was a just decision but not an easy one. Never in 38 years had I made such a big change.

So, with a heavy heart, I e-mailed the resignation letter to my boss at the end of September 2014. It wasn’t easy, because it’s not just the job that I loved so much that I had to give up; I left my home and all my family and friends to live in a country which I know little about.

But John made me feel comfortable enough with this new path to take it. If it weren’t for his dedication to me, I wouldn’t have taken a chance on making a new life with him in a country so different from my own.

Nonetheless, this beautiful country is worth its rewards and hardships.

My name is Layla.

I want to share my journey as an immigrant to Canada—one story at a time! Let’s connect!

#ImmigrantStories #JourneyToSuccess #CanadianDreams #immigrantlife