Advice on Moving to Canada!?!
 

Hello

I'm 26yrs old and from the uk. I have the chance to study at university in Calgary and then move to okotoks once I'm finished. Most of my family already live in Okotoks & I would stay with them rent free whilst in studying.

My concern is that if I go I won't like it & I'll regret leaving the uk and vice versa if I stay. My mum isn't happy with the idea as she is still here in Uk & my current boyfrend doesn't want to move abroad. I have only ever visited Canada as a holiday to visit my family and im concerned I'm seeing it from a holiday prospective and thinking that the grass is greener on the other side (if that makes sense?)

Now I know no one can make that decision for me, but wondered if anyone had any advice? Has anyone moved and regretted it or moved and loved it?

Thanks!

Re: Advice on Moving to Canada!?!
 

You say you have the 'chance': What programme would you be coming to Canada under?

Re: Advice on Moving to Canada!?!
 

I would come over on a student visa and then apply to stay once I'm finished. My sister has just finished this process and is now living over there permanently. I have already been accepted on the course and just need to do my visa but I'm not 100% decided

Re: Advice on Moving to Canada!?!
 

Okotoks to U of C is quite a trek every day. Include a fair amount in your budget for travelling expenses. You may find that you would be far better off living in student accommodation.

Re: Advice on Moving to Canada!?!
 

If you have the time, come over for 6-8 weeks, and live as a local, i.e. don't treat it as a holiday, e.g. use public transit; grocery shop and cook at home; try commuting from Okotoks to Calgary. And bear in mind that summer commuting is far more predictable than winter commuting.

Re: Advice on Moving to Canada!?!
 

Welcome to BE!

I'm putting a "Mum" hat on, so feel free to ignore me if you like!

How exciting to have the chance to explore living in a new country without the worry of finding accommodation or a job to start with..

Instead of asking yourself "should I" - ask yourself "Why shouldn't I?" What's the first answer that pops into your mind?

Ignoring what family or your boyfriend say, does the thought of attending uni here and staying with the rest of your family for a year or so - with an option to stay permanently if you decided you liked it enough - excite you or fill you with dread?

Have you a yearning to live in Canada for longer than a couple of months?

Boyfriends come and go - and if he is a keeper he'll be happy that you are doing something different with your life and actually want him to be a part of it. If he isn't, doesn't want to even try it (there's an IEC 2 year working holiday visa for under 30's) and is emotionally blackmailing you into not going - laying a guilt trip on you for wanting to - then he's not 'the one'.

Your Mum is scared of losing you to Canada and the rest of the family - so reassure her that she is always going to be your Mum, that you will come and visit her and would love her to come for visits here also. Set her up with Skype (if she doesn't already have it) or Facetime and promise faithfully that you will link up with her a couple of times a week. Tell her it's not a permanent move, you are just trying it out..

Ask yourself this. If you didn't at least try it, would you always wonder "what if" and have regrets?

You're 26 - you have plenty of time to go back to the UK if you decide Canada isn't your cup of tea - but possibly only one opportunity to try Canada to see if it's a good fit.

If you feel you want to - go for it!

:D

http://i1.wp.com/www.youcandoanythin...size=350%2C200

Re: Advice on Moving to Canada!?!
 

No kidding. And as a mature student I'd of thought you'd want to pick an instituton that would be best suited for your area of interest, plus have the best possible ratio of reputation to tuition expense.

Re: Advice on Moving to Canada!?!
 

Do it!

It's only a few years and the snowboarding in Alberta is amazing.

I doubt you'll regret it as you'll either stay after or move back with a lot more experience than just a degree.

Re: Advice on Moving to Canada!?!
 

I would love to come over for 6-8 weeks but unfortunately I work full time and anything I earn now will contribute to any expenses I have when/if I come to Canada.

I love the idea of Canada and skiing / snowboarding but Ive never actually done them so it might turn out I dont like either of them! But it appears Canada has alot more to offer me then the UK does. Alot more experience, adventure and even better things for the future (i.e better housing, schools and nicer people). But I'm concerned if I give up everything I have in the UK for Canada and I hate it, Ill have to start from scratch again if I end up moving back...

Re: Advice on Moving to Canada!?!
 

What are you interested in studying?

Re: Advice on Moving to Canada!?!
 

What question are you actually looking for an answer to? Is the an "is Canada nice?" question or do you have a specific concern? For what it's worth, I think my bit of it is nice. My brother thinks his bit of NZ is nice. My Mum likes her bit of France. My MIL likes her bit of Staffordshire. It's your leap into the unknown. We can't really advise whether a good or bad idea. We can have opinions based on our own experiences but I suspect these would vary so much from one person to another as to be meaningless.


Saying all that - why not give it a go. It's a life experience whatever the long term outcome.

Re: Advice on Moving to Canada!?!
 

Don't look at it as 'giving it all up' to move to Canada, look on it as a couple of years spent somewhere different on your exciting path. Rather than worrying that you will hate it, consider that you might love it! If you don't like it, you can return to the UK with a couple of years of experience of living abroad and a broader outlook on life - and that's not a negative thing.

As mentioned by other posters, what is it that you are concerned about specifically?

:)

Re: Advice on Moving to Canada!?!
 

Think of it at this stage as just coming over to study. Once you finish your studying you can still leave if you don't like and go back to the UK.

In life you have to do what you want to and ignore other people. If you had the chance and didn't do it would you look back later in life and say I wish I had done it? You then have your answer.

Re: Advice on Moving to Canada!?!
 

I moved to Canada nearly thirty years ago. Do I have any regrets? Sure. I miss the history that's all around (if you look) and I left my father behind, but the history doesn't have much impact on my daily life and I have to live my life for myself - not for others. Do I regret moving to Canada? No. It's a great place and I would never move back.

Over the years I've met many Brits who moved to Canada, got homesick after a few years and moved back to the UK. They all subsequently moved back to Canada! They were homesick for the rose-tinted stuff and forgot about the reasons they left the UK in the first place. Once they had a dose of reality they couldn't get back here fast enough.

I'm more concerned that you crave the security of having family nearby. Don't worry about it. It's a handy lifeline, but by the time you graduate you'll have the confidence to go anywhere.

OE

Re: Advice on Moving to Canada!?!
 

Take the chance. If you don't like it, come back!