Sally Redux

And a young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love.

colchar

I just meant that one cannot judge Canada based on experiences in just the GTA.

AB4NOW

I dont think you will ever get over those desires. Construction has defo picked up in the UK. We are going back once my house is sold but its easier for us because we don't have kids. I know I am going to get frustrated at times with British systems etc but I am looking forward to having a life again and not just be existing in Canada. I'm certainly not going to slag off Canada, as we have had a wonderful experience here but I want my British lifestyle again.

withabix

So you've decided to return to the UK rather than stay here and relocate for work if necessary?

What's made you go for that option?

I see you have a preference for England, but then you do live in Alberta, so that's maybe why

Have you considered BC (particularly the Lower Mainland) or even visited? It's like a different country.

scrubbedexpat091

But there is no green, no flowers, and still looks winter even with no snow. That can do a lot to bring a persons mood down still, and the sky appears gray as well.

I suppose I am just used to having green trees and flowers by now..lol




It's possible to be home sick and still like Canada and have a reasonably nice life here. I moved here in 2005, PR in 2006, then when the ex-wife and I split, I couldn't wait to go back home, in my case California and jumped on a plane back in 2009/September, by October 2010, I was back in Canada. Home wasn't the same as it was a few years earlier, friends moved on, family was busy with their kids, and just felt out of place.

Since that brief move back, I don't really feel home sick anymore and Canada well BC has certainly become home.

Just remember that home isn't always what we think it will be when we move back.

AB4NOW

I will send you a message.

Pizzawheel

I like Toronto. There, I said it.

rivingtonpike

I like Toronto too.

Novocastrian

I loved it once and on balance I think I still do. I think it's one of the few places in Canada that has remained (relatively) sane over the last decade or so.

No doubt that will change soon.

bats

I'm getting to like it. The more I see the more I like.

scrubbedexpat091

I just don't like crowded, congested city's, so its the reason I dislike Toronto. I am sure it's a fine city otherwise.

Pizzawheel

Had this same discussion with a colleague just yesterday- he lives way out in the 905 and hates Toronto, I'm the opposite. Both opinions are of course equally valid.

If I had to move out of "core" TO it would have to be Hamilton.

Gozit

+1.
I like Toronto too. Its better than where I currently live (St Thomas), which I don't really like.

Mr Lee

My goodness - I see some things never change on this place, do they!
Poor Scilly getting it in the neck merely for her spacing and overuse of ............

Anyway -
For what it's worth, here's my humble opinion.

Most of us are lulled into coming here following on from trips to see family who already have a well-established life here, and/or holidays which are packed to the brim with exciting days out seeing places that to us parochial Brits seem like some sort of utopia - loads of space, great weather and...well, it's just the land of milk and honey isn't it.

You go back to your boring 9-5 job in Blighty after your 3 week holiday, back under grey suburban skies, driving home through seemingly endless traffic, shuffling home down your narrow streets after the pub, dodging the piles of half eaten kebabs and sick and avoiding eye contact with the gang of scrotes who are always hanging out around number 35 and you're sure he's dealing drugs but the police won't do anything about it so why bother...and you think that Canada clearly has to be better place to be, right?

So you make the move. You spend thousands of pounds moving you and your family halfway across the world and guess what..?

You look forward to using up your 2 weeks of vacation from your REALLY shitty 8-6 job earning half as much as you were back home just to get away from this endless bleeding cold just to go back home and see your friends and family and go to the pub and smell the lush green grass, (that's if your employer will let you take the time off because you may not have earned it), driving home amongst some of the worst drivers you've ever been subjected to being on the same roads as, wishing you could go to a pub here and see some mates but drinking out is so expensive here and the beer's rubbish anyway and besides, WHAT mates, before getting out of your car and noticing that number 35 has some shady characters coming and going at all hours and why are their curtains always closed and what's that strange smell and don't those boys hang around with my son?

You see where I'm going with this? (I hope so, because I'm struggling!).

So much annoys me about this place.

Banking, cellphone companies, drivers, public transport (or lack of), licensing laws, social interaction, the health service, lack of holidays...I could go on!

A lot annoyed me about the UK when I was living there too. I remember when I got on the plane at Manchester Airport in 2006 as we were leaving for good and turning to my (now ex) partner and saying "Let's get the f_ck out of here!"

I'd probably struggle to remember why I didn't want to be there.

The grass didn't turn out to be greener and I, like many others, have come to realise that the Old Country isn't such a bad place after all, but at the end of the day, I've had a bit of an adventure. I've done more than 95% of the people I grew up with have, and have surprised myself with how I've ended up adapting.

To the OP - I know exactly where you're coming from and only you can make a decision as to where your future lies but give yourself a pat on the back for at least trying.

MikeUK

Shorter version..........

same place just different more extreme seasons