I AM LEAVING CANADA.... and it makes me sad.
Summary
TLDRThe speaker reflects on their life journey from the Soviet Union to Canada, where they found a sense of home and stability. Despite the comforts of Canada, they express sadness over recent societal changes and a decline in quality of life. With a successful YouTube channel and a desire for new experiences, they consider moving abroad after extensive research into potential destinations. The video hints at a significant life change without revealing the chosen country, promising to share the immigration process and personal insights in future content.
Takeaways
- 🏠 The speaker feels a deep connection to Canada, having moved there at a young age and considering it their home for the majority of their life.
- 🌱 Growing up in a small town in Saskatchewan, the speaker cherished the freedom and safety of their childhood, which fostered a vivid imagination.
- 🌐 As an adult, the speaker's travels have exposed them to the vastness and diversity of the world, leading to a desire for more excitement and opportunities beyond their small town.
- 🔄 The speaker acknowledges the significant changes in their life over the past 15 years, including career shifts, meeting new people, and visiting remote locations.
- 🇨🇦 Despite traveling to almost 50 countries, Canada has remained a constant source of comfort and stability for the speaker amidst global chaos.
- 📉 The speaker expresses sadness and concern over the current state of Canada, including increased poverty, housing affordability issues, and changes in societal safety.
- 💉 The decriminalization of drug use in British Columbia and the visible impact on communities has been particularly distressing for the speaker.
- 🤔 The speaker is questioning the effectiveness of tax contributions, feeling that their money is not being well spent on social services or public safety.
- 🧐 After careful consideration and research, the speaker has decided to explore living in other countries that may better align with their current life goals and needs.
- 🌍 The speaker is not ruling out a permanent move but is open to the idea of finding a new home that feels right, reflecting a bittersweet departure from Canada.
- 🔍 The speaker intends to share their journey of moving abroad, including the process, considerations, and insights, with their audience in an upcoming series of content.
Q & A
Where was the speaker originally from before moving to Canada?
-The speaker was born in the Soviet Union and spent their first five years of life in Ukraine.
What was the speaker's childhood experience like in Canada?
-The speaker grew up in a small town in rural Saskatchewan, enjoying the freedom to roam and use their imagination for entertainment.
How did the speaker's perspective on the world change as they grew older and began to travel?
-The speaker discovered the world was big and diverse, realizing that staying in their small town was not the right choice due to their desire for more excitement and opportunities.
What has the speaker's life been like over the last 15 years?
-The speaker's life has been full of adventures, career changes, meeting new people, and visiting remote corners of the world, with almost 50 countries traveled so far.
How did the speaker describe Canada as a place of stability amidst global chaos?
-The speaker felt that Canada was like a comfort blanket of stability, offering a high quality of life, affordable living, and a safe environment even when they were not traveling.
What changes in Canada have saddened the speaker?
-The speaker is saddened by the increased poverty, the struggle to afford basic necessities, and the rise in housing prices, as well as the decriminalization of drug use and open drug use in cities like British Columbia.
Why does the speaker feel that the Canadian justice system has become lax?
-The speaker feels the justice system is lax due to repeat offenders not being put behind bars effectively, which contributes to a decline in safety.
What concerns does the speaker have about the use of taxes in Canada?
-The speaker is concerned that their taxes are not being well spent, especially over the past few years, and they feel they are paying more than they are receiving in services.
What is the speaker's current plan regarding their residence?
-The speaker is considering moving abroad to see if another place might be a better fit for them at this point in time, but it's not a permanent goodbye to Canada.
What factors is the speaker considering in their research for potential countries to move to?
-The speaker is researching immigration processes, taxes, lifestyle, and overall enjoyment of life in the countries they have visited.
How does the speaker feel about the potential of moving back to Canada after trying life abroad?
-The speaker is open to the possibility of returning to Canada if the experience abroad does not meet their expectations or if they find that Canada is still the best place for them.
