As ever, Alanna hits the bullseye with another video. I accept people are entitled to their own opinions, by why would ANYONE want Alanna to have to "go back home"? She IS home.
You enrich the UK with your beauty and generosity. Ignore the rude people. To walk everywhere and be part of a community is fabulous. Love your Canadian accent too.
I can see it is hard to pick between the two countries for you but for one I'm glad you have chosen to make the UK your home, it's great having you here. ☺
@@AdventuresAndNaps, over the years I've met people who have moved to Australia and Canada and South Africa and stayed for a long time settling in and saved up for a holiday back in the UK , but on returning it's usually but not always the wife that misses the family and friends , so don't worry because these days it's a lot cheaper to get flights and more of them
I was born and raised in the UK but moved to Canada in 1983 after meeting and marrying a Canadian in 1978. My biggest motivation for moving was to provide improved opportunities for our kids. That has worked out very well for all five of our kids, and I have absolutely no regrets, especially since the UK pulled the Brexit stunt. I recently retired but my last 12 years were spent living in Hamilton, working in Oakville. On retirement, we moved back to Calgary to be close to our two youngest "kids" and also enjoy taking advantage of the opportunities brought by being close to the Rockies. As I said, I have absolutely no regrets about my move to Canada. I am also pleased to say that I have never experienced any of the negative interactions that you have experienced in the UK.
Hey Alanna My parents came over here from Toronto just before I was born, but I identify as a Brit with a love for Canada .( visit family often) I believe 99% of Brits love Canadians and you are so welcome here and very happy to have you. Keyboard warriors are the lowest of the low.
I can't believe anyone in the UK tolded a Canadian to go back from where they came from, I can't believe it, as far me Canadians , Australians, and New Zealanders are family
True, but as she said, they usually assume she's American because our accents sound similar to British ears. I suspect that, if they took the time to find out she's Canadian, they'd be less likely to tell her to go home.
I am Canadian and live in Kent for 20+ years now. No one has ever said anything like that. They have often mistaken me for American but 99% of the time when they find out I am Canadian, the say sorry because apparently Canadians don’t like to be called American! For me, the UK is a far better choice than Canada especially southern Ontario.
I am French, and have been in the UK for almost 6 years (I have lived in Canterbury for a year, it's absolutely lovely 🥰). When my friends back in France ask if I plan on coming back home one day I always say the same thing: "I'm home. England is my home". I don't know if, objectively, life is better here than in France, but it's better for me because that's where I feel at home.
Honestly I'd say it's pretty much the same. Pay is slightly better in the UK, but the cost of living is higher (obviously it depends on your job and where you live). London is mad expensive, but Paris isn't cheap either. I've heard the UK is better to start a company (less taxes) and there are more opportunities to grow in your career in my opinion. @@danielwu191
I'm a Canadian living in the UK for 10 years. Every single person I've ever been in contact with here, has been lovely to me. I'm sorry you've had such horrible experiences.
I have been luck enough to be paid to travel all over the UK and Ireland. I did it for 14 years and I can say I have never found a single person that acted or said anything bad about me being Canadian. It has been my experience that the opposite is true and people are just lovely when the discovery I am Canadian.
@@ukpaullouis2708 as a Brit, I must say I love y’all. I think Canadians are just wonderful and have typically such an optimistic warmth about them! I hope you continue to have great experiences here :)
As a Canadian who lived in the UK (Chester) for 6 years and recently moved back to Canada last year (BC), I agree with most of what you said in this video. My husband is a Chinese born Canadian and in Canada, he hadn't experienced too much racism (aside from teens saying dumb stuff and the occasional boomer), but in the UK, he experienced quite a bit. I COMPLETELY agree with what you had tp say about the walkability of places in the UK vs Canada. That's actually something I have been struggling with the most. In Chester, I walked and biked everywhere I needed to go. I didn't own a car and didn't drive. Now that I'm back in BC, I have to get in a car to go anywhere and it's so isolating, and I feel like I have way less freedom. I actually hate relying on a vehicle.
As Chinese I find my fellows are more likely to suffer discrimination in the US, UK and Australia but less in NZ and Canada (though my NZ-based aunt was refused to get onboard by a bus driver simply because she didn’t wear a musk, but that was in Feb 2020 and COVID hadn’t swept across NZ). Btw I enjoy Chester’s black-and-white architectural design and the incredible zoo😂
@@danielwu191 It's unfortunate that people often perceive racism where it doesn't exist. Your aunt's experience with the bus driver being a prime example.
Hey Alanna, I love your videos. I'm also a Canadian who lives in the UK. I grew up in Hamilton, ON.. I've been in the UK for a long time. And I agree with so much of what you've said about the UK, and Canada. There are so many great things here, and I know how lucky I am to live here. But Canada is great too. And even though I've lived in the UK for so long, there is so much I miss about the country where I grew up. I went back to Canada last year (reverse culture shock for sure 😳). But, I guess we all have different life experiences. Even though I love the UK, Canada will always be my home. Keep up the good work ❤
@chromaticvisuelle it's a strange thing. I think the longer you are away from somewhere, the more you appreciate it. Initially, and especially only after a few months, I didn't miss anything either. But after many years, you do begin to realise how special a place really is. Even the small things. The memories, the atmosphere. Toronto is a beautiful city, and still to this day one of my favourite places. Sometimes, I think it just takes time. When you see something on a daily basis, it becomes normal, even boring. But take that away for a while, and you really begin to appreciate what it is 🇨🇦
@@stevanblacklock2671 Sorry but I don't find anything beautiful in Toronto, which is becoming a mess of new condos. Not much charm. The Annex maybe is alright but not much else.
Don’t take it to heart when cruel and ignorant people tell you to go home! You are very much wanted here! The fact that you are doing something productive with your life and they more than likely aren’t is probably why they are so unpleasant! I thoroughly enjoy your videos and welcome your views and experiences of being part of this nation!👍
@@AdventuresAndNaps Some people will even tell other Britons to go home or back to where they came from if they are currently living in a different town, city or country in Britain to where they are originally from. On a side note Alanna, do you have a P.O. Box or somewhere other than your home address where I can send you something that I must have had for almost as long as you have had your channel? Or would it be OK to send it to the address listed at Edenbridge Fragrances and still have it get to you?.......I appreciate that you have to be careful though, as there are some odd people out there.
@@AdventuresAndNaps well they say home is where the heart is and one thing that comes through in many of your vids is a large part of your heart is in the UK. So in some way you are home (and those idiots aside, we are glad to have you).
I think I will still enjoy that environment better even though my experience is guaranteed to be double the intensity of hers. Here where I am they just simply haven't gotten over that time brother fought brother supposedly because of my ancestors 😏 And instead of getting some therapy they continue to quietly seethe and carry on secret abuses toward me.
Hey Alanna, I’m from Toronto but living in Surrey UK now and it’s so true, neither one is better or worse because they’re so different! And it’s really heavy on the heart sometimes feeling like you’ve got a home in both countries and not knowing where you’ll end up!
But the vacay time here has had a huge impact on my quality of life. I feel like I’ve never worked so little in my life but still been able to get by financially whereas in Canada the grind doesn’t stop if you wanna stay afloat
Yes, there's a downside to ending up with home in 2 different countries. I moved to Canada from the UK almost 30 years ago, and I too missed my family over there. Sadly both my parents passed away and that's when I really felt like maybe I shouldn't have been away that long. But also, my daughter moved from the west coast to southern Ontario and though we are in the same country we are also a long way apart.
From an average, normal Brit I would say, we are glad to have you here! CAN, AUS & NZ, are all part of the family I say! (As someone has said previously, I can’t agree more)
Having you on our little Island is a blessing ❤ - Thank you for choosing to live here. If things get too much for you down there then come to Yorkshire 😘 - we have Tea. Yorkshire Tea 😂
I am so sorry you have had to deal with those horrible comments. I think I can speak for the majority of British people when I say you are welcome here! And on a personal note your videos are always enjoyable.
You are a breath of fresh air and welcome addition within our wonderful country. Your views are really interesting to watch, as a Brit married to a Kiwi, I can empathise with your situation and views. Ignore those 'Trolls' who leave click bait comments. They are not representative of normal UK citizens and are guaranteed to be awful people anyway ;)
I'm from the UK, Scotland and I always find it delightful that someone whether they've moved here (UK generally) or are just visiting from another country. I can't imagine leaving my home to go somewhere else and like you said leave family behind, so I think that people should take it as a compliment when someone does so. You're right of course, no where is perfect and no where is all bad either. Just remember that for all the people that have said those mean things to you there are way way more who think the opposite.
Did you hear Humza McYousaf complaining about all the white people in positions of power in Scotland? I know I was shocked to hear about all the Scottish people in Scotland! 😄
I was born in the North West and lived most of my life in The South of the UK. Some people were not very welcoming to people from the the North West but that was in the in the nineteen eighties this knid of snobbery still exists. all beit not as common as used to be in my experience.. Would somone who came from England have this behiour and attitiude if they moved to Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland?
Alanna you are wonderful, we are so lucky to have you in the UK. Yes, the UK has gone through massive immigration. You are a citizen of the Commonwealth and so very welcome. My 2 daughters live in Australia. Ignore the bitter and ignorant folk.....their issue, NOT yours ! x
I do respect the vacation time in the UK. Here in the states, I worked for a company that gave you 5 days after one year, and raised to 10 days after 5 years. Then it stayed there until the 25 year mark with the company. As you can imagine, I didn't stay long! Great food for thought video, Alanna!
@@angelique_cs Are there any US companies that give you a good amount of days, or are they all like that? I spent a year in the US (90's) but I wasn't working within the US system and it always sounded bad back then.
I felt compelled to comment because this was me 10 years ago. I lived in Bromley (as you know, also in Kent) and am happy I moved back to Toronto pre-Brexit. I was originally able to move to the UK with dual Canadian / Italian (my parents) citizenship. Like you, it was often commented “So when are you going back home then” for being Canadian, let alone for my Italian heritage. I was married and had two kids in the UK and whilst in some ways it was very idyllic in their early years to live there (you know, going to feed the ducks and such…) I wouldn’t have wanted my children (with Italian first names btw) to continue living in greater London. The way I describe it is - Toronto is multicultural, whereas, London is multi-cultured. My Italian parents feel Canadian. I would never ever have felt British. I was a senior NHS Manager, yet money was tight. What some people don’t realise is that when you rent privately in London, you pay all the bills separately like a homeowner. The council tax is paid by you the renter…not the landlord. But I digress. We were able to buy a house in Toronto before the prices became eye-watering, whereas we would have never escaped covering someone else’s mortgage in the UK. Yes, I miss my annual leave allowance, I miss a variety of other things…..but my British hubby is happier and better off work wise in Toronto and my kids have friends from a variety of cultural backgrounds and are equally accepted for theirs - that means the world to me. Moving back to Canada was the right choice for us. Don’t let anyone else but you decide where you should live! I wish you all the best ❤
I was born and raised in Ireland and have lived for a few years in the US before moving to Canada over 30 years ago. Nobody has ever told me I didn’t belong in Canada, and I really, really appreciate that. Even the immigration officer made me feel welcome on Day 1. I too feel privileged to have two homes but I don’t think I could afford to move back to Ireland now.
