Help I hate it here!!!
Oct 20th 2011, 1:26 am
#31
BE user by choice
Joined: Oct 2010
Location: A Briton, married to a Canadian, now in Fredericton.
Posts: 4,854
Re: Help I hate it here!!!
What exactly do you hate? There are thousands, quite literally, who would love to be in your shoes.... I AM in your shoes, and I don't find ALL of Canada delightful, but nowhere is all delightful, and lots and most of it is scary and different. Why did you come? It has taken you some amount of effort to arrive, so have a quick think about what it was that stirred you to take the effort? Could you just 'forget' about living here, and just mentally set aside a week or ten days to holiday and see what you think at the end of it? Best of luck. Xxx
Oct 20th 2011, 11:56 am
#32
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 889
Re: Help I hate it here!!!
I disagree with this as someone that lives there.
The Glebe is a great example of a highly liveable north American neighbourhood - walk or bike to everything, shops, bars etc., parks, access to canal, historic attractive homes, plenty of trees, great local community centre, library, other services, walk to work downtown etc.
Personally, I would not want to live in the burbs, but hey, if that floats your boat, good for you.
The Glebe is a great example of a highly liveable north American neighbourhood - walk or bike to everything, shops, bars etc., parks, access to canal, historic attractive homes, plenty of trees, great local community centre, library, other services, walk to work downtown etc.
Personally, I would not want to live in the burbs, but hey, if that floats your boat, good for you.
) but you're telling me you don't think that it's dense? We have friends that live in that neighbourhood and I get claustrophobic when I step out of the car.Also, the house prices are extortionate - you reckon an average of $600,000 for a 3 bed fix up (and then some) is good value?
Like you say though, each to their own!
Oct 20th 2011, 12:04 pm
#33
Assimilated Pauper
Joined: Mar 2005
Location: Ontario
Posts: 40,018
Re: Help I hate it here!!!
Yes, you may have access to shops, bars, parks, community centres (which, incidentally, I have access to within a 10 minute bike ride that doesn't involve traversing one of the busiest arterial streets in the city ) but you're telling me you don't think that it's dense? We have friends that live in that neighbourhood and I get claustrophobic when I step out of the car.
Also, the house prices are extortionate - you reckon an average of $600,000 for a 3 bed fix up (and then some) is good value?
Like you say though, each to their own!
) but you're telling me you don't think that it's dense? We have friends that live in that neighbourhood and I get claustrophobic when I step out of the car.Also, the house prices are extortionate - you reckon an average of $600,000 for a 3 bed fix up (and then some) is good value?
Like you say though, each to their own!
Oct 20th 2011, 1:49 pm
#34
Marmite Lover
Joined: Sep 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 27
Re: Help I hate it here!!!
Sounds to me like you're putting a lot of pressure on yourself to find your Canadian "UK equivalent", as soon as possible. And it also sounds like a bigass bout of cultureshock!
Give yourself a break, try not to compare everything (I know this is tough, everyone's the same at first) and try and view it as an adventure. Nothing is forever, so you won't be stuck in a dismal dive til the end of time.
Emigrating IS a hard slog and it doesn't get easier overnight. If you do it, you have to be aware you're playing the long game.
I've been here a year and although I still have the odd irrational hankering for a trip round Sainsburys, I know I don't want to go back to Britain.
If you have good solid reasons for doing what you're doing to fall back on in hard times, you get through it. If you don't, you may want to re-consider...
Good luck!
Give yourself a break, try not to compare everything (I know this is tough, everyone's the same at first) and try and view it as an adventure. Nothing is forever, so you won't be stuck in a dismal dive til the end of time.
Emigrating IS a hard slog and it doesn't get easier overnight. If you do it, you have to be aware you're playing the long game.
I've been here a year and although I still have the odd irrational hankering for a trip round Sainsburys, I know I don't want to go back to Britain.
If you have good solid reasons for doing what you're doing to fall back on in hard times, you get through it. If you don't, you may want to re-consider...
Good luck!
Oct 20th 2011, 11:03 pm
#35
Forum Regular
Joined: Jul 2010
Location: Liverpool
Posts: 110
Re: Help I hate it here!!!
Its only been 8 days but 8 days of 'what have I done' so far! We cant seem to find anywhere in Ottawa that we would want to live. Its either just full of houses crammed in together (Orleans, Kanata, Barrhaven etc) or just too remote to live in if you need to work. We are applying for jobs and expect that we would have to work in the city (if we can get jobs that is) - hence the need to live commutable distance (hate the rush hour traffic already) and the cost of parking / transport is extreem. We miss the UK!!
I dont think I can take much more of driving to areas and finding them without parks / trees or any amenities etc but surely I have to give it longer than a week right????
I hate the fact I traded quaint green Britain for a concrete and weatherboard existence. I knew the exchange rate wasnt great (my PR visa was running out so decided it was now or never to give it a try) but wasnt banking on just how expensive everything is. I mean $6 for a beer and $9 for cereal!!
