For those that landed..was it difficult adapting?

[Ryffa_Q]

Hi anyone,

Just curious on updates from those who has been approved and landed...my hubby has warned me before when we were deciding on who is going to move where (Canada vs Malaysia) that I may not be able to adapt to the 'North American' way or the new environment i.e. not having family and friends, not having my education and skills recognized, having to start my career from scratch, being financially dependent on him and savings until I can get a job, so would like to know first hand from those who has experienced it. I have been to Canada for a short visit and I do like it there (don't like the conversion rate though LOL), but I guess going on holiday and actually living there is a diff ball game. Don't get me wrong, fully aware of what I am giving up back home (which is a lot), but i would still do it because I just want us to be together and start being a real family and he can't move here for another 2-3 years (business reasons). All am looking for is just feedback from personal experiences.

many thanks in advance...

 

[aerogurl87]

I havent "landed" yet. But I am here in Canada on a 1.5 year work visa. I will say that moving to another country was hard. Its been hard adjusting to life here. The first three months I was miserable because I missed my old culture, friends, family, and the weather from my hometown. But if you go out and try to meet people and find hobbies, it gets easier. I was lucky because my boyfriend's family has been super supportive, they try to include me in alot of family events and ask me to hang out with them. So thats helped alot. I also live in a small town, so if you moved to a major city it would probably be easier to adjust to life here.

 

[Junglist82]

I am originally from England, and went to study in Canada for 3 years.

It was the best thing I ever done. I had never been to Canada before that and didnt know what to expect.

I had no problems making friends and people in general are so great.

I met my girlfriend in college and we later married. But after comparing the 2 countries I would rather live in Canada. It has more to offer, and its just a better way of life over there.

I cant wait to go back next month.

 

[QCSunshine]

I have been here in Quebec almost 2 years now, and I landed in May. Though I have lived in other countries before (for up to three years), moving somewhere permanently feels very different, which surprised me. I have found it challenging to make new friends because I have not yet started working, and because it's in my non-native language. Thankfully, I get along well with my husband's family and friends so that is a huge help. I started looking for work in July, and have lined up a part-time, temp job that will start up this fall, so that went smoothly. It's not in my preferred field, but I think I will like it and it will give me some Canadian work experience. And I will have time to continue to figure out a way into my preferred field...

I am so thankful to have landed, but I guess building a life and larger community outside the home takes time.

 

[GetUsHome]

I am originally from Canada and I immigrated to both England and the United States.

There is a transition period no doubt about it. But you need to get out and about. Take advantage of any free services available to you. Check the local paper for Book Clubs, Walking Clubs, or anything else that interests you.

I like playing tourist when I first get somewhere because once you settle in you seem to no longer go to the museums and art galleries.

And stay healthy. Get plenty of sleep and exercise because odds are you will get a bit depressed missing friends, family and maybe not working in your field straight off.

Good luck to you and your husband.

 

[Ryffa_Q]

Thank you all for the kind and supportive feedback. I'll keep them in mind when i get my PR approved, still a long way to go so just pschying myself up for the move. I've lived in UK and Australia before, but was younger and optimisic then

 

[GetUsHome]

ROFLMAO - I am with you there.

Thank you all for the kind and supportive feedback. I'll keep them in mind when i get my PR approved, still a long way to go so just pschying myself up for the move. I've lived in UK and Australia before, but was younger and optimisic then

 

[Ryffa_Q]

But i do agree with u on one thing getushome, once u settle down u wouldnt do the touristry things as when i went to visit hubby 2 years back, i took him to places he hasnt even been although he moved there more than 10 years!! But then again i was anal about my 3 weeks trip trying to fit in as many places i can go see LOL

 

[pinklady]

Where will you be moving to?

 

[MandyUK]

I moved to Autralia as a £10 pom back in the 60's and we came back to the Uk when i was 9, I have never settled back here since then, when I met my Canadian husband we stayed in Canada for 2 years before coming here to the Uk to live, he was here 10 years and has now returned back to Canada. I cant wait to return and have longed for this day for years. i will be leaving family (daughters and grandchildren, sisters brother mom and dad) but I have never been happy in the Uk and I find moving (whether near or far) and adventure. That probably sounds a bit immature for someone my age, but its true, I love the sense of going somewhere new, meeting new people, starting afresh.
I think you have to embrace these things to make it work, of course I will get homesick, miss my family but I know they will come see me, and they are happeir knowing I am happier.
Be prepared for the homesickness, i dont care who you are or how much you wanted to move, it will still hit you. But if you can work through it, and you can get on with life and enjoy what Canada has to offer, I believe you can make it work.

