The One Where I Considered Moving to Canada or The US
Posted by Jen, under UncategorizedA while ago, ok more than just a while ago but that really isn’t the point, I contemplated moving / emigrating abroad.
The 3 options were
Australia
As we know, because I go on about it quite frequently, my best friend moved to Oz in the last few years (then had the nerve to get married and abandon me! I know! Terrible!). As well as Jess several of my other friends have moved in that direction (including 2 only last week!) over recent months so it does have its pulls but I kind of discounted it as a one trick pony – weatherwise). Although I’m not a big winter fan I love it when it snows and I think I’d miss the 4 seasons we get here.
Australia, you are no longer in the running to become Jen’s next top model country!
The US
Growing up my parents had a house in Florida and we visited the US every year (generally starting at Florida then getting internal flights or driving to somewhere new each time) until I was about 16. There are pros and cons for wherever you live, but in general I liked it there. The USA is, in my opinion, a country filled with contradictions and I like things that way. Although it’s nice and “comfortable” to know what’s coming I like surprises and there are so many different sides and ways of living in the US I’m not sure I’d ever get bored. The downside being that the US has become increasingly difficult for foreign nationals (am I really a foreign national? We speak the same language and I know lots of you! Fine, call me foreign if you really want, but we both know it isn’t really true!) to get permanent working visas or green cards or whatever they’re called over there. To me, it’s a visa (and I don’t mean a debit / credit card!).
USA, you are still in the running to become Jen’s next top model country
Canada
Canada has always been, in a way, the easy option for me. One of my uncles (+ aunt and 3 cousins) moved to Canada a few years ago and they do have Canadian citizenship. My uncle was, when they moved to Canada a CEO of one of the largest (worldwide) mobile communications firms but now owns a very big IT firm and so could offer me a job and sponsorship, somewhere to stay and pretty much an easy ride – which is clearly a massive step ahead from life as it is now. But…Canada is very cold in the winter! My aunt sent me regular weather updates last winter and let’s just say it wasn’t pretty to say the least. Obviously the snow is pretty, but I cannot be doing with North Pole type temperatures (which to me is pretty much anything below -10c (yeah, that’s not even Fahrenheit!).
Canada, you are still in the running to become Jen’s next top model country
So, there were still 2 countries. I’m guessing you’re wondering why I’m still here, right? After looking into the visa situations, housing, finance and all that jazz I got looking into employment and employee rights – something I’m not really interested in but I figured as I would be going to a country I didn’t know I would probably get the short straw for being a “foreign national”….and in my opinion that is the way it should be. No-one should get a free ride (did you hear that British government???)!!
SHOCKEDis not a strong enough word to use here. Seriously, US/Canadian citizens, do you only get 2 weeks paid leave (for holidays) a year???? I know for some that wouldn’t be a major issue, but the fact is 1) you are a massive country, how the freakin hell do you get to explore all that the US has to offer in 2 weeks, let alone going abroad!? How do you manage??? Maybe I’m spoilt, with my 6 weeks, + national holidays, paid leave a year, but c’mon, 2 weeks???? 2) You must be freakin knackered!
Also, having to pay for ALL of your health care? My god, what happens to people who can’t afford the insurance?? I know we don’t exactly have the best system, but it’s a lot better than having to worry that you can’t afford something that you need to survive!! The NHS is made out to look a lot worse than it really is - working there I understand its flaws but seriously, at least I know that if I need an operation I don’t have to fill in loads of insurance papers and forms and things before they’ll even consider me.
Anyhoo, I’ve not made a final decision yet, it might take a couple of years – I like having 4 seasons and plenty of paid holiday…yes, I am greedy! But who knows!
(This was spurred on whilst on a days leave…being paid to blog and generally be a sloth!)
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We could swap! I’d live in England in a heartbeat.
But then how would we meet??
YES.
Thank gawd I work at an international company… I get 5.
5 isn’t too bad!! You did well there!
Hm..I’m in canada.
I think it really depends on your employer how much time you get off. And I’m in Ontario where have free healthcare
Woo…free healthcare all the way!
You should look up some of the cooler Aussie places (temperature wise, I mean). Not quite like the European snow but still. Standard holidays here are 4 weeks minimum. I am jealous of your 6 but agree 2 is wrong!
Haha…I forgot to say, it’s 6 weeks + flexi working, meaning the hours I do above the regular 9-5 with an hour for lunch are accumulated and equal days off when you have enough. So I can get quite a lot of time off. I think I’d miss that!!
What? 6 weeks paid leave? Are you frigging serious? Have you considered moving to SA???
If you ever do decide to come to the US I have a spare bedroom and a cute dog you could cuddle with.
We could be bloggie besties and roomies.
Life would be good, grand, wonderful.
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