Moving and friendships

When you move, it often means that your old friendships diminish and you make new ones.

That doesn't have to be a problem, except for the one fact that you've gotten a bit older - because then it's very different and perhaps a lot more difficult to make really new friends.

In another place (and certainly in another country, with a different language) friendships are different, even in Canada.

The loss of old friends and the resistance you experience in finding new friends are stumbling blocks for some.

De vriendschappen liggen in Canada iets anders dan je gewend bent. Veel oppervlakkiger.

How are friendships in Canada different from elsewhere?

Can you say something sensible about that?

For some, making new friends is easy and for others it is a rare feat. There are superficial friendships and deep ones and everything in between with all the variations that come with it.

You will soon notice that friendships in Canada are often quite superficial. Most people seem to like it that way. Drinking occasionally, doing something fun occasionally - but deep conversations and the sharing of feelings and thoughts, that is difficult or not at all.

You quickly make things, so to speak, unnecessarily difficult and few people feel like doing that. It's better to do things nice and easy and light-hearted. Just be cheerful and don't whine.

Canadians generally have very few interests and concerns. They prefer not to know anything about other cultures, countries and languages. If you keep harping on about things from somewhere else, you're quickly out.

However, if you are good at talking about money and the weather, you will go a long way. And for heaven's sake, try to master that language because many Canadians lose interest very quickly when you are fumbling for words.

A Canadian likes to express his opinion on everything and anything. Quite often, a form of black-and-white thinking is involved. To prepare yourself for that, that can be quite a challenge.

Lonely and alone

Unless you end up in a group of like-minded people, you will quickly become the odd one out. Loneliness may then lurk.

Cosiness is different everywhere and that also applies to Canada. Adapting to that can be difficult.

Especially for people who leave behind a large group of friends and acquaintances, a move can be very disruptive. If it also does not really work to find new friends, you may sooner think about going back.

Hopefully you will never have to deal with xenophobia. But it does exist, even in Canada.
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