Anyone been to/lived in Canada?

[z-layrex]

Just got out of a long relationship, so looking to make a fresh start.

Canada are advertising pretty heavily for experienced British Critical Care nurses, and I'm really tempted. I've always wanted to go there, cities like Toronto look amazing. The only thing holding me back is I have a pretty close group of friends here, and moving out there on my own would be pretty daunting and possibly very lonely/boring.

Anyone ever done anything like this before? How was it?

[marko]

Absolutely love the place. Been to Toronto, Niagara, Vancouver, Whistler, Banff and Calgary and they're all fantastic places.

Friendly people, beautiful country and I'd be off there in a heartbeat if I could.

[purpleronnie]

Why do people always look abroad, its all very odd to me.

I think sometimes feel anything different is better, some others spend holidays somewhere and assume thats what lifes like, until they need a job and have the same problems as they did here.

I know some who have moved elsewhere hated it and returned, but my brother in laws brother moved to canada and he seems to like it despite the cold.

I had enough of living abroad I need to be with family and I love england too much, I guess it depends on your circumstances, but its not always greener believe me.

Obviously you'll always get 2 stories some like it some dont, but the chances are you'll only hear from people who have moved and like it especially on forums like this one, which is very unbalanced.

[pSinatra]

I've got family living in Boston. They are always asking to come over & try my luck in America. I love Boston, but I've never had the balls to do it. Like you, I would not want to leave my friends & family. I sometimes think that I'm looking for excuses to stay here........in my comfort zone. I often have the feeling of 'what could have been'. It would take a major leap of faith, but it could be the best thing that ever happened to you.

I have been to Toronto & Montreal. I only stayed in each place for a couple of days, so I wouldn't know what it would be like to live there? I thought they were both decent.......but preferred Montreal & it seemed like there was a lot more going on.

Whatever you decide to do..........the best of luck!!!

[purpleronnie]

I've got family living in Boston. They are always asking to come over & try my luck in America. I love Boston, but I've never had the balls to do it. Like you, I would not want to leave my friends & family. I sometimes think that I'm looking for excuses to stay here........in my comfort zone. I often have the feeling of 'what could have been'. It would take a major leap of faith, but it could be the best thing that ever happened to you.

I have been to Toronto & Montreal. I only stayed in each place for a couple of days, so I wouldn't know what it would be like to live there? I thought they were both decent.......but preferred Montreal & it seemed like there was a lot more going on.

Whatever you decide to do..........the best of luck!!!

I guess if you have nothing then you might think I've nothing to lose, but I cant see how America would offer anymore than the UK would (and could be much worse...poverty, crime, unemployment all higher than the UK), just different scenery.

[pSinatra]

I guess if you have nothing then you might think I've nothing to lose, but I cant see how America would offer anymore than the UK would (and could be much worse), just different scenery.

I tend to agree with you & what you said in your earlier post. It's one thing going for a holiday........it's another living there!!

What seems to put me off the most is the fact that the British & Americans are such different people. We both speak English, but that doesn't make us the same. I don't think I could cope being in the company of Americans for any longer than a couple of weeks. I'm not saying that there is anything wrong with them...........it's just we are not the same & I prefer being with my family & friends.

[notnow john]

I have friends in Vancouver that I visit on a regular basis and I find British Columbia and Alberta fantastic.

Would I live there? Probably not as I'd miss family.

You need to ask yourself if you want the adventure or are you running away?

If its the adventure ,your skills are transferable, go for it.

[MC Prussian]

I've traveled across the country for several weeks back in 2002, came back to study in Vancouver in 2005/2006 and have nothing but praise for the country and its people.

The scenery's mostly stunning, the people very friendly and the cost of living moderate (depending on where you live). Health care's also rather decent.

To the East, you have great cities with tremendous flair. I've never been as far East as Nova Scotia or New Brunswick, but Toronto and especially Montréal are great places to live in.

