Holly Hollyson - Expat in Hamilton, Canada
Holly Hollyson is a 30-year-old teacher who lives in the city of Hamilton in Ontario, Canada . Originally from the United Kingdom, she left her home country to be with her partner. “It wasn’t a decision to move because there was something I particularly disliked about the UK; in fact I loved my life in the UK. However, I had been in a long distance relationship for some time and we needed to make a decision as to where to love one way or another,” she explained, adding that other factors for the move included a higher standard of living in Canada. At present, Miss Hollyson has been living in Canada for 1 year and 10 months.
Miss Hollyson said that her most difficult experience as an expat involved handling homesickness. “It ebbs and flows and has seen me wishing I were home and impervious to it in equal measure,” she said. Another aspect of being an expat that Miss Hollyson had some challenges with had to do with the requirements needed for the move. “To apply for sponsorship by your common law partner to move to a new country, I first had to live with my partner for a year. But, to do so I needed a visa. Therefore I applied for a yearlong work-travel visa, at the end of which I had hoped to be able to continue to work whilst applying for my permanent residency visa. That was not so, however and as such I am stranded in Canada--unable to leave until my permanent residency/sponsorship visa is approved and yet unable to work,” she explained, adding that it makes her feel frustrated.
Expats who want to know more about the details that come with applying as a migrant overseas will find that getting professional immigration services can provide them with guidelines on immigration laws and policies of the country that interests them. Such services can do a great job of keeping expats up-to-date with the latest requirements needed for a successful application. Additionally, expats who are having a hard time dealing with homesickness when living abroad can find support by joining clubs and associations to meet others.
Find out more about Holly Hollyson’s experiences in Canada in her full interview below.
Q: Where are you originally from?
A: I am originally from the UK.
Q: What made you move out of your home country?
A: I moved out of the UK to be with my partner. It wasn’t a decision to move because there was something I particularly disliked about the UK; in fact I loved my life in the UK. However, I had been in a long distance relationship for some time and we needed to make a decision as to where to love one way or another.
Q: Where are you living now?
A: I moved to Hamilton, Ontario Canada) in January 2013.
Q: How did you come to choose this new country of residence?
A: We finally made the decision to move to my partner’s country of residence because the standard of living is higher – there is more space, property is cheaper, wages are higher. It just made the most sense for us at the time.
Q: How long have you been living in Canada?
A: I have now been living here for 1 year and 10 months.
Q: What has been the most difficult experience you've had when you were new in your host country?
A: Beyond a shadow of a doubt, the homesickness that I have felt since moving here has been the most terrible and debilitating side effect of expatriation. It ebbs and flows and has seen me wishing I were home and impervious to it in equal measure.
Q: Would you say that formalities like getting visas or work permits and international health insurance was particularly difficult in Canada? What was your experience with these?
A: My experience has been difficult to say the least! To apply for sponsorship by your common law partner to move to a new country, I first had to live with my partner for a year. But, to do so I needed a visa. Therefore I applied for a yearlong work-travel visa, at the end of which I had hoped to be able to continue to work whilst applying for my permanent residency visa. That was not so, however and as such I am stranded in Canada -0 unable to leave until my permanent residency/sponsorship visa is approved and yet unable to work. It is a less than ideal situation that makes me feel really very frustrated. Were I able to work, I would be able to contribute through taxes to the country, as well as through providing a service. As it is, I am unable to do either. As a teacher it is not ideal for me to be out of the profession for such a long period of time also.
Q: Are you living alone or with your family?
A: I live with my partner, our dog and cat and they are all Canadian! It is just me!
Q: Was it easy making friends and meeting people? Do you mainly socialize with other expats in Canada? How did you manage to find a social circle in Canada?
A: It was difficult before I started my first job here. I felt I had no friends and I relied heavily on regular contact with my friends in England. Once I started work, however, it was much easier and now I do have really great friends here also.
Q: What are the best things to do in the area? Anything to recommend to future expats?
A: Waterfalls! Living on the Niagara escarpment means that there are waterfalls everywhere – not just at Niagara Falls! They are definitely worth a visit, each and every one!
Q: How does the cost of living in Canada compared to your home?
A: A cup of coffee costs $1.65 while a meal in an inexpensive restaurant costs $12. A meal in an expensive restaurant costs $50 while a bottle of wine costs $12. A pack of cigarettes costs $9.
Q: How do you find the local culture and people in your host country?
A: Friendly! Canada is renowned for being one of the most polite and friendly countries in the World and I feel it has definitely earned that reputation!
Q: What do you think are the positive and negative sides of living in Canada?
A: Positives: Friendly people, fantastic countryside filled with the great lakes and waterfalls and huge expanses of bare land as far as the eye can see, great wages, cheap property.
Negatives: The space makes it an inconvenient place to live - you have to travel so far to get to where you want to go quite often, even if it is just a store!
Q: Do you miss home and family sometimes?
A: I miss my family all the time!
Q: How do you cope with homesickness?
A: Coping strategies include:
1) Crying! Or allowing myself free, unadulterated time to cry!
2) Thinking – finding places to be alone and deep in thought.
3) Contacting them – skype, email whatever! Sometimes I just need a chat with them.
4) Enjoying myself – taking my mind off it and finding ways to connect with my new home!
Q: Do you have plans to move to a different country or back home in the future?
A: No. I would love to, but I don’t think that will happen anytime soon.
Q: What has been the hardest aspect to your expat experience so far?
A: Quite simply, the homesickness. It even outweighs the visa problems!
Q: What tips can you give other expats living in Canada?
A: The same tips I would give to anyone: plan, plan and then plan some more. Don’t rely on lawyers necessarily. If you do work alongside a lawyer, be sure to put in the research yourself too – I had a lawyer and she was so bad I needed to tell her what to do!
Q: Do you have favourite websites or blogs about your host country?