ok, here we go with the homesick blues!!
Jan 12th 2005 | 4:46 am
#1
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Joined: May 2001
Posts: 448
From: Now in West London, but one day soon in Vancouver.....!
ok, here we go with the homesick blues!!
hi, all!
you may have been reading some of my exploits since arriving here in canada (mississuaga actually) from the uk.....well, we wthought we had settled in pretty nicely; i landed a fantastic job within a few weeks of being here (which was a big thing in itself!), bought a half decent car, furniture, got approved for credit etc etc. but now, after what is coming up to around 4 to 5 months here, we have decided to move back to the uk!! we tried to put as much gloss on the move as possible, ie bigger country, better lifestyle, less crowding, less bigotism , vanadalism, etc but, at the end of the day, we have not really been able to fit in. the schooling system is ok for the canadians, but to my kids its a complete shambles--the school buses do not pick my kids up as according to them, we live outside of the catchment area, so i am having to spend $25 a day for a taxicab to take them to and from school! we thought about getting my wife to drive, but that entails even more cost, as we would need another car, with its own attendant costs. then the kids are not really happy either--the schools here put absolute extreme pressure on the kids to perform--as an example, my kids are doing university level maths and science, and they are only in the 14 to 15 age bracket!! there is simply no need for that sort of pressure in my view. ok, in the uk, the schools do not press kids so much, so the level is lower, but who cares? at the end of the day, kids in the uk still manage to go onto uni and get their degrees. and then the high cost of uni education--its around $15 to $25 000 per year for a degree course. so all in all, we have decided to jack it in as soon as i can secure a reasonable job in england. i know people will say that i didnt give it a chance etc, but if your heart is not in it, then whats the point of living in a big house, driving a big car? in my opinion, i can live a bettr life in good ol blighty than here, even though, yes, there are problems in the uk...
you may have been reading some of my exploits since arriving here in canada (mississuaga actually) from the uk.....well, we wthought we had settled in pretty nicely; i landed a fantastic job within a few weeks of being here (which was a big thing in itself!), bought a half decent car, furniture, got approved for credit etc etc. but now, after what is coming up to around 4 to 5 months here, we have decided to move back to the uk!! we tried to put as much gloss on the move as possible, ie bigger country, better lifestyle, less crowding, less bigotism , vanadalism, etc but, at the end of the day, we have not really been able to fit in. the schooling system is ok for the canadians, but to my kids its a complete shambles--the school buses do not pick my kids up as according to them, we live outside of the catchment area, so i am having to spend $25 a day for a taxicab to take them to and from school! we thought about getting my wife to drive, but that entails even more cost, as we would need another car, with its own attendant costs. then the kids are not really happy either--the schools here put absolute extreme pressure on the kids to perform--as an example, my kids are doing university level maths and science, and they are only in the 14 to 15 age bracket!! there is simply no need for that sort of pressure in my view. ok, in the uk, the schools do not press kids so much, so the level is lower, but who cares? at the end of the day, kids in the uk still manage to go onto uni and get their degrees. and then the high cost of uni education--its around $15 to $25 000 per year for a degree course. so all in all, we have decided to jack it in as soon as i can secure a reasonable job in england. i know people will say that i didnt give it a chance etc, but if your heart is not in it, then whats the point of living in a big house, driving a big car? in my opinion, i can live a bettr life in good ol blighty than here, even though, yes, there are problems in the uk...
Jan 12th 2005 | 4:54 am
#2
Moderαtor Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 30,771
From: Upstate South Carolina
Re: ok, here we go with the homesick blues!!
Classic culture shock. You owe it to yourself and your family to stick it out at least till the end of the summer.
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=241652
I dont understand the schoolbus thing, it sounds like BS to me. You have to be in the catchment area for at least one school, if not the one your kids actually attend. I know a lot of people here though move closer to town when kids reach highschool age, just to avoid the really early bus pickups (as early as 6:30am!)
Hang in there and give it a fair go!
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=241652
I dont understand the schoolbus thing, it sounds like BS to me. You have to be in the catchment area for at least one school, if not the one your kids actually attend. I know a lot of people here though move closer to town when kids reach highschool age, just to avoid the really early bus pickups (as early as 6:30am!)
Hang in there and give it a fair go!
Jan 12th 2005 | 5:03 am
#3
Account Closed
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 65
Re: ok, here we go with the homesick blues!!
