De vez en cuando, habrán visto algunos lectores, aparecen por aquí comentarios en inglés. Es que, a pesar que no participan mucho, Los Ziegler tienen unos pocos lectores canadienses.
XUP, Nat y alguno que otro más, suelen darse una vuelta cada tanto y, Google de por medio, tratan de interpretar las notas y dar su opinión. Tras bambalinas, estos lectores y otros canadienses anónimos que uno conoce, suelen ser ávidos colaboradores de quien les habla. Les interesa hablar de su país y sus cosas, responder mis preguntas y contarme detalles que luego yo les transmito a ustedes. Digamos que, muchas veces, este blog es un puente entre ambas culturas. Ya lo habíamos intentado el año pasado con cierto éxito, cuando entre todos hicimos aquellas preguntas para canadienses en la serie “Speak Up!”
Para hoy, quería proponerles que sean ustedes los que les hablen a estos canadienses. Me gustaría que demostremos algo de reciprocidad hacia estos amigos anónimos que, aparte, forman parte de esta gran comunidad que les está abriendo las puertas de su país. Qué les parece la idea?
Contales por qué elegiste Canadá!
Estuve charlando con ellos y les encanta la idea de escucharlos, de saber de ustedes, de sus cosas y sobre como sienten Canadá, su país. Estoy seguro que XUP, Nat y los demás se sentirán muy bien al leer sobre ustedes, así que me gustaría muchísimo que se animen a dejar en los comentarios algún mensaje para ellos.
Les dejo algunas ideas de lo que sé es lo que mas curiosidad les provoca… Podrían contarles por qué han querido dejar su país, por qué han elegido Canadá como su destino, si hay algo de Canadá que ha sobrepasado sus expectativas (algo que esperaban encontrar y que ha resultado mejor de lo que imaginaban) o si hay algo que los ha desilusionado.
Deja el comentario en el idioma que te parezca apropiado, estoy seguro que lo van a apreciar!
Vamos! Anímense! Demostremos algo de reciprocidad hacia nuestros amigos canadienses y aprovechen este puente que les estamos brindando!
Bonus track en el sidebar: un film de 4 minutos y algo llamada Reciprocity
Pic by tiny white lights
Agrega tu comentario a la discusion aqui!
Agrega tu comentario a la discusion aqui!
Si on peut opter, l’aile française préfère les commentaires en français
Donc…?
First of all, it is a great idea if they are really willing to hear about it.
1. WHY I LEFT: When I applied (Feb ’03) I barely made the ends meet, although I was doing really well before leaving (July ’05). My wife never got a job as a journalist in our country.
2. WHY CANADA: Based on job stability, opportunities for our kids and personal safety/security we wanted a developed country and then and we compared their immigration programs (support, integration, path to citizenship). It was between Australia and Canada. Canada is closer, Canada has diplomatic offices in my country.
3. PRECONCEIVED IDEAS: It’s hard to say now because I’m already adapted to what I see here. I think I was expecting something similar to what I found. Anyway, you have to compare to somewhere you know, in my case, USA and not my country which is quite different.
I’ve been able to cope with the winter (sometimes too long).
Compared to the States here you get more freedom of thought.
People is proud of both Canada and their origins (unlike the States where you see more assimilated people),
People wants to know more about you and your country or can start an intelligent conversation (it doesn’t happen that often south of the border).
I don’t like the road conditions (at least in QC),
I don’t like the long waits to get medical attention.
I don’t like the mafia-like Orders, professional councils, etc.
4. I’m happy, successful, willing to stay. So does my family.
Great idea!, though I have answered these questions many times at work on the 1st 2 weeks (LOL)
My answers would be:
1) Argentina did not provide the stability we needed to start building our family. While most argentineans would agree that I exaggerate, I strongly feel an environment of such political and economical instability PLUS the huge lack of governmental action towards the decrease of criminality is not the proper place to bring kids into the world. At least not MY world.
2) I´ve been lucky enough to know a lot of countries. Australia was the other country we had considered, but I feel their lifestyle is way too relaxed for me (and I´m speaking for myself here, given that my dear husband relied on my experiences to make the decision). Canada seemed the perfect combination between the industrialized country and respectful people.
3) Given all the experiences we heard of before leaving, we were expecting to have a hard time fitting in, readjusting and getting back on track. Luckily Canada proved me wrong in every single way!.
I was expecting friendly but distant people (not the case), a hard time getting the same (or similar) job I had in Arg based on my experience and education (got a job 2 weeks after I got here in a better position). And… LOVE THE WINTER!!!! (great for skiing guys!, stop complaining so much LOL). So, really, I still cannot believe our luck.
