So, I have now got lots and lots to think about.

I am sure that on our trip over in March, many questions will be answered but I am grateful to you all for your responses so far.

To move to an unknown country and leave what seems like a perfect life behind is one hell of a decision to make!


I will keep you all posted on our progress.

Bombards

what silly nonsense i have just read on this thread! its not a question of canada lacking heinz baked beans, or robertsons marmalade you know. many here have made the same comments time and again--there is no SPIRIT to the place, for gods sake! sure, there are people living satisfied lives here etc just like in the uk, but to someone looking in from the outside, there is a stark difference. the uk may have been bad 10/20 years ago, but it is now in the forefront of everything--its economy is the envy of north america! and the nhs? yes, sure, everyone moans about it in the uk, but let me tell you this--even the canadian health system is still not as good as the nhs, given how bad it may have become over the years. people still die here waiting to be admitted to hospitals you know. all you have here is who's got the best house, the best car, the best garden, the best clothes, the best job.....! whatever happened to honest to goodness "good morning, mate" when taking an early morning stroll? it just dismays me to hear people saying canada is really wonderful--well, i am telling you from first hand experience, IT AINT! (not for me anyway)

Oh Julius, you whinging POM.
You're back in what you call Mighty Blighty and you are still whinging. It's obvious the problem is within yourself. CARPE DIEM



QUOTE=julius smith]what silly nonsense i have just read on this thread! its not a question of canada lacking heinz baked beans, or robertsons marmalade you know. many here have made the same comments time and again--there is no SPIRIT to the place, for gods sake! sure, there are people living satisfied lives here etc just like in the uk, but to someone looking in from the outside, there is a stark difference. the uk may have been bad 10/20 years ago, but it is now in the forefront of everything--its economy is the envy of north america! and the nhs? yes, sure, everyone moans about it in the uk, but let me tell you this--even the canadian health system is still not as good as the nhs, given how bad it may have become over the years. people still die here waiting to be admitted to hospitals you know. all you have here is who's got the best house, the best car, the best garden, the best clothes, the best job.....! whatever happened to honest to goodness "good morning, mate" when taking an early morning stroll? it just dismays me to hear people saying canada is really wonderful--well, i am telling you from first hand experience, IT AINT! (not for me anyway) [/QUOTE]

To be fair Julius, thats your perspective from what? 4 or 6 months you were here?

Personally I've found the canadian health system to be miles faster than the NHS, and the service to be excelent and efficient. As for spirit? Im not at all sure what you mean by this. I'm still amazed after 7 years here how friendly and uncynical most people are, and astonished by the level of community involvement in fund raising and charitable activites, like the War Amps, United Way, Shriners and the other Lodges etc etc. Thats what I would consider spirit.

Maybe I'm just in a more spirited area than you were, or maybe we just have different perspectives. I've no idea how the odd "Good morning mate" is any more sincere than the "howyadoin" you get in canada, and my experience is you are far more likely to be engaged in a conversation with a stranger here than in the UK, in fact I think I had more conversations with strangers in the last month here than in my last 2 years in the UK! "A stranger is just a friend you havent met yet" seems truer here than in the UK for sure.

As for materialism, maybe thats just a big city thing, or maybe Im lucky? Noone around here gives a shit what you wear or drive, or how much you earn, or what you do. They judge you on your attitude and what you contribute more than anything.

When alls said and done some people will love it, some will hate it,and some will put up with the differences for the sake of the big car and house and a less crowded future for there kids. Everywhere in the world has it good and bad, and until a prospective immigrant has visited and checked a few places out for themselves its really not for us to say if its going to be wonderful for them or not. We were asked a few direct questions, and we answered them.

HERE!HERE!

yes, thats my view, from my own time spent there, iaink. like i said, all that is in my view--someone else may see the pavements paved with gold here, but for me, it certainly wasnt. and i am not the only one. maybe you are in a better area than us, maybe more rural etc--we were in central mississauga, which was a most souless place if ever there was one! the only place i did like, and this may surprise you--was downtown toronto--really loved it. and to that other posting on here, where i was called a whinging POM; i just dont have time for people like that who cant debate sensibly!

1. Please give examples of what SPIRIT you missed when you were in Canada.
2. Please give examples (from your own experiences) of how the shambles otherwise known as the NHS is better than the Canadian health care system.
3. Why did you leave a country that in your opinion "is now in the forefront of everything".

To be fair, he was in central Missisagua
... Explains a lot. Imagine Milton Keynes but without the atmoshere (or roundabouts)

Thanks Clare, once we land we have to set in place his speech therapy, my son has verbal dyspraxia, he has greatly improved in the last two years, but still needs some guidence in certain areas.
Linda

We are going to Edmonton with the intention of staying! Life is what you make it, we want the slower pace of life with friendly people, lots of outdoor activities, nice house and if this isn't enough, the prospect of not owing a shortfall to our mortgage! Not selling the house is our safety net for sure, but as I have never been to Canada, we thought it was the best option.

Hi

We were in much the same position as you. Husband got an opportunity to move over here with his UK employer and so we did!

We had a good life in UK and liked living there and didn't have a great urge to live here but thought why not as we had the opportunity. If you don't try you never know and to have a job offer already lined up and everything organised for you is the easiest way to do it. My husband negotiated the same salary as his UK salary and the same amount of holidays as in UK so that was a big bonus.

We've now been here 19 months and although happy and settled it is always at the back of my mind that we'll probably move back in the next year or two (do we wait and get citizenship or not?)
We have bought a house here after renting for the 1st year but have also kept our house in UK which is rented out.

We have two kids (6 and 3) and yes they have a good life here, skiing, skating, outdoor swimming in the summer but the schools in UK were far better and missing extended family is I think a huge drawback.
So to answer your question we haven't found life here is 'better', just different but then we were happy in the UK to start with!

Everyone's opinions here are obviously personal and only you will live your life and make what you will of it.

Anyway, good luck!

You must remember though that Canada isn't paradise and its totally what you make of it. You still have to go out and make friends etc, they won't just land on your doorstep. As long as you decide to give it a shot and 100% effort I can't really see where you can go wrong. It can be dispiriting having to start all again but you have to give it time. You will feel down sometimes at first!!! this is totally natural and shouldpass with time (But wont for some people).

Personally I found it massively hard starting again in the UK, way harder than I have done here. People are so wrapped up in working and their own lives that many don't seem to have time to make new friends etc. I did meet some lovely friends over there in the year we were back there but biy did it take a long time compared to here.

1) Glenmorangie - 15 Year Old
2) Tanqueray - No. Ten
3) Balvenie - Doublewood 12 Year Old

Good point. Relocating can be difficult even within the same counry. So how many of the issues are generic and how many are specific to a particular country? For instance. I can imagine a Welshman having difficulty relocating to downtown Glasgow.