Obviously, you also have a French influence in culture when you're in Québec, which I find fascinating (just like the Québecois accent).

The middle bit's a bit dull, once you get past Thunder Bay and the Great Lakes area, it's all slightly mundane (but still pretty in summer), all the way from Winnipeg to Calgary.

Still, I wouldn't miss out on visiting Lake Gimli during the hotter months of the year.

The Rocky Mountains can be exciting, I've been to Banff myself and would recommend visiting Emerald Lake.

Once you drive down the valley further West, it's nothing special until you reach Vancouver, which is a unique place. Covered by the mountains to its East and North and sharing a Pacific coastline, it's got everything you need.

Great nightlife, great scenery, great public transportation, Whistler's only two hours away by car if you feel like skiing or snowboarding.

You can get lost in Stanley Park, which is a HUGE recreational area.

And the U.S. border is only a few miles down the road. Which means day trips to the Seattle region.

Plus, taking the ferry to Vancouver Island is truly beautiful. Get a rental and drive all the way to Tofino. It's worth it.

Would I settle there? Definitely.

Personally, I'd recommend you travel there for a prolonged holiday and get a feel for the place before hastily deciding to make a move abroad.

[Finnegan]

I think you should always look at the world as a big, big place while you're young. Explore it all.

But I wouldn't make a decision like this in your current state of mind, personally.

Take a few months to calm down and get over your break up and then think about where you want your life to go.

Make sure you're making the decision based purely on what you want and not post-break-up emotions.

[The People's Hero]

I think you should always look at the world as a big, big place while you're young. Explore it all.

But I wouldn't make a decision like this in your current state of mind, personally.

Take a few months to calm down and get over your break up and then think about where you want your life to go.

Make sure you're making the decision based purely on what you want and not post-break-up emotions.

This is very good advice, but I would say the following... even if the decision is a little rash, it doesn't have to be permanent and its a great option to have to go and see a bit of the world.

[Vacamion]

I've been 5 times.

Once drove from Toronto to Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, via Quebec, New Brunswick and PEI.

It's a fantastic country with largely friendly people and great infrastructure.

If you are young enough to contemplate gadding about the globe, I say go for it whilst you have the health and desire to do so.

Do it for you, though, and not for feelings provoked by a break up.

I would add that whilst people miss their loved ones, the interweb makes it easier nowadays. When I lived abroad in the early 90s I had to queue for a public phone box, write letters which took 3 weeks to arrive and couldnt afford to pop back.

Nowadays you can Skype, text and keep in touch like never before.

Good luck, whatever you decide!

[Jon the Hat]

Canada is great. Vancouver my personal favourite but then I really love the ocean.

TPH has a point re making life changing decisions when you are upset, but a few weeks ago you were thinking of moving for a great job and to be closer to your ex. If you can do that for her you can certainly do this for you.

[The People's Hero]

Keep away from the Mounties. Something very sinister about them.

[Webbo]

I had a chance to apply for a job in NZ recently. I always thought I'd jump at such a chance but it didn't take me long to talk myself out of it. I guess I'll never know whether it was a good idea or not.

[Zingari]

Keep away from the Mounties. Something very sinister about them.

I think you may be mistaking them for Moonies .

[Bellend Sebastian]

I've spent years running away from my problems, it's what's kept me so fit.

Canada's all very well but there is the outside chance you could get killed by a bear, and it's also true what they said in South Park that people there say 'aboot' instead of 'about', and it makes it really hard to take them seriously as a result

[BunkMoreland]

Unless I was being paid a fortune I don't think I'd move somewhere with even colder weather than the UK. Say what you want about cultural experiences and all that jazz but fundamentally any real Brit only ever moves abroad on the promise of better weather and in some cases like Finnegan the opportunity to engage in sexual practices that could be frowned upon at home, but even then we won't go unless the weather is good.

[Captain...]

Do it!

What do you have to lose?

England will always be here, your true friends will be too.

