I believe people move in the search for something better, or to escape from something bad. Certainly my life back home was much easier in many ways - I had my family and friends, an apartment, a car, a good job, and weekend trips on my bicycle :) But there was so much every day that at first annoyed me, then I fought it, uselessly, then I got angry and desperate. The corrupt services for anything from doctor's certificate to a new passport, the lies in the news and in people's mouths, the cynicism at work with government officials, the queues to fuel the car, the inevitable quarterly price increases for everything ('because dollar has grown'), the lack of water, electricity and gas in my parent's rural house, the fact that one couldn't just buy online a train or a plane ticket from one city to another as the banking system does not work (after 25 years of efforts) and one needs to go in person with one's passport, stand in a queue (on that note my compatriots don't know how to queue) and talk to a salesperson who has no customer service training and 95% of the time tells that there are no tickets available, that one day a mayor can issue an order to remove all garages, force people to sell them for pennies and put their cars in paid open air parking lots, and 6 months later cancel that order, the list could go on. Nothing can be done or bought or sold or travelled to easily back home. There is always "but". And I havenât event touched politics.
So what about Canada? It is certainly not easy for a newcomer, even for someone like me, with language, education, experience, travelled internationally, with some money in bank account. Despite numerous support services for immigrants (language classes, CV writing, etc.) finding a job at the same level and in the same sector is a challenge. One needs Canadian degree, Canadian experience, Canadian references/connections/networks. Nobody will say that but everybody assumes this. So I volunteered for weeks and finally have started working as a temporary contractor (aka not staff) for a big telecom company, doing a basic job not related to my background, but hopefully opening doors to some other opportunities. The company has just 30% female employees, there is big scope for gender work here, but no power and no mechanisms, as it is a private company. So far I only send articles raising gender inequality awareness among colleagues.
Canada is also a very expensive country, for many things, but real estate especially. A simple studio or one bedroom apartment, not even in city centre, starts from 500K CAD. I can only dream of owning anything here ever. So I guess those two things would be what I do not like here.
However, a lot of things are easy and straightforward (as they should be) that I am often in awe - opening a bank account, getting a library card, a health card, a driving license, a doctor's appointment, a flue shot, you name it. There is a website, with list of documents, addresses and working hours and even estimated waiting times!
I am amazed at the diversity here, most of my new acquaintances and friends came from outside Canada, short or long time ago :) I really don't know anybody who is truly Canadian (ok, maybe I know 1,5 person). It is hard to feel like a foreigner here. I like the new Primer Minister (not just for the looks!), the programs and the diverse Cabinet (one day I saw a picture of one the ministers who wore Uzbek textile blouse to the parliament - turned out she immigrated from Afghanistan). The PMâs daily agenda is on a website, accessible for public! Certainly happy to have landed here rather than further south. I have never been afraid to walk home from subway at any time of the day. Nobody comments on how I look or speak or vehemently object that I speak on gender equality topics.
It is a breathtakingly beautiful country and I have only hiked in dozen provincial parks of Ontario. I saw a lot of wildlife and met very interesting people during these trips.
I find a few things funny and hilarious in everyday life. (Most) People are friendly and very polite. Everybody, including a random librarian, greets "Hello, how are you?" A simple "hello" does not count. Everybody apologizes and thanks for anything and everything all the time, this can be tiring at times. My boss often says "Happy Monday (or Tuesday or any other day)". While I believe only Friday can be happy at work :) The subway often has delays (due to mechanical issues, accidents, investigations) but they always explain the reason and apologize (of course!). When I complained to them in Twitter that it had been 2 months since air-conditioning was not working in some train carriages, they immediately responded - profusely apologized and explained that they were working hard on having it repaired. I mean they have a Twitter account and they respond! On New Year's night the transport was free and ran all night, so that people could get home safely after drinking! I know these are simple things but I can't stop smiling.
There are also so many (often free) events all the time - open air cinema all summer, food festivals, parades, speed mentoring events, Christmas markets, guest lectures, light festivals, air shows, etc.etc.etc. The first 3 months of my stay here, I did not have a job but often my life was busier than now - I had an event to attend every day.
A lot of people come to Canada for an opportunity. It is not given easily but it seems to be possible. I don't know how I will feel in a few months, when my contract ends, in case I don't find something more fulfilling professionally and financially. I guess I can always go back home. But for now I want to try. I only regret not having done this leap earlier, to have more time to catch up with those who came before me :)