I have experienced racism based ethnicity serval years ago because I had slight sun tan having spent time at my families ho,e in the Costa De; Sol region of Spain in late June early July from teanagers on a train traveling from Southend to London . I don't as somoone from England how how I would treated if lived Wales or Scotland.
@@leeklass3907 So what's your actual ethnicity? A slight sun tan doesn't seem grounds for racial prejudice. And I don't see any reason why you would pay any attention to a bunch of know-nothing teenagers.
@@Stom-Troop In some ways yes, in other ways no. But the perceived state of Canada is only partially dependent on who happens to be PM. It's also dependent (much more, I would say) on the state of the world, and who happens to be Premier in the province you live in.
@@istvanglock7445 I don’t think u realize anything at all about politics and their agenda how it impacts us at individual level. I guess being blinded is blessing to some
Brit here I am 66 years old ,love your here and enjoy your videos. You are right there is no place like home, you will realise that as you get older people you love will pass and is one of the hardest part of life anyone has to accept and live through . My motto is "Live your life today for tomorrow may never come".
Really sorry to hear you’ve had to endure such abuse, as others have said you’re very welcome here and help enrich our country and I always think it’s a great thing when those from other countries choose to live in the U.K. Unfortunately every country has its share of unpleasant idiots.
I think you were so brave to come half across the world to live in a new home in Britain for starters. I can only apologise for the plebs in our country that tell people to go back where you came from and quite honestly if it were a contest on which people should leave the this country I know who I would choose. Keep up the good work. I’m sorry you miss your mum, friends and family it’s not good. We are definitely privileged to have you here and to let us listen your views on us please keep going and we’ll keep listening Thank you
In Canada since 1990 and yes missing the family is number one. Many valid points for both places, I think my top for Canada are 1. Wildlife, 2. you get a summer and a winter, 3. you can right on a red.
I am from Burlington, ON and currently living in Manchester for the past 6 years. I was pleasantly shocked when moved here and realised i went from 2 weeks holiday to 5!!
It's funny because I do prefer the slower pace of life here, especially appreciative of the better work-life balance and more chill atmosphere at restaurants, but with that comes the frustration that things take a bit longer here too. Every process seems a bit more drawn out and complicated and therefore takes longer. I also find customer service isn't as good here either, but yet I like that tip culture isn't too prominent (which is probably why service isn't as good). Also, I like that everything is closer together here, although sometimes I find it a bit claustrophobic and miss the wide open spaces and less people back home. It really is all about taking the good with the bad. Both countries really do have pros and cons and it's impossible to pick what's better. They're just different, and I too am so grateful to be able to call both places my home 🥰
As an American living in the US, I must admit that I prefer dining at restaurants in Europe compared to North America. I've never been to the UK, but the UK's pace of restaurant dining sounds similar to other countries I've visited in Europe like Italy and the Netherlands.
@@oaktreeman4369 The Italians, and especially the southern part of the country including Cicily, have allways been about long dinners with all(!) of the family. It's not really a movement, it's just what it's allways been like. Much of the rest of southern Europe too. It's also down there that you get siestas... It's the whole... I guess way of life in those countries.
@@Innerspace100 Good point! When I lived in Melbourne (Australia) many years ago, there were many Southern Italian families there, so I got to know them well. Greeks too.
Ultimately, the two countries are different, and by having lived a significant amount of your life in each, you'll have learned many things that you wouldn't otherwise have learned. And learning is what life's about. So even if you move back to Canada, or to somewhere else entirely, the experience of living in the UK for these years will probably benefit you in ways you don't even know yet. And in the meantime we can all learn these things second hand through your videos, and be entertained along the way.
So true. My parents came here from a commonwealth country and I have learned so much about the two cultures. I love both countries and feel at home in both.
I have stayed in Canada five times (a few weeks at a time with friends that live there) and really really love it. Its a beautiful country, wild life all around ya and the cities are very under populated compared to UK cities. Love the waterfalls, the hikes one can go on, the mountains, the rivers and all that stuff. Prices are a little bit expensive, but ha-ho.
@@AdventuresAndNaps Standing in a snow field and it being below 30 but the sun is high and there is blue skies. There is nothing more beautiful than that.
Really sorry to hear about the abuse you’ve had from people. Honestly I think there is only one of these grunts per 100 Brits. Please know you are welcome here and not just because you make great content. I remember being told to go back to my own country because I had a black girlfriend! My response was always to say they should go back to theirs- late 30’s Germany. Stay and feel the love❤
Fully agree with that assessment Alanna, as Brit living in Southern Ontario for the last 14 years. Its hard to say which one is better... I couldn't have the lifestyle I have in Canada in England... but the i miss things from England that cannot be replicated in Canada. The biggest thing I have found i miss is a shared history... music,TV, food, my friends and family no one is Canada understands that... and no one in UK understands my "new" life in Canada... although 14vyears isn't new anymore.
Excellent log Alanna. We used to visit a bar in Tenerife, the couple who owned the bar was English Female Spanish male. She met him on holiday he came to England to live then she wanted to go back to Spain when she was in Spain she wanted to go back to England. Her husband Jose said this happened several times, the last time he told her if you want to go back to England fine but we aren't ever leaving again. She finally settled in Spain.
Interesting. I'm a Brit living in Canada. I've known numerous Brit couples who returned to the UK. It's always the women/wives who are the instigators.
@@istvanglock7445 My cousin and her husband planned to live in Malaga Spain, they bought a property out there, before they had chance to pack up and leave her husband died, she carried on with their plan went to live in Spain by herself and never came back.
I like your attempt at comparison and can relate with some of your observations. I also lived in southern Ontario and it was not a good life for many of the reasons you talk about. I now live in Edmonton and it's actually much better. I don't use the car much, except for work and perhaps groceries (with my wife). I also grew up in Germany and there are probably some things in common with the UK (lots of vacation time). We dealt with the vacation problem by going independently self employed. More freedom and travel in the winter. Canada is okay. Mexico and Colombia are nice too. It's all good if you can pay your way.
I love this video, I am English girl living in Canada for 4 years. I agree with a lot of what you say. I am so upset to hear you had people tell you to go back home. This is disgusting and so disappointing. I do find even for me in the UK as I am northern I get a lot of abuse when I go down south. I do think cities are significantly less like this . I do this people massively underestimate how difficult it is to start a life in a foreign country. Love to see you thriving
My family are treated differently when we moved from Manchester to Southend forty years ago but it was a minority of people. I've even had teanagers be blatently racist to about ten years ago after I had a slight of a sun tan having recently returned from a week in the Costa Del Sol in early July .
I'm Canadian born from a British family that lived there for 4 years in London & Norwich but I found the weather too miserable and society to feel very classist. Although Canada is cold, the sun actually comes out and we don't judge others based off where they are born and their accent. I miss British humour, football & London in particular but the quality of life felt worse.
Most immigrants these days use Canada as a stepping stone info the U.S. where the economy is much stronger, the pay is much higher & the weather is awesome.
As someone who has lived in both Canada and the UK, I couldn't agree more. London was a really mixed experience for me at best and Vancouver is a place I have always been in love with. The British humour and pub life is definitely something I miss too but ever place has it's pros and cons and I can well understand why some people would prefer living in a big metropolitan City like London.
Fellow Ontarian here, living in Scotland. I notice salaries are MUCH higher in general in Canada, but I love life here for so many reasons and want to stay. Can really empathise on the family front, it's hard not to feel guilty about it
Depends after deductions such as tax from your salary and hwo far the money goes for things such as travel, mortgage/rent , food shopping and have reasonable standard of living
Taxes in Canada are higher, especially for higher earners. I paid 53% in Quebec, and don't even get to 45% here including NIC with the 20% and 40% rates factored in before the 45% rate starts
Sorry to hear the some people in the Uk were so nasty to you. Where i live in North Wales, as soon as i speak my northern english accent stands out so i can understand how it must have felt to be told you were not welcome here. Take in on your chin Alanna and don't take it to heart, if you feel at home in the UK stay as long as you wish to. Take care.🙂💗
Moving to another country far away from family takes immense courage, I wonder if those people who tell you to go home have even 1% of your courage and imagination.
Sorry to hear about you receiving grief from people with the attitudes we moved to Canada to get away from. I can honestly say that in the 3 years I have been in Canada (Winnipeg) I haven't encountered anything of that nature. Believe it or not, until not so long ago such attitudes tended not to be openly expressed in England, but they are now encouraged by the country's toxic media and the government it supports. I agree that there are upsides and downsides to living in Canada and England. Far too many of either of them to list here. I spent last April back in England, and although I enjoyed hanging out with friends, going to football, and drinking in pubs I find everyday life in Canada better. We live in a nicer house in a more pleasant neighbourhood than we could ever have imagined being able to afford in the UK. The area where we live is very multicultural, so we have no trouble finding all the herbs, spices and cooking ingredients we could buy in the UK, plus many more besides. Although our daughter didn't like her school at first - English primary education is better than Manitoba's - now that she's started Junior High she's absolutely loving it. What happens to kids in England with regards to school is precisely the opposite. Winnipeg's weather is notorious even compared with much of Canada, but I actually prefer the climate here. We get proper summers and proper winters. In the UK it's grey, damp and dreary pretty much year round by default. In Winnipeg it's mostly sunny year round, and azure skies with a bright sun reflected off the snow really lifts the spirits in Winter, even when it's -30C or colder. Probably the thing I miss most about England is being able to get a cheap flight somewhere that's either interesting or has nicer weather. In England there's nearly always a real bargain flight to be had if you're not fussy about where you fly to. We especially miss our trips to Greece, Portugal and Cyprus.
Hi, I get the two homes thing. Im Scottish but live in Mexico, my wife is Mexican and yes she also got go back home shouts when visiting England, though it hasnt happened in Scotland. The cost of living in Mexico is 67% less than UK, the food is amazing, 320 days a year sunshine and weve never been told I should go home. Buying a house here was simple and as it was cheaper than UK (£135k for a 4 bed with pool) ill be mortgage free in about 4 months time. I love it here. Im working from home so after a morning walking i sit in the garden with butterflies iguanas and humming birds, take my meetings, swim in the afternoon. Dinner with the sun going down. Never living in UK again.
I am an Australian woman who likes to present well like yourself. I have lived in other countries in Europe, and England is the only country where the women especially treat me with coldness and contempt. People are so rude and unfriendly it's quite shocking to me. They hide behind a veil of politeness, but they are still cold underneath, back stabbing and two faced. I am so tired of trying to make friends and getting rejected (which has never happened in other countries I have lived). I've finally accepted that I need to leave England before all of my self esteem and confidence is destroyed.
I'm thinking we need to invent a personal teleport device so Alanna can pop over to see her friends and family more while staying here in the UK and enriching our lives. As for those that have given her abuse or told her to go home - I feel sorry for them.
A friend of mine (a university lecturer) went to Canada on a work exchange with a Canadian University, thinking that he and his wife might move there. However, much the same as Alanna describes, the work ethic in Canada was to work long hours, with very little annual leave, especially when compared to the UK. So, we have a Brit who chose to stay in the UK and a Canadian who chose to leave Canada in favour of living in the UK - both of them arriving at the same conclusion...
I don't think the work ethic in Canada is to work long hours, and work ethic really has nothing to do with vacation entitlement - that's just the way it is, and such things don't change quickly. I'm a Brit who's lived in Canada for 49 years.