Anyone else in Ottawa cant settle or moved somewhere that I may like? Without jobs we are stuck living with my brother who loves Orleans but then he hasnt lived in the UK for many many years so probably just got used to it. At this stage I would happily leave today!
Are there any areas we havent tried that maybe have more space / parks / forests etc and that you can actually get jobs nearby? We dont have to live near the centre but need jobs to enable us to move. Yesterday we went to Kemptville but I didnt even get out of the car! HELP!!
I dont think I can take much more of driving to areas and finding them without parks / trees or any amenities etc but surely I have to give it longer than a week right????
I hate the fact I traded quaint green Britain for a concrete and weatherboard existence. I knew the exchange rate wasnt great (my PR visa was running out so decided it was now or never to give it a try) but wasnt banking on just how expensive everything is. I mean $6 for a beer and $9 for cereal!!
Anyone else in Ottawa cant settle or moved somewhere that I may like? Without jobs we are stuck living with my brother who loves Orleans but then he hasnt lived in the UK for many many years so probably just got used to it. At this stage I would happily leave today!
Are there any areas we havent tried that maybe have more space / parks / forests etc and that you can actually get jobs nearby? We dont have to live near the centre but need jobs to enable us to move. Yesterday we went to Kemptville but I didnt even get out of the car! HELP!!
Good luck anyway Paula
Oct 20th 2011, 11:48 pm
#36
Soulless bureaucrat
Joined: Aug 2006
Location: Ottawa
Posts: 361
Re: Help I hate it here!!!
If its expensive, there's probably a reason. I.e. people want to live there more than they want to live in other places. Westboro is another good example of that; great neighbourhood, expensive prices.
I'm a bit surprised by claustrophobic though? Its in the downtown of a 1m person city; and its leafy compared to lots of places. Guess you've never lived in Peckham!
Oct 20th 2011, 11:55 pm
#37
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2011
Location: UK
Posts: 58
Basically everything, except petrol, so far is about twice the price that we are used to, the houses are more expensive and what you gain in inside space you lose in outside space (gardens). We have yet to find anywhere where we could potentially live that doesnt cost above 600,000 dollars. With the fact that if we could get jobs (it isnt looking great) then we would be earning less than we were in canada and with having to pay out more - we are worse off. I know everything is not about how much money you have but we do have to compare our standard of life. In the UK we had lots of spare money and a large house with a huge garden / plot. I appreciate Canada is different and I perhaps didnt do as much research as I should have but seriously dont know where to go back whilst we can still get our jobs back and just go back to normal life or to stick it out loosing more of our savings and becoming more unhappy.
Oct 21st 2011, 12:05 am
#39
Assimilated Pauper
Joined: Mar 2005
Location: Ontario
Posts: 40,018
Re: Help I hate it here!!!
Cute house, convenient to the bureaucracies of central Ottawa, less than $600,000:
http://www.realtor.ca/propertyDetail...ey=-1974725606
Easy!
http://www.realtor.ca/propertyDetail...ey=-1974725606
Easy!
Oct 21st 2011, 12:30 am
#40
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Near Kingston, Ontario
Posts: 1,316
Re: Help I hate it here!!!
Basically everything, except petrol, so far is about twice the price that we are used to, the houses are more expensive and what you gain in inside space you lose in outside space (gardens). We have yet to find anywhere where we could potentially live that doesnt cost above 600,000 dollars. With the fact that if we could get jobs (it isnt looking great) then we would be earning less than we were in canada and with having to pay out more - we are worse off. I know everything is not about how much money you have but we do have to compare our standard of life. In the UK we had lots of spare money and a large house with a huge garden / plot. I appreciate Canada is different and I perhaps didnt do as much research as I should have but seriously dont know where to go back whilst we can still get our jobs back and just go back to normal life or to stick it out loosing more of our savings and becoming more unhappy.
If we had been able to move back to the UK after 6 months of being in Canada, we would have, only thing stopping us at the time was the fact that the "pet Passport" system was not in place and we did not want to put our doggies in quarantine.
My husband still has not found work in his field and has given up- its taken me 9 years to achieve the same level workwise as when i left the UK.....we are planning to retire in the UK because right now we couldn't afford a rabbit hutch in the UK!!!
Good Luck- give it time though but go with your gut!
Oct 21st 2011, 12:30 am
#41
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 12,830
Re: Help I hate it here!!!
Basically everything, except petrol, so far is about twice the price that we are used to, the houses are more expensive and what you gain in inside space you lose in outside space (gardens). We have yet to find anywhere where we could potentially live that doesnt cost above 600,000 dollars. With the fact that if we could get jobs (it isnt looking great) then we would be earning less than we were in canada and with having to pay out more - we are worse off. I know everything is not about how much money you have but we do have to compare our standard of life. In the UK we had lots of spare money and a large house with a huge garden / plot. I appreciate Canada is different and I perhaps didnt do as much research as I should have but seriously dont know where to go back whilst we can still get our jobs back and just go back to normal life or to stick it out loosing more of our savings and becoming more unhappy.
