Originally Posted by JulieD

It begins to dawn on you a few years down the track when the first exploratory blush wears off that none of your new friends have had a similar child hood (even the games are different, netball, rugby, cricket). That your backgrounds are really very different even if interests and all else are similar. Plus you get rid of your support system too. All of my family (and we're all very close) are in Canada pretty much in the same areas where we grew up, they still get together to go camping etc.


Then there's things in Canada you take totally for granted like health care. NZ covers accidents but there are long waiting lists for non emergency type operations, even ones where your health is at risk unless you have separate coverage. Plus I think the Canadian school system is better and much more organized though NZ's is adequate.


I miss Canadian animals, even squirrels. I miss moose and bears and otters and racoons and knowing there are wolves.

If any relative of mine in Canada asked if they should move to any other country I'd say don't be bloody stupid. Canada is one of the wealthiest, fairest (no corruption), highly esteemed countries with one of the best standards of living in the world and even though you may not think so when you live there, pretty common sense politics. Stay there. That'd be my advice.