@@istvanglock7445 OK I'll rephrase that: In Canada the dominant culture within the senior administration/executives and major shareholders of large and multinational companies is to extract as much work as POSSIBLE from their workforce for as little pay as possible. This view would seem to be shared by most politicians and legislators, such that workers' rights are very low on the list of priorities of larger employers. This would indicate that the Trade Unions are not very powerful in Canada. The EXPECTATION is that employees work their socks of with bog all by way of paid holidays, and because theis has been the norm since forever, not too many Canadians look across the Atlantic to nations such as Norway, Finland, Sweden, The Netherlands, France, etc, to see just HOW much better most EU nations are than Canada in his regard. Do you disagree wth that?
Hi , sorry to hear about the idiots you experienced . You are very welcome here and as a northerner having now lived in Kent since 1994 - I do miss some parts of the north, mainly moorland, my mates and northern banter. But it is easy to travel and catch up etc. Have friends who've gone to Canada and those who've gone to Australia - in the main it has often been getting used to the vast space and distance between things. I did some research work in Aus, so became aware of such. Ignore the idiots, as that is what they are and will remain so. PS , my wife is part of a bell-ringing group (team) in our Village (about 16 miles south -westish of Canterbury) just in case for the future. Keep it going, all the best to you and yours.
A lot of young people in the uk don't realise or appreciate all the good things they have going for them, if they just put the knives away, and got on with taking advantage of avenues for sucess that are open to them. You are showing them little things that they can be proud of through your videos. Keep having fun! 👍👊
A Cool video for you might be to talk about the similarities between Canada and the uk I’ve never been to Canada but I hear culturally it’s like a mix of the us and uk when you aren’t in the French part.
Hey Alanna, I've only just discovered your video posts, so I'm working through them chronologically, catching up gradually! You're a talented raconteur, carefully researched and easy to listen to. Specifically relating to this video, abusive teenagers are the bain of everyone's life anywhere. Suffice to say we feel humbled and honoured you choose to live in our 'Green and Pleasant Land'.
It’s nice to hear people want to live in the U.K., despite certain difficulties over here, and the poor weather, it is a nice country. Sometimes I know I take it for granted, and often moan about how bad our infrastructure is. Public transport could be better in London, but that’s life in the capital city. Move to places like Eastbourne, or some other places in Sussex, Dorset or Devon for example, and it’s a different world again.
Hi Alanna. I think you are awesome. Love your accent. I think Canada is such a beautiful country. Spectacular scenery. If I could emigrate to Canada, I would. These isn't that much difference in either American or Canadian language. As you say, it must be hard on you leaving your family and friends Love your videos. Great content. Lets hope you stay for many more years to come. 👍. Please take care, and thank you for sharing. ❤
I am from UK but lived in Canada most of my life , every time I go to Britain I always find someone is condescending to me. Maybe it’s because I’m Canadian and I’m sensitive to it, because Canadian people generally act polite even when they don’t want to.
Someone is always condescending to you? I'm from the UK too, and moved to Canada 49 years ago. When I return to the UK, I can't say I've ever found anyone condescending to me. Why would they be? You have to ask yourself why they would be condescending to you. Perhaps you just imagine it, what with you being so sensitive.
@@istvanglock7445 I can’t say it’s actually condescending, but they are very vocal about things, quick to tell you how it is , I missed the bus because I’m a tourist , the bus driver was not empathetic, kind of in a scolding mood, had a few instances, lack understanding or something , but that is only in the south, the north is much better.
Damn, I am shocked at the attitude some have expressed towards you. We ❤ you! My family feels a close affection to Canadians, Americans, Australians and really, most European citizens. We have extended families in all those countries.
I just moved from Brazil to Hamilton two months ago for studies, and omg I miss home so much. Canadians are nice and very friendly people. But sometimes, they kinda lack that human touch I was used too. Also, everything is so expensive, I will not even mention the rent prices.
Living In Canterbury is great - it’s one of my favourite U.K. places (we lived near there for years) but you have chosen an expensive place. The fact it’s a tourist venue as well as the university will keep prices high. Having said that being able to visit the beautiful cathedral whenever you want is a bonus. One reason I couldn’t live in Canada is it’s too COLD!!!!!!
Ontario, especially in south is definitely more fast paced than elsewhere in Canada. I even found that when living in Ottawa. Where I am now (Yukon), things move at a snail's pace by comparison. Having been born in England, but growing up in Canada, I was curious as to where I "fit." On trips back to England, there were things that I loved (West Country cider - sigh!). But, many things I disliked too. All in all, I am about 60:40, or 70:30 in favour of Canada. While I really like England, life for me is better in Canada overall. I just wish I could get good cider here!
As a person who is preparing going for moving to UK, this is what I was looking for something really positive, I mean that I wanted to hear! Thanks for this video and giving me hope.
We no longer have a mortgage, my wife is now retired and wants to travel back to Thai. We don’t splurge or anything like that. Inflation has hit hard and want to relocate while growing his RRSP which is less than 700k at the moment. I'm cautious than ever with rising costs. Also because of the insecurities taking place I have really discouraged the idea.
Roughly how much you have in the RRSP combined with a financial advisor’s help can help you not only grow but budget the money for your travel destinations. My spouse always delegates her excesses.
Yeah, the problem is finding a reputable one, the ones that have passed the exams qualifying them to be financial advisers. Who is this person that guides you? Can I get a number?
Totally agree with you on everything you said. I'm also in Vancouver, actually I work in Vancouver but live in the Tricities and can easily get around without a car due to the excellent skytrain, Westcoast Express and bus system which is apparently some of the best in the world. I also walk everywhere and got 8 weeks of vacation from day one I started my position. I think comparing England to Canada is unfair as Canada is so much bigger and it all depends where you are. This video is more a comparison of England vs Ontario. BTW I'm an immegrant and was told multiple times by Canadians to 'go back to your country'. I've been living in Canada for more than 25 years. I lived in Alberta as well but prefer Vancouver and think there is not a lot of countries in the world where people are as priviledged as in Canada. We all have our problems but Canada is a wonderful country with many opportunies, beautiful nature and for the most part great people.
I actually searched for this video wanting to move from Cambridge to Vancouver. As a veterinarian surgeon and have a PhD, do you really encourage me to move there??
@@marinacoertze8622 corporate salvation, same as in South Korea. Transport is decent but little of it is "world class" per se. I'd put Canadian public transport slightly below Thai public transport. Definitely not too bad.
I really loved this honest video of your experience living here in the UK as a Canadian. You are absolutely welcome here regardless of where you come from.
in Canada, from what I remember (lived there 20 years ago for a year and a half...) it's not universal, it's means tested. And varies from province to province. As a foreigner, I had to pay for all medical expenses. A simple, 5 min consultation cost me $300....
Yea there is a whole legal profession which fights for rights to state healthcare in Canada. It's not automatic like in the UK. It's not an NHS system.
@@BlatentlyFakeName State healthcare? Canada doesn't have any states. It has provinces. And provinces have constitutional responsibility for healthcare. Notwithstanding, the federal government provides healthcare funding to provinces conditional upon the free-at-point-of-use principle. You're right that it's not an NHS system where the players are all state employees. In Canada many are private actors but are funded by the state - so to the consumer it appears much like an NHS system. I suggest you confine your comments to topics you know and understand, and Canadian healthcare is clearly one that you don't.
@@istvanglock7445 The UK has private workers as part of the NHS as well. The big difference is in the UK people cannot turn anyone away. In Canada you may have to fight for costs to be covered. Private healthcare cover is also very cheap in the UK (unlike in the US) as the companies are having to compete with the state. Bad for business but good for the public.
@@BlatentlyFakeName " _In Canada you may have to fight for costs to be covered_ " Like I said - confine your comments to topics you know and understand.
After I'd moved a few times I came to the strange realisation that my subconcious considered the new place "home" when I would come home from a day at work and immediately need to pee the moment I crossed the threshold. It's like my body was telling me I was in a comfortable, safe environment and could now relax enough to be vulnerable. Either that or some primal need to mark my territory...
Hi Alanna, Ignore the numpties that are telling you to go home. Feel sorry for them that in their sad little lives they probably haven't got anything nice tp say about anything or anybody. Anyhoo as far as I'm concerned you're more than welcome here.
Hi Allana, As a fellow Canadian (I'm from Mississauga), who wants to move to the UK, your video has given me some food for thought. Sorry you've had some tough experiences there.
I'm moving to the UK in February and I have wondered about how it would feel to be told you're unwanted there despite how understandable I might feel it is. I'm Canadian and going on an ancestry visa, where every single one of my grandparents come from the UK. I have no connections over there that I really know of, but in a strange way I only feel slightly removed from the country and something about it already feels like home. That's where my family history is, more time was spent there in my family tree then here. Ultimately, I just want to go and contribute with humility and respect for the people already there and Ill instantly forgive anyone who asserts I don't belong.
I think it depends on where you live. My partner and I moved to the UK from the US 5+ years ago and have never had any negative comments directed to us personally (though of course not everyone is a fan of the US). But we lived in Brighton (a very progressive city) and now Scotland (generally more progressive than England). People tend to be friendlier the farther north you go and more diverse in more urban areas, so I suspect that being in a small town in southern England makes it more likely that Alanna will experience negative comments IRL than in much of the UK. While I think it's good to be mindful of the concerns local people might have about incomers and try to adapt to the culture quickly, you don't need to justify your presence to anyone and you certainly don't deserve to be treated with rudeness. That said, it's far more likely you'll meet people who ask why on earth you would want to move here and tell you how much better they think it is over there!
Thanks so much for your reply and the information! I've already encountered a lot of people asking why on earth I'd want to go there from both people here and over there online so you're absolutely right about that! We're currently looking at Scotland but could end up anywhere really.@@kadams3029
Hi Alanna! The timing couldn’t be better for this video. I also live in southern Ontario and I’m deciding whether I want to go to the UK on a youth mobility visa. This was helpful. :)
Hi, can you compare the difficulties you experience to reside in the UK vs the difficulties your partner would experience if he were to reside in Canada?
A Brit would have to take an English proficiency test. My friend who immigrated here, he studied at Oxford and had to take the English test for his PR. 😂 he was so angry because well this language comes from his own country. I think immigration process and everything is actually faster here anyways in Canada.
I am disappointed that people in this country have told you that they don’t want you here, I have been watching your channel for only a short period of time but I find you to be a bloody nice young woman and would be proud to call a girl like you my daughter, please stay in England as long as you’re able to put up with our strange ways, keep up the good work. Kind regards.
What about the proximity to Europe?! That's what I think it's one of the biggest downsides of living in Canada, there's no where near by to visit except the US, which is very culturally similar. UK is a stone's throw from Spain, France, Germany, Portugal, Etc
a proud Englishman, i'm surprised at the negative reactions you've had from some of people here. please ignore the idiots. as far as i'm concerned, it's like your family left on a long holiday, and have finally returned... welcome home!
The UK is *not* built on immigration, that's an American thing which has a completely different history to us. I just had to get that out there. Having said that, most British, me included, welcome people such as you because you LOVE this country and love talking about it.
You might want to re-listen to what she said. She was referring to the waves of immigration/invasion that laid the foundation of the UK. Many peoples were displaced by the Romans, and then again later by the Norse, and again by Normans. All of those involved many new people arriving in the UK and forcing previous residents out (and/or killing them) and all three of these events (and many more smaller scale ones) had a massive effect of the culture and history of your little island(s).
