Is canada my dream place?

As a newcomer, I am attempting to overcome problems of not only settling in Canada but also finding the contentment of mind. Is Canada my dream place? Can I gain satisfaction of all my needs in Canada? Although I succeeded to immigrate to Canada and have lived in this country for almost 4 months, it is still very hard to answer these questions. In some cases, Canada is the dream place that I eagerly looked for in the past time. But in other cases, Canada isn’t the Garden of Eden or Utopia.

What attracts me mostly in Canada is the social core value of freedom and equality. From my experience of living here, I great fell that freedom and equality that I dreamed to have in my home country go deep into every aspect of social life. For example, wherever you live, a luxurious detached house or a small simple apartment, you can use the community facilities equally. Whatever religion you believe in, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, nobody will compel you to abjure your faith. Wherever you came from, Africa, Europe, Asia, South American, you have the same right to get education, community service and medical care.

On the other hand, living in Canada is not living in paradise. Contrary to the common myth, it is a big challenge for newcomers to live here. At first, the newcomers who are not used to the low temperature probably are unaccustomed to the long cold winter of Canada. When I think this land has been covered by snow for half a year, I can not help shivering. Secondly, it is hard to overcome language barrier in looking for jobs or contacting local people. Sometimes I am frustrated because the kids' English is much better than mine. Thirdly, it is a bitter experience to separate from family members. What really sticks in my mind is how sad my Mom looked when she said goodbye to me at the airport.

Rewards and risks are two sides of the same coin. It means that it is a great honor but also a huge challenge to live in Canada. I could breathe freedom and enjoy equality here and it is the first time I have them. Considering this dimension of the situation, I think Canada is my dream place. However, there are both natural and social obstacles I have to overcome. From this perspective, Canada isn’t my dream place.