A lot of people intend to leave their countries and move to another. In this case, Canada is one of the countries they are choosing. But how to start planning? What is going to happen when you arrive, and what will life really be like in ‘one of the best places to live in the world’?
By Fernanda Serafim and Jacqueline Bustamante
You were born, and then you had to learn how to walk, how to talk, and learn how to recognize the world around you. And then, as you grew, you realized that, sooner or later, you would have to go to college and even find a job to pay for it. We all know that living in your own country is not the easiest thing to do, but imagine if you decide to move to a different country? A lot of people are making this decision and going to Canada to make, or remake, their lives.
According to the website Immigration Watch Canada, Canada has been receiving an average of close to 250,000 immigrants per year since 1991, and in 2013, there were at least 6.8 million of them in the country. For those who are thinking about it, the questions are: How did these people start planning for it? What did these people do when they arrived? How do they adapt to a new life in Canada?
First, you must know that moving to another country is a huge step. You should be aware of what you’re giving up and the challenges that will come. You will leave behind everyone you love and everything you know and begin to grow into new cultures and traditions. After all, you will learn to be truly independent.
Immigrants leave their countries for many reasons, but it's not enough just to want to immigrate. There are certain things that a person must do, such as planning, adapting and, after all this, knowing that it was a good choice.
As soon as you decide to move to Canada, you will need to get the ball rolling at some point. Start by researching about the country, such as currency, climate, cities and language(s). Immigrants also need to find out about getting a visa, necessary documents, travel and health insurance, transportation in the city, places to study, the employment market, and accommodation (where to live, how to rent a room or house) among others, in order to have viability and establish a budget.
A good first step is to look for some blogs written by people from your own country. For example, Brazilians may find interesting blogs like Gaby no Canada and Canada para Brasileiros. It has a range of tips and ways to apply for a permanent visa. After that process, you will probably start to arrange the paperwork to finally make the move. Keep your focus and pay attention to everything you read and research about it, and make sure you are following the right steps of the process, which can also be very tough.
After you get a permanent resident authorization, and before arriving in Canada, you should make sure that you will have a place to live, even for a few weeks until you rent or buy an apartment. There are some options, such as Airbnb, a website for renters to announce their available places for a cheap price, or you can even contact the Canadian Immigrant services, a special place to help those who need a place to settle, and a job to maintain your life in Canada. And speaking of jobs, remember that you will also need to apply for permission to work. The Canadian Immigrant services has valuable information that can help you on your journey after you arrive in Canada.
Another very important point is the language. Brazilians speak Portuguese and Canadians, English. So, one possibility, if you are not fluent in English, or even in French - the other language spoken in Canada - is taking a language course to have some kind of immersion in the culture.
When you finish all the steps above, it’ll be time to go and say goodbye. This is the most painful part of this journey because now it really begins and you'll have new challenges that will happen along the way. During this period you haven’t adapted to the new time zone, the climate, the food, or how to deal with people. Not only this, but perhaps you’re not completely comfortable with the language and probably don’t have any local friends yet. It can be very hard to get used to another culture, but it’s not impossible. A good tip is to access the website of the Government of Canada and start to learn about Canada, its provinces and culture. Be aware and also try to be open minded .
Keep in mind that it’s going to be a great challenge and life changing. Sometimes it won’t be easy, but if you have already taken the first step, you can continue the journey. Don’t worry. It’s up to you!
No comments:
Post a Comment