Originally Posted by Tiaribbon

I honestly do think that if you try to look at emigrating as just moving, then it really isn't such a big deal - if you look at it as a "dream" you may end up in a nightmare! Don't put Canada on a pedestal - just accept her for what she is = just somewhere else to live.

Originally Posted by Tiaribbon

Dream? I'd hardly call it a dream. But I guess it depends on what you mean by dream. Life for me in Canada is almost identical to my life in the UK. I loved living in the UK and I love living in Canada. There are some differences but no more so than if you were to move to a different area of the UK.

The weather and the bugs are probably the biggest difference. The summers are possibly too hot (I can't believe I said that as I am a sunworshipper!!), the bugs are incessant but you do get used to them surprisingly. The winters are absolutely glorious!! I love the winters - dress correctly and you will love it too.......to wake up to blue skies and beautiful sunshine almost EVERY single morning in winter is just fabulous!!! Spring is a lovely season because it comes and goes sooooo quickly - changes appear literally before your eyes. Autumn/Fall is spectacular. I love the 4 seasons here.

We have always lived in small communities in the UK and have always been welcomed; as we have been welcomed here in Canada.

We used to have friends call in to see us unannounced in the UK if they were passing; the same happens here in Canada.

Money is harder to come by over here - or maybe not, thinking about it we had 2 very healthy incomes in the UK and only one now - still surviving and as our business is really summer orientated it should pull in far more income through the summer months than it did in the winter months, although the winter months weren't too bad surprisingly.

Our 9 year old daughter does miss her brothers and her Grandparents, however they have all been out to stay with us here in Ontario and everyone who has come out here has completely and utterly understood why we have done what we have done and love the area and our property as much as we do. My daughter has settled into school well, although the education system here is seriously substandard to the level she was being taught at in England. Having said that, she does enjoy school here - I think the laid back approach and the easiness of it all suits her, LOL!! She has as many friends here as she had in England and after a year and a half of living here, she has just recently been saying that she thinks she likes Canada better although she does still have wonderful memories of England.

Our life is not settled yet though as I live here with my daughter and my husband still lives in the UK. This has worked well but we both look forward to him being out here permanently hopefully by the end of this year. My husband dislikes returning to the UK, not because he dislikes the UK, but because he feels his home is here now. I can understand that, as I would hate to do this commute too.

We have many very good friends here - actually terrific friends; but again no better or worse than the wonderful friends we still have in England.

I honestly do think that if you try to look at emigrating as just moving, then it really isn't such a big deal - if you look at it as a "dream" you may end up in a nightmare! Don't put Canada on a pedestal - just accept her for what she is = just somewhere else to live.

Originally Posted by Tiaribbon

I honestly do think that if you try to look at emigrating as just moving, then it really isn't such a big deal - if you look at it as a "dream" you may end up in a nightmare! Don't put Canada on a pedestal - just accept her for what she is = just somewhere else to live.

Originally Posted by reddeb32

As a country, however, Canada definitely seems to offer a structure that would suit us - we would love the community feel and the friendships offered, not to mention the lovely surroundings in many places. Much of what has been mentioned within this thread appeals to us.

Originally Posted by MikeUK

Canada is not the place to be poor…

Originally Posted by MikeUK

we’re still close to the bottom of the G8 nations

Canada is not the place to be poor…

Originally Posted by SANDRAPAUL

No where is nice to be poor.

But at least in the UK as a national one can sit on ones arse if need be.

Originally Posted by Craftybanshee

Which part of the UK are you specifcally describing with your comments? Tarring it all with the same brush I suspect. You don't mention where you're living now. No country is perfect and I'm offended at your slagging off of the UK. I no longer live in London (moved away a decade ago) but have just spent a weekend there and had no trouble with the public transport system. We didn't have to wait for longer than a couple of minutes for a tube and got around the city with ease.

I didn't like your post and find you a rather patronising person but then to quote you "No doubt many here will want to defend their homeland and take exception to that paragraph, but remember, it is MY perception. You don't have to agree with it but you cannot change it. So don't waste your time." I'm so glad you left the UK 'cos we can do without ignorant persons such as you!

Originally Posted by Piff Poff

We moved from the UK last year for many of the reasons stated by Athome, we lived in Bedfordshire and were unhappy with the way kids behaved, the levels of education and childcare facilities, the bus service was pathetic (I worked 20 mins from our town, it would have taken 2 hrs to get to work if I had to take a bus!), we were in the commuter belt for London so trains to London were fairly frequent, but crowded and dirty. We wouldn't walk 'down the town' after dark (9pmish) because of all the drunks spitting and swearing and generally being a nuisance, cars would race up and down our street at all hours with music blaring (we didn't live on a main road by any means). We now live in a city five times the size of the small market town we moved from, it's clean, the kids are polite, you don't see drunken yobs every where (and there are some in downtown). My daughter sometimes misses her friends but ask her if she wants to go back and the answer is always NO WAY!

Originally Posted by batty-x-ray

We also live in a small market town in bedfordshire in the london commuter belt, and i understand exactly what you are saying piff poff

Originally Posted by karen wild

athome,
i many ways i agree with you and my gran is from cuba, lived in jamaica then has been here since the fifties. my mum came from jamaica in 1961. the uk had no pull factors for them, but jamaica certainly gave them push ones!!
but they were young enopugh to make mistakes, get jobs and build themselves up over many years. i do not have that sort of time!
for me i no longer have to worry about healthcare eligibility, professional exams for both nursing and social work, no worries about having a weak currency but never being able to afford to fly and spend when i come back to the u.k, no GST/PST issues,having no canadian experience,and asking constantly on this forum whether a 10 dollar a hour job will be enough to live in canada.
but for the boys i am sad about it all and i think it would be a great opportunity for them but not for me.

Originally Posted by 1066

Hi Karen,

Ignore this if you like .. just me being nosy, but have CIC returned your money yet? Just curious, 'cos I might be asking for mine back, too, and wondered how long it takes ...

Originally Posted by karen wild

not received it as yet. apparently it takes 3-6 months.
it was funny coz mr miller was adamant about only getting back the ROLF only. when i typed in the email that i got from CIC (verbatim) he retracted his statement and talked about visa post or summat and that it was perhaps possible to get all fees back. i am sure he will contradict me when he sees this post.
are u seriuosly considering pulling out.
write to them first to ask about retraction, then wait for them to contact u.
they were probably grateful someone has withdrawn instead of submitting.
karen