Originally Posted by julius smith
hi, all!
you may have been reading some of my exploits since arriving here in canada (mississuaga actually) from the uk.....well, we wthought we had settled in pretty nicely; i landed a fantastic job within a few weeks of being here (which was a big thing in itself!), bought a half decent car, furniture, got approved for credit etc etc. but now, after what is coming up to around 4 to 5 months here, we have decided to move back to the uk!! we tried to put as much gloss on the move as possible, ie bigger country, better lifestyle, less crowding, less bigotism , vanadalism, etc but, at the end of the day, we have not really been able to fit in. the schooling system is ok for the canadians, but to my kids its a complete shambles--the school buses do not pick my kids up as according to them, we live outside of the catchment area, so i am having to spend $25 a day for a taxicab to take them to and from school! we thought about getting my wife to drive, but that entails even more cost, as we would need another car, with its own attendant costs. then the kids are not really happy either--the schools here put absolute extreme pressure on the kids to perform--as an example, my kids are doing university level maths and science, and they are only in the 14 to 15 age bracket!! there is simply no need for that sort of pressure in my view. ok, in the uk, the schools do not press kids so much, so the level is lower, but who cares? at the end of the day, kids in the uk still manage to go onto uni and get their degrees. and then the high cost of uni education--its around $15 to $25 000 per year for a degree course. so all in all, we have decided to jack it in as soon as i can secure a reasonable job in england. i know people will say that i didnt give it a chance etc, but if your heart is not in it, then whats the point of living in a big house, driving a big car? in my opinion, i can live a bettr life in good ol blighty than here, even though, yes, there are problems in the uk...
you may have been reading some of my exploits since arriving here in canada (mississuaga actually) from the uk.....well, we wthought we had settled in pretty nicely; i landed a fantastic job within a few weeks of being here (which was a big thing in itself!), bought a half decent car, furniture, got approved for credit etc etc. but now, after what is coming up to around 4 to 5 months here, we have decided to move back to the uk!! we tried to put as much gloss on the move as possible, ie bigger country, better lifestyle, less crowding, less bigotism , vanadalism, etc but, at the end of the day, we have not really been able to fit in. the schooling system is ok for the canadians, but to my kids its a complete shambles--the school buses do not pick my kids up as according to them, we live outside of the catchment area, so i am having to spend $25 a day for a taxicab to take them to and from school! we thought about getting my wife to drive, but that entails even more cost, as we would need another car, with its own attendant costs. then the kids are not really happy either--the schools here put absolute extreme pressure on the kids to perform--as an example, my kids are doing university level maths and science, and they are only in the 14 to 15 age bracket!! there is simply no need for that sort of pressure in my view. ok, in the uk, the schools do not press kids so much, so the level is lower, but who cares? at the end of the day, kids in the uk still manage to go onto uni and get their degrees. and then the high cost of uni education--its around $15 to $25 000 per year for a degree course. so all in all, we have decided to jack it in as soon as i can secure a reasonable job in england. i know people will say that i didnt give it a chance etc, but if your heart is not in it, then whats the point of living in a big house, driving a big car? in my opinion, i can live a bettr life in good ol blighty than here, even though, yes, there are problems in the uk...
Kids adapt easily, but they have had to cope with new house, country, new school, new friends etc.. which is a lot, but you do need to give it more time!!
Jeanette
Jan 12th 2005 | 6:24 am
#4
Part Time Poster
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,219
From: Worcestershire
Re: ok, here we go with the homesick blues!!
nah... its not just the ‘you need to try longer’ thing..
it doesn’t take long to realise a bigger house and a bigger car is not actually what you want... for some the dream will never be able to become reality
This is living in Toronto.. you soon realise that crime isn’t really that much lower, that the advantages or lifestyle improvements people talk/dream about don’t co-exist with the work.. some people can get it quite quickly.. this is part of the big G7 nations there isn’t a lot of difference between the UK and Canada.. or come to that any other G7 nation when it come down to cost of living in the cities. the only real difference Canada has from most of the others is large amounts of space between cities..
Is this a great country to live in Yes!!! Is it better than any other G7 nation No!! its just has some variations on the general theme… some will find these an improvement and other will find them irritating..
it doesn’t take long to realise a bigger house and a bigger car is not actually what you want... for some the dream will never be able to become reality
This is living in Toronto.. you soon realise that crime isn’t really that much lower, that the advantages or lifestyle improvements people talk/dream about don’t co-exist with the work.. some people can get it quite quickly.. this is part of the big G7 nations there isn’t a lot of difference between the UK and Canada.. or come to that any other G7 nation when it come down to cost of living in the cities. the only real difference Canada has from most of the others is large amounts of space between cities..
Is this a great country to live in Yes!!! Is it better than any other G7 nation No!! its just has some variations on the general theme… some will find these an improvement and other will find them irritating..
Jan 12th 2005 | 6:34 am
#5
Banned
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 46
From: Mississauga
Re: ok, here we go with the homesick blues!!
