Moving to America...

[lostbutterfly 9]

As a Canadian citizen it's become quite the challenge when explaining to my family/friends why I'm choosing to leave Canada to move to the USA. With all that's going on there (politics, nation-wide violence, police brutality) it's hard for them to understand what desire (aside from my fiancé) I have of being there.

I've mentioned better work opportunities and better weather, since I will be moving to Southern California but other then that, I'm not too sure what else I could really say!

What are your thoughts? And what have been some of your responses when telling people why you chose to move to the US?

[TBoneTX 43,043]

Thread is moved from the Off Topic forum to the Moving to the US forum.

[Georgia16 2,858]

Very simple. My now husband lives here and can't move to Denmark.

[PickleChips 56]

Because it's not all "politics, nation-wide violence, police brutality". It's an amazingly beautiful country with vastly different landscapes and cultures, opportunities galore to make money if you work for it, some of the friendliest and most welcoming people I have ever met, first rate healthcare and literally safer than some places I've been in Canada. You can see the glass as half full or half empty...

People say that Americans are arrogant and think their country is the best but I have seen plenty of that attitude in Canada, albeit more subtly. We tend to think what we have grown up with it is the best so people don't understand.

Also, you can just move back if it's not what you imagined so win-win.

[NewBrunswicker 19]

I will be moving for my love one. As simple as that.

[lostbutterfly 9]

Because it's not all "politics, nation-wide violence, police brutality". It's an amazingly beautiful country with vastly different landscapes and cultures, opportunities galore to make money if you work for it, some of the friendliest and most welcoming people I have ever met, first rate healthcare and literally safer than some places I've been in Canada. You can see the glass as half full or half empty...

People say that Americans are arrogant and think their country is the best but I have seen plenty of that attitude in Canada, albeit more subtly. We tend to think what we have grown up with it is the best so people don't understand.

Also, you can just move back if it's not what you imagined so win-win.

I am not doubting that America has a lot to offer, but you're right most Canadians do think that Canada is the best, but can you really blame them? The media portrays America in a different light and the rest of the world watches, most of the time in fear.

My friends keep asking "how are you going to move to America? do you see what's going on over there?" And in reality, I do, but I say it's 10x the population and there is more emphasis on every crime that happens. For example, I was in New York last week during the "bomb attack" and nobody even knew about it until the next day. But the media had the entire story out of control like it was a horrific scene. I almost forgot that I was actually there from what I've been hearing in the media.

So I partially blame the media for creating this image of America.

Moving back can always be an option as long as the hubby comes along!

[PickleChips 56]

I agree and I more than partially blame the media but that's another topic The US is really not as awful as some people like to think.

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

If it was someone we weren't close to we just kind went with a glossed over "not enough sunshine" and "homesick" type response about leaving Denmark. For other people we went more into depth about the economic, social, environmental, and political motivations for moving to America.

We've actually gotten way way way more comments about why we moved to northern Minnesota from Connecticut. I can't meet someone new without giving them our canned story which isn't 100% the real reason, but it is good enough.

[NikLR 13,220]

I moved to live with my husband who's job was/is better than mine. He makes 3x what I do in a job that unless he screws up, he can't get fired from. End of story. I don't think the health care is better, I don't think the people are necessarily friendlier (servers are but they live off tips,) and health care is just a PITA. Granted I don't have to ever wait forever and a day to get health care, but I pay for that privilege too.

[lostbutterfly 9]

I moved to live with my husband who's job was/is better than mine. He makes 3x what I do in a job that unless he screws up, he can't get fired from. End of story. I don't think the health care is better, I don't think the people are necessarily friendlier (servers are but they live off tips,) and health care is just a PITA. Granted I don't have to ever wait forever and a day to get health care, but I pay for that privilege too.

I'm in a similar situation. My fiancé is more established in his career where I just graduated in April so me moving there would be an easier adjustment career wise since I can start fresh! I totally agree with the healthcare statement. Yes Canada has free healthcare but I've always waited 6 hours in an emergency room just to see a doctor for 2 minutes.

Overall though I think the only thing winning me over is the work opportunities and the variety of cities/states we could relocate to.

[millefleur 5,035]

We had a similar discussion about why Europeans were choosing to move to the US. Of course, Canada is easier for Americans to go to because of the lack of an language (or cultural) barrier so one wonders why Americans wouldn't easily "blend in" there.

I think one factor for people might be the weather. Some people hate the cold and the snow and just can't get enough of the sun. While I actually prefer Canada to the US, I can see how the weather could be a factor.

I also heard that some areas of Canada are extremely hard to move to. I heard that Quebec is difficult if you don't speak Canadian French, I heard that Vancouver is hard because of the housing market. So maybe the US simply has more options for some people.

[USAUAinCZ 37]

I think weather is a really underrated answer. I always love visiting Canada and it's one of my favorite places to travel to.....in the summer. I've heard Vancouver does have decent weather though but it seems their whole real estate situation needs to be solved before I'd ever consider moving there.

[Amadia 711]

Hi,

I moved from Trinidad to Florida because my husband lives there. I left my permanent job, sold my car, took my kids out of local school, closed off bank accounts and packed up all our stuff for our new life in the US.

Admittedly, it has not been the easiest of roads with starting over from scratch but it has been a relief being WITH my husband rather than living oceans apart and chatting on Skype or IM chats.

Everything done in this life is done by choice....moving to beautiful southern Cali should be a treat for you both!

Profitez de votre séjour aux Etats-Unis!

[JFH 12,189]

Most people assume I'm moving for the weather when I tell them I'm shortly to be moving to the USA. I'm going to Seattle. It's not all that different in terms of weather than the UK but since when was weather a reason to uproot your whole life? I don't even want warm weather. I worked in India for several months and the heat almost killed me.

People in the UK mostly think the whole of the USA is like Orlando, Florida. They think it's warm and sunny year round everywhere and that people spend their free time in theme parks. They actually can't understand why I'm going to Seattle (even though I tell them that's where my husband happens to live!). Really it's none of their business why I'm moving. I've actually found the ones who claim to not understand why I would move there are actually jealous that they're not going and hiding it by pretending they think I'm making a wrong decision. I just tell them that I don't question their choice of vehicle, their living room decor, the names they have given their kids (and I know people whose kids have been given completely ridiculous names but that's a whole other discussion!), what they eat or drink so why do they feel the need to question my lifestyle choices. Live and let live, people!

Edited September 23, 2016 by JFH

[millefleur 5,035]

Hi,

I moved from Trinidad to Florida because my husband lives there. I left my permanent job, sold my car, took my kids out of local school, closed off bank accounts and packed up all our stuff for our new life in the US.

Admittedly, it has not been the easiest of roads with starting over from scratch but it has been a relief being WITH my husband rather than living oceans apart and chatting on Skype or IM chats.

Yup, I've noticed a lot of people move to be with their spouses, which makes sense despite being so obvious of an answer! I think the OP was asking about this because most Canadians wouldn't want to leave Canada for the US.

The stereotype is that people from third world and developing countries would be jumping at the chance to move to the US, whereas people from developed/first world countries wouldn't necessarily have as much incentive. Of course, it's not that simple....a lot of people have misconceptions about the US, just as Americans have misconceptions about life in developing countries.

Edited September 23, 2016 by millefleur