Marlon's Question About Moving to Canada

[marlon]

Hey man, long time no see...how are you...

if you want to know the reason why i have been away for a while, just read my latest journal entry...Anyhow, i have a question.

I am seriously considering to move to Canada, because there is no future for me here at western europe. If you want i will explain you why. Can you tell me what options there are for a western european guy with a college degree in physics (maybe in that period also a phd degree, but that is not yet sure).

For example would the Canadian governement allow me to start up my own business and how long would it take for me to owe my own house ?

I thank you in advance, man


regards
marlon

ps : more questions will follow once we start this discussion.

 

[WarrenPlatts]

Why move to Canada when you could move to the good ole U.S. of A.? Get your Ph.D. here.

 

[Danger]

Hi Marlon;
Nice to hear from you again. I have no answers for you right now, but will look into it. It'll probably take a while. One thing for sure, the results will depend greatly upon what part of the country you move to (except for the business-owning aspect, which I think is automatically allowed as soon as you become a landed immigrant). A house in one area, for instance, might go for $85,000 while an identical one somewhere else would be $210,000. One town not far from here, in fact, gives away lots with houses on them in return for a promise that you'll stay there to live.
It would also be a good idea to contact Smurf (west coast), JasonRox (Ontario) and Ian Smith (west coast). There are a few other Canuks around here as well, but I'm not sure where they live.

 

[marlon]

Danger, thanks for your advice

I was already thinking of contacting Belgians that are living there. I can get their data from the Canadian ambassy in Brussels.

One more question. Suppose i would want a 150,000 dollar house. Could i, once i have a job ofcourse, get a loan for that and how long does it generally take to pay it off ?


marlon

ps : and what is a Canuk ?

 

[Danger]

Crap, and double crap! I just finished writing a 10 minute response to that, and the system locked up.
I'm going to stroll around a bit until I'm not mad any more, then come back and do it again.

 

[marlon]

Crap, and double crap! I just finished writing a 10 minute response to that, and the system locked up.
I'm going to stroll around a bit until I'm not mad any more, then come back and do it again.

Ok, no problem man, take your time...

You can write the answer whenever you want, i am already greatful.

I know these things sometimes happen, i have had them before.

I also contacted the other people you mentioned in your first post.

Thanks again Danger for providing me with info...
I am currently looking for options in two regions of the world : Canada and California...But i want to know everything about them


regards
marlon

and till later

 

[iansmith]

Hi Marlon;
It would also be a good idea to contact Smurf (west coast), JasonRox (Ontario) and Ian Smith (west coast). There are a few other Canuks around here as well, but I'm not sure where they live.

Since when is Halifax on the weast coast.

I originatly from Montreal and I am studying in Halifax. From my perceptive, the atlantic provinces are not a place that I want to live and also, there is very-limited employement opportunity in technology related fields.

 

[mattmns]

Geeze, Smurf, and now Danger: Canadians really do not know the difference between East and West

 

[Danger]

It was a typo.
I had a porn site open in another window and wasn't paying attention to what I was typonk.

 

[franznietzsche]

It was a typo.
I had a porn site open in another window and wasn't paying attention to what I was typonk.

I just thought of your avatar looking at porn. That's kinda gross.

 

[Smurf]

ps : and what is a Canuk ?

The work Canuck (with a 'c') means Canadian. It originally meant specifically French Canadian (there are other variances too) but after Vancouver named their hockey team "Vancouver Canucks" (1945) it started being used for just Canadians in general.

la la la la

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canuck

wiki is your friend

 

[JamesU]

You don't want to be a Canadian, they're short and blue, and they live in mushrooms.

 

[Smurf]

I am currently looking for options in two regions of the world : Canada and California...But i want to know everything about them

Well California pretty much sucks. Canada sucks a little less, personally I think you should move to belgium, that's what I'd do.

Oh wait...

 

[marlon]

Well California pretty much sucks.

Why ?

I think you should move to belgium, that's what I'd do.
Oh wait...

I don't think so. Do you know how Belgium works ? Clearly not

marlon

 

[Smurf]

One more question. Suppose i would want a 150,000 dollar house. Could i, once i have a job ofcourse, get a loan for that and how long does it generally take to pay it off ?

I, being 18 years old, have never had the pleasure of having to pay banks lots of money continuously to pay for a house. However, I shall consult some friends of mine the other day about what the banks are like in BC.

One big difference between Canada and California is California is in the USA, and Canada isn't. Now, this may seem elementry at first, but you have to understand what that means. In California the market is a lot less restricted, especially for things like Banks.

 

[Astronuc]

What's this, Smurf in stereo?

Hey, Marlon, think about Australia! Really good uni's around Melbourne and Canberra.

With your PhD topic - I think you ought to look at Stanford. Unfortunately, Stanford and the area are pretty pricey (expensive).

MIT would also be a good spot for you.

 

[Smurf]

Why ?

You ever seen a three story store dedicated to Barbies before?

I don't think so. Do you know how Belgium works ? Clearly not
marlon

Actually no, I don't. I'm actually looking more at Scandinavia.

 

[Smurf]

Marlon, you should talk to Tsu and Ivan. They were looking to move up here a while ago (but couldn't for, I think, family reasons) and did a bunch of research. They might be able to help you more than me.

 

[marlon]

What's this, Smurf in stereo?
Hey, Marlon, think about Australia! Really good uni's around Melbourne and Canberra.
With your PhD topic - I think you ought to look at Stanford. Unfortunately, Stanford and the area are pretty pricey (expensive).
MIT would also be a good spot for you.

Astronuc, how are you ?

I know i have played in my first movie ? It comes out in january and the director's website is in my latest journal entry...