4) I have to agree with Jaime. Don´t like the road conditions, but I understand why. Don´t feel much at ease with the medical system but I have private insurance as well so… again, can´t complain. Don´t like so much that you have many buildings that really look from the 70´s (maybe they all are, I´m not an architecht) but I love you 1600´s ones
So, in a nutshell, I am, as Jaime, HAPPY, GRATEFUL, coudl say successful and… loving every minute of it!
It’s not easy to explain why someone want to leave the country, specially to a person who has born and grow in Canada. Even when canadian travels to Argentina, they find hard to understand why I wanted to leave… here is why: we are incompatible. I have only one life and I wasn’t ready to waste it fighting against the people who feel comfortable in that environment.
In a nutshell: the general corruption; the lack of respect for the life (own life and other’s life); the people being so opinionated and sniffing in other’s people butts; coffee shop’s philosopher; and losers that always find someone else to blame for their own mistakes.
Why Canada? Many reasons. Some of them practical and objectives… other no that much. I had chosen two countries (Canada and Australia) and, at the time I applied for the visa, Canada didn’t request a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreing Language) and the immigration office were in Buenos Aires; Australia, on the other hand, wanted me to pass the TOEFL before I started the paperwork and the immigration office was located in Santiago (Chile).
The subjective reason is that I had the chance to visit Toronto as a turist. I literally fell in love with Canada, actually I think we had a mutual crash… to the point that I didn’t want to return to Argentina.
Canada has been extremely generous with me, UNF…BELIVEABLE!!!!!!. I always have high expectations, but Canada is always an step ahead of my expectations. example? Last year, I declare in my tax return twice the same income; that was April ’08. Last november I received a cheque from Revenue Canada for the difference plus INTEREST of that money that was wronly declared. It was my mistake, they fixed and they returned the money.
I live in a country where my right are respected (and my obligations enforced), people are educated, kind, respectful. I live in country where I make my living out of my hobbie, and just for that I kiss the soil everytime I return to this country.
On easter weekend, during a family dinner, someone asked me if I was thinking to retire in Argentina (because my money will be more profitable there). My answer was no. I have never feel a country as I feel Canada, no other country makes me feel this. I am here to stay (for good or for bad)
BTW. I like the winters here. I love the snow, driving in the snow, all the fuzz about an snow storm and then nothing happens. I LOVE IT!!!
Disappointments? Yes… and please do not take this as an offense if you live in Ontario (I live here too!!). I think we have a lack of style and good taste for a lot of things on this side of the provincial border; from architecture to clothes, from makeup to perfums, from food to lifestyle.
Sorry for the double comment.
I am reading right now Paola’s and Jaime’s comments and it’s funny to find out that we were considering the same countries to go: Australia or Canada. Is a coincidence that both were british colonies? What would had happened to Argentina if the british army would succeeded in their invasions? I cannot stop thinking about that.
We could’ve ended like Australia… Or India. Or Pakistan. Or Canada. Or Nigeria. Who knows!
I believe that if Argentina was a British colony, we do not seem to Australia or Canada. We seem more to Argelia or ETHIOPIA unfortunately.
is my opinion, sorry
Ah, sorry for my english too.
I’m just starting to study English
LOL
Australia is a great country and the people is REALLY friendly. Actually, my grandpa lives in Perth and loves it
LOL
Yet, when considering leaving your country you also have to think if you will fit in or if their lifestyle will make you feel comfortable.
As I said, it is a great country!!, but knowing myself and our lifestyle, it would have been the same as moving down to Barbados… great for vacationing or retirement, not hectic enough for my control-freak brain
Moi et ma famille sommes vraiment fascinés avec le Canada. Canada est un pays avec une société incluent, un lieu ou tout est possible, dans la atmosphère professionnel, familial, personale, etc. ; bien entendu qu’il faut faire les efforts pour les obtenir.
Les gens remercient notre intention de parler en français ou anglais et de perfectionner, avec le temps notre accent. On marche sur les rues du Gatineau et Ottawa et on peut voir les sourires, l’amabilité et la cordialité. Tout le monde respect la loi, les droits des autres.
Mon épouse a trouvé un emploi sans problème. Il n’a pas problème avec l’âge, les enfants ou si elle est une femme : ses employeurs uniquement ont vu ses qualités et compétences. L’égalité au travail est une réalité ici.
Les enfants ont trouvé la liberté qui n’est pas possible au Mexico. Ils jouent toujours avec les amies et profite du bon météo, quand c’est possible.