Originally Posted by julius smith
hi, all!
you may have been reading some of my exploits since arriving here in canada (mississuaga actually) from the uk.....well, we wthought we had settled in pretty nicely; i landed a fantastic job within a few weeks of being here (which was a big thing in itself!), bought a half decent car, furniture, got approved for credit etc etc. but now, after what is coming up to around 4 to 5 months here, we have decided to move back to the uk!! we tried to put as much gloss on the move as possible, ie bigger country, better lifestyle, less crowding, less bigotism , vanadalism, etc but, at the end of the day, we have not really been able to fit in. the schooling system is ok for the canadians, but to my kids its a complete shambles--the school buses do not pick my kids up as according to them, we live outside of the catchment area, so i am having to spend $25 a day for a taxicab to take them to and from school! we thought about getting my wife to drive, but that entails even more cost, as we would need another car, with its own attendant costs. then the kids are not really happy either--the schools here put absolute extreme pressure on the kids to perform--as an example, my kids are doing university level maths and science, and they are only in the 14 to 15 age bracket!! there is simply no need for that sort of pressure in my view. ok, in the uk, the schools do not press kids so much, so the level is lower, but who cares? at the end of the day, kids in the uk still manage to go onto uni and get their degrees. and then the high cost of uni education--its around $15 to $25 000 per year for a degree course. so all in all, we have decided to jack it in as soon as i can secure a reasonable job in england. i know people will say that i didnt give it a chance etc, but if your heart is not in it, then whats the point of living in a big house, driving a big car? in my opinion, i can live a bettr life in good ol blighty than here, even though, yes, there are problems in the uk...
you may have been reading some of my exploits since arriving here in canada (mississuaga actually) from the uk.....well, we wthought we had settled in pretty nicely; i landed a fantastic job within a few weeks of being here (which was a big thing in itself!), bought a half decent car, furniture, got approved for credit etc etc. but now, after what is coming up to around 4 to 5 months here, we have decided to move back to the uk!! we tried to put as much gloss on the move as possible, ie bigger country, better lifestyle, less crowding, less bigotism , vanadalism, etc but, at the end of the day, we have not really been able to fit in. the schooling system is ok for the canadians, but to my kids its a complete shambles--the school buses do not pick my kids up as according to them, we live outside of the catchment area, so i am having to spend $25 a day for a taxicab to take them to and from school! we thought about getting my wife to drive, but that entails even more cost, as we would need another car, with its own attendant costs. then the kids are not really happy either--the schools here put absolute extreme pressure on the kids to perform--as an example, my kids are doing university level maths and science, and they are only in the 14 to 15 age bracket!! there is simply no need for that sort of pressure in my view. ok, in the uk, the schools do not press kids so much, so the level is lower, but who cares? at the end of the day, kids in the uk still manage to go onto uni and get their degrees. and then the high cost of uni education--its around $15 to $25 000 per year for a degree course. so all in all, we have decided to jack it in as soon as i can secure a reasonable job in england. i know people will say that i didnt give it a chance etc, but if your heart is not in it, then whats the point of living in a big house, driving a big car? in my opinion, i can live a bettr life in good ol blighty than here, even though, yes, there are problems in the uk...
Do what you think is right, everyone is different, moving country to country is difficult however it doesnt suit everybody.
I've had it tough for the last 2 years, if I knew what I do now then definately would of moved to another city in the uk then to Canada. Its harder when you are in your 30's like me. If I had come from a country which was poor or going through Civil war then fine, Canada's for me. The canadian economy is totally dependent on the US, Canadians hate to be compared to Americans but I don't see the difference as both lack a culture or identity.
Although Canadians seem patriotic, they would prefer to play for their parents country e.g Owen Hargreaves.
So all in all do whats right for you, I have to wait 6 mths or so to get out, expensive airline tickets only if easyjet were running a flight schedule here. No that wouldn't work as the Canadian govt would enforce their protectionist policies.
Goodluck
Karl
Jan 12th 2005 | 6:49 am
#6
Moderαtor Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 30,771
From: Upstate South Carolina
Re: ok, here we go with the homesick blues!!
Originally Posted by Karl69
Julius
Do what you think is right, everyone is different, moving country to country is difficult however it doesnt suit everybody.
I've had it tough for the last 2 years, if I knew what I do now then definately would of moved to another city in the uk then to Canada. Its harder when you are in your 30's like me. If I had come from a country which was poor or going through Civil war then fine, Canada's for me. The canadian economy is totally dependent on the US, Canadians hate to be compared to Americans but I don't see the difference as both lack a culture or identity.
Although Canadians seem patriotic, they would prefer to play for their parents country e.g Owen Hargreaves.
So all in all do whats right for you, I have to wait 6 mths or so to get out, expensive airline tickets only if easyjet were running a flight schedule here. No that wouldn't work as the Canadian govt would enforce their protectionist policies.
