I am writing this post to share my personal experiences of what life was like in Canada π Canada was the first western country I've ever tried to live in. And I'm aware that the amount of time I spent here is not a long time to accurately describe one city, and I am sure there are many other things that I have not experienced yet. So, please read it with that in mind.
The summer weather in Vancouver is so amazing. The sky is blue without a single cloud, and the sun rises early in the morning and goes down after 10 pm. Sometimes the sun is up until 11 pm, and I have never seen such a scene in my life, so it was unbelievable. During the summer the UV is pretty strong, but the wind breeze is cool, and unlike in East Asia, it was not humid!! In August, I went camping in Tofino, and the weather in Tofino was much colder than in Vancouver, so I had to wear a winter jacket in the summer for the first time. That was the coldest August I've ever felt π³
Vancouver is a multi-ethnic city where you can taste food from different countries. For exotic food lovers like me, Vancouver is paradise. It's not just about food, it's a diverse population, so no matter what country you're from, Vancouver is a place you can be part of them. Recently, I often read news articles about the increase in hate crimes against Asians due to the Covid19. However, in Canada, everyone treated me so kindly. I didn't feel any racism in public places. When I travel in a country with a culture that is completely different from mine, I often feel people's gaze or discrimination, but it was good that I had never had such an experience in Vancouver and I could be the part of community almost immideately.
Another great thing about Vancouver, in my opinion, is that you can enjoy a variety of hobbies. Especially if you are someone who enjoys an active life such as camping, skiing, sailing, or hiking, this is a paradise. No matter where you go, Canada's natural wonders are incredible. Being in such natural beauty makes you feel like your body and mind are healed. The air and water are also probably the cleanest in the world.
An image from a since-deleted Craigslist post shows a 'micro studio' for rent in Vancouver.
Although Canada has many advantages, it also has disadvantages. Vancouver is probably the most expensive city I've ever been to. The thing that shocked me the most was the rent price. Few 2-bedroom apartments in Vancouver are available for rent under $2000. I read an article last summer, and it was about an advertisement that someone actually renting their bathroom attached to their apartment introduced as a micro apt and that you can rent it for about $680 per month!
Here is the article: https://bc.ctvnews.ca/billed-as-micro-studio-craigslist-user-tries-to-rent-vancouver-bathroom-with-bed-inside-1.5498479
I've also heard that people living in Vancouver spend more than 30% of their income on rent. Not only the rent but also almost everything you need to live is more expensive in Vancouver I think. For example, ingredients, industrial products, phone and internet bills, etc.
I've seen a lot of homeless people in Vancouver, and probably they live on the streets for a variety of reasons but the high rent price could be one of the main factors.
Canada is definitely a wonderful country to live, but if you want to live here, do enough research before making your decision. Because in some areas, Canada may be very different from what you imagined.