We're all originally from Africa. The UK was settled in when it was still attached to continental Europe. By the time England was beginning to establish itself as a unified country, rather than regional tribes, it was predominantly Anglo-Saxon - a Germanic people. Of course there have been invasions which altered the the mix of ethinicity and culture since then, the Romans, Vikings, Normans, along with peaceful movement of peoples. Like everywhere else, we're all mongrels until you go right back to our African origins. Embracing our differences and still learning how to come together as a nation is relatively modern, but is now a proud tradition of this country. We're lucky to live in such a country, when places can't do that, there is endless strife. Look at Israel and Palestine right now. Or the Russian invasion of Ukraine based on a territorial claim. There's an ugliness growing in the UK as we struggle to adapt to globalisation and the inter-connectedness it brings, but retreating to Us v Them tribalism to address the practical issues it brings brings division and callousness. That's not my Britain. Alanna helps to humanise the people who are sometimes treated as unwelcome statistics, we can learn a lot from her.
No immigrants apart from the Romans, Angles, Saxons, Jutes, Normans, Vikings, French Protestants, European Jews. But the Scots and Welsh who originally occupied Briton are still around.
I remember years ago watching a programme hosted by Suzy Izzard (was Eddie at the time) called Mongrel Nation. It was predominantly about the UK and it’s words and language etc, but the general idea was that people from all over the world had been to our island and bequeathed us some of those words and language. I dearly wish it could be shown again, especially in schools. It’s continued to resonate with me throughout my life, and along with the Pale Blue Dot passage by Carl Sagan, gave me the opinion that no one is an immigrant- moving around the globe is something that’s always been done. Please don’t be put off by these rude people, Alanna! Stay! ❤
I'm sorry for your experiences of some people in the UK, they are vocal but are definitely the minority, I think we in the UK suffer from being very reserved, the sane, educated majority love immigrants and we know the UK is built hugely on migration. And people from the Commonwealth Nations are even more close, id call them family tbh. I hope more of us in the UK be more vocal and represent ourselves for who we really are friendly, tolerant society.
These are nice sentiments but I don't believe they are accurate. The majority of the UK voted for Brexit, and the predominant reason for that was found to be immigration (according to many polls). I don't know where you're from but I'm from the North and the hate for immigration among many is real up here. Of course, xenophobia and anti-immigrant sentiment is rampant and increasing throughout the world, not just the UK. Canada also has pockets of rising far-right views, but their populace is generally better educated and more liberal/tolerant/progressive, generally speaking, than the UK as a whole.
@@sregan5415 Yes, a significant reason for Brexit was immigration. But being anti uncontrolled immigration (as from the EU) doesn't translate to xenophobia or racism as you would like to think. I'm a pretty liberal and tolerant person, but I understand that the world is not finite, and the land area of the UK certainly isn't. Our quality of life is in my view a function of population density. I don't want to live in a country covered in concrete, and populated by people who subscribe to values and ways of life different to, and often inimical to, my own. Why people such as yourself would find that hard to understand baffles me.
As the size of your parents' back garden/yard is like a national park then definitely Canada. I have relatives in Mississauga and it's a really nice place, not near anything though. Your videos and enthusiasm about the UK has made me appreciate my country more.
As nice as the larger houses and personal real estate (i.e., garden/yard) are, keep in mind that it means there is substantially more work involved in maintaining them.
@@dealbreakerc Not as much as you might think. We have a 2 acre property and for the most part all I have to do is mow once a week during the summer. It takes about half an hour.
In Canada you don't necessarily lose your vacation time when you change jobs. If in your job you have attained 4 or 5 weeks of vacation per year and are considering working for a new company, you can as part of the salary negotiation ask for the same amount of vacation time. If they want you they'll typically say yes.
In America, you start over. A friend of mine worked for a big airline, and had earned 4 weeks per year of vacation. She went to a smaller airline, and started all over again at 2 weeks per year. Unless you are a high level executive, you don't negotiate. For that matter, if you are a high level executive, they often don't let you take your vacation. My brother is an IT manager, and they won't let him take his earned vacation. He has to fight to get time off.
Recently got married and my wife and I have been thinking bout our situation in canada. We wake up, work and sleep with a few date nights here and there. Kids became a topic of discussion so we knew that we would rather work and live in a country that has good work life balance. Now were saving for the move to glasgow
On the attitudes to immigration issue, the Canadian news (global , CBC is full of stories of racism , so I’m surprised at your comments. As an immigrant myself I find Canadians very accepting but the media here says otherwise.
The Canadian media is paid by the government to lie about that kind of thing so white people will feel bad about themselves and then let the government make them do things they wouldn’t naturally choose to do. Just part of the global agenda to destroy western nation states and reduce people’s political sovereignty.
Once again lass you are spot on. Even if you don't go away a holiday is a break from the working life and a chance to recharge your bodily functions. I agree with all the commenters below who welcome you. I welcome you as well, you are from a commonwealth country so you are family. One thing you will find is that the price of housing reflects the availabitiy of employment. If the housing ins cheaper there is most likely much less work available.
I am a Brit and I'm so sorry about your experiences with I hope a minority. You are quite obviously a very nice person who contributes to this country for which I thank you. I'm afraid probably a lot more than the people who felt the need to share their opinions. Of course you miss your family and friends, nothing here could replace that. I would feel the same. 😊
Hello people! I am a Brazilian that lived in the UK and just loved there (Brighton). Now, l am living in Toronto (Ontario) and the place is growing on me still. I miss the UK and it takes time to have this sense of longing and belonging. Hopefully soon. Tks for your review!
Canadian troops came to England's aid during WW2 for which we should be eternally grateful. My auntie married one of the soldiers and moved to Canada and loved it, So anybody who gives Alanna a hard time should be reminded of that fact and be thankful we are not a part of Germany. We love you Alanna, you are welcome here as long as you like.
The fact you’ve chosen to live in the UK despite being born and bread in Canada kinda answers the question even though you are far to kind to say it in this video, keep em coming always enjoying the content although the lack of spectacles is really throwing me off a bit 😂😂😂
A good, balanced video, Alanna. I am UK-born, now back living in the UK (after 14 years in California). The people who tell you to leave the UK are ignorant and/or stupid. The reality is that we have an ageing demographic; people are living longer and the average age is increasing. We have increasing numbers of retirees living on pensions. We do not really have enough young UK citizens to work extremely hard, pay taxes, and support the retirees. We NEED immigrants. Immigrants are predominantly young, come here to work, and hence pay taxes and contribute to the economy. When the country narrowly (and foolishly) voted to leave the EU, many young people went back to Europe, leaving holes in the workforce. We now NEED immigrants even MORE. Britain is multicultural. When I walk through town (a university town), I am very happy to see so many different faces, of all shapes and colours. Chicken Tikka Masala is our national dish. (I eat a curry for lunch most days). We have restaurants of every ethnicity. Before I retired, I worked for a truly international company that had a policy of hiring people in every country where it did business. It also moved people around, so they experienced life and work in other countries. That really knocked out of me the myth of British superiority. There are very smart and cultured people everywhere. Keep going, Alanna. Ignore the idiots. We NEED you. You raise the UK average of everything, especially happiness. Thank you for being here.
Nice video Alanna The content is not only informative but also presented in such a captivating way. The way you present your content is both entertaining and informative. I love the attention to detail and the positive energy you bring to your channel.I'm eagerly looking forward to more incredible videos from you! 💖
When I was visiting my relatives in B.C this year a number of them asked me whether I would like to move to Canada. To be honest the need to drive everywhere and the fact I would be financially worse off puts me off. I also have an old school friend that lives on Vancouver Island and he was moaning that outside the tourist season the place is almost like a graveyard it is so quiet.
As a previous Chinese student who studied in Manchester, I think the urban mass transit system in most of the UK deserves a thumb up. Having buses even in the early hrs brings ppl hanging out drinking or watching films or heading for the airport a sense of relief.
" _the place is almost like a graveyard it is so quiet_ " Exactly why I moved to Canada all those years ago. Getting a little busier now, unfortunately. May have to move to Nunavut.
Interesting. I now understand why London out of the 10 places in Europe that we visited in the fall, was the only place that we felt unwelcomed. I guess it was my Chinese Canadianess. Everywhere else, in Europe, we had the best reception and friendliest welcome.
As ever, Alanna hits the bullseye with another video. I accept people are entitled to their own opinions, by why would ANYONE want Alanna to have to "go back home"? She IS home.
Why who said that .I've Loved her videos from the start .
I really appreciate that pal, thank you watching! ☺️
Of course she hit the bullseye - she's just had laser eye surgery!
Sometimes I’m ashamed to be British.
@@m0bwy27Why .. there are arses everywhere .. you think other countries don’t have idiots 🙄
You enrich the UK with your beauty and generosity. Ignore the rude people. To walk everywhere and be part of a community is fabulous. Love your Canadian accent too.
😆 I moved here from Canada too. England’s such a great country.
I can see it is hard to pick between the two countries for you but for one I'm glad you have chosen to make the UK your home, it's great having you here. ☺
Thank you so much!! 🙏
@@AdventuresAndNaps, over the years I've met people who have moved to Australia and Canada and South Africa and stayed for a long time settling in and saved up for a holiday back in the UK , but on returning it's usually but not always the wife that misses the family and friends , so don't worry because these days it's a lot cheaper to get flights and more of them
I was born and raised in the UK but moved to Canada in 1983 after meeting and marrying a Canadian in 1978. My biggest motivation for moving was to provide improved opportunities for our kids. That has worked out very well for all five of our kids, and I have absolutely no regrets, especially since the UK pulled the Brexit stunt. I recently retired but my last 12 years were spent living in Hamilton, working in Oakville. On retirement, we moved back to Calgary to be close to our two youngest "kids" and also enjoy taking advantage of the opportunities brought by being close to the Rockies. As I said, I have absolutely no regrets about my move to Canada. I am also pleased to say that I have never experienced any of the negative interactions that you have experienced in the UK.
Hey Alanna
My parents came over here from Toronto just before I was born, but I identify as a Brit with a love for Canada .( visit family often) I believe 99% of Brits love Canadians and you are so welcome here and very happy to have you.
Keyboard warriors are the lowest of the low.
I can't believe anyone in the UK tolded a Canadian to go back from where they came from, I can't believe it, as far me Canadians , Australians, and New Zealanders are family
I was also shocked to hear that. I am British but living in Croatia. Nobody here has ever told me to go home to Britain.
True, but as she said, they usually assume she's American because our accents sound similar to British ears. I suspect that, if they took the time to find out she's Canadian, they'd be less likely to tell her to go home.
Yes I feel more In common with Australia etc than continentals I
Yes people don't like Americans often do they bit unfair
I am Canadian and live in Kent for 20+ years now. No one has ever said anything like that. They have often mistaken me for American but 99% of the time when they find out I am Canadian, the say sorry because apparently Canadians don’t like to be called American! For me, the UK is a far better choice than Canada especially southern Ontario.
I am French, and have been in the UK for almost 6 years (I have lived in Canterbury for a year, it's absolutely lovely 🥰). When my friends back in France ask if I plan on coming back home one day I always say the same thing: "I'm home. England is my home". I don't know if, objectively, life is better here than in France, but it's better for me because that's where I feel at home.
