As an American, if you’d like to live and/or work in another country for a while (but you’re on a pretty tight budget) Canada is one of the best choices. It’s relatively easy to travel between the two, and all you need is your passport on hand to go back and forth.
But even with the proximity between the two countries, there are still cultural differences and the chance for homesickness if you’ve moved from one to another. If you’re an American expat in Canada hearing the call to go home right now, here’s how to counteract the feeling.
Get a Loved One to Send a Care Package
If you’re missing home because you can’t get your favorite snacks or branded clothing in Canada, ask a loved one to put together a care package for you. You can send them the money for the items so they don’t even have to worry about the cost either. Once the care package arrives, you can luxuriate in the foods you know and love and spend a cozy weekend on the sofa with them.
Talk to Other Expats
You’re never going to be the only expat in the area. Why not look into groups made by people just like you and join one? This can help with the sense of community you’re missing; it’s also just nice to talk to someone who knows how you’re feeling. In a group like this you can open about your homesick feeling and know it’s being received with support.
Stream Some Homemade Shows
Miss sitting down with your family to watch something in the evening? Start streaming those beloved shows straight to you! This will help a lot if your favorite shows or events aren’t available on Canadian TV. Just download a VPN and you can start streaming directly from a cable network back at home.
Say you’re a fan of cars and love to keep up with F1 over the season – it’s possible to get f1 streaming canada based and then you can watch those cars zoom past no matter where you are. Sometimes all you need is a few shots of a landscape you know and love to feel right at home again!
Learn a Bit of the Language
It’s common for Canadians to speak French as well as English. If you’re an American expat with no second language, this can make you feel very out of place. This can make your homesickness so much worse and send you running home with your tail between your legs.
However, learning a bit of French to use in public settings can allay this feeling. If you can speak to your neighbor in their own language, you’re going to feel much more at home! You’re also probably going to get a few more smiles and daily greetings from them too, which definitely helps to fill in that need to belong.
Canada is a great country, but it can take some getting used to.