Автор: This article is an invitation from Dmitry to discuss the topic of immigration to Canada and to practise in English. Please, write in English your opinion, your reasons to immigrate or not, or something else about this topic.
If you want to write your article, just let us know. 
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What I don't like in Russia:
1. Russia was always hardworking on its Greatness. And I don't think it's pragmatic will. Greatness of Russia doesn't lead to anything helpful for me or my family's members or other citizens.
2. Corruption. Everywhere. Any corruption fighting statements are meaningless because of corruption is only functionary's motivation to improve something. There will be devastation in our country if corruption would be stopped right now.
3. People's rudeness. Everybody strive for defense from everyone with rudeness. But aggression leads to return aggression.
I hope Canada is devoid of this shortcomings and I want to meet a number of possibilities:
1. I believe Canada can provide me with my current living standards in 5-7 years of staying.
2. I want to meet strong tolerance. I understand there are people who like to hate someone in Canada, but I expect their amount is 5 percent or less.
3. I hope I will be able to sponsor my mother if she likes this country.
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For my opinion there is only one reason to immigrate — want to try to live in another country. Will it good for you or not — who knows? But if you have opportunity and desire why don't to try?
Now the World is become so small. People can move from country to another and choose place to live that right for them. And a canadian passport is a really good thing that helps us open the World.:)
Your point is realy good, Sasha. I agree with it.
Watching another country's local residents' life on TV is not enough to understand them. And visiting the country as a tourist is not enough too. Working or/and studying side-by-side to peoples gives the understanding. As we russians say it's needed to eat pood of salt.
I like our discussion
Certainly it's true that it is a good enough reason, but — please excuse my attitude — is there any strong evidence that a Canadian passport opens up the world to you any better than a Russian one? I doubt it. So why waste your time trying to fix it when it ain't broke?
Although I myself have never considered moving to another country for the rest of my life as an option, I don't mind having a few experiences besides living in one place and growing roots and leaves.
«Watching another country's local residents' life on TV is not enough to understand them. And visiting the country as a tourist is not enough either».
Dimkins has a point here. Going on a two-week vacation to another country is one thing and actually experiencing the day to day life of the people living there is quite another. I think it is always fun to try something new.
Besides, as the world becomes smaller by virtue of economic globalisation, the need to understand each other grows, and there really is no better way to learn more about a country than by getting an insider's perspective.
To Dmitry. Russia is a great country, and it continues to live in the hearts of immigrants forever, no matter where we go. There are so many things we can be proud of. I am personally very proud of being able to speak the Russian language. I agree, Russians have never been good at being pragmatic. Rudeness and corruption are very real problems. To your list of problems I would also add racism and nationalism. I hope your dream of moving to Canada will come true very soon. And you too will then look back at Russia with pride and a deep sense of attachment. Good Luck!
Thank your for the wish, Vladimir.
I just mean Russia spends a lot of resources to make its image rather than make its own people's life better. It is sad for me.
Dimkins, i have not been to Russia for many years. How would you describe the image Russia is working so hard to create for itself?
Russia (read Medvedev) wants to construct high technologies' town in Skolkovo to become the leader of nanotechnology or ever. But all of constructed is 4 meters high hammered out fence around the aria. Why don't we give the funds to existing research groups?
And we still spend a lot of money to hold Chechnya in structure of Russian Federation. Why? To save our image of impair?
I think promoting your country and making it more competitive is not necessarily a bad thing. I macroeconomics, there is a term, comparative advantage. China's comparative advantage is its manufacturing sector. Russia's — its resource sector. It's harder to define what is Canada's comparative advantage is. Any thoughts, anyone?
Sure competition is not a bad thing. I would be glad if Russian science could improve its competition with Skolkovo construction. But it still looks like the old Russian development tradition: «Sensation, Confusion, Punishment of who isn't guilty and Encouragement of not implicated».
And I don't think comparative advantage of a country has a sense by itself. Do we improve our country's comparative advantage to say «We are cool»? (like americans do)
And I'm afraid of Russian comparative advantage was not only resource sector but an ability of government to make the citizens to work without a rest and a good payment also.
Too true, too true.
2 Vladimir.
Canada may not yet have become sectorally specialised, but based on observed trade patterns, I would say that Canada has a relatively high comparative advantage
in agricultural products, raw ores, and fossil fuels, and comparative disadvantage in manufactures.
Racism and nationalism are also our problems I agree. Its tend to grow now. I see nationalists' slogans through a train window every day.
What do these slogans say?
«Care your children of jewish fascism» for example. I don't see any meaning in this sentence, don't ask me. My apologies to jews.
I think this type of writings is called graffitti.
Maybe. But I don't like it at all. Is it possible in Canada you are living?
Yes, i live in Canada. There is racism here too, but it is covert. My wife is not Russian. Many years ago, she used to teach at a school with a large number of children from Russian immigrant families. Once, her coworker whispered to her that she could not stand Russians. In her opinion, «Russian kids have bad manners and weird yellowish skin.»
Yes, it's racism too. Whispering is not graffiti but it also hurts.
Vladimir, how much people in Canada have the same racist mood as the your wife's coworker in your opinion?