Outlines
🏡 Reflections on Home and Canada's Changing Landscape
The speaker reflects on the concept of 'home' and how their perception has evolved with age and travel. Born in the Soviet Union and having lived in Ukraine until the age of five, they moved to Canada and grew up in rural Saskatchewan. The speaker cherished their childhood freedom and the safety of their small town. As they grew older and traveled extensively, they realized the world's vastness and diversity, leading to a desire for more excitement and opportunities, which they found in their adult life. Despite the adventures and changes, Canada remained a stable 'comfort blanket' amidst global chaos. The speaker expresses sadness over recent societal and economic changes in Canada, including increased poverty, housing unaffordability, and drug issues, which have affected their sense of safety and led to a reevaluation of their home country.
🌐 Grappling with the Decision to Leave Canada
The speaker discusses their deep connection to Canada, having spent the majority of their life there since moving at a young age. Despite their Russian roots, they identify strongly as Canadian, appreciating the opportunities and privileges that come with being a citizen. The speaker acknowledges the country's strengths and the role it has played in their success, but also expresses dissatisfaction with recent developments, such as lax justice systems and perceived misallocation of tax money. They are considering moving abroad, a decision not taken lightly, and have been researching potential destinations, considering factors like immigration processes, taxes, and lifestyle. The speaker emphasizes that this is a personal journey and not a blanket recommendation for others, acknowledging the ongoing process of evaluating whether life in Canada or elsewhere might be more suitable for them.
🚀 Embracing the Journey of Moving Abroad
The speaker shares their decision to move abroad, motivated by a desire to explore new opportunities and a sense that it makes sense for their business and personal life at this stage. They are cautious about revealing the destination until the immigration process is complete, wanting to avoid jinxing the move. The speaker plans to document their journey, including the considerations and challenges of becoming a non-resident, and will share insights on moving abroad with their audience. They express excitement about the upcoming changes and the opportunity to live their best life, emphasizing that the journey is as important as the destination. The speaker invites audience engagement and looks forward to sharing both the process of relocation and their regular travel content once settled.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Home
💡Imagination
💡Diversity
💡Adventure
💡Stability
💡Middle Class
💡Decriminalization
💡Privilege
💡Research
💡Non-Resident
💡Journey
Highlights
The speaker reflects on the feeling of 'home' and how Canada has been a constant source of comfort amidst global chaos.
A vivid imagination was crucial for entertainment during childhood in rural Saskatchewan without modern technology.
Traveling revealed the world's vastness and diversity, influencing the decision to leave the small town for more opportunities.
The speaker's experiences with diverse people and remote locations have been shaped by a strong Canadian identity.
Canada's stability and quality of life are contrasted with the speaker's observations of increasing poverty and housing issues.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the speaker's business and the decision to leave Canada for work.
Observations of societal changes in Canada, including decriminalization of drug use and its effects on public safety.
The speaker's dissatisfaction with the Canadian justice system's handling of repeat offenders.
A critical view on how taxpayer money is spent in Canada, with a perceived lack of return on investment for the speaker.
The decision to explore living abroad is driven by a desire for a better fit for the speaker's current life stage.
The speaker's stealthy research into potential countries for relocation, considering various factors like immigration and lifestyle.
A deep sense of gratitude and privilege for the opportunities provided by growing up and living in Canada.
The speaker's intention to share the process of becoming a non-resident and the factors considered for relocation.
An upcoming series detailing the journey of moving abroad, including insights and personal reflections.
The speaker's acknowledgment of Canada's strengths while expressing personal discontent with certain aspects of life there.
A commitment to continue providing travel content despite the change in the speaker's personal circumstances.
An invitation for audience engagement and feedback on the speaker's decision to move abroad.
