Comments on: How To Survive Your First Year In Canada (8/10) http://correresmidestino.com/how-to-survive-your-first-year-in-canada/ Snowed under since 2004! Sat, 11 Feb 2012 16:57:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Zhu http://correresmidestino.com/how-to-survive-your-first-year-in-canada/comment-page-4/#comment-27562 Zhu Thu, 07 Apr 2011 13:14:50 +0000 http://correresmidestino.com/?p=1241#comment-27562 Honestly, there are immigrants from all over the world in Canada. I know Toronto has a large Indian population and so does Ottawa to a lesser extent. Big cities (which typically have universities welcoming foreign students) have the largest immigrant communities. I also know a few blogger from India who settled in Canada, you may want to check this blog http://priyank.com/weblog/ and this one http://bharari.net/. Honestly, there are immigrants from all over the world in Canada. I know Toronto has a large Indian population and so does Ottawa to a lesser extent. Big cities (which typically have universities welcoming foreign students) have the largest immigrant communities.

I also know a few blogger from India who settled in Canada, you may want to check this blog http://priyank.com/weblog/ and this one http://bharari.net/.

]]> By: Jivan http://correresmidestino.com/how-to-survive-your-first-year-in-canada/comment-page-4/#comment-27559 Jivan Thu, 07 Apr 2011 06:38:23 +0000 http://correresmidestino.com/?p=1241#comment-27559 Hi ZHU im aplyin for student visa there. Can u tell me in which part of canada I find indian or nepalese so tht I could easily be familier with these people. Im from Nepal Hi ZHU im aplyin for student visa there. Can u tell me in which part of canada I find indian or nepalese so tht I could easily be familier with these people. Im from Nepal

]]> By: Zhu http://correresmidestino.com/how-to-survive-your-first-year-in-canada/comment-page-4/#comment-14360 Zhu Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:13:22 +0000 http://correresmidestino.com/?p=1241#comment-14360 Hi Denise, Thanks for your question! As for standard of living, I haven't live in Europe in a few years myself but each time I go visit my parents in France, I notice that prices are generally higher there. Groceries, housing, insurances etc. is cheaper in Canada. Yes, heating bills are more in the winter. However, we try our best to reduce it by adding a few blankets, not using the air-con too much in the summer etc. It also depends where you plan to live. Toronto is always more expensive. Ottawa is a bit cheaper but it's still a bubble, since a lot of people living there have a steady and relatively higher income thanks to government jobs. Money-wise, I'm pretty sure that if you can survive in Europe, you can survive in Canada. But the psychological aspect of moving back to Canada may be tougher. I'm sure the country changed since you lived there, and it hasn't, well, you may have :-) You are bound to feel some disappointments because you may feel your dream life there may not be as good. It's basically a new experience for you. If I were you, I'd come here for a little trip, see if I can meet some old friends, check the standard of living etc. And then I'd make a decision. Places change, people change... Good luck! Hi Denise,

Thanks for your question!

As for standard of living, I haven’t live in Europe in a few years myself but each time I go visit my parents in France, I notice that prices are generally higher there. Groceries, housing, insurances etc. is cheaper in Canada.

Yes, heating bills are more in the winter. However, we try our best to reduce it by adding a few blankets, not using the air-con too much in the summer etc.

It also depends where you plan to live. Toronto is always more expensive. Ottawa is a bit cheaper but it’s still a bubble, since a lot of people living there have a steady and relatively higher income thanks to government jobs.

Money-wise, I’m pretty sure that if you can survive in Europe, you can survive in Canada. But the psychological aspect of moving back to Canada may be tougher.

I’m sure the country changed since you lived there, and it hasn’t, well, you may have :-) You are bound to feel some disappointments because you may feel your dream life there may not be as good. It’s basically a new experience for you.

If I were you, I’d come here for a little trip, see if I can meet some old friends, check the standard of living etc. And then I’d make a decision. Places change, people change…

Good luck!

]]> By: Zhu http://correresmidestino.com/how-to-survive-your-first-year-in-canada/comment-page-4/#comment-14359 Zhu Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:05:12 +0000 http://correresmidestino.com/?p=1241#comment-14359 @Annie - Thank you Annie! Hope you found it useful. @zunnur - It takes time to everybody actually... I mean, even Americans or British, who are closer to Canadian culture, experience come culture shock. @Brenda - Granted, Canada has the best heat system! @Gail at Large - And it's fascinating too, I find. Yes, adapting is tough but at the same time, it's such a cool and unique experience... @Celine - Sure, I'd love to share! @Annie — Thank you Annie! Hope you found it useful.

@zunnur — It takes time to everybody actually… I mean, even Americans or British, who are closer to Canadian culture, experience come culture shock.

@Brenda — Granted, Canada has the best heat system!

@Gail at Large — And it’s fascinating too, I find. Yes, adapting is tough but at the same time, it’s such a cool and unique experience…

@Celine — Sure, I’d love to share!

