Has anyone migrated without ever having been to Canada before?
Jul 29th 2014, 10:29 pm
#31
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Re: Has anyone migrated without ever having been to Canada before?
We came out for a week, but that was only just to make sure we had a clue where we would be living.
Before we decided to emigrate, we had never had the desire or even discussed leaving the UK, decided in a 2 min chat that we should go somewhere, decided on Canada, then BC. Went to an emigratrion show, the OH got offered an interview, got the job. sold the house and off we went.
We had no idea what Canada was actually like, or how things worked. Just decided to have an adventure and we are still enjoying that adventure nearly 6 years later.
Before we decided to emigrate, we had never had the desire or even discussed leaving the UK, decided in a 2 min chat that we should go somewhere, decided on Canada, then BC. Went to an emigratrion show, the OH got offered an interview, got the job. sold the house and off we went.
We had no idea what Canada was actually like, or how things worked. Just decided to have an adventure and we are still enjoying that adventure nearly 6 years later.
Jul 30th 2014, 3:02 pm
#32
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Location: London
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Re: Has anyone migrated without ever having been to Canada before?
Hi Perpetual!
I hope you're not crazy because that would mean that I am too!
My husband has been offered a job in Toronto, we're moving soon, with our kids...and i've never set foot in Canada before either!
I'm excited more than anything but creeping doubts do come into my mind on occasion thinking that I must be completely mad to blindly move to Canada but life is an adventure and you only live once so why not?!
I hope you're not crazy because that would mean that I am too!
My husband has been offered a job in Toronto, we're moving soon, with our kids...and i've never set foot in Canada before either!
I'm excited more than anything but creeping doubts do come into my mind on occasion thinking that I must be completely mad to blindly move to Canada but life is an adventure and you only live once so why not?!
Aug 2nd 2014, 3:01 am
#34
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Location: Whitby, Ontario
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Re: Has anyone migrated without ever having been to Canada before?
Coming back to Aus was kind of like that, one of us hating it and the other not so much initially - I always hated Sydney and never wanted to live there, but I agreed to live there when moving back because my husband had liked it when he'd visited and was miserable at the thought of Melbourne which he'd never liked as a visitor. And I regret it, agreeing to move to Sydney, because it was the wrong choice for all concerned. I did try to appreciate it, make a life there, get over my bias, but in the end my husband came to a similar conclusion about it and I was able to start thinking of where else we might go. Pretty much the moment we agreed to move to Melbourne and put the wheels in motion, we began talking about leaving Australia all together!
seems silly but yeah, we realised fairly quickly that there are some things about this country that we'll never be able to cope with. And if we don't try somewhere new now, we may regret it.
Aug 2nd 2014, 3:13 am
#35
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Location: Whitby, Ontario
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Re: Has anyone migrated without ever having been to Canada before?
Ontario's not on the east coast, it's geographically Central Canada, in the Eastern Time Zone, mind you, but nowhere near the ocean. Halifax or St. John's would put you on the east coast, if the ocean's what you're looking for. To put it into perspective, Boston's about a 9 hour hour drive away from Toronto. Halifax would be closer to 17 hours away from Toronto. Ontario has a lot of lakes of course, so it doesn't feel landlocked.
One discussion that came up in another thread recently was how you shouldn't let proximity to the UK be a major factor in where you move to in Canada. Factors such as climate (ie: how many months of subzero temperatures you'll realistically experience, the month when you start to see greenery on the trees for the first time since September... February or May... or June?), geography (mountains, ocean, prairie - how many hours or days you'll have to drive to see mountains, ocean, or prairies, or a change in geography), growing season (gardening from May-September, or year round?), humidity (or lack thereof), local urban culture (liberal? conservative? old fashioned?), public transportation options, walkability, population density, etc. will play a larger role on your life day to day.
Flights from Calgary and Vancouver to the UK, for example, only add two more hours than a flight from Toronto, as they fly over the Arctic. From what I understand, flights from the east coast communities aren't as frequent because there's less demand, and therefore flights can be more expensive, or require you to fly west first before heading east over the Atlantic.