Goodluck
Karl
Do what you think is right, everyone is different, moving country to country is difficult however it doesnt suit everybody.
I've had it tough for the last 2 years, if I knew what I do now then definately would of moved to another city in the uk then to Canada. Its harder when you are in your 30's like me. If I had come from a country which was poor or going through Civil war then fine, Canada's for me. The canadian economy is totally dependent on the US, Canadians hate to be compared to Americans but I don't see the difference as both lack a culture or identity.
Although Canadians seem patriotic, they would prefer to play for their parents country e.g Owen Hargreaves.
So all in all do whats right for you, I have to wait 6 mths or so to get out, expensive airline tickets only if easyjet were running a flight schedule here. No that wouldn't work as the Canadian govt would enforce their protectionist policies.
Goodluck
Karl
Canada and the US dont lack culture and identites, its just different to the UK thats all. Im sure that the lack of "european" history should not come as a surprise.
Hargreaves... what a bad example...you dont think hes doing it to advance his footy profile and career do you? If canada had a half decent soccer team and a chance to play on a world stage Hargreaves would never have worn an England shirt. Hes so pro UK he has never even played for a club there! I cant think of any other examples of true 100% canadians playing for other countries though, so maybe thats why you picked him
OK, i thought of one...Brett Hull, hes a good old Belleville boy IIRC, played on the US olympic hockey team, but only cos he couldnt make the canadian one! Sure his legendary dad was disapointed, if not his US mother.Most canadians are fiercly patriotic cos they love there country, Im just an adopted canadian, and even I fly the flag here (both of them!)
Protectionist policies???? The open market of NAFTA has done more to screw canadians that any amount of percieved protectionism. In fact Im not even sure what you are on about. Perhaps easy jet type operators arent interested in a market thats 5000 miles wide with a pop of less then 40M, most of whome have no interest in going somewhere else as they only have two weeks holidays. There is just not enough market demand here to make a high volume, low cost airline viable. Nothing to do with the government.
After 2 years I agree, you should know whether its for you or not, and if it isnt then have the sense to get out. After 4 or 5 months you are slap bang in prime time culture shock, sit it out and decide later what is best. Now is DEFINITELY not the time to be deciding anything.
Allright, I've said my bit, and obviously i feel pretty strongly about it. This is potentially a huge mistake to leave now. Im off again...need a break from the constant nonsense on this forum.
Last edited by iaink; Jan 12th 2005 at 7:54 am.
Jan 12th 2005 | 7:13 am
#7
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Joined: May 2001
Posts: 448
From: Now in West London, but one day soon in Vancouver.....!
Re: ok, here we go with the homesick blues!!
yes, karl69, i agree--if your minds not in it, then whats the point of it all? i gather you are going back too sometime? what changed your mind?
i DO know that 5 mths is not enough, but if you were in my position, and got to see your child wandering around in the street when you had dropped him off at school, with not a single soul around anywhere to be seen, then i am sure you would get very upset. as i have said, we have tried to put as much gloss on it as possible, but it does not seem to be working out for us. its not the cold, its not the people, its just......canada!! there just is not any real culture here, everyone is geared to slaving away at work, and all you get after that are 2 damn weeks of vacation! just the same as in the usa.in my opinion again, they have got the work/social life equation just about right in europe (that includes the uk)--i am not saying that the brits are lazy buggers, but the way the system is geared to leisure time realisations, maximum weekly hour limits etc is a good thing. and yes, iaink, i agree that its too early to pack up, but i really do believe we will be better of in the uk!
thank god that i have quite good transferable skills, so i will be ok jobwise. one thing is for certain--at least we can say, hey, we tried!
i DO know that 5 mths is not enough, but if you were in my position, and got to see your child wandering around in the street when you had dropped him off at school, with not a single soul around anywhere to be seen, then i am sure you would get very upset. as i have said, we have tried to put as much gloss on it as possible, but it does not seem to be working out for us. its not the cold, its not the people, its just......canada!! there just is not any real culture here, everyone is geared to slaving away at work, and all you get after that are 2 damn weeks of vacation! just the same as in the usa.in my opinion again, they have got the work/social life equation just about right in europe (that includes the uk)--i am not saying that the brits are lazy buggers, but the way the system is geared to leisure time realisations, maximum weekly hour limits etc is a good thing. and yes, iaink, i agree that its too early to pack up, but i really do believe we will be better of in the uk!
thank god that i have quite good transferable skills, so i will be ok jobwise. one thing is for certain--at least we can say, hey, we tried!
Originally Posted by Karl69
Julius
Do what you think is right, everyone is different, moving country to country is difficult however it doesnt suit everybody.