Immigration is a step back for most, for some a big step back, but I think many eventually get up to where they were, a lot well ahead. Takes time (years, not weeks or months) and getting used to. I think for us it was 10 years before we felt like fixtures and were more Canadian than British.
Successful immigration is a mindset and the short term pain for long term gain is something we all had to deal with.
Oct 21st 2011, 12:45 am
#42
Blonde, but not really.
Joined: Feb 2011
Location: Hamilton, ON
Posts: 128
Re: Help I hate it here!!!
Don't give up...a week of unhappiness just tells you that the area isn't right for you, that's all. It takes so much more time to settle...I'm not one to talk, I've only been here 6 weeks (and am far from settled) but am starting to realise it upsets me more to compare it to the UK, it's a great but VERY different place.
Hard as it is, try to stop looking for what you had in the UK, remember why you took the time/effort to get your PR and most importantly keep looking for the place here that you will love & settle in. Give it a chance, it'll not be the easiest (I'm getting ridiculous pangs of homesickness watching Corrie re-runs) but stick it out a little longer before you throw in the towel.
...oh and find a cheaper bar
Seriously though, good luck with it all!
Hard as it is, try to stop looking for what you had in the UK, remember why you took the time/effort to get your PR and most importantly keep looking for the place here that you will love & settle in. Give it a chance, it'll not be the easiest (I'm getting ridiculous pangs of homesickness watching Corrie re-runs) but stick it out a little longer before you throw in the towel.
...oh and find a cheaper bar
Seriously though, good luck with it all!
Oct 21st 2011, 12:58 am
#43
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 11,272
Re: Help I hate it here!!!
Its only been 8 days but 8 days of 'what have I done' so far! We cant seem to find anywhere in Ottawa that we would want to live. Its either just full of houses crammed in together (Orleans, Kanata, Barrhaven etc) or just too remote to live in if you need to work. We are applying for jobs and expect that we would have to work in the city (if we can get jobs that is) - hence the need to live commutable distance (hate the rush hour traffic already) and the cost of parking / transport is extreem. We miss the UK!!
I dont think I can take much more of driving to areas and finding them without parks / trees or any amenities etc but surely I have to give it longer than a week right????
I hate the fact I traded quaint green Britain for a concrete and weatherboard existence. I knew the exchange rate wasnt great (my PR visa was running out so decided it was now or never to give it a try) but wasnt banking on just how expensive everything is. I mean $6 for a beer and $9 for cereal!!
Anyone else in Ottawa cant settle or moved somewhere that I may like? Without jobs we are stuck living with my brother who loves Orleans but then he hasnt lived in the UK for many many years so probably just got used to it. At this stage I would happily leave today!
Are there any areas we havent tried that maybe have more space / parks / forests etc and that you can actually get jobs nearby? We dont have to live near the centre but need jobs to enable us to move. Yesterday we went to Kemptville but I didnt even get out of the car! HELP!!
I dont think I can take much more of driving to areas and finding them without parks / trees or any amenities etc but surely I have to give it longer than a week right????
I hate the fact I traded quaint green Britain for a concrete and weatherboard existence. I knew the exchange rate wasnt great (my PR visa was running out so decided it was now or never to give it a try) but wasnt banking on just how expensive everything is. I mean $6 for a beer and $9 for cereal!!
Anyone else in Ottawa cant settle or moved somewhere that I may like? Without jobs we are stuck living with my brother who loves Orleans but then he hasnt lived in the UK for many many years so probably just got used to it. At this stage I would happily leave today!
Are there any areas we havent tried that maybe have more space / parks / forests etc and that you can actually get jobs nearby? We dont have to live near the centre but need jobs to enable us to move. Yesterday we went to Kemptville but I didnt even get out of the car! HELP!!
Oct 21st 2011, 1:10 am
#44
Soulless bureaucrat
Joined: Aug 2006
Location: Ottawa
Posts: 361
Re: Help I hate it here!!!
Its kind of like moving to some new build suburb in the UK in the middle of nowhere and saying a whole city is boring.
Back to the OP, sorry you're having a tough time. A few days is too early to start making big decisions though IMHO.
Oct 21st 2011, 1:13 am
#45
Soulless bureaucrat
Joined: Aug 2006
Location: Ottawa
Posts: 361
Re: Help I hate it here!!!
Cute house, convenient to the bureaucracies of central Ottawa, less than $600,000:
http://www.realtor.ca/propertyDetail...ey=-1974725606
Easy!
http://www.realtor.ca/propertyDetail...ey=-1974725606
Easy!
http://www.realtor.ca/propertyDetail...Key=1084496979
I went on the open house for this one. Its nice and not falling down.