This is the infamous question I am asked almost daily! 'Why would you move here?" I have yet to discover all the nuances to this heavily laden question. When I get the confidence and am in the right moment, I will ask back, 'Why do you ask me that? What is it that you think I am missing?' I want to hear the answers. Because it is confusing as the American. I honestly get the impression that when people get to know me a bit, they are surprised that I am not something they expected. I'm not sure what that expectation is , but I am not sure it is always positive.
Canadians have a lot going for them. It really is less stressful....the media is vastly different! The news is not a mob fest of doomsday crap. The crime rate here is far different, and frankly they have more to talk about then the daily murder or sensationalized story our cable news junkie selves now crave in the the US. (Now again, keep in mind I am in Alberta - Calgary is far different than Vancouver or Toronto so someones experience there is bound to be different.) The landscape is beautiful, the population is much smaller, they love their hockey, they are diverse, in a positive way. They have a lot going for them.
But I wonder, what they think I am missing? I know that economics plays a part. Our selection and availability of things in the US is like no other. There is a bigger sense of freedom in the US, I think. I also think that there is more opportunity, in the US. Let me explain.
Freedoms - The government here, of course, is much different. Not better, not worse, just different. They seem to be much more involved here and work very hard to 'look out' for the people. Part of me gets a funny feeling about that - here's why.
The consumer/worker safety concerns here are incredible. California has nothing compared to the Canadians. Everywhere you go and everything you buy comes with warnings. My new little netbook came with an online instruction book that has 10 pages of consumer warnings about its use. TV - if your program has anything - I mean anything- that can be seen as a negative influence you are warned after every commercial break, before your show starts up again, what you might be risking yourself exposure to. Now, here's the irony of that....... they have some of the most risque commercials here, with no warning labels.
If you are a smoker, the days of a camel on your pack are long gone. Here, your packs have all the usual medical warnings etc. but in addition to that, you might have a picture of a smokers lung (no, not clip art, I mean an actual picture.) Or better yet, a premature baby hooked up to oxygen. Right on the front of the pack. Crazy stuff.... but.... there are more smokers there, than I have seen in the states in over 10 years.
Any other product you may buy that could cause you harm, has so many labels and symbols on them that you need a reference sheet to be able to tell how this might hurt you.
So, I can't help like feeling like I am in a constant state of hand holding here. Like, as a consumer I must be warned, because I cannot possible make up my own mind, or have personal choice. Its weird.
Technology is still working its way to my necessary standards. Its fair to say that in some respects technology here is about 10 years out. Cell companies are owned by the government here - and are expensive. I truly can't remember the last cell tower I have seen. Which explains to my friends why our calls are peppered with losses and drops. ;)So, with all of these things, I can understand why I am asked this question.
Opportunity - Schooling here is different. I don't have a good sense of higher education here. It's definitely different and I know Alberta is the victim of the educated moving out of it. But, I don't get a feeling like its a goal for a lot of people here. That college or University, as they call it here, is not an assumption for every High School senior. Its the exception I think.
I haven't talked to many business people yet, so I will be interested to learn about the 'ways and means' of doing business here in Canada. I know as an American, it is very hard for me to be entrepreneurial here. If you want a job here as an American, the company hiring you has to prove to the powers that be that there is no other worthy Canadian candidate. ( I will speak more to this as I begin interviewing more. ) Yet, the companies here are struggling to find the kind of candidates they want?????
So much yet to understand in this journey... So, I find the question hard to answer in way, I don't know enough yet to be able to answer it, honestly. So, keep asking and I'll keep exploring. When I have the answer, I'll let you know.
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