Transcripts
[Music]
they say that the older you get you can
never go home again especially if you
travel as much as I do even though I was
born in the Soviet Union and lived my
first 5 years of life in Ukraine it is
very clear to me now that if any place
has ever truly felt like home it would
have to be Canada I moved to Canada with
my mother and stepfather when I was 5
years old and I grew up in a small town
in rural Saskatchewan I loved living
there as a kid because I had so much
space to roam around my parents weren't
afraid for my safety and this was also
the time before cell phones so having a
vivid imagination was absolutely
necessary to keep yourself entertained
As I Grew Older and had some
opportunities to travel I began to
discover just how big and diverse our
world really was I began to understand
that staying longterm in my small town
would not be the right choice for me
because by that point that vivid
imagination that I had developed in my
youth was begging for more more
excitement more opportunities new people
and new places and that's exactly what I
got the last 15 years have been full of
Adventures lots of changes in my career
meeting thousands of new people from all
walks of life and also seeing some
pretty remote corners of the world with
almost 50 countries traveled so far but
what has stayed the same amidst all of
this change was Canada I could always
come home and feel like I was wrapped in
a comfort blanket of stability while
chaos was going on elsewhere in the
world Canada felt like a breath of fresh
air it was never perfect but I would
still say that most people I knew had a
relatively high quality of life most
people who had middleclass jobs were
able to afford their own home have a
couple of children and take a vacation
once or twice a year even when I was
working part-time as a waitress to make
ends meet while pursuing my care
creative Endeavors I don't really
remember worrying that much about the
cost of groceries or gas or finding a
place to live I never had to wait that
long to see my family doctor and finding
that new family doctor was also super
easy almost anywhere I went in the
country I felt relatively safe to walk
the streets alone even at night when I
lived in downtown Toronto so that is why
it makes me extremely sad to see the
state that Canada is in now Co was
obviously a huge Turning Point not only
for Canada but all around the world I
was already running my channel full-time
at that point so as soon as the travel
restrictions for other countries lifted
I left for long periods of time because
trying to run a business in Canada was
extremely halfhazard and trying to
survive on Serb wasn't nearly enough
when I did come home I was extremely
saddened by the poverty that began
popping up all over the country that
people were struggling to afford basic
necess I ities and especially in the
last few years that absolute Shacks of
homes were selling for million dooll
price tages visiting British Columbia
after they decriminalized drug use in an
attempt to curb overdoses was also an
eye-opening experience I had been to
Hasting Street over a decade ago and it
was pretty bad then but nothing could
have prepared me for what it looked like
now and the fact that all over the city
people were openly doing hard drugs
sadly I don't feel as safe as I used to
in Canada especially in the big cities
it makes me angry that our justice
system has become so LAX with putting
criminals Behind Bars especially with
repeat offenders I don't have a problem
with paying a reasonable amount of taxes
if that money is genuinely going towards
the bettering of Social Services and
keeping a safe and clean public
environment to be honest I don't feel
like Canadians money is being well spent
especially over the past few years and
as someone who has barely utilized any
Social Services in the past 5 years I
feel like I'm paying far more than I am
receiving so it is for these and many
other reasons that I have decided to see
what other places might be a better fit
for me at this point in time it's
definitely not a goodbye forever but an
opportunity to see if another place
might feel more like the home that I
hold in my heart surprise or or maybe
not so much of a surprise if you guys
have watched me for quite some time and
maybe picked up on some of my subtle
hints that uh I have been considering
moving abroad for quite a few years now
I have basically been stealthily
researching um all the different
countries that I have visited in the
last few years really trying to pinpoint
if this is a place that I would want to
move move to what is their immigration
process what are the taxes like what is
the lifestyle like would I enjoy my life
there I have been putting in a lot of
thought research effort and money um I
have been putting a lot of myself into
this decision because it is not one that
I make lightly as I said in the
beginning of the video Canada has been
my home for the
past 28 29 years uh I'm 33 right now and
uh moved here at like four or five years
old so it has been the place that I have
spent the majority of my life even
though I grew up speaking Russian
English is obviously my main language
that I feel comfortable in I am very
much Canadian when it comes to the
culture and just ways of being and of
all the places that I have ever traveled
to and that's quite a few now it has
been the place where I feel most at home
so that is why it is very bitter sweet
for me to be making this decision
because a part of me always did think
that even if I have this YouTube channel
as my main business and I travel abroad
and and you know spend a good portion of
the year um out of the country this
would still be my home this would be my
home base this country still has the
most amount of opportunities for me
because it is so great I have to be
abundantly clear like abundantly clear
that uh I would not be where I am now I
would not be in the privileged position
I am now running this business being
able to work from anywhere having an
incredibly strong passport um if it
wasn't for Canada if my stepdad hadn't
brought me and my mom over from
Ukraine I mean maybe in some alternate
