Rolf wrote:

>Hi Carlos.

>Coming from South Africa, I have adapted just fine to Canada. Been in
>Canada for 10 years now. I also spent a few years in England before I
>came here...
>Just some observations... based on my experience, and what I have
>observed in numerous friends and acquaintances in the past.

>1. Going to any country will have unique problems to overcome, whether
>it is language, culture, climate, legal, etc.
>2. Wherever you go you will experience some 'common' problems - no
>'local' work experience will always be a problem
>3. Some people 'cut it', and some fail - I have seen people I thought
>were well settled suddenly decide they can't keep it up any more, and leave.
>4. Luck can have more of an impact than good management - a friend came
>to Canada 2 years ago, well qualified, great experience, and took 18
>months to get a job with the recession. His wife, with similar
>qualifications, was working in a great job within a few weeks.

Points noted, and agreed.

>Your 'success' in a foreign land is almost certainly related to your
>attitude though. How hard you're willing to try, etc. Basically, your
>personal '?' factor.

That seems to be the consensus.

>The weather in Canada is nothing to be scared of (at least in my
>experience).... sure, it gets cold, but that's just cold. If you learn
>to 'embrace' it, the cold is great. I have taken to cross-country, and
>down-hill skiing, which are both fantastic activities. The kids toboggan
>all the time, and out-door winter activity is easy to do, and great fun.
>Snow is actually dry (at least until it melts), and well-managed, it is
>a lot of fun. I actually find that Toronto is uncomfortably hot at
>times, but that seldom lasts for a week at a stretch, so it is also
>manageable.

It all sounds reasonable to me.

>The health-care is remarkable in Canada. The most expensive part of
>having both our children was the parking.... same is true for having my
>gall-bladder out, etc. (OK, it's paid for from taxes). People complain
>about the system, and it does have some issues, but people complain
>about anything, and show me a system that is without issue...

Noted.

>As a casual observation, my major motivations for leaving South Africa
>were crime and opportunity... For Canada, and Australia, you can get a
>feel for each of those by reading up on the news:

>http://www.thestar.com/  <-- the Toronto star - note that there is no
>violent crime in the major headlines...
>http://www.smh.com.au/ <-- Sydney morning herald - 3 of top 5 stories
>are murder (or attempted)....

Sigh. I wish those where the headlines here.

Thanks for the info, Rolf.

Regards,

Carlos.
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