In Halifax, I used to be having hassle paying the payments
(Illustration by Maclean’s, {photograph} by iStock)
As an adolescent in Beijing, I attended a global highschool for college kids who wished to go to school in Canada. My mother and father thought I’d have a greater training in Canada, which they’d heard was a secure nation with extra reasonably priced tuition than the U.S. In Grade 12, I did a half-year change to Bathurst, New Brunswick. I fell in love with the small-city vibe there—the inhabitants was solely 15,000, in comparison with 21.7 million in Beijing. The expertise made me notice that I didn’t like greater cities. Everybody was so pleasant, and there have been a number of French audio system, which I assumed was charming.
There aren’t many choices for college in New Brunswick, so I made a decision on Dalhousie in Halifax to check administration. Once I began college in 2016, I rented a big two-bedroom house in downtown Halifax with a buddy, paying simply $700 in lease. I beloved strolling across the parks, particularly Level Nice Park, the place you possibly can see the ocean and the Port of Halifax. Again in 2015, Halifax had fewer individuals and fewer site visitors. Housing was reasonably priced. It was a peaceable metropolis. And other people had been so good. In Halifax, strangers are completely satisfied that can assist you and maintain open the door. Folks in Beijing are inclined to thoughts their very own enterprise.
Once I arrived in Halifax, I used to be 18 years outdated. I wasn’t actually planning my future again then. I wasn’t positive whether or not I’d return to China or keep in Canada. However quickly after I began college, Justin Trudeau was elected, and he launched extra accessible immigration insurance policies. Instantly, as a global pupil, I might see a strategy to keep in Canada and construct a life there. I might purchase a home, begin a household, perhaps even begin my very own enterprise.
After I graduated from college, I deliberate to use for an open work allow. I figured I might discover a job in advertising and apply for everlasting residency after a yr. I completed college in June of 2020, in the course of COVID, so the processing time for my work allow took longer than anticipated. I went again house to Beijing for a yr. I missed Halifax whereas I used to be gone. I wished to relocate to Canada completely.
READ: I’ve been ready 5 years for my mother and father to affix me in Canada
I returned a yr later. I received a job as a advertising coordinator for a driving college and adopted a cat named Pancake. However Halifax had become a unique metropolis than the one I’d left behind. Between 2016 and 2021, Halifax’s inhabitants grew 9.1 per cent. By way of immigration and interprovincial migration, the town added about 36,000 new individuals. There was extra site visitors, and other people had been indignant on the highway. Halifax was now not the comfy, pleasant place I remembered. My buddies shared tales about individuals breaking into their automobiles, particularly in the event that they had been parked on the road. Even in some underground parking garages of house buildings, individuals would sneak in and smash the home windows of each automobile simply to see if there was something worthwhile inside.
The price of residing in Halifax was positively a part of the issue. I thought-about shopping for a brand new rental townhouse in Halifax. The costs had been round $450,000 a number of years in the past, however they’ve doubled to virtually $900,000. By this level, I used to be residing in a one-bedroom house, paying $1,670 a month—a comparatively low-cost price. Even then, 70 per cent of my wage was going towards my lease and utilities payments. I nonetheless wanted my mother and father to ship me cash each month to make ends meet. The going price for a one-bedroom house downtown is extra like $2,000 a month. Once I first arrived in Halifax, I might get all the things I wanted on the grocery retailer for $50. By 2022, I used to be spending $80, and it appeared like I might solely get a number of issues. If it wasn’t for my mother and father’ assist, my wage would solely have been sufficient to cowl my lease and groceries. It didn’t appear proper that I couldn’t assist myself.
The homelessness situation in Halifax was additionally getting worse. It’s heartbreaking. I’d by no means seen individuals residing within the park earlier than. The park close to my house constructing was filled with tents. It appeared like there have been unhoused individuals in each nook and empty discipline. Don’t get me improper—I don’t suppose it’s their fault, or that unhoused individuals deserve this destiny. It’s simply too costly to reside. The federal government is failing to assist them and assist them reside an reasonably priced life, so individuals are compelled to reside on the streets as a result of they don’t have any different selection.
In Could 2022, I switched to a brand new job, working as an operations coordinator for a seafood firm that exports lobster to China. It was an excellent gig and my co-workers had been good, however I didn’t love working for different individuals. I wished to begin my very own enterprise, perhaps a present store. However the lease for retail areas in Halifax had gone up quite a bit too. It could price one thing like $3,000 a month for lease alone, which might make it onerous to show a revenue.
As I received older, my priorities, objectives and expectations shifted. I wished to purchase a property and begin my very own enterprise quickly, however none of that was attainable in Canada. It felt meaningless to remain there. I missed my household and buddies in Beijing, too. By October, I made a decision to depart Canada for good. I gave discover at my job and to my landlord and booked a flight house to Beijing for early December. I deliberate to affix my mother and father’ enterprise—they manufacture innerwear.
There are a whole lot of issues I’ll miss about Nova Scotia—the parks, the ocean views, the peaceable surroundings and the great individuals. There was a time after I might see a future for myself in Halifax, however I don’t really feel that approach anymore.
My mother and father are very completely satisfied to have me again in Beijing. I’m working with them on the innerwear firm. I’ve rented my very own house, which I’ll transfer into in February. And, I’m planning to begin my very own e-commerce enterprise quickly. All that’s lacking is my cat, Pancake. A buddy from Halifax will convey him again to China along with her in June.
—As advised to Andrea Yu