I've had it tough for the last 2 years, if I knew what I do now then definately would of moved to another city in the uk then to Canada. Its harder when you are in your 30's like me. If I had come from a country which was poor or going through Civil war then fine, Canada's for me. The canadian economy is totally dependent on the US, Canadians hate to be compared to Americans but I don't see the difference as both lack a culture or identity.
Although Canadians seem patriotic, they would prefer to play for their parents country e.g Owen Hargreaves.
So all in all do whats right for you, I have to wait 6 mths or so to get out, expensive airline tickets only if easyjet were running a flight schedule here. No that wouldn't work as the Canadian govt would enforce their protectionist policies.
Goodluck
Karl
Do what you think is right, everyone is different, moving country to country is difficult however it doesnt suit everybody.
I've had it tough for the last 2 years, if I knew what I do now then definately would of moved to another city in the uk then to Canada. Its harder when you are in your 30's like me. If I had come from a country which was poor or going through Civil war then fine, Canada's for me. The canadian economy is totally dependent on the US, Canadians hate to be compared to Americans but I don't see the difference as both lack a culture or identity.
Although Canadians seem patriotic, they would prefer to play for their parents country e.g Owen Hargreaves.
So all in all do whats right for you, I have to wait 6 mths or so to get out, expensive airline tickets only if easyjet were running a flight schedule here. No that wouldn't work as the Canadian govt would enforce their protectionist policies.
Goodluck
Karl
Jan 12th 2005 | 8:00 am
#8
Almost there...
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 410
From: Living The Dream, no really I am.
Re: ok, here we go with the homesick blues!!
Well you certainly have got alot to think about. It also gives me, a prospective immigrant, food for thought!
I know that I am a relative newbie to this forum, but from what I have read alot of people get seriously homesick around the 5-6 months period and once thay pass a year there's no looking back.
I know that there are other factors other than just straight forward homesickness, so have you considerd a move to another part of your city, province or Canada to see if that would work for you?
I know that I am a relative newbie to this forum, but from what I have read alot of people get seriously homesick around the 5-6 months period and once thay pass a year there's no looking back.
I know that there are other factors other than just straight forward homesickness, so have you considerd a move to another part of your city, province or Canada to see if that would work for you?
Jan 12th 2005 | 8:02 am
#9
Banned
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 46
From: Mississauga
Re: ok, here we go with the homesick blues!!
Originally Posted by julius smith
yes, karl69, i agree--if your minds not in it, then whats the point of it all? i gather you are going back too sometime? what changed your mind?
i DO know that 5 mths is not enough, but if you were in my position, and got to see your child wandering around in the street when you had dropped him off at school, with not a single soul around anywhere to be seen, then i am sure you would get very upset. as i have said, we have tried to put as much gloss on it as possible, but it does not seem to be working out for us. its not the cold, its not the people, its just......canada!! there just is not any real culture here, everyone is geared to slaving away at work, and all you get after that are 2 damn weeks of vacation! just the same as in the usa.in my opinion again, they have got the work/social life equation just about right in europe (that includes the uk)--i am not saying that the brits are lazy buggers, but the way the system is geared to leisure time realisations, maximum weekly hour limits etc is a good thing. and yes, iaink, i agree that its too early to pack up, but i really do believe we will be better of in the uk!
thank god that i have quite good transferable skills, so i will be ok jobwise. one thing is for certain--at least we can say, hey, we tried!
i DO know that 5 mths is not enough, but if you were in my position, and got to see your child wandering around in the street when you had dropped him off at school, with not a single soul around anywhere to be seen, then i am sure you would get very upset. as i have said, we have tried to put as much gloss on it as possible, but it does not seem to be working out for us. its not the cold, its not the people, its just......canada!! there just is not any real culture here, everyone is geared to slaving away at work, and all you get after that are 2 damn weeks of vacation! just the same as in the usa.in my opinion again, they have got the work/social life equation just about right in europe (that includes the uk)--i am not saying that the brits are lazy buggers, but the way the system is geared to leisure time realisations, maximum weekly hour limits etc is a good thing. and yes, iaink, i agree that its too early to pack up, but i really do believe we will be better of in the uk!
thank god that i have quite good transferable skills, so i will be ok jobwise. one thing is for certain--at least we can say, hey, we tried!
I am hoping to go back in April/May for job interviews, as my wife's a teacher realistically can't move back until July/August. I'm hoping to move 25 miles away from London or 30 min train commute. I already have a few headhunters lining up interviews. My previous Uk employer has also shown an interest in me however no formal approach has been made. I think they want to make sure that I am 100% for leaving Canada.
Answer to your second question?