Not many. In my opinion, Canadians are respectful and don't get in your face.
What does it mean «don't get in your face»? I've not gotten this. Idiom?
It's not billboards of course.
To Sasha. In my opinion, trying to live in another country, getting yourself outside your «comfort zone», forcing yourself to think in another language are all fantastic life experiences. I am constantly amazed by how many countries outside the former Soviet Union now have Russian-speaking diasporas. What kind of people leave the comforts of their homes and move to live among strangers? They are immigrants — people with open minds who are not afraid of difficulties!
If political reasons would be pushed aside I can say I want to open my horizons with life experience in Canada. It sounds like a basic reason for me
«to get in your face» means «to annoy», «to bother». How would you translate into English the idiom you used «to eat a pood of salt»? The only idiom with the word salt I know is «to take something with a grain of salt» but it means something completely different.
Thank you, Vladimir. Its very good practice in English for me.
Do you think «съесть пуд соли» can be translated as «to go through thick and thin»?
O, thanks for one more idiom!
«Съесть пуд соли» gives us a criteria what is knowing of a human such as duration of living together.
I suppose «to go through thick and thin» can be translated as «и в горе и в радости» because it talks about other criteria such as variety of quality of living together.
Or «пройти сквозь огонь и воду»
(please read criterion not criteria in my previous comment
)
I mean «to go through thick and thin» — «пройти сквозь огонь и воду»
Yes, it's near, I think
About Greatness, I think the first place belongs to US ;). Seems like every country from the smallest to the biggest believe in their Greatness (Israel for example). I'm not sure this is bad idea to believe in the Greatness of your Country. And, for sure, this couldn't be the main reason to leave it.
After all discussion I agree with this point.
I like these quotes from Tao Te Ching:
«When the country falls into chaos, patriotism is born.»
«If a country is governed with tolerance, the people are comfortable and honest.
If a country is governed with repression, the people are depressed and crafty.»
When a country obtains great power, it becomes like the sea: all streams run downward into it. The more powerful it grows, the greater the need for humility."
«If a country is governed wisely, its inhabitants will be content. They enjoy the labor of their hands and don't waste time inventing labor-saving machines. Since they dearly love their homes, they aren't interested in travel. There may be a few wagons and boats, but these don't go anywhere. There may be an arsenal of weapons, but nobody ever uses them. People enjoy their food, take pleasure in being with their families, spend weekends working in their gardens, delight in the doings of the neighborhood. And even though the next country is so close that people can hear its roosters crowing and its dogs barking, they are content to die of old age without ever having gone to see it.»
It was a grievance against Russia in my mind. I am aware it now and my political heat is going down. Interest to another culture remains.
I like this quotes. Only one of its is unclear for me. «The more powerful it grows, the greater the need for humility.»
Does it mean that we need humility to stay greater or we can stay greater with humility?
All the rest of it looks very reasonably.
Thanks. I think it means that a great power lacking humility is a danger to itself and to others.
oops, sorry.
Does it mean that we need humility to stay greater or we can find humility when we stay greater?
I think the quote often attributed to Lao Tzu is just another way of saying «the tiger hides his claws» that's a man of talent is expected to hide his light under a bushel and not proclaim his greatness in the streets. For one benefits from modesty and is ruined by complacence.
My reason to immigrate in Canada
— safety living for my kids
— more opportunity for future life
— not agressive community
— have comfort in life (I mean safety, patience, tolerance, respect to other and self)
— have good environmental condition
I like you list
It looks very much like mine. But maybe life comfort will want to appear not immediately. What would you say?
I left Russia in 1991 during a very hopeless and dark period in its history. My decision back then was very simple as life at home was grim. I have never had any regrets since. Today, deciding whether to stay or to leave must be a lot more complicated. Recently, I have found several of my classmates online. They are saying that life in Russia is still not easy, but they seem genuinely happy to be at home, surrounded by friends and relatives. They seem to feel sorry for me and my 20-year long immigrant saga. Do they understand what I have lived through? Of course, they don't. If I had a chance to live my life again, would I follow the same path? Definitely!
Why I chose to come back
I want my children to
— grow up in a safe and secure environment;
— get a quality education so that they can have a fulfilling career and do what they enjoy doing;
— live, not live to work;
— eat healthy food and not fall victim to the obesity epidemic.
I don't want them to be Russian in name only desperately struggling to preserve their
cultural identity for the rest of their lives.
I was sick and tired of glaring hypocrisy lurking at every turn. I could no longer stand to live in a giant freezer for each six months of the year.
There are too many immigrants from Asia who seem to have been taking over.
I am wondering if anyone is still keen to continue the discussion on cosmopolitan outlooks among expat communities we started in another thread?
blog.movetocanada.ru/post... -page-2#comments
I can't understand what is the result of the discussion you expect, Vitaly. What are the benefits which we all can get ?
Would I have started it if I had known what the outcome of our discussion would be? But every time I get into a discussion with someone about the reasonableness of relocation, it always turns into a fruitless merry-go-round, as though they fear that they may discover something within themselves... like the sacred and secret domain of their inner life that if explored any further will ruin their future. It's like oiled-up guys pretending to be tough and tart on the outside while they are mushy and sweet on the inside.
