I AM LEAVING CANADA.... and it makes me sad.

Summary

The 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

00:00

🏡 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.

05:02

🌐 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.

10:05

🚀 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.

Keywords

💡Home

Home is a place where one feels a sense of belonging and comfort. In the video, the narrator associates 'home' with Canada, where she grew up and feels a deep connection despite her origins in the Soviet Union and Ukraine. The concept of 'never going home again' is also mentioned, reflecting the idea that as one grows older and experiences the world, the original sense of home may change or become more complex.

💡Imagination

Imagination is the ability to form mental images or concepts of things that are not present. The video mentions that having a vivid imagination was necessary for the narrator's entertainment during her childhood in a small town without modern distractions like cell phones. It also suggests that her imagination contributed to her desire for a more exciting life beyond her small town.

💡Diversity

Diversity refers to the variety of different types of elements, in this case, cultures, experiences, and people. The narrator discovered the diversity of the world through travel, which broadened her perspective and contributed to her realization that she needed more than her small town could offer.

💡Adventure

Adventure is a bold, usually risky undertaking with an uncertain outcome. The video describes the last 15 years of the narrator's life as being full of adventures, indicating a series of exciting and possibly unpredictable experiences that have shaped her life and worldview.

💡Stability

Stability is the quality of being stable, not changing or likely to change. The narrator contrasts the stability she feels in Canada with the chaos happening elsewhere in the world, suggesting that Canada has been a constant and reliable presence in her life.

💡Middle Class

The middle class is a social class that falls between the working class and the upper class. The video mentions middle-class jobs as a marker of a good quality of life in Canada, where people could afford homes, raise families, and take vacations, illustrating the narrator's perception of the Canadian middle-class lifestyle.

💡Decriminalization

Decriminalization is the reduction of penalties associated with certain activities, often related to drug use. The video discusses the decriminalization of drug use in British Columbia and the narrator's shock at the visible impact this policy had on the streets of the city, affecting her sense of safety in Canada.

💡Privilege

Privilege refers to special rights, advantages, or immunities granted or available only to a particular person or group. The narrator acknowledges her privilege as a Canadian citizen, attributing much of her success and opportunities to the benefits and freedoms afforded by her citizenship.

💡Research

Research is the systematic investigation and study of materials and sources to establish facts and reach new conclusions. The narrator has been conducting research on different countries she visited to determine if they might be suitable for her to move to, considering factors such as immigration processes, taxes, and lifestyle.

💡Non-Resident

A non-resident is someone who does not live in a particular place or country. The video mentions the narrator's contemplation of becoming a non-resident of Canada, which involves a process of evaluating various factors and making a significant life decision.

💡Journey

Journey is a long, often difficult process which one goes through for a particular purpose. The narrator views her potential move abroad as a journey, emphasizing the importance of the process and the experiences gained over the final destination.

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]