Wow I would never choose England over France. And I lived in both.
Could I ask which one is economically better (factoring in costs and salaries), the UK or France?
Honestly I'd say it's pretty much the same. Pay is slightly better in the UK, but the cost of living is higher (obviously it depends on your job and where you live). London is mad expensive, but Paris isn't cheap either. I've heard the UK is better to start a company (less taxes) and there are more opportunities to grow in your career in my opinion.
@@danielwu191
I just wish the Uk was back in the eu. So much easier for everyone..
@@chromaticvisuelleFrance is a dump
I'm a Canadian living in the UK for 10 years. Every single person I've ever been in contact with here, has been lovely to me. I'm sorry you've had such horrible experiences.
I have been luck enough to be paid to travel all over the UK and Ireland. I did it for 14 years and I can say I have never found a single person that acted or said anything bad about me being Canadian. It has been my experience that the opposite is true and people are just lovely when the discovery I am Canadian.
@@ukpaullouis2708 as a Brit, I must say I love y’all. I think Canadians are just wonderful and have typically such an optimistic warmth about them! I hope you continue to have great experiences here :)
No wonder why the British economy is in free fall and the only real economy Britain has is rich people having investing firms/family offices.
Which visa are you on?
@@csax4056 I am not on a visa I am duel national.
As a Canadian who lived in the UK (Chester) for 6 years and recently moved back to Canada last year (BC), I agree with most of what you said in this video. My husband is a Chinese born Canadian and in Canada, he hadn't experienced too much racism (aside from teens saying dumb stuff and the occasional boomer), but in the UK, he experienced quite a bit.
I COMPLETELY agree with what you had tp say about the walkability of places in the UK vs Canada. That's actually something I have been struggling with the most. In Chester, I walked and biked everywhere I needed to go. I didn't own a car and didn't drive. Now that I'm back in BC, I have to get in a car to go anywhere and it's so isolating, and I feel like I have way less freedom. I actually hate relying on a vehicle.
As Chinese I find my fellows are more likely to suffer discrimination in the US, UK and Australia but less in NZ and Canada (though my NZ-based aunt was refused to get onboard by a bus driver simply because she didn’t wear a musk, but that was in Feb 2020 and COVID hadn’t swept across NZ). Btw I enjoy Chester’s black-and-white architectural design and the incredible zoo😂
@@danielwu191
It's unfortunate that people often perceive racism where it doesn't exist. Your aunt's experience with the bus driver being a prime example.
Hey Alanna, I love your videos. I'm also a Canadian who lives in the UK. I grew up in Hamilton, ON..
I've been in the UK for a long time. And I agree with so much of what you've said about the UK, and Canada. There are so many great things here, and I know how lucky I am to live here. But Canada is great too. And even though I've lived in the UK for so long, there is so much I miss about the country where I grew up. I went back to Canada last year (reverse culture shock for sure 😳). But, I guess we all have different life experiences. Even though I love the UK, Canada will always be my home.
Keep up the good work ❤
what did you miss? I left Toronto for 2 months, I didn't miss anything
@chromaticvisuelle it's a strange thing. I think the longer you are away from somewhere, the more you appreciate it. Initially, and especially only after a few months, I didn't miss anything either. But after many years, you do begin to realise how special a place really is. Even the small things. The memories, the atmosphere. Toronto is a beautiful city, and still to this day one of my favourite places. Sometimes, I think it just takes time. When you see something on a daily basis, it becomes normal, even boring. But take that away for a while, and you really begin to appreciate what it is 🇨🇦
@@stevanblacklock2671 Sorry but I don't find anything beautiful in Toronto, which is becoming a mess of new condos. Not much charm. The Annex maybe is alright but not much else.
Don’t take it to heart when cruel and ignorant people tell you to go home! You are very much wanted here! The fact that you are doing something productive with your life and they more than likely aren’t is probably why they are so unpleasant! I thoroughly enjoy your videos and welcome your views and experiences of being part of this nation!👍
Thank you, I appreciate it! ☺️
@@AdventuresAndNaps Some people will even tell other Britons to go home or back to where they came from if they are currently living in a different town, city or country in Britain to where they are originally from.
On a side note Alanna, do you have a P.O. Box or somewhere other than your home address where I can send you something that I must have had for almost as long as you have had your channel?
Or would it be OK to send it to the address listed at Edenbridge Fragrances and still have it get to you?.......I appreciate that you have to be careful though, as there are some odd people out there.
@@AdventuresAndNaps well they say home is where the heart is and one thing that comes through in many of your vids is a large part of your heart is in the UK. So in some way you are home (and those idiots aside, we are glad to have you).
I think I will still enjoy that environment better even though my experience is guaranteed to be double the intensity of hers. Here where I am they just simply haven't gotten over that time brother fought brother supposedly because of my ancestors 😏 And instead of getting some therapy they continue to quietly seethe and carry on secret abuses toward me.
Hey Alanna, I’m from Toronto but living in Surrey UK now and it’s so true, neither one is better or worse because they’re so different! And it’s really heavy on the heart sometimes feeling like you’ve got a home in both countries and not knowing where you’ll end up!
But the vacay time here has had a huge impact on my quality of life. I feel like I’ve never worked so little in my life but still been able to get by financially whereas in Canada the grind doesn’t stop if you wanna stay afloat
Surrey is not UK. Check out some of the most deprived areas😂
Yes, there's a downside to ending up with home in 2 different countries. I moved to Canada from the UK almost 30 years ago, and I too missed my family over there. Sadly both my parents passed away and that's when I really felt like maybe I shouldn't have been away that long. But also, my daughter moved from the west coast to southern Ontario and though we are in the same country we are also a long way apart.
Hi Alanna, enjoy your work life balance in UK, something called "luxury" in Canada.
From an average, normal Brit I would say, we are glad to have you here! CAN, AUS & NZ, are all part of the family I say! (As someone has said previously, I can’t agree more)
And the rest of the world sucks?
Having you on our little Island is a blessing ❤ - Thank you for choosing to live here. If things get too much for you down there then come to Yorkshire 😘 - we have Tea. Yorkshire Tea 😂
Not to mention the beautiful scenery!
South Yorkshire you mean?
I am so sorry you have had to deal with those horrible comments. I think I can speak for the majority of British people when I say you are welcome here! And on a personal note your videos are always enjoyable.
You are a breath of fresh air and welcome addition within our wonderful country. Your views are really interesting to watch, as a Brit married to a Kiwi, I can empathise with your situation and views. Ignore those 'Trolls' who leave click bait comments. They are not representative of normal UK citizens and are guaranteed to be awful people anyway ;)
I'm from the UK, Scotland and I always find it delightful that someone whether they've moved here (UK generally) or are just visiting from another country. I can't imagine leaving my home to go somewhere else and like you said leave family behind, so I think that people should take it as a compliment when someone does so. You're right of course, no where is perfect and no where is all bad either. Just remember that for all the people that have said those mean things to you there are way way more who think the opposite.
Did you hear Humza McYousaf complaining about all the white people in positions of power in Scotland? I know I was shocked to hear about all the Scottish people in Scotland! 😄
I was born in the North West and lived most of my life in The South of the UK. Some people were not very welcoming to people from the the North West but that was in the in the nineteen eighties this knid of snobbery still exists. all beit not as common as used to be in my experience.. Would somone who came from England have this behiour and attitiude if they moved to Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland?
Alanna you are wonderful, we are so lucky to have you in the UK. Yes, the UK has gone through massive immigration.
You are a citizen of the Commonwealth and so very welcome. My 2 daughters live in Australia.
Ignore the bitter and ignorant folk.....their issue, NOT yours ! x
I do respect the vacation time in the UK. Here in the states, I worked for a company that gave you 5 days after one year, and raised to 10 days after 5 years. Then it stayed there until the 25 year mark with the company. As you can imagine, I didn't stay long!
Great food for thought video, Alanna!
Wow 😮 I would have cried lol
@@AdventuresAndNapsoh I did! All the time!
Don't worry if the Conservatives get back into Power all workers Rights will be Gone. But we'll have the North American Dream .Ho Goody .
@@angelique_cs Are there any US companies that give you a good amount of days, or are they all like that?
I spent a year in the US (90's) but I wasn't working within the US system and it always sounded bad back then.
@@Elwaves2925 it varies by company, but 2weeks/10 working days is the standard across the board.
I felt compelled to comment because this was me 10 years ago. I lived in Bromley (as you know, also in Kent) and am happy I moved back to Toronto pre-Brexit. I was originally able to move to the UK with dual Canadian / Italian (my parents) citizenship. Like you, it was often commented “So when are you going back home then” for being Canadian, let alone for my Italian heritage. I was married and had two kids in the UK and whilst in some ways it was very idyllic in their early years to live there (you know, going to feed the ducks and such…) I wouldn’t have wanted my children (with Italian first names btw) to continue living in greater London. The way I describe it is - Toronto is multicultural, whereas, London is multi-cultured. My Italian parents feel Canadian. I would never ever have felt British. I was a senior NHS Manager, yet money was tight. What some people don’t realise is that when you rent privately in London, you pay all the bills separately like a homeowner. The council tax is paid by you the renter…not the landlord. But I digress. We were able to buy a house in Toronto before the prices became eye-watering, whereas we would have never escaped covering someone else’s mortgage in the UK. Yes, I miss my annual leave allowance, I miss a variety of other things…..but my British hubby is happier and better off work wise in Toronto and my kids have friends from a variety of cultural backgrounds and are equally accepted for theirs - that means the world to me. Moving back to Canada was the right choice for us. Don’t let anyone else but you decide where you should live! I wish you all the best ❤
Thank you because everyone seems so discouraging to move to Canada.
Too long....
@@timeresrch too lazy
I was born and raised in Ireland and have lived for a few years in the US before moving to Canada over 30 years ago. Nobody has ever told me I didn’t belong in Canada, and I really, really appreciate that. Even the immigration officer made me feel welcome on Day 1. I too feel privileged to have two homes but I don’t think I could afford to move back to Ireland now.
❤
I have experienced racism based ethnicity serval years ago because I had slight sun tan having spent time at my families ho,e in the Costa De; Sol region of Spain in late June early July from teanagers on a train traveling from Southend to London . I don't as somoone from England how how I would treated if lived Wales or Scotland.
@@leeklass3907
So what's your actual ethnicity? A slight sun tan doesn't seem grounds for racial prejudice. And I don't see any reason why you would pay any attention to a bunch of know-nothing teenagers.
That was lovely. Helps me decide whether or not to move on my own from Canada to northern England. You always have a great outlook.
Don’t move to northern England . Southern England or Edinburgh
8 years Canada has changed a LOT.
Things have gotten really bad here the past few years.
Yup .... wonder why this is ??? answer JT
@@thejosephs5766
No, the decline started well before JT.
@@istvanglock7445but things were much better under Harper
@@Stom-Troop
In some ways yes, in other ways no. But the perceived state of Canada is only partially dependent on who happens to be PM. It's also dependent (much more, I would say) on the state of the world, and who happens to be Premier in the province you live in.
@@istvanglock7445 I don’t think u realize anything at all about politics and their agenda how it impacts us at individual level. I guess being blinded is blessing to some
Brit here I am 66 years old ,love your here and enjoy your videos. You are right there is no place like home, you will realise that as you get older people you love will pass and is one of the hardest part of life anyone has to accept and live through . My motto is "Live your life today for tomorrow may never come".