Not to put a damper on your spirit, because I think you've got the right attitude, but these are factors that, based on observations here, many expats don't even consider, but are factors that are crucial to setting expectations and whether you'll settle in Canada. Canada and Australia are two countries that are very much alike, if you think about it. They both have vast barren landscapes with extreme climates, with a natural resource industry at the core of its vast hinterland (and all the unsophisticated culture , to British Expats eyes, that come with), and small pockets of urban populations tenuously connected, separated geographically at a continental scale.
Flights from Calgary and Vancouver to the UK, for example, only add two more hours than a flight from Toronto, as they fly over the Arctic. From what I understand, flights from the east coast communities aren't as frequent because there's less demand, and therefore flights can be more expensive, or require you to fly west first before heading east over the Atlantic.
Not to put a damper on your spirit, because I think you've got the right attitude, but these are factors that, based on observations here, many expats don't even consider, but are factors that are crucial to setting expectations and whether you'll settle in Canada. Canada and Australia are two countries that are very much alike, if you think about it. They both have vast barren landscapes with extreme climates, with a natural resource industry at the core of its vast hinterland (and all the unsophisticated culture , to British Expats eyes, that come with), and small pockets of urban populations tenuously connected, separated geographically at a continental scale.
We don't really need the ocean, mountains are more our thing. We are winter/cold weather people. Anything above about 25-27 degrees (C) is just too hot for me, does nothing for me at all. I grew up in Canberra where it does get cold (ish - not to the extent of anything in Canada!). It's kind of like London I guess, in winter time. Plenty of frosts most of the winter, regularly about -5 to -10 overnight, single digits during the day. The difference though, is that it's not grey like London can be, it's big blue skies, crisp air, biting cheek-reddening cold, just lovely. Weather like that feeds my soul, and I think my husband feels the same way. My ideal is to be in a community type setting, but I realise this is something to work towards and the first steps are to actually get there! There's no substitute for actually living in a place, as lots of others here have pointed out.
Aug 2nd 2014, 3:24 am
#36
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Location: Whitby, Ontario
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Re: Has anyone migrated without ever having been to Canada before?
Hi Perpetual!
I hope you're not crazy because that would mean that I am too!
My husband has been offered a job in Toronto, we're moving soon, with our kids...and i've never set foot in Canada before either!
I'm excited more than anything but creeping doubts do come into my mind on occasion thinking that I must be completely mad to blindly move to Canada but life is an adventure and you only live once so why not?!
I hope you're not crazy because that would mean that I am too!
My husband has been offered a job in Toronto, we're moving soon, with our kids...and i've never set foot in Canada before either!
I'm excited more than anything but creeping doubts do come into my mind on occasion thinking that I must be completely mad to blindly move to Canada but life is an adventure and you only live once so why not?!
Good to know someone is feeling similarly! Although having a job is at least a little more secure! Absolutely agree, you only live once, may as well just get on and give it a go.Oh, I forgot to grab the quote (it's been a while since I've used forums so I'm a bit rusty with all the technical bits) but someone mentioned money. We are in a sort of decent situation with this because we sold our house in Canberra before coming to Melbourne so have a little bit of money sitting in the bank from that, plus we have a very new car that we'd sell before we go which will add nicely to that. So we aren't going with no money at all. But I think for my husband it's going to be tricky finding a job as he's not a specialist or anything. We plan to use what money we have to finance the study and pay rent in advance, that way we can have some time to find a job and get some money coming in. I figure once I get my masters I'll be in a better position to get decent work too.
Hey thanks everyone for such brilliant responses, I have so much to think about and you're all so helpful!
Aug 2nd 2014, 6:00 pm
#37
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Re: Has anyone migrated without ever having been to Canada before?
In my opinion, the only thing you'll gain by moving from Oz to Canada is much longer/colder winters. Have to admit, the prospect of snowy winters appealed to me at first, but trust me, after you're first or second, it's a much more depressing thought.
