ISU Blog

I have always known that I’m a true Vietnamese because my ancestors have lived in Vietnam for many decades. No one in my family, including aunts, uncles, or cousins from different generations, has never immigrated to any other country; Vietnam is our true home. But since I’m the first person who came to Canada with my aunt, this will definitely be one of the biggest defining moments not only for myself, but for my entire family because it might change the history of my family genealogy from now on. I never asked why my dad would be comfortable letting me coming to Canada, so through this assignment, I had a chance to have a better understanding the differences between two countries: Vietnam and Canada. Interesting enough, now I know that my life would be totally different if I had stayed in Vietnam.

I came to Canada almost three years ago on August 28th 2014 with the purpose of having a better education. This is my first study visa in Canada:

I asked my dad why did he choose Canada out of other developed countries. He said “well, partly because your aunt settled here, so it would be better for you to have someone to take care of,” but that is not the major answer, he continued, “I have done some research about Canada, and surely it will give you a better environment to be in and has a better view of the world since you can have an opportunity to associate with other international students come from different countries”. He was right. Now I have friends from all over the world: Japan, China, Philippines, Mexico, Germany, Spain, South Sudan, India,Portugal, and even Syria. I have learned so much from them, yet I might not have that opportunity if I had stayed in Vietnam.    

As I experienced both aspects of the two countries, I think that my life would be very different if I have stayed in Vietnam. Canada is value more to freedom and equality whereas Vietnam prefers more about respect elders and culture’s manner. I can explore about who I really am and have more freedom of choices in Canada without worrying about social formality, which is hard to do so in Vietnam. Through the interview, my dad has a very similar thought as I do, but he added one major factor that can make my life so different: Education system. “If you have stayed in Vietnam and continue to go for school in here, I’m sure that you will not have a deep perceptions on your future according to the forceful education system in Vietnam,” my dad answered, “yes you still have knowledges about stuffs, but do not have that practical skills which Canada can provided.”

Vietnam’s education still does not have enough facility and infrastructures to help students involve in practical skills because Vietnam is still a developed country with a GDP per capita is $6,400, whereas GDP per capita in Canada is $46,200 (CIA World Fact Book). That is why the education system in Vietnam has traditionally been expected to "sit down, shut up and listen” because it has no ability to improve their old system (worldbank.org).

I also interviewed one of my friend in Vietnam. He currently studying in one of the best high school in the main city of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh city. He said “We must to take all 13 subjects per grade for advance high school (grade 10-12), and they not allow us to fail any of the subjects. One of the most stressful things for students in Vietnam is University Entrance Exam, which can determine your social status in the future,” he continued, “that test cover all the knowledges from grade 10 to 12 and if you failed, people will treat you like a failure”. Like any other Asian countries, Vietnamese value learning. They also see education as both the path to success and consistent with their sense of filial piety, the way to bring esteem to their family. That is why we have to work so hard and keep improving even if there is no room for improvement. Though  the education system in Vietnam is very stressful and fairly out of update, it still give students a strong basic knowledges in advance subjects (Math, Science, and Literature) compared to other countries.  According to the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) test, Vietnam is rank 8, just after Canada, despite the fact of low infrastructure development.

In contrast to Vietnam’s education, Canada’s education system would allow student to be more freely to express themselves and have more responsibility toward planning their own future. They only have to take 4 courses per semester, have wider elective courses that can be very helpful and practical in their future like: cooking, welding, business, etc. this kind of learning environment will help to increase creativity in student, which is what Vietnam’s education is missing.

Though keeping the knowledges of culture and heritage is very important, I would still encourage my children, who might be a shift for my family genealogy, to take an amazing education in Canada because it can really help to guide themselves for the future. However, I still hope my next generation will visit their homeland every year to learn and explore the beauty of the country that exist inside their blood.

Such as the unique culture of foods, culture festivals, and especially their family (by the way,I’m the one in the phone, facetime with my family, and taking pictures with my cousins for Lunar New Year).  

Works Cited

Nguyen, Thua. Interview. 27 May 2017.

Nguyen, Tung. Interview. 29 May 2017.

"The World Factbook: VIETNAM." Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency, 01 May 2017. Web. 01 June 2017.

Hays, Jeffrey. "EDUCATION IN VIETNAM." Facts and Details. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 June 2017.

"Vietnamese Food." Vietnam Food Stylist. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 June 2017.

McColl, Sam, and Lehoang3004. "Hoi An Travel Guide Archives." Hoi An Travel. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 June 2017.

"PISA 2015 Results in Focus." PISA in Focus (2016): n. pag. Web.

ISU - Mackenzie Endicott

The Effects of War:

An Analysis of Living Conditions in Syria Contrasted to Canada

I was woken up one night to the sound of bombs. This isn’t unusual though, as it’s a normal occurance now anyways. The baby is crying now. Where’s mom? She doesn’t normally stay out this late… I hope she’s okay. Dad died a few years ago because of an air raid. He went out to get us food and never returned. Shh it’s okay.. It will all be over soon. I cradle the baby, but how am I supposed to comfort this baby when I too, am scared? I grab the baby’s favourite book and begin reading it to him. I had to stop going to school awhile ago, Mom said it was unsafe. I never thought I would miss school, but it was fun running around the green fields with brightly colored flowers blowing in the wind. Now when I go outside, everything is grey. The sky, the ground, the buildings. There’s no more grass. No more that’s alive anyways. It’s all rubble. Broken down, grey pieces of rubble.