Really sorry to hear you’ve had to endure such abuse, as others have said you’re very welcome here and help enrich our country and I always think it’s a great thing when those from other countries choose to live in the U.K. Unfortunately every country has its share of unpleasant idiots.
Germans living in Britain doesn't go down well at all
I think you were so brave to come half across the world to live in a new home in Britain for starters. I can only apologise for the plebs in our country that tell people to go back where you came from and quite honestly if it were a contest on which people should leave the this country I know who I would choose. Keep up the good work. I’m sorry you miss your mum, friends and family it’s not good. We are definitely privileged to have you here and to let us listen your views on us please keep going and we’ll keep listening
Thank you
who you would choose to leave the country? just curious!!
In Canada since 1990 and yes missing the family is number one. Many valid points for both places, I think my top for Canada are 1. Wildlife, 2. you get a summer and a winter, 3. you can right on a red.
The third is the worst part. You shouldnt be allowed to drive turn on red as its a hazard for pedestrians. That is what is better in UK
Canadian roads are so boring though, just long straight lines. No real country routes to enjoy a fun car like in the UK.
I am from Burlington, ON and currently living in Manchester for the past 6 years. I was pleasantly shocked when moved here and realised i went from 2 weeks holiday to 5!!
It's funny because I do prefer the slower pace of life here, especially appreciative of the better work-life balance and more chill atmosphere at restaurants, but with that comes the frustration that things take a bit longer here too. Every process seems a bit more drawn out and complicated and therefore takes longer. I also find customer service isn't as good here either, but yet I like that tip culture isn't too prominent (which is probably why service isn't as good). Also, I like that everything is closer together here, although sometimes I find it a bit claustrophobic and miss the wide open spaces and less people back home. It really is all about taking the good with the bad. Both countries really do have pros and cons and it's impossible to pick what's better. They're just different, and I too am so grateful to be able to call both places my home 🥰
Shine on our little Canadian friend 💎🏴💚
☺️
As an American living in the US, I must admit that I prefer dining at restaurants in Europe compared to North America. I've never been to the UK, but the UK's pace of restaurant dining sounds similar to other countries I've visited in Europe like Italy and the Netherlands.
Yeah I would say the vibe is very similar!
🙏
The "slow food" movement began in Europe. Specifically, Italy.
@@oaktreeman4369 The Italians, and especially the southern part of the country including Cicily, have allways been about long dinners with all(!) of the family. It's not really a movement, it's just what it's allways been like. Much of the rest of southern Europe too. It's also down there that you get siestas... It's the whole... I guess way of life in those countries.
@@Innerspace100 Good point! When I lived in Melbourne (Australia) many years ago, there were many Southern Italian families there, so I got to know them well. Greeks too.
Ultimately, the two countries are different, and by having lived a significant amount of your life in each, you'll have learned many things that you wouldn't otherwise have learned. And learning is what life's about. So even if you move back to Canada, or to somewhere else entirely, the experience of living in the UK for these years will probably benefit you in ways you don't even know yet. And in the meantime we can all learn these things second hand through your videos, and be entertained along the way.
So true. My parents came here from a commonwealth country and I have learned so much about the two cultures. I love both countries and feel at home in both.
I have stayed in Canada five times (a few weeks at a time with friends that live there) and really really love it.
Its a beautiful country, wild life all around ya and the cities are very under populated compared to UK cities.
Love the waterfalls, the hikes one can go on, the mountains, the rivers and all that stuff.
Prices are a little bit expensive, but ha-ho.
You're totally right! Working in Canada is a bit different than a holiday, but I do miss the waterfalls.
@@AdventuresAndNaps Standing in a snow field and it being below 30 but the sun is high and there is blue skies. There is nothing more beautiful than that.
Another great video Alana . Really happy you decided to make our country you home .really hope you stay .
Really sorry to hear about the abuse you’ve had from people. Honestly I think there is only one of these grunts per 100 Brits. Please know you are welcome here and not just because you make great content. I remember being told to go back to my own country because I had a black girlfriend! My response was always to say they should go back to theirs- late 30’s Germany. Stay and feel the love❤
Hi Allana. People who hate other people, actually hate something within themselves. I'm glad you are here. You enrich us all 👍
I wouldn't say they hate something within themselves. Germans living in Britain didn't have a good time
I’ve always believed that it’s best to ignore the ignorant,you are home Alanna,& its those,like yourself that make it a better place to live.
Fully agree with that assessment Alanna, as Brit living in Southern Ontario for the last 14 years. Its hard to say which one is better... I couldn't have the lifestyle I have in Canada in England... but the i miss things from England that cannot be replicated in Canada. The biggest thing I have found i miss is a shared history... music,TV, food, my friends and family no one is Canada understands that... and no one in UK understands my "new" life in Canada... although 14vyears isn't new anymore.
Excellent log Alanna. We used to visit a bar in Tenerife, the couple who owned the bar was English Female Spanish male. She met him on holiday he came to England to live then she wanted to go back to Spain when she was in Spain she wanted to go back to England. Her husband Jose said this happened several times, the last time he told her if you want to go back to England fine but we aren't ever leaving again. She finally settled in Spain.
Interesting. I'm a Brit living in Canada. I've known numerous Brit couples who returned to the UK. It's always the women/wives who are the instigators.
@@istvanglock7445 My cousin and her husband planned to live in Malaga Spain, they bought a property out there, before they had chance to pack up and leave her husband died, she carried on with their plan went to live in Spain by herself and never came back.
Great video Alanna! I couldn't imagine only have 2 weeks leave. I am lucky enough to get over 6 weeks in my job.
Over 6 weeks, lush!! 🙏
This really is a great video Alanna. Very honest and heartfelt.
Thank you so much!
I like your attempt at comparison and can relate with some of your observations. I also lived in southern Ontario and it was not a good life for many of the reasons you talk about. I now live in Edmonton and it's actually much better. I don't use the car much, except for work and perhaps groceries (with my wife). I also grew up in Germany and there are probably some things in common with the UK (lots of vacation time). We dealt with the vacation problem by going independently self employed. More freedom and travel in the winter. Canada is okay. Mexico and Colombia are nice too. It's all good if you can pay your way.
I love this video, I am English girl living in Canada for 4 years. I agree with a lot of what you say. I am so upset to hear you had people tell you to go back home. This is disgusting and so disappointing. I do find even for me in the UK as I am northern I get a lot of abuse when I go down south. I do think cities are significantly less like this . I do this people massively underestimate how difficult it is to start a life in a foreign country. Love to see you thriving
My family are treated differently when we moved from Manchester to Southend forty years ago but it was a minority of people. I've even had teanagers be blatently racist to about ten years ago after I had a slight of a sun tan having recently returned from a week in the Costa Del Sol in early July .
I'm Canadian born from a British family that lived there for 4 years in London & Norwich but I found the weather too miserable and society to feel very classist. Although Canada is cold, the sun actually comes out and we don't judge others based off where they are born and their accent. I miss British humour, football & London in particular but the quality of life felt worse.
Immigrants don’t just get judged in Canada. Most get ripped off as well
London gets 20% less sunshine than Toronto!
Most immigrants these days use Canada as a stepping stone info the U.S. where the economy is much stronger, the pay is much higher & the weather is awesome.
As someone who has lived in both Canada and the UK, I couldn't agree more. London was a really mixed experience for me at best and Vancouver is a place I have always been in love with. The British humour and pub life is definitely something I miss too but ever place has it's pros and cons and I can well understand why some people would prefer living in a big metropolitan City like London.
Fellow Ontarian here, living in Scotland. I notice salaries are MUCH higher in general in Canada, but I love life here for so many reasons and want to stay. Can really empathise on the family front, it's hard not to feel guilty about it
Canada?? Salary better? Lol😅
@@abinaya8005 for corporate type jobs, on average, yeah, much better
Depends after deductions such as tax from your salary and hwo far the money goes for things such as travel, mortgage/rent , food shopping and have reasonable standard of living
Taxes in Canada are higher, especially for higher earners. I paid 53% in Quebec, and don't even get to 45% here including NIC with the 20% and 40% rates factored in before the 45% rate starts
Not having a car in Canada is absolutely isolating
Alanna, Sorry to hear you were harassed by those teenagers....😢
rip 💔
Sorry to hear the some people in the Uk were so nasty to you.
Where i live in North Wales, as soon as i speak my northern english accent stands out
so i can understand how it must have felt to be told you were not welcome here.
Take in on your chin Alanna and don't take it to heart, if you feel at home in the UK
stay as long as you wish to.
Take care.🙂💗
Moving to another country far away from family takes immense courage, I wonder if those people who tell you to go home have even 1% of your courage and imagination.
You hit it on the nail. Those narrow-minded ones would never set foot outside of their towns I suppose.
Sorry to hear about you receiving grief from people with the attitudes we moved to Canada to get away from. I can honestly say that in the 3 years I have been in Canada (Winnipeg) I haven't encountered anything of that nature. Believe it or not, until not so long ago such attitudes tended not to be openly expressed in England, but they are now encouraged by the country's toxic media and the government it supports. I agree that there are upsides and downsides to living in Canada and England. Far too many of either of them to list here.
I spent last April back in England, and although I enjoyed hanging out with friends, going to football, and drinking in pubs I find everyday life in Canada better. We live in a nicer house in a more pleasant neighbourhood than we could ever have imagined being able to afford in the UK. The area where we live is very multicultural, so we have no trouble finding all the herbs, spices and cooking ingredients we could buy in the UK, plus many more besides. Although our daughter didn't like her school at first - English primary education is better than Manitoba's - now that she's started Junior High she's absolutely loving it. What happens to kids in England with regards to school is precisely the opposite. Winnipeg's weather is notorious even compared with much of Canada, but I actually prefer the climate here. We get proper summers and proper winters. In the UK it's grey, damp and dreary pretty much year round by default. In Winnipeg it's mostly sunny year round, and azure skies with a bright sun reflected off the snow really lifts the spirits in Winter, even when it's -30C or colder.
Probably the thing I miss most about England is being able to get a cheap flight somewhere that's either interesting or has nicer weather. In England there's nearly always a real bargain flight to be had if you're not fussy about where you fly to. We especially miss our trips to Greece, Portugal and Cyprus.
Another interesting and informed analysis based upon your unique viewpoint! 🙂
Hi, I get the two homes thing. Im Scottish but live in Mexico, my wife is Mexican and yes she also got go back home shouts when visiting England, though it hasnt happened in Scotland.
The cost of living in Mexico is 67% less than UK, the food is amazing, 320 days a year sunshine and weve never been told I should go home.
Buying a house here was simple and as it was cheaper than UK (£135k for a 4 bed with pool) ill be mortgage free in about 4 months time. I love it here. Im working from home so after a morning walking i sit in the garden with butterflies iguanas and humming birds, take my meetings, swim in the afternoon. Dinner with the sun going down.
Never living in UK again.
Wow your life sounds amazing!
Trade all that for minimal civil rights in Mexico and the corruption. It's a trade off. Be careful in Mexico.
I AGREE their is no balance in Canada in part IMO bc their is no ‘culture’ to enjoy or history to appreciate
Brit living in Canada, here. Great video! Spot on in my opinion.
