Three Educational Resources to Take Advantage of When Moving to the United States
Although it’s usually an incredibly rewarding experience, Moving to the U.S. can also be an arduous process. One thing you can do to get yourself adjusted to the cultural changes and perhaps speed up the citizenship process is research educational institutions that cater to working immigrants. Here are three educational resources that can point you in the right direction.
Literacy Information and Communication System
The Literacy Information and Communication System (LINCS) website can direct you to a useful tool known as America’s Literacy Directory, which allows you to type in your location and helps you determine where to sign up for necessary classes. The directory offers results that can help you read and write, study for the GED program, obtain citizenship education or learn English as a second language.
The University of Texas at Dallas
If your primary reason for moving to the U.S. is receiving a college degree, you should consider speeding up the process by applying to the University of Texas at Dallas. This school offers a wide variety of degrees, and it’s located in a city that has some lenient immigration policies. According to The Dallas Morning News, the state of Texas spent $33.6 million for in-state and institutional financial aid to immigrant students, legal or illegal, between 2004 and 2008.
Driver’s Education
Even though you likely know how to operate a motor vehicle, you must become familiar with the local state traffic laws and basic traffic patterns because these are almost always different in every country. You can refer to the Driver’s Ed website to take all the coursework online and prepare yourself for the driving test at your nearest DMV facility. Once these steps are taken, it might be much easier for you to commute on your own time and find suitable employment.
Allied Van Lines Announces 2011 Agent Awards
Vancouver-Based Quality Move Management Earns Two Top Awards
Allied Van Lines Inc., one of the world’s largest moving companies and a subsidiary of SIRVA Inc., announced that Quality Move Management Inc. received two top awards at its US Operations Conference held in Lombard, IL. The Canadian-based firm was named the 2011 Cross Border Agent of the Year, and was also recognized as the 2011 Safety Agent of the Year.
For the fifth year in a row, Quality Move Management earned the prestigious Allied Cross Border Agent of the Year award, which recognizes the agency with the highest volume of US-Canada cross-border tonnage, among more than 400 Allied Van Lines agents in North America. Hauling over 6.5 million pounds across the border in 2011, up 20% from 2010 levels, QMM achieved a quality score of 4.63 (out of a possible 5.0), placing them in the “Excellent” category of agents.
“Once again, Quality Move Management continues to set the standard for our cross border agents,” said Bill Lyon, Vice President and General Manager of Allied Van Lines. “Being recognized multiple times for both awards is indicative of a culture that can successfully perform at the highest level.”
“Even though we moved the equivalent of 300 truckloads across the border in 2011, our goal was do it safely and securely,” said Quality Move Management President & CEO Kevin St. George. “Winning these awards multiple years is a testament not only to the quality of our leadership but also to everyone on our team who contributed with their passion for excellence.”
Quality Move Management Inc. has offices and warehouses in Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton and specializes in corporate moving services as well as local and long-distance consumer moving. For more information about Quality Move Management, visit www.QMM.com.
For additional information, please contact Shelby Slater by e-mail at sslater@qmm.com or by phone at 604-523-3752.
About Allied Van Lines
Established in 1928, Allied Van Lines, with more than 400 agent locations in North America, is an experienced leader in household goods moving and specialized transportation services. Allied is one of the world’s largest moving companies and one of the established global brands of SIRVA, Inc., a leader in providing relocation services to corporations, consumers and governments around the world. For more information about Allied Van Lines, visit www.allied.com. Allied Van Lines, Inc., U.S. DOT No. 076235
About SIRVA, Inc.
SIRVA, Inc. is a leading provider of relocation solutions to a well-established and diverse customer base around the world. The Company handles all aspects of relocation, including home purchase and home sale services, household goods moving, mortgage services, and home closing and settlement services. SIRVA conducts more than 300,000 relocations per year, transferring corporate and government employees in addition to individual consumers. SIRVA’s well-recognized brands include Allied, Allied International, Allied Pickfords, Allied Special Products, DJK Residential, Global, northAmerican, northAmerican International, SIRVA Mortgage, SIRVA Move Management, SIRVA Relocation and SIRVA Settlement. More information about SIRVA can be found on the Company’s Web site at http://www.sirva.com.
Four Attractions in Montreal That Will Ease the Transition of Cross Border Moving
Montreal, which is in the province of Quebec, Canada, is one of the most culturally-diverse cities in the region with both English and French heritage. If you have your sights set on Montreal, consider doing some research on four local attractions that can make the prospect of Cross Border Moving a little easier for your family.