The worst that can happen is you don't enjoy it and move back, but even then you will have much greater experience and be much more employable after experience working in another country, it will expand your horizons and in this day and age moving to another country is not real difference to moving to another city, especially if you are young and single (sorry about that). You may not be able to live away from home, it isn't always easy, but there are always ways of improving it and making it better, but even if you do hate it, you will know that, rather than wonder what if.

What is the best that could happen? Well everything that you could ever dream of.

Weighing up the possibilities you might as well take the risk, in one years time you could be back in England working for the NHS having had an adventure in Canada, or you could still be working for the NHS having never left the country, or you could be living a whole new life in Canada.

I would pick up an application form, and start the process, see where you end up, you will talk to people out there that have done this and maybe even go out there for an interview, you can always pull out of the interview process at any point.

[Finnegan]

Unless I was being paid a fortune I don't think I'd move somewhere with even colder weather than the UK. Say what you want about cultural experiences and all that jazz but fundamentally any real Brit only ever moves abroad on the promise of better weather and in some cases like Finnegan the opportunity to engage in sexual practices that could be frowned upon at home, but even then we won't go unless the weather is good.

Yeah, I'm well known for jet setting around to Amsterdam, Bangkok and the like. Well, except for the fact I've never been to either but sure.

I ****ing hate heat. My top three places to visit at the moment are Reykjavik, Copenhagen and Hokkaido (in the winter.) About melted in both Hong Kong and Malta in July and even Beijing and Tokyo in September I was a mess.

I can understand people wanting a relaxing holiday and some of the most beautiful places in the world also happen to be the hottest but I find beaches thoroughly boring and the idea of frying in the Caribbean or North Africa to be torture.

[BunkMoreland]

I was referring to your inclination towards anime-flavoured real dolls.

You must be one of those people who likes cold weather. I have a word for those people: cvnts.

[ithuriel]

If you have the opportunity then go for it, i looked at it ten years ago but did not have quite enough points.

From peeps i have spoken to it has a better standard of living or it did have :xmastongue:

Just remember you may very well get homesick so be prepared for that if you go :xmassmile:

[Finnegan]

I was referring to your inclination towards anime-flavoured real dolls.

You must be one of those people who likes cold weather. I have a word for those people: cvnts.

I have no idea what an anime flavoured real doll is. I assume you're dressing up somewhat blatant racism as edgy "banter?"

Are you going to give me the lecture about how I'm the racist for thinking you're a bigot again?

[My Nads]

Just got out of a long relationship, so looking to make a fresh start.

Canada are advertising pretty heavily for experienced British Critical Care nurses, and I'm really tempted. I've always wanted to go there, cities like Toronto look amazing. The only thing holding me back is I have a pretty close group of friends here, and moving out there on my own would be pretty daunting and possibly very lonely/boring.

Anyone ever done anything like this before? How was it?

No

[Tom17LCFC]

Go for it!! Like Captain Shrapnel said, worst that can happen is you don't like it, and if you don't you can come straight back but with a wider mindset and more employable!

In a few years time when I'm done at uni I fancy living abroad, be it permanently or for a year or 2, and Canada is one the places I'd love to go to, Vancouver looks incredible!

[Monk]

I've been over there a few times and love it. The cities are much more vibrant and have more character than their american counterparts across the border. Vancouver and the whole of BC is just stunning, and if you like the outdoors, this is probably the place to go. Toronto is a huge metropolis of a city but is still very pleasant. Montreal is also very nice but gets very cold and windy for a lot of the year. I LOVED Ottawa, it felt much like a european city, as did Quebec City. Anything in between Toronto and the rockies is dull as you could care to imagine. However back in 08 I took the train 500 miles north from Winnipeg to Churchill, where you can see Polar bears in the wild. Probably the single most amazing thing I've seen.

My advice - put your hand in your pocket and take a holiday there first. You will most probably fall in love with Vancouver and see the possibilities in terms of activities.

Good luck.