I am an Australian woman who likes to present well like yourself. I have lived in other countries in Europe, and England is the only country where the women especially treat me with coldness and contempt. People are so rude and unfriendly it's quite shocking to me. They hide behind a veil of politeness, but they are still cold underneath, back stabbing and two faced. I am so tired of trying to make friends and getting rejected (which has never happened in other countries I have lived). I've finally accepted that I need to leave England before all of my self esteem and confidence is destroyed.
Gosh yes this is true. Polite but fake.
They're passive aggressive adding to your comment as well.
This is one of the reason I hate being in the UK but got no choice but to get old here.
@@lukeallan6486 Are you from the UK?
Yes I live here. They are horrible and xenophobic and fake.
I'm thinking we need to invent a personal teleport device so Alanna can pop over to see her friends and family more while staying here in the UK and enriching our lives. As for those that have given her abuse or told her to go home - I feel sorry for them.
A friend of mine (a university lecturer) went to Canada on a work exchange with a Canadian University, thinking that he and his wife might move there. However, much the same as Alanna describes, the work ethic in Canada was to work long hours, with very little annual leave, especially when compared to the UK. So, we have a Brit who chose to stay in the UK and a Canadian who chose to leave Canada in favour of living in the UK - both of them arriving at the same conclusion...
I don't think the work ethic in Canada is to work long hours, and work ethic really has nothing to do with vacation entitlement - that's just the way it is, and such things don't change quickly. I'm a Brit who's lived in Canada for 49 years.
@@istvanglock7445 OK I'll rephrase that:
In Canada the dominant culture within the senior administration/executives and major shareholders of large and multinational companies is to extract as much work as POSSIBLE from their workforce for as little pay as possible.
This view would seem to be shared by most politicians and legislators, such that workers' rights are very low on the list of priorities of larger employers. This would indicate that the Trade Unions are not very powerful in Canada.
The EXPECTATION is that employees work their socks of with bog all by way of paid holidays, and because theis has been the norm since forever, not too many Canadians look across the Atlantic to nations such as Norway, Finland, Sweden, The Netherlands, France, etc, to see just HOW much better most EU nations are than Canada in his regard.
Do you disagree wth that?
Hi , sorry to hear about the idiots you experienced . You are very welcome here and as a northerner having now lived in Kent since 1994 - I do miss some parts of the north, mainly moorland, my mates and northern banter. But it is easy to travel and catch up etc. Have friends who've gone to Canada and those who've gone to Australia - in the main it has often been getting used to the vast space and distance between things. I did some research work in Aus, so became aware of such. Ignore the idiots, as that is what they are and will remain so. PS , my wife is part of a bell-ringing group (team) in our Village (about 16 miles south -westish of Canterbury) just in case for the future. Keep it going, all the best to you and yours.
I love Canada and especially your family home, its gorgeous...
A lot of young people in the uk don't realise or appreciate all the good things they have going for them, if they just put the knives away, and got on with taking advantage of avenues for sucess that are open to them. You are showing them little things that they can be proud of through your videos. Keep having fun! 👍👊
They won't "put their knives away" -- it's getting worse not better
A Cool video for you might be to talk about the similarities between Canada and the uk I’ve never been to Canada but I hear culturally it’s like a mix of the us and uk when you aren’t in the French part.
Great idea, thank you!
Hey Alanna, I've only just discovered your video posts, so I'm working through them chronologically, catching up gradually! You're a talented raconteur, carefully researched and easy to listen to. Specifically relating to this video, abusive teenagers are the bain of everyone's life anywhere. Suffice to say we feel humbled and honoured you choose to live in our 'Green and Pleasant Land'.
It’s nice to hear people want to live in the U.K., despite certain difficulties over here, and the poor weather, it is a nice country.
Sometimes I know I take it for granted, and often moan about how bad our infrastructure is. Public transport could be better in London, but that’s life in the capital city. Move to places like Eastbourne, or some other places in Sussex, Dorset or Devon for example, and it’s a different world again.
Hi Alanna. I think you are awesome. Love your accent. I think Canada is such a beautiful country. Spectacular scenery. If I could emigrate to Canada, I would. These isn't that much difference in either American or Canadian language. As you say, it must be hard on you leaving your family and friends Love your videos. Great content. Lets hope you stay for many more years to come. 👍. Please take care, and thank you for sharing. ❤
I am from UK but lived in Canada most of my life , every time I go to Britain I always find someone is condescending to me. Maybe it’s because I’m Canadian and I’m sensitive to it, because Canadian people generally act polite even when they don’t want to.
Someone is always condescending to you? I'm from the UK too, and moved to Canada 49 years ago. When I return to the UK, I can't say I've ever found anyone condescending to me. Why would they be? You have to ask yourself why they would be condescending to you. Perhaps you just imagine it, what with you being so sensitive.
@@istvanglock7445 I can’t say it’s actually condescending, but they are very vocal about things, quick to tell you how it is , I missed the bus because I’m a tourist , the bus driver was not empathetic, kind of in a scolding mood, had a few instances, lack understanding or something , but that is only in the south, the north is much better.
Damn, I am shocked at the attitude some have expressed towards you. We ❤ you! My family feels a close affection to Canadians, Americans, Australians and really, most European citizens. We have extended families in all those countries.
I just moved from Brazil to Hamilton two months ago for studies, and omg I miss home so much. Canadians are nice and very friendly people. But sometimes, they kinda lack that human touch I was used too. Also, everything is so expensive, I will not even mention the rent prices.
Living In Canterbury is great - it’s one of my favourite U.K. places (we lived near there for years) but you have chosen an expensive place. The fact it’s a tourist venue as well as the university will keep prices high. Having said that being able to visit the beautiful cathedral whenever you want is a bonus.
One reason I couldn’t live in Canada is it’s too COLD!!!!!!
Ontario, especially in south is definitely more fast paced than elsewhere in Canada. I even found that when living in Ottawa. Where I am now (Yukon), things move at a snail's pace by comparison. Having been born in England, but growing up in Canada, I was curious as to where I "fit." On trips back to England, there were things that I loved (West Country cider - sigh!). But, many things I disliked too. All in all, I am about 60:40, or 70:30 in favour of Canada. While I really like England, life for me is better in Canada overall. I just wish I could get good cider here!
" _Ontario, especially in south is definitely more fast paced than elsewhere in Canada_ "
Not been to Calgary then?
As a person who is preparing going for moving to UK, this is what I was looking for something really positive, I mean that I wanted to hear! Thanks for this video and giving me hope.
We no longer have a mortgage, my wife is now retired and wants to travel back to Thai. We don’t splurge or anything like that. Inflation has hit hard and want to relocate while growing his RRSP which is less than 700k at the moment. I'm cautious than ever with rising costs. Also because of the insecurities taking place I have really discouraged the idea.
Roughly how much you have in the RRSP combined with a financial advisor’s help can help you not only grow but budget the money for your travel destinations. My spouse always delegates her excesses.
Hiring a financial adviser means having someone look at everything from cash flow to investments and risk management to estate planning and legacy.
The ones I find are young and I feel may not be experienced working with us. They also tend to charge 1%? which I am not comfortable with.
Yeah, the problem is finding a reputable one, the ones that have passed the exams qualifying them to be financial advisers. Who is this person that guides you? Can I get a number?
Your videos are great Alanna, so nice you chose the UK to come and settle in, 8 years here! Girl you’re one of us now!! ❤
I live in Vancouver with no cars， I walk to everywhere and take public transit. I have 8 weeks vacation per year. So I’m covered.😊
Totally agree with you on everything you said. I'm also in Vancouver, actually I work in Vancouver but live in the Tricities and can easily get around without a car due to the excellent skytrain, Westcoast Express and bus system which is apparently some of the best in the world. I also walk everywhere and got 8 weeks of vacation from day one I started my position. I think comparing England to Canada is unfair as Canada is so much bigger and it all depends where you are. This video is more a comparison of England vs Ontario. BTW I'm an immegrant and was told multiple times by Canadians to 'go back to your country'. I've been living in Canada for more than 25 years. I lived in Alberta as well but prefer Vancouver and think there is not a lot of countries in the world where people are as priviledged as in Canada. We all have our problems but Canada is a wonderful country with many opportunies, beautiful nature and for the most part great people.
I actually searched for this video wanting to move from Cambridge to Vancouver.
As a veterinarian surgeon and have a PhD, do you really encourage me to move there??
@@marinacoertze8622 corporate salvation, same as in South Korea.
Transport is decent but little of it is "world class" per se. I'd put Canadian public transport slightly below Thai public transport. Definitely not too bad.
Really? I never went to Canada but i've seen so many ppl saying bad things about there but i still want to go there one day ❤
you're of a minority.
I really loved this honest video of your experience living here in the UK as a Canadian. You are absolutely welcome here regardless of where you come from.
Canada and uk both have free healthcare, don’t understand why the guy in the comments is saying “ you come here to get free healthcare “
in Canada, from what I remember (lived there 20 years ago for a year and a half...) it's not universal, it's means tested. And varies from province to province. As a foreigner, I had to pay for all medical expenses. A simple, 5 min consultation cost me $300....
Yea there is a whole legal profession which fights for rights to state healthcare in Canada. It's not automatic like in the UK. It's not an NHS system.
@@BlatentlyFakeName
State healthcare? Canada doesn't have any states. It has provinces. And provinces have constitutional responsibility for healthcare. Notwithstanding, the federal government provides healthcare funding to provinces conditional upon the free-at-point-of-use principle. You're right that it's not an NHS system where the players are all state employees. In Canada many are private actors but are funded by the state - so to the consumer it appears much like an NHS system. I suggest you confine your comments to topics you know and understand, and Canadian healthcare is clearly one that you don't.
@@istvanglock7445 The UK has private workers as part of the NHS as well. The big difference is in the UK people cannot turn anyone away. In Canada you may have to fight for costs to be covered.
Private healthcare cover is also very cheap in the UK (unlike in the US) as the companies are having to compete with the state. Bad for business but good for the public.
@@BlatentlyFakeName
" _In Canada you may have to fight for costs to be covered_ "
Like I said - confine your comments to topics you know and understand.
After I'd moved a few times I came to the strange realisation that my subconcious considered the new place "home" when I would come home from a day at work and immediately need to pee the moment I crossed the threshold. It's like my body was telling me I was in a comfortable, safe environment and could now relax enough to be vulnerable. Either that or some primal need to mark my territory...
Hi Alanna, Ignore the numpties that are telling you to go home. Feel sorry for them that in their sad little lives they probably haven't got anything nice tp say about anything or anybody. Anyhoo as far as I'm concerned you're more than welcome here.
Hi Allana,
As a fellow Canadian (I'm from Mississauga), who wants to move to the UK, your video has given me some food for thought. Sorry you've had some tough experiences there.
I'm moving to the UK in February and I have wondered about how it would feel to be told you're unwanted there despite how understandable I might feel it is. I'm Canadian and going on an ancestry visa, where every single one of my grandparents come from the UK. I have no connections over there that I really know of, but in a strange way I only feel slightly removed from the country and something about it already feels like home. That's where my family history is, more time was spent there in my family tree then here. Ultimately, I just want to go and contribute with humility and respect for the people already there and Ill instantly forgive anyone who asserts I don't belong.
