Should I continue living in Canada?
Well, I’ve always wanted to live in Canada for the rest of my life… because I was born here. It’s got free health care among a lot of other great stuff that I just can’t think of at the moment. From time to time, I would dream of living in Asia someplace. I’ve always wondered how I would be like, if I were to grow up in my hometown, or somewhere in Asia. The thing is, I’ve never even been to Asia. It sounds spectacular. I love the fashion, the culture,.. everything.
On Chinese New Years, it would just be my family and some relatives celebrating together… Oh how I wonder how the streets would be in China. It wouldn’t just be a few houses with some people getting together and celebrating, instead, it’d be the whole country!
I, a Chinese born Canadian, have always wondered what it would be like to live there. Right now, I’m thinking about if I should move to Taiwan, China, or Korea, after I graduate from university here (Only grade 12 right now).
Now, I actually know nothing about their rules, or laws there, I was wondering if anybody could tell me how much more different it is there than in Canada?
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Have you ever visited China?
Oh wait, I just read that you’ve never been to Asia.
I highly suggest visiting before moving. Scope things out, get to know the country. You may visit and decide you hate it, after all. Never know. Government censorship is the first thing that comes to mind when I think of China, then poor environmental regulations that result in bad air quality in some areas among other things.
I can tell you that so many ethnic Chinese from various countries continue to seek to come to Canada to live.
I hope you can find new Chinese-Canadians who can tell you why they came to live here and how their life has changed.
Being a “Hong Kong-er” for all of my life (which isn’t very long) I would actually like to see what life is like in Canada. The pollution here is intoxicating…and youth gangs are on the rise…with a teenagers killed. rambles on and on
Ok…about Chinese New Year. There isn’t much happening in the streets… but the resturants are filled with celebrating…with people crowding around and raising their glasses and you can hear toasts about every 5 seconds.
However Prices do tend to rise during Chinese New Year in Hong Kong…I don’t know if you would have that in mind but for some reason, my mother always has.
I suggest you set aside some time either after University or during the summers in order to travel. That way you can see what some of the other parts of the world are like. Start now to build up a travel fund so you can indulge when you graduate. My brother traveled for two years to find the place he wanted to settle down in. Much as he loved Brazil and Venezuela, he ended up opting for Austin, Texas.
Maybe vacation or even Peace Corp to start. If you really love it that much, then make your decision then. My daughter lived in Vietnam for a year teaching English. That could be an idea too.
You should think about going to teach English in Asia after you graduate from university.
I did it and it changed my life for the better.
If you want to teach English in Asia the Koreans pay the most. Are very friendly and fun to be around. And china is not far at all, you can go visit frequently between your breaks :)
I have a silly dream to live in Japan for a year. Practice martial arts all day and write.
Maybe I’ll do it in the future… should be fun. One of my close friends has moved there for two years.
All the best.
Surprisingly, this thread has helped me a lot. Things that may have been the first to pop into your head, was something that I probably would never have thought of. Thanks to all :P
I decided that I’m going to go to Taiwan with a friend, 2 years later, during the summer. Maybe live there for a couple of months and buy a ton of things and see what goes on there.
3 years later, I will travel to Korea. =D
And for right now, I’ll start asking people who have lived in Asia why they came here, and which they like better. ;)
Teaching English sounds like a wonderful idea, although I’ll have to think about it, because I’m not so fond of teaching.
A lot of people left Hong Kong just before the British lease ended because they were still part of the Commonwealth and thus allowed to move to other Commonwealth countries with little red tape, and because they feared what would happen when Hong Kong returned to Chinese control.
The worst fears seem not to have come true, and even mainland China itself is becoming more free as a society and as an economic system. However, compared to life in Canada, there are still many restrictions. Don’t mention Falung Gong to anybody
It will be interesting, educational, and fun to go overseas for a time, but be aware that it may never feel like “home.”
@Darwin, yeah, I talked to some “fresh off the boat” people, and they prefer Canada better. And my parents coming to Canada in the first place was tough as well, so I might as well stay. Lol, I did Falun gong for a while.
I am a Chinese born Canadian currently living in Toronto. I’ve been to many parts of China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan. Currently, I go to university in New York with Korean suitemates. One is from Vancouver and the other from South Korea. From my experience of American, Asian and Canadian living, I still believe that Canada is one of – if not the best – place to grow up, raise a family and retire. Well, at least I know for sure about the growing up part.
Life in Asia is completely different from Canada. I taught English in Sichuan for 2 summers and it was an amazing experience. Kids are very respectful, store owners are very nice to foreigners… As I write this, I am quickly realizing how much there is to write about since there is just so many unique cultural aspects of each place. Hong Kong is very different from China. Each part of China is culturally different from each other. Then Japan is like a different planet!
If you want details, I can write more about each country and specific aspects of them here later. Considering your latest responses, I really support visiting each place. Even though I love living in Canada, I look forward to each time my family goes on trips to Asia. I learn so much about everything each time I go. Although, as some of you have said, it never feels like home (even though I have many relatives there). I always feel slightly out of place – like looking through a window into Asian life and not really living it even though I’m Asian! That might also depend on how good your Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, Korean or Singlish skills are!
By the way, the value of Chinese food (especially Canton style food) is probably the best in Toronto and Vancouver. For the same quantity and quality of food in Hong Kong it’s much more expensive. Just a note!
Hopefully this long and rambling message gave you a very rough idea of the huge cultural differences.
Here’s a very interesting article about living and working in Japan. Although some parts are very negative, it does a good job of showing how hard it can be to be uprooted and forcibly planted in a new culture.
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