As soon as I arrived in Vancouver, I realised this was going to be hard, I gave it 3 months before I left for Toronto/Mississauga. Once I got a permanent job, I realised that I traded in a porche for Robin reliant.
Canadians that I have met at work have rarely accepted responsibility or ownership for errors, if you say anything slightly negative about Canada and it gets them wound up. I asked a few co workers if they fancied a beer after work, they all declined and it was after the 100th " I really like your accent " comment or you talk funny that convinced me this was a mistake.
I don't want to spoil it for anyone who comes from the uk to live here. The shoe doesnt fit all sizes however it fits some.
In England there is lots to do socially, here there are lots of activities but you need money to enjoy them, like I said in previous posts I left Canada for a better future, I just wanted to see if it was for me, being out of work didnt help.
I am going back to a better life for me and my family.
Regards
Karl
Jan 12th 2005 | 8:58 am
#10
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,239
From: Mid West >> UK
Re: ok, here we go with the homesick blues!!
[QUOTE=Jeanetteuk1]All I can say is... 5 months is really no time to settle in. if your feeling homesick then think of what it was that made you feel sick of home to emmigrate in the first place...
Most people want to leave England because the newspapers tell them that it is a crap country. Whether you end up liking your new country or not its not until you live somewhere else that you can truly appreciate home.
Most people want to leave England because the newspapers tell them that it is a crap country. Whether you end up liking your new country or not its not until you live somewhere else that you can truly appreciate home.
Jan 12th 2005 | 9:25 am
#11
Happy in Canada.
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,440
From: Winnipeg, manitoba
Re: ok, here we go with the homesick blues!!
Originally Posted by julius smith
hi, all!
you may have been reading some of my exploits since arriving here in canada (mississuaga actually) from the uk.....well, we wthought we had settled in pretty nicely; i landed a fantastic job within a few weeks of being here (which was a big thing in itself!), bought a half decent car, furniture, got approved for credit etc etc. but now, after what is coming up to around 4 to 5 months here, we have decided to move back to the uk!! we tried to put as much gloss on the move as possible, ie bigger country, better lifestyle, less crowding, less bigotism , vanadalism, etc but, at the end of the day, we have not really been able to fit in. the schooling system is ok for the canadians, but to my kids its a complete shambles--the school buses do not pick my kids up as according to them, we live outside of the catchment area, so i am having to spend $25 a day for a taxicab to take them to and from school! we thought about getting my wife to drive, but that entails even more cost, as we would need another car, with its own attendant costs. then the kids are not really happy either--the schools here put absolute extreme pressure on the kids to perform--as an example, my kids are doing university level maths and science, and they are only in the 14 to 15 age bracket!! there is simply no need for that sort of pressure in my view. ok, in the uk, the schools do not press kids so much, so the level is lower, but who cares? at the end of the day, kids in the uk still manage to go onto uni and get their degrees. and then the high cost of uni education--its around $15 to $25 000 per year for a degree course. so all in all, we have decided to jack it in as soon as i can secure a reasonable job in england. i know people will say that i didnt give it a chance etc, but if your heart is not in it, then whats the point of living in a big house, driving a big car? in my opinion, i can live a bettr life in good ol blighty than here, even though, yes, there are problems in the uk...
you may have been reading some of my exploits since arriving here in canada (mississuaga actually) from the uk.....well, we wthought we had settled in pretty nicely; i landed a fantastic job within a few weeks of being here (which was a big thing in itself!), bought a half decent car, furniture, got approved for credit etc etc. but now, after what is coming up to around 4 to 5 months here, we have decided to move back to the uk!! we tried to put as much gloss on the move as possible, ie bigger country, better lifestyle, less crowding, less bigotism , vanadalism, etc but, at the end of the day, we have not really been able to fit in. the schooling system is ok for the canadians, but to my kids its a complete shambles--the school buses do not pick my kids up as according to them, we live outside of the catchment area, so i am having to spend $25 a day for a taxicab to take them to and from school! we thought about getting my wife to drive, but that entails even more cost, as we would need another car, with its own attendant costs. then the kids are not really happy either--the schools here put absolute extreme pressure on the kids to perform--as an example, my kids are doing university level maths and science, and they are only in the 14 to 15 age bracket!! there is simply no need for that sort of pressure in my view. ok, in the uk, the schools do not press kids so much, so the level is lower, but who cares? at the end of the day, kids in the uk still manage to go onto uni and get their degrees. and then the high cost of uni education--its around $15 to $25 000 per year for a degree course. so all in all, we have decided to jack it in as soon as i can secure a reasonable job in england. i know people will say that i didnt give it a chance etc, but if your heart is not in it, then whats the point of living in a big house, driving a big car? in my opinion, i can live a bettr life in good ol blighty than here, even though, yes, there are problems in the uk...