I think it depends on where you live. My partner and I moved to the UK from the US 5+ years ago and have never had any negative comments directed to us personally (though of course not everyone is a fan of the US). But we lived in Brighton (a very progressive city) and now Scotland (generally more progressive than England). People tend to be friendlier the farther north you go and more diverse in more urban areas, so I suspect that being in a small town in southern England makes it more likely that Alanna will experience negative comments IRL than in much of the UK.
While I think it's good to be mindful of the concerns local people might have about incomers and try to adapt to the culture quickly, you don't need to justify your presence to anyone and you certainly don't deserve to be treated with rudeness. That said, it's far more likely you'll meet people who ask why on earth you would want to move here and tell you how much better they think it is over there!
Thanks so much for your reply and the information! I've already encountered a lot of people asking why on earth I'd want to go there from both people here and over there online so you're absolutely right about that! We're currently looking at Scotland but could end up anywhere really.@@kadams3029
Enjoy your time in the UK. I hope people make you feel welcome here. It does sadden me that the loud minority spoil it for the majority.
Hi Alanna! The timing couldn’t be better for this video. I also live in southern Ontario and I’m deciding whether I want to go to the UK on a youth mobility visa. This was helpful. :)
do it! you will never regret living in another country, it gives you so much insight.
Hi, can you compare the difficulties you experience to reside in the UK vs the difficulties your partner would experience if he were to reside in Canada?
Of course, thanks for the suggestion!
A Brit would have to take an English proficiency test. My friend who immigrated here, he studied at Oxford and had to take the English test for his PR. 😂 he was so angry because well this language comes from his own country. I think immigration process and everything is actually faster here anyways in Canada.
I am disappointed that people in this country have told you that they don’t want you here, I have been watching your channel for only a short period of time but I find you to be a bloody nice young woman and would be proud to call a girl like you my daughter, please stay in England as long as you’re able to put up with our strange ways, keep up the good work. Kind regards.
What about the proximity to Europe?! That's what I think it's one of the biggest downsides of living in Canada, there's no where near by to visit except the US, which is very culturally similar. UK is a stone's throw from Spain, France, Germany, Portugal, Etc
a proud Englishman, i'm surprised at the negative reactions you've had from some of people here. please ignore the idiots. as far as i'm concerned, it's like your family left on a long holiday, and have finally returned... welcome home!
The UK is *not* built on immigration, that's an American thing which has a completely different history to us. I just had to get that out there. Having said that, most British, me included, welcome people such as you because you LOVE this country and love talking about it.
You might want to re-listen to what she said. She was referring to the waves of immigration/invasion that laid the foundation of the UK. Many peoples were displaced by the Romans, and then again later by the Norse, and again by Normans. All of those involved many new people arriving in the UK and forcing previous residents out (and/or killing them) and all three of these events (and many more smaller scale ones) had a massive effect of the culture and history of your little island(s).
We're all originally from Africa. The UK was settled in when it was still attached to continental Europe. By the time England was beginning to establish itself as a unified country, rather than regional tribes, it was predominantly Anglo-Saxon - a Germanic people. Of course there have been invasions which altered the the mix of ethinicity and culture since then, the Romans, Vikings, Normans, along with peaceful movement of peoples. Like everywhere else, we're all mongrels until you go right back to our African origins.
Embracing our differences and still learning how to come together as a nation is relatively modern, but is now a proud tradition of this country. We're lucky to live in such a country, when places can't do that, there is endless strife. Look at Israel and Palestine right now. Or the Russian invasion of Ukraine based on a territorial claim.
There's an ugliness growing in the UK as we struggle to adapt to globalisation and the inter-connectedness it brings, but retreating to Us v Them tribalism to address the practical issues it brings brings division and callousness. That's not my Britain.
Alanna helps to humanise the people who are sometimes treated as unwelcome statistics, we can learn a lot from her.
No immigrants apart from the Romans, Angles, Saxons, Jutes, Normans, Vikings, French Protestants, European Jews.
But the Scots and Welsh who originally occupied Briton are still around.
We can't go that far back to justify our mindset today. I'm 4% Neanderthal, what influence does that have on our beautiful UK 🙄
Even till now your country is still milking immigrants.
I remember years ago watching a programme hosted by Suzy Izzard (was Eddie at the time) called Mongrel Nation. It was predominantly about the UK and it’s words and language etc, but the general idea was that people from all over the world had been to our island and bequeathed us some of those words and language. I dearly wish it could be shown again, especially in schools. It’s continued to resonate with me throughout my life, and along with the Pale Blue Dot passage by Carl Sagan, gave me the opinion that no one is an immigrant- moving around the globe is something that’s always been done. Please don’t be put off by these rude people, Alanna! Stay! ❤
I'm sorry for your experiences of some people in the UK, they are vocal but are definitely the minority, I think we in the UK suffer from being very reserved, the sane, educated majority love immigrants and we know the UK is built hugely on migration. And people from the Commonwealth Nations are even more close, id call them family tbh. I hope more of us in the UK be more vocal and represent ourselves for who we really are friendly, tolerant society.
These are nice sentiments but I don't believe they are accurate. The majority of the UK voted for Brexit, and the predominant reason for that was found to be immigration (according to many polls). I don't know where you're from but I'm from the North and the hate for immigration among many is real up here. Of course, xenophobia and anti-immigrant sentiment is rampant and increasing throughout the world, not just the UK. Canada also has pockets of rising far-right views, but their populace is generally better educated and more liberal/tolerant/progressive, generally speaking, than the UK as a whole.
@@sregan5415
Yes, a significant reason for Brexit was immigration. But being anti uncontrolled immigration (as from the EU) doesn't translate to xenophobia or racism as you would like to think. I'm a pretty liberal and tolerant person, but I understand that the world is not finite, and the land area of the UK certainly isn't. Our quality of life is in my view a function of population density. I don't want to live in a country covered in concrete, and populated by people who subscribe to values and ways of life different to, and often inimical to, my own. Why people such as yourself would find that hard to understand baffles me.
As the size of your parents' back garden/yard is like a national park then definitely Canada. I have relatives in Mississauga and it's a really nice place, not near anything though.
Your videos and enthusiasm about the UK has made me appreciate my country more.
As nice as the larger houses and personal real estate (i.e., garden/yard) are, keep in mind that it means there is substantially more work involved in maintaining them.
@@dealbreakerc Not as much as you might think. We have a 2 acre property and for the most part all I have to do is mow once a week during the summer. It takes about half an hour.
In Canada you don't necessarily lose your vacation time when you change jobs. If in your job you have attained 4 or 5 weeks of vacation per year and are considering working for a new company, you can as part of the salary negotiation ask for the same amount of vacation time. If they want you they'll typically say yes.
In America, you start over. A friend of mine worked for a big airline, and had earned 4 weeks per year of vacation. She went to a smaller airline, and started all over again at 2 weeks per year. Unless you are a high level executive, you don't negotiate. For that matter, if you are a high level executive, they often don't let you take your vacation. My brother is an IT manager, and they won't let him take his earned vacation. He has to fight to get time off.
Recently got married and my wife and I have been thinking bout our situation in canada. We wake up, work and sleep with a few date nights here and there. Kids became a topic of discussion so we knew that we would rather work and live in a country that has good work life balance. Now were saving for the move to glasgow
On the attitudes to immigration issue, the Canadian news (global , CBC is full of stories of racism , so I’m surprised at your comments. As an immigrant myself I find Canadians very accepting but the media here says otherwise.
The Canadian media is paid by the government to lie about that kind of thing so white people will feel bad about themselves and then let the government make them do things they wouldn’t naturally choose to do. Just part of the global agenda to destroy western nation states and reduce people’s political sovereignty.
Once again lass you are spot on. Even if you don't go away a holiday is a break from the working life and a chance to recharge your bodily functions. I agree with all the commenters below who welcome you. I welcome you as well, you are from a commonwealth country so you are family. One thing you will find is that the price of housing reflects the availabitiy of employment. If the housing ins cheaper there is most likely much less work available.
I am a Brit and I'm so sorry about your experiences with I hope a minority. You are quite obviously a very nice person who contributes to this country for which I thank you. I'm afraid probably a lot more than the people who felt the need to share their opinions.
Of course you miss your family and friends, nothing here could replace that. I would feel the same. 😊
Hello people! I am a Brazilian that lived in the UK and just loved there (Brighton). Now, l am living in Toronto (Ontario) and the place is growing on me still. I miss the UK and it takes time to have this sense of longing and belonging. Hopefully soon. Tks for your review!
Canadian troops came to England's aid during WW2 for which we should be eternally grateful. My auntie married one of the soldiers and moved to Canada and loved it, So anybody who gives Alanna a hard time should be reminded of that fact and be thankful we are not a part of Germany. We love you Alanna, you are welcome here as long as you like.
Yes, unlike WW1 Canada was under no obligation to join us, but its PM said 'If Britain is at war, we are at war'. Literally brings a tear to my eye!
The fact you’ve chosen to live in the UK despite being born and bread in Canada kinda answers the question even though you are far to kind to say it in this video, keep em coming always enjoying the content although the lack of spectacles is really throwing me off a bit 😂😂😂
A good, balanced video, Alanna.
I am UK-born, now back living in the UK (after 14 years in California).
The people who tell you to leave the UK are ignorant and/or stupid.
The reality is that we have an ageing demographic; people are living longer and the average age is increasing.
We have increasing numbers of retirees living on pensions.
We do not really have enough young UK citizens to work extremely hard, pay taxes, and support the retirees.
We NEED immigrants. Immigrants are predominantly young, come here to work, and hence pay taxes and contribute to the economy.
When the country narrowly (and foolishly) voted to leave the EU, many young people went back to Europe, leaving holes in the workforce.
We now NEED immigrants even MORE.
Britain is multicultural. When I walk through town (a university town), I am very happy to see so many different faces, of all shapes and colours.
Chicken Tikka Masala is our national dish. (I eat a curry for lunch most days). We have restaurants of every ethnicity.
Before I retired, I worked for a truly international company that had a policy of hiring people in every country where it did business.
It also moved people around, so they experienced life and work in other countries.
That really knocked out of me the myth of British superiority. There are very smart and cultured people everywhere.
Keep going, Alanna. Ignore the idiots. We NEED you. You raise the UK average of everything, especially happiness. Thank you for being here.
Good, I agree with you
Nice video Alanna
The content is not only informative but also presented in such a captivating way. The way you present your content is both entertaining and informative. I love the attention to detail and the positive energy you bring to your channel.I'm eagerly looking forward to more incredible videos from you! 💖
When I was visiting my relatives in B.C this year a number of them asked me whether I would like to move to Canada. To be honest the need to drive everywhere and the fact I would be financially worse off puts me off. I also have an old school friend that lives on Vancouver Island and he was moaning that outside the tourist season the place is almost like a graveyard it is so quiet.
As a previous Chinese student who studied in Manchester, I think the urban mass transit system in most of the UK deserves a thumb up. Having buses even in the early hrs brings ppl hanging out drinking or watching films or heading for the airport a sense of relief.
" _the place is almost like a graveyard it is so quiet_ "
Exactly why I moved to Canada all those years ago. Getting a little busier now, unfortunately. May have to move to Nunavut.
Interesting. I now understand why London out of the 10 places in Europe that we visited in the fall, was the only place that we felt unwelcomed. I guess it was my Chinese Canadianess. Everywhere else, in Europe, we had the best reception and friendliest welcome.