I've Decided to Stay

I think that this is the second time that I have made a post in this blog saying that I've decided to stay in Canada to start my Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree all over again from scratch. But I am sure of my decision this time as the College & Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CARNA) has replied to my letter asking them for an opinion.

Well CARNA didn't really give me an opinion as to whether I should go back to the Philippines or stay here in Canada but they did inform me that I cannot challenge or write the Canadian Registered Nurse Examination without them assessing my eligibility and credibility and it will still require some course work.

So I decided to stay in Canada so that I will be familiarized with the Alberta Health Care System as well as the SOP's of the hospitals and clinics here in Edmonton as I do plan on staying and working here in Edmonton in the future.

So to all those who have shared their ideas and helped me on make a decision, I thank you all!!!

Hello Spring!

Goodbye winter and hello spring! Just as the ice melts to welcome the beautiful greenery and life of spring, it's only natural for us to get rid of our bulky and heavy winter coats and get ourselves a new set of spring wardrobe!

I'm usually loyal to a specific brand of clothes because I know that their line of clothes and accessories matches my personality and style. I'm usually for the formal and professional look clothes but I guess I want to re-invent my self and try something a bit exciting and new. I want to enjoy the last days of my youth and just be carefree and adventurous and Lucky Brand just make this personal statement stand out and be heard!

Their clothes are fun and completely spells out rock 'n roll! Their line of clothes emphasize being youthful and not being limited by rules so you can be who ever you want to be.

They say that the way you dress and how you appear tells something about who you are. So why not tell the world that you are young, fun-loving, and unstoppable! Tell it with Lucky Brand.

Downsizing

Downsizing is the ‘conscious use of permanent personnel reductions in an attempt to improve efficiency and/or effectiveness’

With the economy being unstable these days and with future expenses that will arise when I go back to study it had made me re-examine my life especially my finances. I had realized that I have been wasteful with my money indeed. When I was making my income tax return for 2008 I was intrigued when I had earned around $10,000 but then the actual money that I have in the bank is not even close to 10% of that.

Sure we just moved here in Canada last year in the middle of the year so I had to help my parents out by buying some furniture for the apartment and some other things like food and clothes. But still I feel that I have wasted money on some other things like buying some random stuff online.

I sometimes wonder if this is why some people get into so much debt in the first place. It is so easy to get hold of financing and credit if you have good credit rating that's why people just buy and buy even if they don't really need it thinking that it only would cost them a couple of dollars with their installment plan or buy now pay next year scenarios.

It will only be 5 months until I go back to school and it's just right that I cut my spending and save all of my earnings in the bank because I can't expect my parents to contribute a lot to my education because they would still have to pay for our car and our new house if our plans to buy a new house push through this year.

Canada's Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, said that Canada will get through this temporary recession and I guess I could trust him and his words because the Canadian Government has put through an excellent economic action plan. But still, I hope that my parents won't get laid off since if ever this happens, even the Employment Insurance will not cover our expenses. Well my mom works for the Government so she would unlikely be laid off but again she only works temporary for the Government. She's still waiting to be hired full time at another City department.

So here are the steps that I have planned and will implement to downsize and even earn more money:

>Spend money ONLY on things that are NECESSARY
>Canceled my order of a laptop that I bought online for $1,600 realizing that it's too expensive and it's too bulky and heavy for university.
>Instead of buying an iPhone, I negotiated with my mom that I'll use her iPhone and exchange it with my iPod and cellphone.
>I will take a sponsored post each day.

I'm also thinking of getting a second job but I don't think it's feasible. I just hope that everything turns out well.

Should I Go Back to the Philippines?

I am faced with a huge dilemma and can't decide what to do with my life. I have two options and choosing one would significantly alter my life. Well I did already alter my life by deciding not to finish my nursing program back in the Philippines to come here in Canada and frankly I'm not sure whether I made the right decision or not.

So I have two options which will dictate how my future would turn out and these are either to go back to the Philippines to finish the last year of my Bachelor of Science in Nursing or to stay here in Canada where I will have to start my whole degree from scratch.

So here are the pros and cons:

Going Back to the Philippines
PROS	CONS
I will finish my degree faster.	I am not confident that I can remember everything I learned.
Education in the Philippines is cheaper.	I already got rid of my books and notes which I know will be needed for my classes.
I will not have debts to pay after school.	Being alienated by my new classmates as they have already known each other since they started the program.
Commuting to the hospitals is easier.	I have to wash my own clothes by hand, budget my money, and look for a clean place to eat.
I am familiar with the settings in the Philippines.	I am not sure that I will get a job here in Canada as an RN but only as an LPN.
Independence from parents and increase in allowance.

Staying In Canada
PROS	CONS
I will start a-new and I won’t have to worry about the professor saying things like, “...as you have learned from last sem...”	EXPENSIVE!!! VERY EXPENSIVE!!!
Better education and what I learn and experience is exactly what will be done. Theory and practice will actually meet.	I have to get a car (partly-pros) and drive to far-flung hospitals (40 minutes away) for my clinical exposure.
I will get a job easier since I graduated from a recognized Canadian institution.	When I graduate from school I will already have debt to pay (student loan).
A chance to study in a Canadian University and be able to meet new people.	By the time I graduate I will already be 24 years old!!!
Getting acquainted with the way the health system in Alberta, Canada works because this is where I will eventually end up working.	If ever I fail, I will have to wait for another year and can’t transfer to other institutions as easy as transferring from Xavier to Liceo.

I really need help in deciding. I know that the decision is really up to me but being able to listen to other people's opinion will really be helpful.

Car Insurance: Knowing That We Are in Safe Hands

I may not be a mathematician or a statistician but by the way my dad is driving and at the rate he gets our car chipped, scratched, and almost hit head-on with other cars I calculate or even predict the probable lifespan of our brand new car... 1 month or less?

I feel like I'm a parent of an inexperienced teenage driver borrowing my car for a night out, and it's very nerve-wracking. That's why I feel better and I am able to sleep better at night knowing that we have car insurance. I can't possibly imagine how devastating it would be and how much strain it would cause to our finances if ever the dreaded fender bender or worst happens.

But I'm not really happy with our current car insurance provider so I looked around the net and I found the very promising Autonet Van Insurance.

Unlike our current insurance provider, Autonet Insurance has an insurance policy that is custom-built around you that meets your needs at a low unbeatable price. You can customize what your insurance covers from only third party , third party plus theft coverage, or the all around comprehensive coverage which has third party liability and theft coverage plus a personal accident benefit for your own injuries or death.

With Autonet Insurance not only do you know you are in safe hands, you will also have enough money for your own personal needs and wants. This is because Autonet will give you a refund of any premium paid once you show them that there is another car insurance that provides a cheaper quotation. Like come on! What other car insurance provider does that? Only Autonet Insurance.