]]> By: Denise http://correresmidestino.com/how-to-survive-your-first-year-in-canada/comment-page-4/#comment-14356 Denise Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:56:02 +0000 http://correresmidestino.com/?p=1241#comment-14356 Hi, I lived in Toronto 26 years ago when my children were small and my husband had a great job. Returned to Ireland when dad died to be with my mother. Now she has passed and I'm so homesick for Canada, but my children are all married with children and not prepared to come back with us. We are all Citizens, we lived there for 10 years. I would love to go back but am scared, of being lonely, the winters, the cost of living ( we are retired now and on a strict budget). Looking at some expats blogs electricity, insurance, heating bills, it seems to be really expensive now, so don't know if we could afford to live there again. Anyone able to enlighten me re: cost of living. I am in a real quandry, we have the opportunity to move to Spain, which is closer to my kids and grandkids, warmer climate, cheaper flights, yet I loved the Canadian lifestyle. Please give me your honest thoughts about this what would you do if in the same position, is that an unfair question, I would really welcome some honest opinions. Thanking you Denise Hi, I lived in Toronto 26 years ago when my children were small and my husband had a great job. Returned to Ireland when dad died to be with my mother. Now she has passed and I’m so homesick for Canada, but my children are all married with children and not prepared to come back with us. We are all Citizens, we lived there for 10 years. I would love to go back but am scared, of being lonely, the winters, the cost of living ( we are retired now and on a strict budget). Looking at some expats blogs electricity, insurance, heating bills, it seems to be really expensive now, so don’t know if we could afford to live there again. Anyone able to enlighten me re: cost of living. I am in a real quandry, we have the opportunity to move to Spain, which is closer to my kids and grandkids, warmer climate, cheaper flights, yet I loved the Canadian lifestyle. Please give me your honest thoughts about this what would you do if in the same position, is that an unfair question, I would really welcome some honest opinions.
Thanking you Denise

]]> By: Celine http://correresmidestino.com/how-to-survive-your-first-year-in-canada/comment-page-3/#comment-5790 Celine Tue, 21 Oct 2008 11:16:06 +0000 http://correresmidestino.com/?p=1241#comment-5790 Wow! I could direct those interested in immigration to Canada to read your informative posts giving practical and sensible advice. Wow! I could direct those interested in immigration to Canada to read your informative posts giving practical and sensible advice.

]]> By: Gail at Large http://correresmidestino.com/how-to-survive-your-first-year-in-canada/comment-page-3/#comment-5777 Gail at Large Tue, 21 Oct 2008 03:00:10 +0000 http://correresmidestino.com/?p=1241#comment-5777 I recently received an email from a guy in Spain interested in moving to Canada, and I directed him to your site! You know, I tell newcomers that the best guides are not really the native (as in, born-and-raised local) people, it's the other newcomers who arrived recently and the experiences are fresh. I've expatriated myself several times (Australia, UK, and USA), and wasn't born in Canada, so I know the feeling of being foreign even though I didn't have to learn a new language. (Although, in Australia and the UK, it was like learning a new language!) It's a feeling of isolation, but eventually you figure out how to get around, make some friends, and it gets easier. I recently received an email from a guy in Spain interested in moving to Canada, and I directed him to your site!

You know, I tell newcomers that the best guides are not really the native (as in, born-and-raised local) people, it’s the other newcomers who arrived recently and the experiences are fresh.

I’ve expatriated myself several times (Australia, UK, and USA), and wasn’t born in Canada, so I know the feeling of being foreign even though I didn’t have to learn a new language. (Although, in Australia and the UK, it was like learning a new language!) It’s a feeling of isolation, but eventually you figure out how to get around, make some friends, and it gets easier.

]]> By: Brenda http://correresmidestino.com/how-to-survive-your-first-year-in-canada/comment-page-3/#comment-5764 Brenda Mon, 20 Oct 2008 13:46:23 +0000 http://correresmidestino.com/?p=1241#comment-5764 Very nicely written! You should do this for a Canadian gov't website! One thing that I found difficult while living overseas, was that even in countries with much milder winters than Canada, I was always shivering inside! I sure missed central heat! Very nicely written! You should do this for a Canadian gov’t website! One thing that I found difficult while living overseas, was that even in countries with much milder winters than Canada, I was always shivering inside! I sure missed central heat!

]]> By: zunnur http://correresmidestino.com/how-to-survive-your-first-year-in-canada/comment-page-3/#comment-5760 zunnur Mon, 20 Oct 2008 12:32:07 +0000 http://correresmidestino.com/?p=1241#comment-5760 Hi Zhu, Its nice to read some real original tips from an experienced person. I think it will take some time for a person especially Asian to adapt to the new weather and culture. I just met a friend of mine who has migrated to Toronto and came back here for a holiday, and she was trying hard to adapt back to the warm weather of this country, sweating! Hi Zhu,
Its nice to read some real original tips from an experienced person. I think it will take some time for a person especially Asian to adapt to the new weather and culture. I just met a friend of mine who has migrated to Toronto and came back here for a holiday, and she was trying hard to adapt back to the warm weather of this country, sweating!

]]> By: Annie http://correresmidestino.com/how-to-survive-your-first-year-in-canada/comment-page-3/#comment-5756 Annie Mon, 20 Oct 2008 06:05:50 +0000 http://correresmidestino.com/?p=1241#comment-5756 Simply Wow! You are a true Canada immigration guide ;) Simply Wow! You are a true Canada immigration guide ;)

]]>