i cant say i really know anything about your personal situation, but i can speak as a young person in the UK i cant want to leave, i want nothing more than to move to canada. its not that i don't like the UK its that i feel that its just a country on the down, i have recently finished a masters in medical biology and looking for a job here (UK) there is virtually nothing around, where as in looking in Canada there is much more oppertunity.

that being said virtually every Canadian or American i have met here, love it because of its history and culture and how everything is so close and reachable. but most of them are here short term and living here long term is very different i know, after spending most of my life in Europe coming back here for uni, my initial happy of being back in the uk was short lived.

maybe my experience doesn't relate to you and your family but i would really consider why you are coming back to the UK when so many people are trying to leave it.

Your issue is probably not with the country itself, it's just that masters degrees are effectively useless, usually handed out as consolation if you failed a Ph.D.

You base that statement on what exactly?

I qualified it. It seems from his post that Joe's issue is employment but his chances of getting a position without a PH.D or an MD in the medical field are going to be slim.

i didn't fail a Phd, masters are not just handed out for failed a Phd, what you get for failing Phd is a big bill saying you failed your phd. but i was just speaking from my experience which is all i can do and is exactly what i said.

Not if you had it funded. Anyway, sorry didn’t mean to upset you. Everywhere gone to the dogs these days, so I empathize. You probably just need an opportunity to show what you're worth.

I can't speak for anyone else, but my husband's field doesn't require tons of pieces of paper saying he can do his job, it's an experience based job. He has over 15 years experience and should be okay to find work, I pray!

As for opportunity, I don't know. I guess if you are into crazy clever fields that might be true - the Canadian government (and the US) does spend a lot of money on research and such. Thing is, if you are thinking of coming to Canada because the economy is so great and there is so much opportunity, let me burst that fantasy bubble right now. There is opportunity, but often it's a very high price (like having to live in expensive areas, cost of groceries, need to own a vehicle due to lack of good transportation if you want to live outside the metro areas, etc...) it's not all rose petals and unicorns here either. Insurance rates for vehicles and houses are ridiculous, food is very expensive (probably due to the large distances things travel), gas may be cheaper but you need more of it due to distances, depending on where you live medical coverage is less than complete, AND in lots of areas there are no doctors to be found (we have live in the area we are in now for four years and still no GP if the kids get sick, instead it's a sit in the hospital for hours waiting to see someone for something like an ear infection), people are self-absorbed (rarely do people know their neighbours), there's the french language issues (big anywhere in Canada, but obviously worse the closer you get to "their nation"), separatists all over the place (french, western Canada, eastern Canada - though admittedly the worse are the french in QC) - politically there is nothing happening, it's all at a standstill with both liberal and conservative parties leading the country with hands tied. It's not all lovely... believe me.
It's not all bad either. If you knew me in person you would probably be stunned to hear me point out all the negatives about Canada - I'm fiercely patriotic. BUT, I'm also realistic. I don't think life in the UK is all roses and unicorns either, but there is heritage, history, culture, food, language, family (we have much family there - more there than here to be honest), and ... well, it's something my husband has always wanted and never knew was even possible.

I wish everyone the best of luck wherever their lives take them. I thank you all for being part of this conversation thread, it has really been a blessing!

Oh, the UK has lots of old things for sure, including the food. The good stuff is on the other side of the Channel. With the <shudders> French.

+1

the food is a good point in the UK.
ahahahahahahha ahaha hahhh

This must be an area thing. In Quebec food is good and cheap.
Cheese is expensive .
Wine is expensive but that's government tax for you.
Beer is about the same.
Restaurants are about half the price for double the quality.

Meat quality is better than UK.
You can even buy a lobster in season for $5. Where can yo get one in the UK for less than $50.

Taxes are higher in Canada (unless you're in Oil land) but this is balanced by the quality of life IMO.

It's the politicians rather than the people I think. The French in QC are actually very happy to talk English if you make the slightest interest in their language.
You can hardly blame them when the PQ get elected and some politician in Alberta says "ignore them, Quebec doesn't matter".
I live in Quebec and am actually pro some of the French protectionist ideas. The PQ have gone too far but it's mostly historic storm in a teapot stuff. Canadian politicians are like 6 year olds The English speaking part have just as much to blame for the ongoings.

