@GandiBaat @RSub @Taran D
Guys, I need your advice.
I see so much hate against Indians by Canadians on social media, it is freaking crazy! You can have a random post on Reddit about something from India, or something related to Indians and you'd see at least 10 hate comments from Canadians. I got my PR recently and have no clue if it's even a good idea or not to go to Canada. I spent so much time learning French from scratch (I speak fluently now) and one of the main reasons why I completed my Masters overseas was to get additional points for my PR.
Now that I have it and I see a constant barrage of news stories about the failed student visa program, extremely hateful comments on almost all Canadian news channels on YouTube and on Reddit. It feels like the quote "be careful what you wish for or you just might get it". Sure there are quite a few trolls on the internet but there are a lot of issues in the Canadian society and a lot of animosity against immigrants as well- once again, thanks to the student visa abuse.
As I said before, do not take Reddit that seriously. Especially /r/Canada. Even before whole Nijjar saga, it was a hotbed of "right wing" (more like "Raita wing") of Canada. If you want to not come to Canada it should be more guided by what Canada is today and less or rather none by what Reddit or Youtube comment say.
Hate on internet for Indians is an old thing. Its especially vicious if you go looking for it. Also a lot of "hate" on Indians is NOT by general or even old growth Canadians, its by Khalistanis or even sometimes by Pakistanis who are not even in Canada. There are a lot of combatants of SS Lahore Brigade 31 - Keyboard Division doing their God given duty in their holy war against India. Basically posting shit about India. Dont worry, Bihar Regiment - Twitter Division and Maratha Light Infantry - Reddit Division give a stiff and overwhelming response to all of them. They post equally demeaning shit about everything on this God's blue earth.
And then there is one more reason for hate against India on Internet. It pays to be hateful against India. Not in a conspiratorial manner... but in terms of engagement. On Twitter Youtube Quora if you post a single thing critical India, you will immediately invite some 600 million people armed with low cost 4G LTE or 5G (thanks to our good friends in Antilla) who are young and crazy patriotic and respond everything with a swift "NO U!". Why do you think so many videos are posted which are critical or hateful of India? Some are genuine, most are clickbait to encourage engagement. Its the #NewEconomy. Blame Elon Musk for monetising twitter.
If I do end up going to Canada, I'm thinking about immediately going to Quebec. Almost everyone told me to not even go even near the GTA. I'm 50-50 right now.
Honestly, it would be so sad to abandon this visa for which I spent so much time and money for. But at the same time I don't want to end up in a racist hellhole where different groups are fighting with each other. I spoke to @iSaidGoodDay about it as well and their experience is much better than what is shown online. But it does make me think that if there is so much open hatred and racism online in Canada against Indians, there certainly would be people in real life who feel that way and are waiting for the right opportunity to express their hatred in real life.
If I try for Europe now, it means spending another 5-7 years for a PR, with no guarantees.
Look, I have never been to Quebec, so I do not know how they roll but online hate should not be your criteria to choose or avoid any place. Look at language, jobs, medical care availability, housing, weather etc. A lot of places in Canada are facing a crunch of these and that should be your only Raison d'abandonner English speaking Canada. You have a job in Canada? It pays really well? Canada will be "Nice!", otherwise it will be struggle (which is also not bad but struggle none the less). You need care? Check the wait times. You know french? Might be fine in Quebec. You never faced snow and you are 50+? Avoid very cold part of Canada. You are in Software field and in middle management? Its a bit of crunch these days, bring more money, about 1 year worth of your living expenses or more. Thats how you do it.
I will not bat a single eye for reddit or twitter of all things. No Canadian politician (not even PPC) has said "We need to limit Indians coming here!" or anything even remotely close to it. BTW, if I see that becoming mainstream Canadian political discourse, I will take the first flight out of Canada.
I mean, its like this. People have asked me in a very sympathetic way in my mosque, "Oh, you lived in India!! Did you face violence? Did anyone try to lynch you?", to which I always say, No. Most folks, Muslim folks, moving out of India to Canada have seldom faced that. Not saying it does not happen and not saying it has not increased recently but its not as if Radio Rawanda is some kind of norm in India. Canada is ... well... it feels very absurd to even consider hate as a concern here. That should give you an idea of where the bar is.
The most concern I have felt in Canada is about buying a bike and my favourite SUV. Because apparently Canadian police has a very lax attitude towards bike theft and car jacking these days. I cannt buy my Range Rover Valar R-Dynamic due to rampant car jacking and it pains me everytime Modi ji rolls out in the black Rover like a boss and I am supposedly living in a first world country and can not even buy a middle class Valar due to fear of car jackers of all things! Yes, these are real issues of living in Canada. They should guide your choice and not what /u/BobbyMoosewalaGoKhalsa says on reddit.
If you come here, consider Canada to be EconomyPlus of first world and not business class and certainly not first class of first world. Its better but it needs to be much better. There are a lot of rough edges.
I will say what the great Isamu Alva Dyson once said "100 books on travel is not worth one real trip" and "Life without pain is not real". So do keep that in mind when you step out of your home country or come to canada.