universe I could have been living this
same life or something better but uh I
highly doubt it we were still middle
class here in Canada you could say my
dad's a farmer just being in this
country you have so much more
opportunity you are so much more
privileged because of things like your
passport and also the strength of our
currency and just you know politically
it has been a fairly stable country so
with all of those things combined I
consider myself an incredibly privileged
person and a big portion of that
privilege I attribute to being a
Canadian citizen so I'm not going to sit
here and be like totally negative about
Canada and say like this is why I'm
leaving like this is terrible I hate
that the government is doing that like
of course those things play into it of
course there are some things that I'm
not happy about that uh has happened in
Canada especially over the last few
years but to be fully honest it is still
an incredible country to live in it has
so many
opportunities and I would still my
microphone fell over I would still
prefer to live here than most other
places in the world so let's just get
that out of the way that I still think
Canada is incredible I think it's a
great place to live I understand you
know why so many immigrants want to move
here and honestly I wish them the very
best like like as an immigrant myself
who has benefited from all the
opportunities that are here in this
country but you know at the same time I
have paid my taxes I have paid my du so
far um as all immigrants you know should
so in no way am I going to sit here and
be ungrateful for that but on the other
hand I also can't deny that there are a
lot of things that I am not happy about
uh with life in Canada and I think that
will be its own video uh I'm actually
planning on doing like the top 10 things
that is great about living in Canada and
10 things that are not great about
living in Canada in my personal opinion
uh that I will do in the future so like
obviously I have many many reasons that
are far too vast to get into in this
video but you guys can probably guess
some of them for this point in time
speaking to just me and my personal
circumstances this is obviously not a
recommendation for other Canadians or
for other immigrants who are thinking of
moving to Canada like this actually
might still be the absolute best place
for you so you know to each their own
but for me personally I have just
researched and went over the numbers so
many times times and all the different
scenarios of what could potentially play
out and it just makes so much sense guys
like the more I really looked into it it
really makes so much sense for my
business at this point in my life to at
least try and move abroad cuz obviously
I don't know if it's going to be
successful I don't know how it's going
to go I don't know if I will absolutely
love my new life there who knows like
maybe I will come back to Canada right
away and be like I wish I would have
never left this is really the place for
me but I feel like being at the age I am
like this is a great time to at least
try so I know you're all probably
wondering like where is she going why
hasn't she actually said which country
she has chosen to move to and that is
because I don't want to J it uh I do not
have the paperwork and Visa just yet I
was actually going to hold off on making
this video until I had everything set in
stone but it is just taking a bit of a
longer time than I anticipated and I
also realized that me going through the
process like sharing all of my insights
that I have learned especially over the
past 6 months with you guys all of the
factors that I considered to becoming a
non-resident and which places I
contemplated living in I just thought
that this could be a cool Series in and
of itself I think I may as well start
now and then once I actually have the
Visa which should be I hope in the next
couple of months then I will share with
you guys the place that I chose but at
the same time you know you you never
know how life could go something could
happen and maybe I have to start all
over again and choose another place cuz
you know there isn't any guarantees so I
don't want to jinx it I don't want to
say I'm moving here until I actually am
but in the process I will take you guys
through the Journey that it has taken to
get to this place my own personal
opinion about you know whether life in
Canada might be for you or not what kind
of other places might be a good
consideration if you're somebody who has
been thinking of moving abroad and how
you would actually go about it cuz I
don't think most people realize um just
how much goes into moving your life
abroad like it is not a decision that
you can make overnight and just move at
least not for most people and at least
not you know they wouldn't have the
proper paperwork uh if they did that so
I think this will be such a great
journey that I can take you guys on I
hope you will find it interesting but of
course if it's not your thing like not
to worry uh once I'm actually situated
in my new place I will have so many new
countries to explore for my regularly
scheduled travel sort of content so
don't you worry if this whole portion of
my life isn't really of interest to you
I will still have my regular sort of
stuff coming up in the future but for
those of you who are interested and I
hope it will be the majority of you um
in this big new chapter in my life I'm
really excited to take you along for the
process so thank you guys so much for
tuning in I hope you're excited for me
I'm excited for me this is going to be
just such a big change in my life and I
think it is going to be for the best I
said I don't know if it will be forever
or for just a period but either way I
feel like I am living my best life to
even have this opportunity and to just
see what happens you know it is all
about the journey it's not about the
destination it is about the journey so
thank you guys so much for your support
I would love to know your thoughts in
the comments and as always I'm sending
you so much love and keep being your own
kind of beauti beautiful bye guys
[Music]
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)