1. Old Montreal is a district in the heart of the downtown area that’s home to numerous architectural restorations, preserved shops and boutiques, as well as swanky hotels that have thrived since the city’s founding. There are also a number of museums, exhibitions and community events that can teach your family about Montreal’s culture.
2. Montreal is located between two of the most impressive waterfalls in the region. Niagara Falls, one of the world’s most awe-inspiring natural wonders that borders the United States near the town of Buffalo, New York, is a spectacle that everyone should see at least once in their lifetime. On the other hand, if you’d rather travel a little closer to home, the towering waterfalls of Parc de la Chute-Montmorency is about an hour or two northeast of Montreal, just a few minutes from Old Quebec.
3. Notre-Dame Basilica is one of Montreal’s most renowned historic landmarks, boasting a gothic exterior and spectacular stained glass murals on the interior. Since this building was constructed in 1656, your family will likely appreciate the mind-boggling craftsmanship.
4. Whether you want to simply enjoy local scenery or indulge in activities like cross-country skiing and fishing, Mont Saint Bruno is merely 30 minutes northeast of downtown Montreal. During the spring months there are hundreds of unique species of flowers and trees that bloom along the massive network of nature trails.
Spring in Edmonton: 5 Ways to Stay Fit
Cross border moving can be stressful, and often exercise is the first thing to go out the window. When you arrive in Edmonton, you will find that there are many options for getting out and getting fit. Here are five great ways to start your fitness goals.
The North Saskatchewan River is a recreation spot for all the locals. In the spring, you can canoe and kayak, and while you are there get in a little fishing. Make a day of it with the family. Pack a picnic. Don’t forget to keep belongings in waterproof containers!
The river valley in Edmonton is lovely, and perfect for biking, walking, and jogging. Edmonton has over 100 miles of maintained multi-use trails. The parks department keeps them clean and debris-free, so that you can get along with ease.
If you are more of an indoor person, try the Kinsmen Sports Centre. Located in the river valley, minutes away from downtown, it’s Edmonton’s best multi-purpose sports facility. There are indoor and outdoor pools, two indoor tracks, two fitness centers, courts for squash, racquetball and walleyball, and a field house for badminton, tennis, volleyball, and more.
If you are more of the graceful type, sign up for dance classes at Foot Notes Dance Studio. They teach courses in American style ballroom, Latin dance for beginners, country and swing, and the argentine tango. If you want more cardio, they have a fitness dance program that includes belly dancing!
The best way to keep fit is to join a group. Try the Edmonton Hikers Meetup Group. They are dedicated to keeping active by hiking together. Go with them into the Rockies for a big adventure, or stay in Edmonton and experience the recreational areas around the city. Just sign up to participate.
After cross border moving, you will have plenty of options for keeping fit, and they will help you get out into your new city and meet your fellow Edmonton residents.
(Photo attributed to Flickr member @C.G.P. Grey via the creative common license)
5 Steps Towards Easy Spring Cleaning
Moving to the U.S. is a large undertaking, and organizing a new home is an equally large task. If you have been settled for several seasons, it may be time to think about spring cleaning. Here are five easy steps to get you started:
1. Start off with a thorough de-cluttering. Look at all the surfaces and make tough decisions about what really needs to be there. Go through the linen closet, the hall closet, and other places where junk hides. Think about donating items you no longer use.
2. Start at the top. Take a broom and stick a sock on the handle. Go room to room dusting corners and taking down cobwebs. Use the brush attachment of your vacuum cleaner to suck up dust on heating vents, draperies, and windowsills. Work your way down the walls, over the furniture, and to the floors and baseboards.
3. Now is the time to actually move the sofa, beds, and other heavy furniture. Pull items from their place and vacuum the floor. Wipe the baseboards behind beds and sofas.
4. You have two options, doing one room at a time, or doing the same task in all the rooms, task after task. The benefit to the latter is that you will have the tools out that you need. Also, you will be focused on washing rugs, dusting plants, etc., and things might go more quickly.
5. Engage the whole family. Assign someone to the garage, shed, and yard. Have them also start with de-cluttering and donating unused items. This person might also be willing to wash the outside of the windows.
After moving to the U.S., spring cleaning will seem like small potatoes. Make a plan and attack your dust bunnies with gusto.
(Photo attribute to Flickr member @nimbupan via the creative common license)
