Navigating a Year in Vancouver: The Ups, Downs, and Everything In Between

It’s no secret that packing your life into two suitcases, saying goodbye to those you love the most and stepping into the unknown is not scary, daunting and intimidating, but what we sometimes fail to think about or realise the amount of growth that comes with making such a drastic move. You are forced to really stand on your own, make things work with a very small or if no support system. Sometimes being thrown in that deep end is the best thing that can every happen you. That was the case with Chris and I. We really didn’t expect to love the life we have now as much as we do.

We expected the miss home more and to regret making the big move. We expected to feel lonely, and left out of everything going on back home with family and friends, and while we do often feel sad that we aren’t there for birthdays, anniversaries and casual get together, we are often left reminded of the blessing we have now living in Canada.

I go on daily walks in the park and as a female doing this alone, is huge for me. This is something I was never able to do alone in South Africa. We walk home from the Skytrain station after heading downtown for the day. Having safe public transport makes the world of a difference. Yes, we gave up a lot leaving home being South Africa, but we have also gained so much moving here.

There is a lot to consider when you decide to immigrate. You need to consider family, friends, brothers, and sisters, but most of all you need to consider you and your partner. It’s an emotional move and it’s something that can bring you a lot of happiness if you really embrace it. When you make this move, you think of your future. Your five years from now and your ten years from now. You think of the children you potentially want to bring into this world, or the children you already have, but you want them to have more opportunity. When you immigrate, you don’t think of the now, you then of the later. The much later.

If you ever get the opportunity to live abroad. Be it six months, a year or longer. Take it. There is no experience quite like living abroad and growing from that unknown.