Thanks Raph for starting this topic area - and thanks Vibez_well & Geribubaboy for your replies so far.
I have a few questions for all of us, this is in no way to discourage any of us, please do not get me wrong here...
Weather: As much as I know, winters are very chilly with lots of snow - not very comfortable when you are not used to sub-zero temperature, that too for months together. Of course we can acclimatise, but should take a while...
See these: http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/USMO0602 and also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal#Climate
Jobs: Are there really enough for everyone? Are we sure it is not a case of "grass is greener..."? Read these: http://news.yahoo.com/canada-unemployment-rate-rises-august-142429507.html and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Canadian_provinces_by_unemployment_rate
Why do people love leaving their families (although initially), take a HUGE risk of not having a job, and then start hunting of their own? What if they do NOT get anything better than what they are currently doing?
I have been reading this thread religiously for the last month, and have seen Engineers, MBAs, Nurses, Doctors, Market Researchers and people from so many professions applying, most of them 30+ and mature professionals - am sure all of them are well settled in their respective countries/professions.
Savings: If you start backwards monthly, you get a decent accomodation at CAD 500 upwards, keeping aside your basic amenities costs at CAD 1500, savings of CAD 1000, misc expenses at another couple of grands, are you sure you will you get CAD 50000 yearly or above?
Why are we then going for it? Is it really worth it? Are we sure we will not end up in a 1BHK apartment amongst tall skyscrapers, struggling to make ends meet? Also consider the cultural differences that you, your spouse and your kid(s) will have to go through ... are we sure we will not be treated as second class citizens for life?
Look forward to an insightful and constructive discussion here.
Regards,