Perhaps the problem at the school is your kids have been put in the wrong grade or wrong level, best get them out of that class now. Kids here have the choice from domestic math to university maths.
Perhaps ask around the teachers to findout if anyone else from the school lives out your way.
Pity you picked to live where you did without considering the logistics of the things you need to do.
Fingers crossed you get out before anyone likes it here.
Ah well bye.
Jan 12th 2005 | 9:26 am
#12
Part Time Poster
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,219
From: Worcestershire
Re: ok, here we go with the homesick blues!!
Originally Posted by Pincher
but from what I have read alot of people get seriously homesick around the 5-6 months period and once thay pass a year there's no looking back.
I've been here now for over 3 years and straight up if not for my job I'd be straight back to the UK… in the major cites the standard of living is not really any better and as I’ve been back and forward a couple of times with work I’ve got spreadsheets to compare the costs.. houses are bigger, but the rest averages out.. but worth thinking about Canada may be a great recreational place but with only two weeks holiday don’t expect to see much of it..
If your lifestyle expectations really match the Canadian way of life you’ll thrive here, if you’re expecting a noticeable improvement in conditions then sorry you’ll most likely be disappointed.. if you think you’ll be richer.. you’ve picked the wrong continent.
Canada is a lot like the UK in most factors, on average its much the same, houses are cheaper because land is cheaper and they’re built cheaper .
You can buy products here that are cheaper than you can buy in the UK but its almost always reflected in the quality, the same goes for produce in the shops.. you can shop in “No Frills� cheaper than you could in the UK, but then again no shop in the UK would be allowed to sell produce of that quality, but the likes of “Fortinos� and “Loblaws� compare to a “Sainsburys� and “Tescos� on both quality and price.
We’re about tens years behind the UK in technology in the home and about 5years in business, to some that a plus to, me it’s a frustration .
As for Crime yep its lower here about 80% of the crime in the UK but factor in most of Canada is rural and most of that crime occurs in the cities and the majority of that crime is violent crime against the person.. then that picture changes quickly when you get here… people are murdered by gun fire in Toronto so regularly it doesn’t make headline news anymore
Me I’m lucky I negotiated a package that matched my UK salary and gave me 4 weeks holiday to boot so I’ve got a nice life style here, but I also know its not that different from my UK one , but I also know that there is more work and more money to be had in Europe at the moment than here… Unless your in farming, logging or oil, forget IT Canada has a neighbour with a huge highly trained surplus, that also goes for a lot of managerial jobs too…
If you’ve come form a grim industrial city in the Uk and moved to a smaller Canadian city then you’ll love it, but if you’ve decide to move from rural Devon or Derbyshire to a major Canadian city you may be in for a horrible shock.. our cities are becoming more and more like our neighbours down south as the culture travels across the border on the likes of MTV etc.. Much as Canada hates the comparison its slowly becoming a slower version of the states… a simple comparison of a mall or a car park, or a new housing estate, you’d be unable to tell which side of the boarder your on!!
Jan 12th 2005 | 9:52 am
#13
Banned
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 46
From: Mississauga
Re: ok, here we go with the homesick blues!!
Originally Posted by MikeUK
I've been here now for over 3 years and straight up if not for my job I'd be straight back to the UK… in the major cites the standard of living is not really any better and as I’ve been back and forward a couple of times with work I’ve got spreadsheets to compare the costs.. houses are bigger, but the rest averages out.. but worth thinking about Canada may be a great recreational place but with only two weeks holiday don’t expect to see much of it..
If your lifestyle expectations really match the Canadian way of life you’ll thrive here, if you’re expecting a noticeable improvement in conditions then sorry you’ll most likely be disappointed.. if you think you’ll be richer.. you’ve picked the wrong continent.
Canada is a lot like the UK in most factors, on average its much the same, houses are cheaper because land is cheaper and they’re built cheaper .
You can buy products here that are cheaper than you can buy in the UK but its almost always reflected in the quality, the same goes for produce in the shops.. you can shop in “No Frills� cheaper than you could in the UK, but then again no shop in the UK would be allowed to sell produce of that quality, but the likes of “Fortinos� and “Loblaws� compare to a “Sainsburys� and “Tescos� on both quality and price.
We’re about tens years behind the UK in technology in the home and about 5years in business, to some that a plus to, me it’s a frustration .