 

[Bangkokcanuck]

many thanks in advance...

I think obviously it is a really personal thing, how well one adapts or not, but it also depends on your goals and wants in your new country. I found adapting to Thailand very hard, although I do speak the language to an acceptable level for getting around it is not the same as being fluent. Plus things are done very differently in third world countries and not having a "rule of law" to work with makes it tough. It took me a couple of years but I can say that by the end I had fit in pretty well, or as well as could be expected.

For my wife going to Canada it will be different as we have no plans for her to work with a pre-schooler in the house and as I tend to travel a fair bit on business I always take them with me. But once school starts and she has her whole day to fill she has many plans to take more English classes and of course it helps there is a Thai Society of BC so she will be able to join in with people from her own culture and keep up on things back home. Also important in her case is that she is very anxious to get out of Thailand, not believing it can provide the type of life she wants for our son, so is rather determined to make it work and having been there twice before for extended trips (2 months each time) she is well aware what awaits her.

I would just suggest you take it slow and try to do things that you find interesting and you will then come across people that share at least one thing in common and take it from there.

 

[GetUsHome]

Bring on the immaturity. I have been moving since the day I left home. My only regret is I never lived in Singapore.

And I also read somewhere that children that move in the 10-12 range have problems with settling into their new environment.

My cousin says it is true and she was never really happy in Canada and moved home to England in her 30's.

I moved to Autralia as a £10 pom back in the 60's and we came back to the Uk when i was 9, I have never settled back here since then, when I met my Canadian husband we stayed in Canada for 2 years before coming here to the Uk to live, he was here 10 years and has now returned back to Canada. I cant wait to return and have longed for this day for years. i will be leaving family (daughters and grandchildren, sisters brother mom and dad) but I have never been happy in the Uk and I find moving (whether near or far) and adventure. That probably sounds a bit immature for someone my age, but its true, I love the sense of going somewhere new, meeting new people, starting afresh.
I think you have to embrace these things to make it work, of course I will get homesick, miss my family but I know they will come see me, and they are happeir knowing I am happier.
Be prepared for the homesickness, i dont care who you are or how much you wanted to move, it will still hit you. But if you can work through it, and you can get on with life and enjoy what Canada has to offer, I believe you can make it work.

 

[Bangkokcanuck]

Bring on the immaturity. I have been moving since the day I left home. My only regret is I never lived in Singapore.

Interesting and OT I know but curious why? I love to visit SG and do it a few times a year, but could never imagine living there for a whole bunch of reasons, but you do have me curious as to what you see about that causes you that regret?

 

[GetUsHome]

I think it was the romanticism of Raffles and the Singapore Sling as a youngster that started it. Then having worked for a few years with Asian factories I found that my counterparts in Singapore were wonderful people. And from a practical note the use of English was appealing. I am sure the reality is much different from my dreams.

Interesting and OT I know but curious why? I love to visit SG and do it a few times a year, but could never imagine living there for a whole bunch of reasons, but you do have me curious as to what you see about that causes you that regret?

 

[Ryffa_Q]

Where will you be moving to?

vancouver! I take it that would mean supporting the canucks? or did i fail my assimilation test already...but i can proudly say i've been to most of tourist spots in vancouver, as highlighted on tripadvisor that is...

On the moving when in your 10-12s, i moved to the UK at that age and did faced racism in school (and fist fights with boys in the locker rooms...tough chick i know hahHaha) but also found life long friends that still keeps in touch till today, it was worse coming back home and trying to re-adapt when you have lost a few years of what is 'culturally' acceptable for a teenager to behave in malaysia then

No comment on singapore...i only like its great big sale and chilli crab but then again I dont like KL either except for the food...



aussie was in uni days so that was ofcourse all fun and long summers holidays...