Just my 2 cents??

Question

I was born in HK but moved to Canada in the 90s. My family often said Canada is a great country with laws, benefits, and jobs blah.

So, my mom became a "cleaning lady" earning 8$/h. She worked so long that her left arm was injured and couldn't work anymore. The canada health care doesn't support therapies. She also had to go to a dentist which cost her 800$!

So me and her went back to Hk last year to treat her arms. Everything was so cheap in HK. Granted, HK is crowded, not as good air quality, but it is fun, fast pace, and full of life.

The dental fee was so cheap in HK, and the massage for her arm to. I kept asking her, why the hell did we come to Canada ?! She kept telling me it is a great country. Well, if it is so great, then why were you a cleaning lady and we can't afford for medical care?
And why are we living in a 3 bedroom apartment instead of a house? I gotta leave this prison. I am 27, I am not gona rot here and waste my age.Why do people think Canada is good?

Answer 1

we immigrated to Canada from HK in the mid-70's. my mother who didn't work in HK had to get a job when we got there. what did she do? she became a leather cutter in a factory - a job she's never done or known about before. she did this for 20 years, often working 10-12hrs/day, standing on her feet. sure she would often be exhausted but she never complained. my dad also did factory work while there.

now, my mom & i have both returned to live in HK. i've often asked her why we moved to Canada when we could have stayed in HK (as her side of the family lives here); her answer : because i wanted u to get a good education and have a better life than u would have had if we stayed in HK. after being back for over 10yrs, i totally appreciate what she did; majority of kids here can't finish form 3 or form 5 (eqv. to grade 9 & 11, respectively), and have to get a job at the age of 16 - what can a 16yr work as?? if they don't can't pass the required exams, they can't continue or they must repeat until they do. often, they give up after 2-3 attemps. once they start working, they cannot afford to go back to school (although some do make it through night school/part time but it's a very small percentage).

as for the health care in Canada, it's a lot better than most countries. true things seem better/cheaper in HK but if u ask the locals, they can tell u the all flaws in the system. even though many things are cheap to you (say, dental, therapy, etc.) there are still many people who can't afford it.

i can never thank my parents enough for moving us to Canada and will do the same when i have my own family.

Answer 2

Well, first of all, you are not your mother. Do you know why she thinks Canada is a great country? Could it be that because she can work as a cleaning lady without being looked down by other people? In Asian countries, people treat you like dirt if you work as a cleaning lady. Can you see the difference in attitude?

Second, I thought Canada has a free universal health care? Guess all that hype was wrong.

Third, what is wrong with living in a 3-bedroom apartment? I have a 3-bedroom house and I am considering trading it for a one bedroom condo unit because it is too big for me and I hate having to worry about mowing grass and shoveling snow. Not to mention the cost of heating and all the cleaning and maintenance I have to do.

If you want to leave that prison, you can do so anytime but please consider your mother also. She has a very different and positive way of seeing things than you do.

Answer 3

Freedom isn't free, and becoming successful is not easy.
It is a hard life.
The great thing about free countries is you have an opportunity. Something that you do not have in some countries.

Most things in HK are not cheap, especially housing and the pay is not very good.
The best thing about free countries is you can leave, where as some countries keep their people prisoners to "protect" them.

Answer 4

Probably you mom generation know the freedom of the western countries and also know unrevealed dark side of Communist nation.
Ask he how she thinks what would happen in Hong kong after 2046. She will tell you her future vision.

BTW, why Hongkongese has to speak Mandarin? Cantonese is one of the most unique and interesting language in the world. Think about Mandarin, from which area it comes, and the meaning why the southern people (Cantonese and Hongkongnese) has to speak. I mean the "implication" of this fact in long Chinese history. Did they(you) forced to speak in ancient dynasties? (Qing, Ming, Yuan..). The answer is No.
You are experiencing real Sinocentrism domestically for the first time. (like Korea did. They had to speak and write in Chinese for their long past history, cos they were tribute state of China and Sinocentrism. Now Korea abolished Hanzi, and they can not read their historical documents, cos they are written in Hanzi.)

Answer 5

You are a grown up, based on job opportunities, medical systems, costs of living and other factors, you can decide where you want to stay.

Answer 6

People always thinking the grass over the over side is greener and better.

Answer 7

Love it or leave it!