Pour moi, Canada m’a retourné ma famille, m’a donné l’opportunité de me découvrir et de me réinventer pour devenir une personne libre, heureux et remercié avec Canada pour m’avoir donne la opportunité d’être ici.
Finally! Alguien que vive en QC y escribe francés!
Bueno che!, vos vivís del otro lado!… no sabía si tus amigos hablaban francés! :p
L’aile française est tres fier de toi Alfredo !
Gracias a l’aile française : ). Ya viendo lo escribi con ojos frescos, tiene algunas faltillas de ortografia, pero es cuestion de esforzarse y animarse a practicar esta lengua, importante en la historia y cultura de nuestra nueva patria
I love these stories so much. I am actually sitting here with tears rolling down my face because the stories were so touching and made me feel so proud to be Canadian — especially Enzo’s story. I would very much like to do a post on my blog using some quotes from these comments. May I have your permission?
No need to ask XUP! go ahead!
Thank you XUP
Ma blonde et moi, on a choisi Québec après beaucoup de recherches, questions et surtout comparaisons avec notre pays et d’autres. C’est sur que l’expérience n’est pas pareil pour toute le monde mais la différence se trouve en la façon à penser et surtout a s’adapter à la nouvelle ambiance.
L’Australie était aussi dans nos recherches avec la Nouvelle Zélande parce- que le plus importante pour nous dans ce moment là c’était de trouver l’accueil et pas de rejection comment on la trouve aux États–Unis ou l’Espagne.
Le travail, l’adaptation et ton succès est directement proportionnel à la quantité d’effort et préparation que t’aies investi dans ton projet de vie.
Aujourd’hui on est loin de penser à changer notre pays (Canada), parce-que c’est comme ça qu’on le sens, le sentiment d’appartenir c’est déjà installé dans nos cœurs. Retourner à la Colombie?….on peut pas dire jamais, mais….on juge pas a ceux qui prends cette décision. Réussir ici ce n’est pas pour toute le monde. Mais, nous, on rest ici!
Les avantages qu’on à trouvé son difficiles a compter, puis chaque nouveau jour je m’en trouve une de plus, mais quand même voilà la liste:
• Les langues…maintenant je parle 4, ma bonde, elle parle 3! Et quand on auras les enfants…au mois eux, ils parleront 3.
• La sécurité
• L’accès a l’éducation
• La possibilité de faire les rêves devenir réalité (maison, moto, voitures…travail, vacances…nomme les…on y arrive! Ça prends le temps mai on arrive!)
Merci Canada…..
I have been reading Guillermo’s rants for quite a while now
(just kidding, I love the blog) I have been a silent spectator although I usually don’t belong to this silent audience when it comes to blogs. Although I don’t live in Canada yet and I am far from moving –which is probably why I hadn’t commented until now- as soon as I saw this post I thought it was a great chance to let everyone know about the reasons a Venezuelan would move to Canada.
I usually do not like to talk about politics –a few years back I didn’t even give a rat’s ass about it- but as I woke up today I sat on my bed and sighed. Before I start I want to be clear, I love my country but I have to agree with Enzo when he says he is not going to spend his life fighting against people who feel “comfortable” living they way we do nowadays in Venezuela.
The persecution is evident, the manipulation of laws, the lack of tolerance and respect, the one-sided close-minded thinking, the pathetic pseudo-called freedom, the race to be rich, filthy rich no matter what, the ideological flags no one really understands –is it socialism? Communism? Castrism? Totalitarianism? – the war of colors (red = pro-Chavez, the rest of the colors against him), the squandering of resources, the repeated speech over and over again. And that is just the tip of the iceberg. I live my life in fear. Fear to drive to work as I don’t know if the guy driving recklessly will cause an accident and hurt a loved one, fear to walk on the streets and get shot for my tennis shoes, a fear of getting kidnapped, a fear of finding out now I have to “share” my belongings with others who did not work to earn anything, or maybe I am just exaggerating.
What worries me the most is the fact that we are looking away from these outrageous things happening all around us everyday and we are looking at them as if they were normal. They stopped being the exception to become the rule. That, added to the fact that there are no chances of becoming successful in a job market controlled by those who are pro-government, in an decaying economy of waste and no control, in a society of intolerant people (at least the majority). That is not what I want for my children to come.
Canada is a place where nothing of the above exists (I hope). That is why I have chosen Canada as my place. A place where the public sector is there to serve the public and not just an individual. A country where Muslims, Catholics, Christians, Buddhists and others can live in peace. A country where you really don’t switch to paranoid mode when you walk on the streets.
I think I have made up my mind now. That should make up for all the comments I never wrote.
Lo sentimos. Los comentarios en esta entrada ya fueron cerrados!