Actually i do not really like "down under", i have some close friends living there and , err, well, to stay polite, it is not my cup of thea.

No no, it must be either Canada or California...

Besides, concerning the phd. On 22nd of december i will know if i have my 4 year scholarship or not. If i get it i will do my phd here at IMEC in Belgium and try to do a post doc in the US. Stanford is indeed really good, especially the department from http://cis.stanford.edu/~saraswat/. I briefly spoke with him at the INFOS2005 conference organized by IMEC last june. Robert Chau from Intel was also there as the keynote speaker.

If i do not get the phd, then my options are open. Ofcourse i will first work sometime here in Belgium and see what i can do...

What i want to say is that it is not my primary goal to do a phd abroad, you know. I would prefer (in the end) to have my own business.

regards
marlon

 

[loseyourname]

I can't say anything informed about Canada, but don't listen to smurf regarding California. The weather is about as good as you'll find anywhere, and the diversity of geography is amazing. You can find pretty much any kind of terrain you want within a relatively short drive. The employment situation for people with degrees in the sciences is terrific, too. Even with just a BA, you'll have no problem finding employment. It's not necessarily the best environment for starting up a business, as the licensing regulation and taxation is still relatively high compared to other states, but it's much lower than anywhere in western Europe and the governator is trying his best to encourage a better business environment. Even so, there are still many funding opportunities, plenty of rich venture capitalists and other investors/banks that will give you the money you need if you have a good idea. Tech startups are still huge in the Silicon Valley and in the LA area, but not as huge as in the 90s. Chemical engineering, biotech, and especially nanotech will probably be the next big trends here. A startup in that field can take you places. Owning your own house won't be easy, though. You can find a loan with no problem if your credit is good and you make adequate money, and there is plenty of housing available, but it is expensive. You won't find jack for $150K. The interest rates are still fairly low.

 

[ShawnD]

Can you explain why Belgium is so horrible?

 

[Smurf]

The good thing about Canada is that pretty much everything will be cheaper than both Europe and the US.

 

[ShawnD]

The good thing about Canada is that pretty much everything will be cheaper than both Europe and the US.

Actually everything in Canada is more expensive than the US. A $2000 computer in Canada only costs $1000 in the US. US food places have a $1 menu, Canada has a $1.39 menu (exchange rate is NOT +40%). You'll be hard pressed to find anything that is cheaper in Canada, except for maybe some utilities or something.

 

[Smurf]

thats not what I've noticed.

 

[loseyourname]

Actually everything in Canada is more expensive than the US. A $2000 computer in Canada only costs $1000 in the US. US food places have a $1 menu, Canada has a $1.39 menu (exchange rate is NOT +40%). You'll be hard pressed to find anything that is cheaper in Canada, except for maybe some utilities or something.

I can't really comment on this, since I've never been to Canada, but when you buy books here, they always have the price for both Canada and the US, and the Canadian price is consistently about 50% higher. I'd imagine that housing costs are lower in Canada, though, at least lower than they are in California; there just isn't the same demand. Of course, salaries (especially in science/tech fields) are higher in California. Don't be fooled by the national medians; if you're qualified and can find work at some of the top private research universities (Stanford, USC, Cal Tech) around here, you'll make $50-60K straight out of college with just a BA in any of the hard sciences, and more for engineering degrees. Degrees in pharmaceutical science on average get you about $80K right out of college (and that actually is the national median).

 

[Astronuc]

Astronuc, how are you ?

Busy but having fun.

I know i have played in my first movie ? It comes out in january and the director's website is in my latest journal entry...

Cool! You need to find a post-doc at UCLA or UC Santa Barbara - both close to Hollywood.

Actually i do not really like "down under", i have some close friends living there and , err, well, to stay polite, it is not my cup of tea.

I prefer beer myself.

It must be either Canada or California...

California then. Hey, Clausius2 made it to US San Diego. Hopefully we will meet in a few weeks.

Besides, concerning the phd. On 22nd of december i will know if i have my 4 year scholarship or not. If i get it i will do my phd here at IMEC in Belgium and try to do a post doc in the US. Stanford is indeed really good, especially the department from prof Saraswat. I briefly spoke with him at the INFOS2005 conference organized by IMEC last june. Robert Chau from Intel was also there as the keynote speaker.

If i do not get the phd, then my options are open. Ofcourse i will first work sometime here in Belgium and see what i can do...
What i want to say is that it is not my primary goal to do a phd abroad, you know. I would prefer (in the end) to have my own business.

I hope it works out with the PhD. Certainly, the way to make money is to have one's own business - if one is not already born into a fortune.

 

[marlon]

Can you explain why Belgium is so horrible?

Well first of all you have the demographic situation in Belgium. We have very few young working people that need to pay for the social security of many old people. This will get worse once the baby-boom-generation will retire.

Then there is the fact that everybody gains the same amount of money. I mean, the differences between hardworking/highly educated people and "normal" people (pardon the French ) in honorarium are not that great. Especially when it comes to acquiring a loan from the bank for housing. The only difference is that you will have some more money left at the end of the month.

Thirdly, it is almost impossible the acquire a good house in 1 lifetime.

Also, in this country it is better to do nothing and collect a well-fare check. Many people combine this with illegal work and in the end those people gain as much as somebody with a college degree (like engineers for example).

In general, innovation and intellegence is not appreciated here, only mediocrity...

regards
marlon

 

[marlon]

Cool! You need to find a post-doc at UCLA or UC Santa Barbara - both close to Hollywood.

I know, actually there is a post-doc from UCLA working here at IMEC.

I prefer beer myself.

ok, if you look at it like that, i can only agree with you

Certainly, the way to make money is to have one's own business - if one is not already born into a fortune.

It sure is, this is my life's destiny


thanks

regards
marlon