I’ve been in Canada since July on a Working Holiday Visa.

In our media, Canada is always portrayed as a dream country. Yes of course, it’s beautiful here (Rockies, nature) but it also has a lot of downsides.

The quality of food is incomparable to my home country and the food prices are even higher here.

I thought rent prices back home were high, but here (except for small towns on the prairie), you have to share an apartment with 3 people and still pay the same amount as getting a 2-bedroom apartment alone back home.

Then 5 weeks of paid vacation + 11 paid holidays (weekends are generally free, there is no business open at Sundays), when you’re sick, you’re sick, but you still get paid.

Canadians are polite that is true, but what I’ve noticed is that people often make false promises just to be nice.

Making friends here as a foreigner is challenging and perhaps I’m homesick being on the other side of the world.

I’m considering abandoning everything and flying back home. While at first it was really nice here (especially the traveling in the summer), the drawbacks are becoming apparent.

Additionally, my education isn’t recognized here and honestly I don’t want to work at Tim Hortons or Walmart just to „survive“ and with much lower QOL than in Europe.

But on the other hand, I’m afraid of missing out if I fly back home now.

Idk what i should do :(

Any suggestions?

  • fairygodmotherfckr@alien.top
    BEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    What are you afraid of missing out on, OP?

    I will say you’ve not been there long, and (for me) the five-month mark is the hardest time of a relocation. I am dazzled by a new environment at first, but that fades, and then I see all of the downsides and miss my old home and friends desperately.

    If you keep going, you will very likely find way to make a life for yourself in Canada.

    But there is no shame in turning back, and TBH that seems to be what you want, understandably.

    • Styria1998@alien.topOPBEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      I’m here because I’ve always wanted to explore North America and do something what’s way different than my usual daily routine.

      Stepping far out of my comfort zone to personally grow.

      I mean, I lived in the same small town for 25 years and used my vacation to travel to Croatia or Italy. Once I went to Sweden and Norway, which used to feel like a very big trip for me, but now it’s not longer a problem after i know the distances here in NA.