Culturally, there's not much difference. It's still a pain in the arse for family to visit. Job prospects are very similar.
If you're missing the trappings of living in the UK, Canada doesnt offer it.
Good luck in your decision.
Culturally, there's not much difference. It's still a pain in the arse for family to visit. Job prospects are very similar.
If you're missing the trappings of living in the UK, Canada doesnt offer it.
Good luck in your decision.
Aug 4th 2014, 1:55 am
#38
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Joined: Aug 2009
Location: BC
Posts: 2,715
Re: Has anyone migrated without ever having been to Canada before?
We had a holiday here.
It didn't help us understand what life here would be like.
OH came out to work on TWP first, while I stayed put.
I would recommend that to anyone who can stand being apart for a while.
It just helps you know that the job is what you expected, that the place you have chosen to live is what you want, to check out the house prices and standard of living stuff and to just get the feel of living here rather than holidaying.
It is a low risk strategy. If the job doesn't work out, or looks dodgy, or the environment just doesn't suit, you haven't burned your bridges.
I agree with everyone who says that a trip over isn't really going to tell you if it will suit you long term. If you are fine about going back after a year, and can afford that, then why not just come and see what you think?
It didn't help us understand what life here would be like.
OH came out to work on TWP first, while I stayed put.
I would recommend that to anyone who can stand being apart for a while.
It just helps you know that the job is what you expected, that the place you have chosen to live is what you want, to check out the house prices and standard of living stuff and to just get the feel of living here rather than holidaying.
It is a low risk strategy. If the job doesn't work out, or looks dodgy, or the environment just doesn't suit, you haven't burned your bridges.
I agree with everyone who says that a trip over isn't really going to tell you if it will suit you long term. If you are fine about going back after a year, and can afford that, then why not just come and see what you think?
Aug 7th 2014, 11:00 pm
#39
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Joined: Feb 2013
Location: Manchester
Posts: 32
Re: Has anyone migrated without ever having been to Canada before?
We're coming to Toronto (hopefully in Jan) & I've never visited. My hubby works for GE in the Uk, so we're hopefully moving to Oakville to be near their Mississauga office. We're lucky that work has given us the opportunity & I reckon however bad the winters, it's got to be better than all the grey drizzly days in Manchester!
Good Luck!
Good Luck!
Aug 7th 2014, 11:43 pm
#40
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Re: Has anyone migrated without ever having been to Canada before?
We're coming to Toronto (hopefully in Jan) & I've never visited. My hubby works for GE in the Uk, so we're hopefully moving to Oakville to be near their Mississauga office. We're lucky that work has given us the opportunity & I reckon however bad the winters, it's got to be better than all the grey drizzly days in Manchester!
Good Luck!
Good Luck!
Aug 8th 2014, 1:28 am
#41
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Re: Has anyone migrated without ever having been to Canada before?
Oakville/Mississauge generally do not have too severe winters. Last winter in Southern Ontario was a exception to the norm just as the previous two were in the UK. Both are close to Lake Ontario which helps with the climate/temperature. Probably only one winter in 10 can be considered a bad one and even that's subjective.
I'd much prefer a UK winter over this snow bullshit!
Aug 8th 2014, 1:51 am
#42
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Aug 8th 2014, 2:08 am
#43
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Re: Has anyone migrated without ever having been to Canada before?
Admittedly 0 but i'd prefer rain and above freezing temps to snow and below freezing anyday! As well as europe on me doorstep for cheap holidays when i do tire of the rain
Aug 8th 2014, 2:19 am
#44
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Re: Has anyone migrated without ever having been to Canada before?
The trouble with the rain in the UK and the temperatures there is that they have a knack of freezing you to the bone... I've felt much colder at around 1 or 2 degrees in the UK than - 20 here!!!!
Aug 8th 2014, 4:15 am
#45
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Re: Has anyone migrated without ever having been to Canada before?