Ten years ago today I published First Post, the very first entry on Cooking in Someone Else's Kitchen. As I explained in my most recent post, life has rather got in the way of my blogging of late, but this anniversary seems a good time to sit down and reflect about the way this emigration journey has gone.
Ten years ago our small family was about to make a leap into the unknown. We had no jobs to come to in Canada and we knew very little about the country. A lot has changed in those years, both here and in the United Kingdom. Mike and I both have permanent full-time jobs in our respective careers, and our kids have grown up into thoughtful young Canadians.
These last weeks I have been watching the news coming out of the UK with rapt interest, as the country dealt with the EU referendum vote and then its aftermath. One of the best things I've seen about the impact of the Brexit vote was by Michael Dougan, an EU law professor from the University of Liverpool, who presented an analysis of the Leave arguments before the vote and then again after the vote's results were known.
I did have a vote in the referendum, and I voted Remain. My motivation was primarily one of keeping options open for my kids: having an EU passport gave them the opportunity of living and working anywhere in Europe if they wanted to. If the withdrawal from the EU goes ahead, they will only have the option of living and working in Canada and the countries of the UK (and that's assuming that the UK holds together as one nation). Which is still better than only being able to live and work in the UK, of course, but I feel bad for the British youngsters whose futures have been trammelled by those who believed the empty promises of the Leave campaign.
One of the consequences of the result of the vote has been an increase in British people investigating how to move to Canada. It will be interesting to see if this will cause a spike in applications. This is a country that welcomes immigrants, but doesn't actually make it all that easy to become one, so good luck if you are in the UK and thinking of applying!
And speaking of new immigrants, my mother-in-law (and her dog) will soon be joining us from the UK. She arrives at the end of the month and we are busy making space for her and her things (it's amazing how much junk we have accumulated after being in the same house for nine years!). We sponsored her back in 2010, so this moment has been a long time coming. I'm hoping she'll arrive before civil war breaks out in Britain. Just joking! (I think...)
between the rains
5 weeks ago
5 comments:
Life does get in the way of posting, doesn't it? Hopefully you'll still find some time in your busy life to keep us updated.
Congratulations on your 10 years - both blogging and in Canada, Amanda.
I'm so pleased you voted for Remain... so did we and it's been pretty tough going here over the past week or so. I've worked on projects that have had EU funding that have reached far beyond the boundaries of Europe as they involved supporting scientists from Africa too. I hate the thought that all that positive work might end.
Interesting to hear the interest in moving to Canada is up! We loved our trip last year and it was wonderful to meet you at last. However, I think we'll be staying here in Chippenham (who bucked the trend in the rest of Wiltshire with a Remain majority)...
Glad to hear your mother in law and her dog will be arriving soon. I followed the Brexit referendum as well, I could of voted, having dual citizenship but didn't really know enough about it. It has affected us already as our British pension is down considerably due to the drop in value of the pound Sterling. Time will tell if it was the right decision. Hopefully you will keep your blog updated from time to time.
You were on my mind today as I inspected the soon to be harvested gooseberries. Without you I would never have experienced gooseberry curd. Thank you for that. Without you I would never have attempted and re-attempted home made crumpets. Thank you for that. I hope you do continue with your blog. I have enjoyed what you have shared.
I cannot imagine what you must be feeling as you watch the building turmoil in your home country. Similarly I cannot imagine what my American friends must be feeling. As these times unfold I often contemplate the Confucian curse - may you live in interesting times. I can only hope our realities come to some degree of equilibrium and our worlds become less 'interesting'.
I found your blog seeking the instructions for the Bel Cream Maker, for which many thanks. Good luck for the future and I hope it continues to be as full of hope as it has been so far. We in Britain face an uncertain and different future, but I am trying to keep positive. Life will go on, and things are settling down a bit, but what will happen when people really begin to experience the effects of their vote is anyone's guess.
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