«But every time I get into a discussion with someone about the reasonableness of relocation, it always turns into a fruitless merry-go-round, as though they fear that they may discover something within themselves...»
If I would be on your site I should ask myself «What am I doing so people react this way?»
Recently, i have read an article in The Economist about the strength and the benefits of Indian and Chinese diasporas abroad. Chinese and Indian emigrants are sending huge amounts of money to their home countries, as well as investing in their economies, encouraged by their governments. As a result, India has become the largest outsourcing centre in the world. China's manufacturing has also benefitted thanks to the Chinese living in rich countries.
Hey, someone else thinks the same way.
Not only do Chinese immigrants support their families back home; they also grap every opportunity to see their families, relatives and friends.
They always keep their homeland in mind, wherever they go, whatever they do.
The Chinese are arguably wired way differently from immigrants from Eastern Europe. Most Chinese immigrants have no intention of settling down permanently in a country other than their own. Aren't you amazed with the degree of dedication and loyalty to their own country? They don't even bother to accomodate themselves to the requirements of a host country, nor do they identify themselves with the interests of the country.
Unlike Eastern Europeans who are willing to bend over backwards to obtain Canadian citizenship, Chinese immigrants retain Chinese citizenship, whatever the cost. These are just a few of numerous cultural factors that make China strong and powerful.
I'm sure everyone who want to get your life outcomes, Vitaly, will be glad to think your way.
Oh, wow. I'm really flattered that you think so, but I'm still working hard on changing the conformist attitude I picked in Canada. It's good to know that there are people out there who are brave enough to think differently.
A grammar note for learners of English:
In standard English «amazed» requires «at» following it. However, the Brits sometimes use «with».
It's very interesting point of view. I didn't think this way.
Sending money to my parents will promote consumers service development. So I can help my country by working adroad.
I didn't see that earlier.
«Sending money to my parents will promote consumers service development. So I can help my country by working adroad.»
I'm afraid, it doesn't work that way. This way you may only do irraparable damage to your home country's economy.
Vladimir, may I ask you some questions about studing in Canada?
Of course, Dimkins. Trouble is that I have not studied in Canada. But I will try to help you as much as I can.
My question is about differences between MSc and PhD educations.
As I can see PhD study has advantage for me. I mean easier founding then MSc. I read it was possible to take a grant for international PhD students. And it's difficult international MSc students.
It's clear for me that PhD studys means harder working. In addition I see I haven't research works. But research and teaching was always attractive for me.
Can you tell something?
It seems that my question is too generalized.
Master of Science is just a stepping stone to a PhD. If your goal is a PhD you should absolutely consider US iniversities. They offer A LOT more opportunities, as well as scholarships. I studied in USA and was absolutely amazed at how interested they are in attracting smart people from abroad.
Thank you. I didn't know this about US universities. I thought its are very commercialized.
They are very well funded, top-notch, and many of them will even pay you a stipend while you are pursuing your Doctorate degree. May I ask you what field of study you are interested in?
I am interesting in Computer Engineering. Digital Signal Processing and Embedded Systems are my preferences.
Good choices. Have you taken TOEFL?
I've tested myself with CD-version paper based TOEFL two weeks ago and have got 450 points. It's not enough I see. My goal is 600.
Yes, you have to score at least 550
As far as I know the minimum score requirements vary from university to university.
Dimkins if you feel you can get prepared for Toefl or Ielts more quickly while already in canada, you may want to consider a language school. All universities have such programs, and there are also private language schools. About a year ago, i was trying to help one of my Russian friends' daughter to enroll in one of these private language schools in downtown Toronto. Most students I saw there were from Korea and China. There were some from Brazil, France and Spain. I asked the staff if they had had anyone from Russia. They told me that several Russian students had tried to come, but had been unable to get student visas. Apparently, it is quite difficult.
Yes, it would be quicker but it is realy difficult to explain to a visa officer why I am going to the other hemisphere to learn English meanwhile I have England near to home. He will doubt. What if my aim is living illegal in Canada?
I cant go and learn English where I want while having Russian passport only.
But getting the student visa is more possible when an English course is preliminary to MSc. This way I must to get a pre-admission from a university.
I'm planning learn English by myself until summer. After that I suppose to take some course in Moscow. It should be cheaper.
Dimkins, I did not know that a student can be preadmitted. I thought a sufficient TOEFL score is a requirement without which you cannot be accepted into the degree program.
Dimkins, visa officers don't think this way. No Canadian visa officer will ever tell you to go to England instead if Canada. They look at you as a prospective student who has been admitted to a Canadian University and who can show an acceptance letter. The prospective student needs to prove he or she has the funds to study (his own money or a scholarship). Also the immigration officer will ask for proof that you plan to return to your home country when you complete your studies. You have to show then that you have ties to your homelandn such as property, an employer expecting you back on the job, spouse and or children. This last part is very important but it is often overlooked.
I'm sorry. All information I have is from Russian forums. I had not yet an event to check it.