We moved here from the Uk very recently, so no doubt I still have slightly rose tinted glasses, but I do know it wasn't a spur of the moment move, we thought about it for the last 6 years, and we'd both visited Canada a lot in the last 15 years or so.
I find the Uk a very negative place to live. This is my personal experience, if you ask on the moving back to the uk board I know you'll hear differently! I had a 'good job' but there was no encouragement, no job satisfaction. My OH ran his own business and had the worst time trying to start it up. I found there was no feeling of 'things are possible' in the UK, it was all very discouraging.

Whereas here in Nova Scotia, people could not be more friendly and encouraging. There are a lot more independent businesses, everyone tries to help, it's so nice! Re. your points about Canada....

As for opportunity, I don't know. I guess if you are into crazy clever fields that might be true

It feels to me like there is a lot more opportunity if you want to create your own job here. Maybe I'm wrong, like I said I'm new, but we've not been here a month yet and OH has likely found business premises already. That took months back in Glasgow (and included encounters with some of e least helpful people we've ever met..)

Insurance rates for vehicles and houses are ridiculous,

Not got as far as house insurance yet but were only paying about £50 more to insure a ford ranger truck here than we were paying for a Nissan micra back home. When we by a house we'll certainly get more for our money than back in Scotland.

food is very expensive (probably due to the large distances things travel),

Food is more expensive, that's true. We are having to budget carefully and buy things when on offer. But there are lots of farmers markets for cheaper food, and shopping around we've found things like meat etc. at the same price as the UK. Fruit and veg is more expensive but that's what the farmers markets are great for!

people are self-absorbed (rarely do people know their neighbours),

We've had long chats with both our prospective neighbours already, they're very friendly! Our landlady in our temporary cottage has also been friendly and popped by with help a few times. I never knew our neighbours in Glasgow, everyone kept to themselves, except when the ned woman upstairs listened to dance music at 3am and clumped about in her ridiculous shoes! I quite like neighbours being neighbourly but not overly friendly... Suits me
In Scotland when driving its every man for himself. Here I've already seen 2 politeness traffic jams, by which I mean 2 cars get stuck going 'after you' 'no no after you!' After commuting in Glasgow for years this attitude is unbelievable lol.

politically there is nothing happening, it's all at a standstill with both liberal and conservative parties leading the country with hands tied.

Um... Have you read up on the uk political situation? You could be talking about it in that sentence!
I don't know about the French issues; I think in NS it's not something that is a big deal, but I'm sure as I become aware of national politics I'll hear more about it.

there is heritage, history, culture, food, language, family

There is more 'old stuff', if that's what history is, but I'm keen to learn about the history of canada as well. I know I will miss the historic feel if Edinburgh etc mind you, it is something special.
I don't get the 'culture' thing. Quite a few people say the uk has more culture. I don't know what that means. I lived in Glasgow. The culture was to drink buckfast at 10am then collapse in the street by 4. Ok I exaggerate but surely every country has culture? And it depends where you live as to what side of it / how much of it you see?
Pretty sure Canada has food and language too
The Uk does have my family though. I wish they were here....

To me the Uk is small, too packed with people who quite often are negative and selfish, and dirty. This is probably my recent Glasgow living speaking though. I had mild depression back in Scotland, whereas here I already feel so much better! The people are courteous and helpful, there is green and countryside everywhere, you can go to the beach and have no one else there, there isn't a mad rat race.

I wish everyone the best of luck wherever their lives take them. I thank you all for being part of this conversation thread, it has really been a blessing!


I wish you the best of luck whatever you decide to do. Keep your realistic view point and you should be fine! Lots of people love living in the Uk, I just don't think I'm one of them

I am extremely keen to emigrate and Canada would be my first choice.

I live in Ireland however, and our economy is currently in the plughole. Canada has always been portrayed to me as a beautiful, prosperous, friendly country.

Would love to go. But can't.

Oh well never mind. :@(

What I wonder is how them farmer's markets work in December, are the farmers Australians?