What is your name?Stu Hall
What is your current age or age range?
27
What country are you native to?
England
What area of Ontario do you current live (Providence, City, general area etc.)
Scarborough
How long have you lived in Ontario?
I landed just before Christmas and am living with my girlfriend - I haven't looked for a job yet. I saved some money so I could spend some time relaxing during the holidays, and I then visited Montreal. So you could argue that I'm coming to the end of a holiday and just now starting to begin *really* living in Ontario. Just as I was getting used to the idea of a permanant holiday :)
Did you leave your family behind? How do you handle the separation?
Leaving my family was hard. Since I'm British, I delt with it in the customary way - to ignore the situation and keep a stiff upper lip. My Mum and Dad dealt with it well in front of me, but we're close, so I know they hurt.
What made you decide to relocate to a different country?
I came to Canada to live with my Girlfriend, first and foremost. In my blog I will talk probably talk about British (and Canadian) stereotypes. A British stereotype is to complain about how it's "going down the pan". I personally love Britain, but it does have it's problems right now. A problem my girlfriend and I had was getting somewhere to live. House prices on the crowded little island of Britain are unaffordable to first time buyers in most parts of the country if you're on anything other than silly money.
Why did you choose Ontario, or what factors helped you to decide to choose Ontario?
I came to Ontario simply because that's where my girlfriend lives. If I was going to come to Canada based on anything else, Ontario would be high up on the list along with perhaps BC. Maybe Alberta if I wanted to make some money and I could be sure to find a place to stay. To a Brit, Ontario is definatly not the big culture shock Quebec would be for a nation of people who can't speak our neighbours language, French. I will have to see more of Ontario than just Toronto and "The 'borough" before I can say too much about Ontario, but I like what I see for the most part.
Was it difficult to get the documents you needed to live and/or work there? (residency and/or working permit)
I'm currently on a working holiday visa, and will be looking to get permanant residency at a later stage. It's a stressful process when your ability to live with your partner is hinged upon the decision of someone you'll never meet or speak to. A working holiday visa is easy enough to get hold of, although they're limited and gone quickly. I was fortunate because I missed out on one, until they made some more available later in the year. I'm not looking forward to going through the process again, only this time a more stringent version of the application process.
What was the most difficult part of the transition?
One of the over-riding themes of my blog is to talk about how socially awkward I am. I think English people in general tend to be pretty awkward, anyway. I'm terrified of making a fool of myself, but it's really pretty inevitable when you move somewhere new where things work differently. I'm lucky, really. If I spoke a different languange it would be a much more difficult move. Even so, I end up in a blind panic if I have to travel beyond our block on my own.
Do you plan on returning to your home country? Why or why not?
For the moment, I plan to stay in Ontario. The cost of living is better than in most of the UK and there's less crime for the most part. Canada is a more optimistic country. Britain is currently suffering from "Chav Culture", as the tabloids call it. Teenagers and youngsters who cause trouble and make people feel unsafe with threatening behaviour. Everyone debates the root cause, but it continues and it's not pleasat and I'm glad to be away from it.
Do you miss your family, friends or old home and habits?
I miss my family a lot. I'm, of course, in touch with them by phone and online. I miss being able to walk around as I please or just pop to the store. I used to live right on the edge of the town centre in England. I don't have a car yet, and it's harder to walk around where I live now as cars have greater priority in the streets. It's taking me a while to get used to the idea of not being able to just cross the road when I consider it safe. In fact I've heard that cars here will actively speed up if they see you jaywalk.
How easy has it been to make new friends in Ontario?
Because I came to Canada through Swap.ca I've been fortunate enough that the organisation puts me in touch with other "Swappers". They also organise events and have their own web forum for other people in my position, including a few other Brits. It's a quiet time of year for people "Swapping". Usually it's in the summer, for seasonal work. While it's quiet, it's easier to get to know the few people who *are* here. I've also stolen some of my girlfriend's friends, who I get on with well/
Do you generally earn your income the same way, or in the same profession, as in your home country?
I don't currently work, but will be looking for a job at the end of next week - one I have my social insurance number. I've been taking a look around and it seems that I will be taking a small paycut. I'm licensed to drive certain industrial vehicles, and the wages seem around $2 an hour less than in Britain. Having said that, the cost of living is also lower. While I'm currently living with my girlfriends family, it's going to be fine. After we move out, I might have to make changes.
Do you have plans to move again or travel in the future or what are your future business plans?
I definatly want to travel throughout Canada as soon as I can afford to do so. I'm into photography, so I would love to get hold of a car and just set off for a few weeks living out of motels or just by hiring an RV.
List some things that are more expensive in Ontario
On average, I think the cost of living in Ontario is lower than where I lived in England (Worcestershire), but I do occasionally notice something that's more expensive. Usually it's foodstuff which is actually exported from Europe in the first place. A lot of the time you'll find that the portions of food in Ontario are bigger, which is why they cost more. For example frozen pizzas come much larger. I'm not big into doing groceries, so I'm afraid I can't show you my comparative shopping lists. Bank charges are higher in Ontario. Cell phones are also much more expensive.
List some things that are less expensive in Ontario
Housing in Scarborough is somewhat cheaper than back home - but the houses are much bigger. You get more bang for your buck, as they say. Cars are also a little cheaper, brand new. Electronics goods are nearly always cheaper here. Gas/Petrol is also almost half the price.
How do you feel about the local people? Are they friendly?
Scarborough is a little frangmented, with areas of varying prosperity. There's some dense residential areas that are ethnically diverse, which would probably lead to tension in the UK. I haven't seen that here, yet. More generally, I would say Canadians are much more friendly. You can stop people in the street downtown to ask for help without being ignored. Having a British accent also tends to be a conversation starter.
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