I’ve been in Canada since July on a Working Holiday Visa.

In our media, Canada is always portrayed as a dream country. Yes of course, it’s beautiful here (Rockies, nature) but it also has a lot of downsides.

The quality of food is incomparable to my home country and the food prices are even higher here.

I thought rent prices back home were high, but here (except for small towns on the prairie), you have to share an apartment with 3 people and still pay the same amount as getting a 2-bedroom apartment alone back home.

Then 5 weeks of paid vacation + 11 paid holidays (weekends are generally free, there is no business open at Sundays), when you’re sick, you’re sick, but you still get paid.

Canadians are polite that is true, but what I’ve noticed is that people often make false promises just to be nice.

Making friends here as a foreigner is challenging and perhaps I’m homesick being on the other side of the world.

I’m considering abandoning everything and flying back home. While at first it was really nice here (especially the traveling in the summer), the drawbacks are becoming apparent.

Additionally, my education isn’t recognized here and honestly I don’t want to work at Tim Hortons or Walmart just to „survive“ and with much lower QOL than in Europe.

But on the other hand, I’m afraid of missing out if I fly back home now.

Idk what i should do :(

Any suggestions?

  • Styria1998@alien.topOPB
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    10 months ago

    You probably wouldn’t like it, life there is completely different than here. Also, while many people can speak English, you won’t get far without speaking German or even better the austrian accent.

    On Saturdays, most stores are closing at 5:00 PM and on Sundays, everything is closed, while everyone is spending time with their families or go hiking/skiing.

    I never thought I would miss our Sundays so much.

    • spacepangolin@alien.topB
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      10 months ago

      those are the things i want, the 24/7 north american hustle culture is exhausting, slower paced and societally forced days off are not downsides to me haha, and i’m in the midst of learning german lol