As for Crime yep its lower here about 80% of the crime in the UK but factor in most of Canada is rural and most of that crime occurs in the cities and the majority of that crime is violent crime against the person.. then that picture changes quickly when you get here… people are murdered by gun fire in Toronto so regularly it doesn’t make headline news anymore
Me I’m lucky I negotiated a package that matched my UK salary and gave me 4 weeks holiday to boot so I’ve got a nice life style here, but I also know its not that different from my UK one , but I also know that there is more work and more money to be had in Europe at the moment than here… Unless your in farming, logging or oil, forget IT Canada has a neighbour with a huge highly trained surplus, that also goes for a lot of managerial jobs too…
If you’ve come form a grim industrial city in the Uk and moved to a smaller Canadian city then you’ll love it, but if you’ve decide to move from rural Devon or Derbyshire to a major Canadian city you may be in for a horrible shock.. our cities are becoming more and more like our neighbours down south as the culture travels across the border on the likes of MTV etc.. Much as Canada hates the comparison its slowly becoming a slower version of the states… a simple comparison of a mall or a car park, or a new housing estate, you’d be unable to tell which side of the boarder your on!!
If your lifestyle expectations really match the Canadian way of life you’ll thrive here, if you’re expecting a noticeable improvement in conditions then sorry you’ll most likely be disappointed.. if you think you’ll be richer.. you’ve picked the wrong continent.
Canada is a lot like the UK in most factors, on average its much the same, houses are cheaper because land is cheaper and they’re built cheaper .
You can buy products here that are cheaper than you can buy in the UK but its almost always reflected in the quality, the same goes for produce in the shops.. you can shop in “No Frills� cheaper than you could in the UK, but then again no shop in the UK would be allowed to sell produce of that quality, but the likes of “Fortinos� and “Loblaws� compare to a “Sainsburys� and “Tescos� on both quality and price.
We’re about tens years behind the UK in technology in the home and about 5years in business, to some that a plus to, me it’s a frustration .
As for Crime yep its lower here about 80% of the crime in the UK but factor in most of Canada is rural and most of that crime occurs in the cities and the majority of that crime is violent crime against the person.. then that picture changes quickly when you get here… people are murdered by gun fire in Toronto so regularly it doesn’t make headline news anymore
Me I’m lucky I negotiated a package that matched my UK salary and gave me 4 weeks holiday to boot so I’ve got a nice life style here, but I also know its not that different from my UK one , but I also know that there is more work and more money to be had in Europe at the moment than here… Unless your in farming, logging or oil, forget IT Canada has a neighbour with a huge highly trained surplus, that also goes for a lot of managerial jobs too…
If you’ve come form a grim industrial city in the Uk and moved to a smaller Canadian city then you’ll love it, but if you’ve decide to move from rural Devon or Derbyshire to a major Canadian city you may be in for a horrible shock.. our cities are becoming more and more like our neighbours down south as the culture travels across the border on the likes of MTV etc.. Much as Canada hates the comparison its slowly becoming a slower version of the states… a simple comparison of a mall or a car park, or a new housing estate, you’d be unable to tell which side of the boarder your on!!
I totally agree with you MikeUk
Jan 12th 2005 | 10:45 am
#14
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,153
From: Ontario, Canada
Re: ok, here we go with the homesick blues!!
I'm homesick for England and I just never realised it would hit me as hard as it has. Honestly if it were that simple I'd have gone back home yesterday. But for me it's not simple because we have bought a house here that I could never have afforded in the UK and my wife is Canadian so she is now back at home after being in England for four years. Personally I'm glad that I don't have an easy route back because I really want to make a go of it here. But I share that feeling of "not fitting in" but for no particular reason. We have nice neighbours, my daughter has settled into her school really well and interestingly it's the other way around for her because she feels under less pressure than when she went to school in the UK. So everyone's experiences are going to be different.
For me, I aim to take on the Canadian way of life as much as possible but satisfy my homesickness by watching the BBC World News Channel (I like the BBC's presentation of world news) listen to BBC Radio 5 online and buy the international weekly edition of one of the Brit newspapers. It doesn't make my homesickness worse it actually gives me some of the familiarity I pine for.
For me, I aim to take on the Canadian way of life as much as possible but satisfy my homesickness by watching the BBC World News Channel (I like the BBC's presentation of world news) listen to BBC Radio 5 online and buy the international weekly edition of one of the Brit newspapers. It doesn't make my homesickness worse it actually gives me some of the familiarity I pine for.
Jan 12th 2005 | 10:46 am
#15
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,239
From: Mid West >> UK
Re: ok, here we go with the homesick blues!!
Well thought out MikeUK. I think when emigrating you have to consider your motivating factor for wanting to do this. If its a lifestyle change then you can change your lifestyle wherever you live, you dont need to move across the world to do this. If its because you have a genuine interest to live in another country, as long as you arm yourself with the true facts you will have more of a chance of succeeding. Homesickness for friends and family is always overlooked when they are nearby. If your moving because you think Canada/Australia or the US is just like England but without all the problems that you see in the media, then you will be in for a surprise.
