Hello SFD,
Wonderful news to hear that you are doing good and soon will be moving forward towards more freedom, better education and above all lots of space to grow and hopefully to have your children to be growing up in a better place, not that the current one is bad but sure Canada is a better place for young children to grow up, educate and be part of the big wide World. After all, most people here and now and in future who plan for such move, do this eventually for their own children! so someday they can be who they want and never need to worry about anything, right?
I honestly have to say that I need some time to start writing here again given I can assure everybody what an impact my return has had on my own life due to the short stay in Canada and things I learnt there and the huge differences in all aspect of life between there and here!!!!!
Once I start to talk about these new findings and changes, you bet this whole tread will start to live its own life. I mean, really, before my move to Canada, I was way too naive as I now can look back and say I was! then in Canada I started to grow up and learn things I 'd never seen or experienced before and I was shocked, not by the culture, but by other aspects of life as discussed quite a lot over here, but when you return to your own place after such dramatic changes and encounter people, places and mindset as if nothing ever happens and all that is happening around the globe is happening to others and never causing havoc on your life bla bla bla, you start to think and sometimes I am disgusted by how silly people are, who stupid they can be and how much they really can complain for no reason at all!
I really have some harsh times at work as to smile and be kind to these Dutch colleagues who complain about the Coffee or the Weather all the time, while they only work from 9 to 4 and live close to work, have a company car, free, pay hardly much for internet, tv, phone, rent, bla bla bla, have 5 weeks of holiday and all paid as well and as soon as they feel a headach, they call in sick or complain about their hotel or holiday weather or the food oh gosh ... you name it! they work 5 minute overtime and they want full compensation etc.
I was like that too, a bit, myself, but no longer, not any more. Now I work and I don't take anyting for granted! I come home late, encounter my neighbours are having dinner and already at home and doing their own chores looking at me with awe and amazed that I leave home at 7 and come back at 7 and work 60 km away from home as wel! They ask me how I can keep up to par with such life and all, but they have no idea how difficult life elsewhere can be like in Canada and how much suffering there can be!
I see you guyes, hear your stories, remind me of those of you who have been through much worse in life and now also trying to find your way and then am thankful and try not to complain! but just to adjust and be a survivor. Now, being a survivor in a first class nation that is so lazy like hell, isn't such a big deal though!
And I hate the fact that I hear my neighbours mouth talk bad about people from Poland, Ukraine, I don't know wherever who is not from here while I do have them at work and see how good they are, how hard they work and how flexibel they are, I 've seen many of many colors and nations in Toronto too who want to work hard but have no work, can't find one and nobody does care about their talents or they abilities either but they don't complain and start low and get to somewhere good eventually too! ...
Gosh ... it is so much I didn't know and I now know, so many thing I never saw but I saw and now see ... such a big wide gap between two first class nations in so many ways ...
I do regret the fact that sadly, still to this day, my surroundings here isn't that colorful as there. Now I appreciate it more, I want it to be a bit more vibrant as there, I regret that being a foreigner here is that you have to integrate and shut up and don't say much about yourself, do not do that what you like and be like the rest, boring! isn't it?
There is no Halloween, no Thanksgiving, no Labour Day, not Veteran's Day, no Canada Day, no this no that! ... just the regular stuff and if there is any, it is only in Amsterdam on a much smaller scale! tell people you are from India or China or I don't know where else and they will run away. Distances are much wider here, while on the other hand, if you can speak the language nicely and live here for some time, you can find a job in way that is honest and is tailored to your education as I see it also at my own work. That regardless of age and race or whatever, if you have the right degree and want to get in, they do offer you a good position regardless. No entry level but on your own level! .... but then again, you are new, at work and in a new city, and it won't be easy to make friends. Colleagues go home and forget about you, you are back at home and neighbors don't know you and aren't interested either and the rest of the people doesn't care much either because you look different. But in Toronto, no, such won't happen! you make friend with whoever you want and you will be whoever you want.
Here ... you get money, peace, work, fun and a big home, but also loneliness and will be subject to boredom!
Anyway ... wish we had the two of both worlds combined.
I therefore did my best to hire a Chinese girl from China who was a newcomer and I did, but she sadly couldn't cope with the job and much enjoyed the Irish woman later too ... ... if I have to hire again, you bet I will first look for a "newcomer" rather than an indiginous one!
Canada was the best school I could imagine and hope to be back there soon again as to study and work for short while and be back again whenever I want and can afford it. LOL
good luck to all of you
