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Hi Canada, I support your response ❤.

HI Chokor, I really like your submissions.?\nHowever, I will excuse your level of knowledge about Europe as you have said that you have never lived in Europe.\n\nMy own submissions is that both Europe and U.S.A/ Canada has their goods and bads.\n\nFirstly, Europe pratice Socialist and Capitalist economy, meaning if you are working and fall on hard time due to recessions, or health challenges. \nEurope welfare systems will support you, until you are back on your feet, and if its terminal health challenges, the systems support you till death.\n \nPerhaps that is why European pathways to citizenship use to be so narrow, but its changing now,\nGermany has adopted, u.s.a type of Green card, currenty assylum seekers in Europe mostly received work permits after 9months.\n\nCritically, Europe still has more to learn from Canada in terms of integration and equal opportunities for immigrants.\n\nCritically, U.s.a and canada, systems are pure capitalist economy, If you are unlucky to fall on hard times, or health challenges, and if the person does not have full medicaid insurance, that person life is likely to be cut short. \nDue to lack of access to quality hospital care.\n\nEven, i watched it on CNN/CBS, how most medical insurances in U.s.a, and Canada ars refusing to cover persons with Diabetes.\n\nUsa and Canad has one of the worst homelessness in the developed world, most of them are not drug/alchohol addicts, rather persons with good works, and home owners who had fallen on hard times.\n\nConclusion, wherever God give us in abroad, one should just pray for mercies of God..?

Hi Lynn, this is a very interesting conversation. I moved to Canada in 2003 went to college and became a nurse. First of all it was not easy paying for college I was lucky that husband was supporting with the bills as I went to school. So I would say that I have skills that are very marketable. Our combined family income was over $100,000 CAN. We mortgaged our first home which was very basic for a LOT of money. We had our kids and we had to struggle with childcare as most young families do. By North American standard, we were doing good. We each had a good car ( loaned), we made trips to Kenya every so often but in 2016 we decided we wanted to move back home and we sold our home and we did. I HAVE NO REGRETS. There were several things that made us reach our decision. First, I truly believe that for the Canadian system to work as it does, it has to entrap its residents. Even after 10 years of work we did not have money in the bank. Everything we owned really belonged to the bank. The light bulb moment for me came when I evaluated my net worth. A primary school teacher in Kenya after 10 years of work with good financial management will own a plot, a simple house and will start to invest for retirement. After 10 years of work, there wasn't much in the account, our house would need 25 years to finish paying mortgage and to be honest there wasn't much to show for those years of work. Quality of life really sucks the amount of stress will definitely send you to the grave sooner. This is the case for most first generation immigrants. You might say you are sacrificing and building a future for your children but, my observation was since our diaspora children have not grown in Kenya to see the need for money and what life really looks like without the comforts they are used to, they do not have the same drive as the parents so they often do not excel they are just ordinary. There is also the struggle of growing up as a minority group. A lot of our children because they are seeking acceptance will struggle with self esteem, will have depression or will join the LGBTQ community where they get sense of belonging regardless of their colour. The morals are also different from their parents and they are shaped by the society they grow up in. When I looked at what my life would look like if we kept living there, lets say we eventually pay off our mortgage, when we are old and requiring care, our children will not be able to support themselves and support us because they have to work to sustain themselves so we would to move to assisted living or nursing homes. The cost of senior care is not covered by the government unless you have no money. so we have to sell out home which would be old and outdated but still very expensive and we would have to pay $5000-$10000 per month depending on the type of care we need. so as you can see if we ended in a nursing home for 5 years we will have depleted all the money we made from the sale of our home. So by the time we die, we would not have money to leave for our children. So we worked really hard, supported the economy, and die leaving not much at all for our children, we sacrificed our quality of life, and ended up with children who don't think much of themselves or have very distorted morals. I still remember in my mind as we drove to the airport on our way back to Kenya, I thought of the story of Lot. He was pretty successful in Sodom but I'm very sure on his death bed he had lots of regrets why he ever went there. I know its tough being in Kenya but if you have a job or any way to make ends meet, be like Abraham. God will bless you regardless of whether you are in the dessert.

Hi Lynn. First of, I would like to say that I'm such a huge fan of yours. Since you started at Tuko and still following to date. You are an inspiration to me and so many people out there. I love and respect what you stand for and your work. I completely resonate with everything you are about. Second, I've lived in Canada for over 30 years now. I am Eritrean and was born in Kenya. Moved to Canada when I was about 9 and have lived here since with my family. I have to say that for us, Canada has been a God Send. It has helped us in so many ways, and we are so grateful for the opportunities and life it has given my family. From health care to schooling and job opportunities. We also cane here in 1989. So times and cost of living was very different than it is now. Of course, times have changed now, and the economy and standard of living have too. There are pros and cons to everywhere we live in the world. Everyone is different and has different experiences. There are various factors that may affect everyone's perspectives and experiences when they come to Canada, whether it was a long time ago or recently. Some factors could be, weather, economy, feeling lonely ( no family), language barriers, support...etc. Change is not easy at all and can affect t your whole emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being. Social life here is also not like it us back home...just alot of factors. People here work and work to make it. My mom brought us here as a single widowed mom. My sister and I were very young. But she was determined to give us a better life and worked her whole life, and it has paid off. It depends on how you look at everything and what your goal is. My mother was determined and made it happen and has raised us on her own very successfully. She loves Canada and appreciates it for everything it has done for us. Everyone's experiences are different. You have to do your research before coming and come with an open mind. Overall... Canada for us has been a blessing. \n\nI hope that helps somehow. But again, everyone's perspective and experiences are just as valid and rightfully so. \n\nI hope to meet you someday. Love you, Lynn, From Canada ?? ❤️