Our First Year in Canada – How It Was and What Changed

April 28 marked a year since we first set foot on the ground in Toronto, Canada, and North America as a whole. This event capped off more than two years of preparation and fifteen months of the immigration process. We were incredibly excited and motivated, but we had no idea from our new life here. So, what happened and changed during the first twelve months of living in Canada?

 

In the video, we are dazed and happy as we tumble into the waiting hall of Pearson Airport after almost 12 hours in the air and 3 hours of immigration procedures.

I should note that the objective account ends here:) From here on, I share my impressions and feelings, which may partly or entirely differ from those experienced by others during their relocation.

What changed during the first year in Canada?

Internal Feelings

Probably the first thing to note is how the mindset changed here. I call it the “quality of thoughts,” and I derive great pleasure from these changes.

Initially, there are many worries: getting the first pieces of ID, opening bank accounts and getting insurance, receiving the PR card by mail, sorting out driver’s licenses (see here for a detailed account of getting Canadian driver’s license), child’s schooling, and starting a new job.

But once the initial challenges are resolved, you start to relax. There are no more papers to rush with, no looming future to worry about: will they allow it? will they let us in? what else will be needed?

The pace of life here… I wanted to write “slower,” but I realized that would be incorrect. You quickly understand how many opportunities there are to keep yourself busy, whether it’s for work, study, personal development, entertainment, or health. Consequently, numerous options compete for your time and energy!

Nonetheless, even with the increased load, it’s calmer here. You don’t expect any unpleasant surprises. People won’t be rude to you on public transport, they won’t over take your belongings in the street (at least, the likelihood of such events in Toronto, one of the safest cities in the world, is very low).

All this greatly affects the mood and general mental state.

How the Move and First Year in Canada Affected the Child

Maxim was 14 at the time of the move, and in September, when school started, he turned 15. Of course, this is a significant transition period in a boy’s life, and he would have changed a lot even without such drastic environmental changes. However, it’s telling how this affected his attitude towards school and studies.

Maxim was never an outstanding student; he hasn’t become one here either. However, he is doing well and as he adapts to English, the situation is getting better. Throughout the year, he has repeatedly mentioned how much he likes school here compared to back home.

Before the move, it was quite common for him to ask to stay home in the morning, citing the desire to study on his own, despite the fact that he didn’t have any serious conflicts with classmates or teachers. He was simply bored and uninterested.

Here, he asked to stay home only twice, both times due to illness and due to sickness (here you can’t call a doctor at home for a cold or an upset stomach, so we went to the clinic and returned to school within a day or two—see here for our first experience with Canadian healthcare).

When I ask him to explain what he likes about school, he lists:

• interesting lessons (in English, mind you, which was still a challenge until the middle of the school year);
• understanding, kind, caring, and interested teachers;
• the materials and equipment used in lessons;
• not too much homework compared to before.

He doesn’t mention friends in this context; he has friends here and had them at his previous school, so that’s not a distinguishing factor.

What Changed in Work Due to the Move

As I’ve already mentioned, not much changed in my work: I continue to work for the same company in the same remote format. However, Max, who started with the same, working from home on the same project he was involved in in Kyiv, changed his employer after six months and went to work in an office, so we got to evaluate the changes through his experience.

Here, we encountered the same calmer, kinder, more balanced attitude from everyone towards everyone, just like with the child’s school experience and my general feelings at a subconscious and emotional level.

People in the office are easy to approach and enjoy chatting during breaks, but outside of work, socializing is not implied. Of course, people try not to be late for work, but staying late after work is not customary (again, I share my personal experience; surely, there are teams where things work differently).

When I ask Max to highlight what most distinguishes a Canadian office from a Ukrainian one, he replies: “Calmness.” There can be emergencies and challenges at work; they may expect you to work on weekends (paid, of course) or overtime (paid, of course), but everything still happens much more calmly and without stress.

Are There Changes in Health and Well-being?

I undoubtedly sleep better and worry less, but I think it’s because I no longer have to wait for immigration decisions and prepare paperwork.

For me, it’s crucial—ladies will understand—that the water here can be drunk from the tap; within a few months, your hair becomes better from such washing, your skin clears up, and without much change in the care routine, your teeth become whiter and less sensitive (though I’ve been lucky with them and they’ve never bothered me).

In the first winter, Maxim caught a cold once, I didn’t catch any, and Max complained less about migraines, which have been a lifelong problem for him.

You start to feel stronger, more confident, more positive, and calmer. As usual, all illnesses are due to stress, and when you’re not stressed, you automatically feel healthier.

In Conclusion

Everyone interested in moving here who contacts us for information eventually asks this question: What changed? Everything changed, of course. In our case, for the better, but this is very individual for everyone.

Therefore, I can’t promise that you will feel calmer or more confident, that your children will love school, or that your Canadian colleagues will be friendly and helpful.

But I can say that a lot of how your life changes after the move, if you decide to make it, depends on you. Don’t expect everything to come by itself immediately. Be that positive change in the lives of those around you, whether it’s your family, colleagues, or strangers from the street, and your new life will change dramatically for the better!