Unfortunately this is a sad reality for over 15 million children living in Syria. In more than five years of war, the fighting in Syria has left an estimated 470,000 dead, more than 1 million injured, as well as driven 11.3 million from their homes. Because of these reasons and many more, Canada offers a safe country and a land of hope for millions of Syrian refugees.

Life in Syria compared to Canada is so drastic. The ways of life are so vastly different, and not in an any good type of way. In Syria, children are scared of their safety. They feel unsafe, are kept in small, cramped homes, which could be damaged from the war, and don’t have the proper access to food and nutrition that they should. Of the 6.5 million Syrians who’ve been permanently displaced from their homes, an estimated 2.8 million of those are children. For many of these kids, poor nutrition and lack of access to healthcare have become life-threatening issues. This video shows the contrast between multiple Syrian children compared to American children: Syrian children's' hopes and dreams. Education is scarce nowadays because parents are not comfortable with sending their children to school, as they believe it is unsafe. 8 of 10 Syrian children are in need of humanitarian needs; almost 4 of 10 children have been displaced from their homes; 3 of 10 children under the age of 5 do not have their routine vaccinations; 1 in 2 children are not in school, and 1 in 4 schools have been damaged or destroyed Contrast of Life - Syrian Child . 

            In Canada, education is everywhere, and everything to some people. Parents push their children to get through high school with honours so they will get into a good university, get a degree, and therefore succeed in life. However, parents get disappointed when their child fails a test. One test. Out of hundreds they take in their lifetime. Syrian parents are happy if their child gets any education ever. The average Canadian is making approximately $30,000 a year. This money covers groceries, mortgages, and the other necessities. The leftover is put in savings or used for personal spending. Health care in Canada is free; routine checkups, vaccinations, examinations, all CAT, MRI, and CT scans are all free.

         

A 2013 Canadian survey found that 92% of Canadians shared the values of human right, 92% respect for the law, and 91% for gender equality. Respect for aboriginal culture was also a shared Canadian value.Values also include: inclusion, democracy, economic securities, safety, sustainability, diversity, equity, and health. In Syria, they value: loyalty, family, social standings, honor, and dignity.

But why do people move to Canada? Is it the free health care? The vast opportunities? The education? Is it all of these reasons? Or is it to escape. Escape the wars, the poverty, the memories. Is it a place where you can feel safe again? Every single person has their own unique reason, but everyone wants to come to a place where they’re accepted. Where they can leave their past for whatever reason be, and have the opportunity at a better life, or a better job, better family or a better education.

Canadian Immigration Records 2015-2016

Syrian children are continuously exposed to violence. Some are forced to become child soldiers while others are pushed into the workforce to provide for their families. Education systems have come under attack in Syria, as militaries usually see schools, schoolchildren, and teachers as targets. Syria had a strong education system in place before the civil war, with almost 100% primary school enrolment and 70% of children attending secondary school. In 2016, UNICEF reported that 2.1 million children in Syria and 700 000 Syrian refugee children do not have access to education. In 2016, there was a total of 80,000 children refugees who were not currently enrolled at school. Syria has been extremely affected by attacks on education, including attacks on students, teachers, and buildings. Since the start of the conflict, over a quarter of Syrian schools have been damaged, destroyed, or are being used as shelters. Even when schools remain open, children may be afraid to travel to school, fearing attacks, kidnappings, or other threats. Approximately 500 children have been killed while either at school, or traveling to/from school. UNICEF estimates that around 7 million children in Syria live in conditions of poverty.  In 2015, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Food Program, 9.8 million Syrians suffer from food insecurity. In Syria, there is a law stating that a child may not engage in work until they have either finished basic education, or reach 15 years of age. Since the war has began, this law has been loosely thrown around, and children are now forced to work in conditions that are mentally, physically, and socially dangerous environments. In Syria, children may be sent away from their families to other parts of the country or to neighbouring countries to generate income, avoid being recruited, or avoid being injured in the conflict. Families that struggle to meet their basic needs are sometimes forced to put their children out to work, marry their daughters early, or allow their children to be recruited by armed groups. Children work in agriculture, metal work, carpentry, restaurants, as well as sell items on the street, wash cars, collect trash, or even beg. In Syria, male children are forcibly recruited and used as soldiers, most of the time without the consent of their parents. Half of these children are also under the age of 15 years old.

With such horrible living conditions, the chances of risking your life every day, and sometimes forcibly, and you had the chance to go to a country where there is no war, no being forced against your will, where there is education open to everyone, without risking your life to get there, where there is food and shelter and safety. Why wouldn't anyone take that opportunity if they had the chance. Canada is the land of the free.

In conclusion, Syria is not ideal living spaces for anything or anyone, and there is a extensive difference between the conditions of countries, in all factors relating to education, physical and mental health, shelter, and poverty.

Works Cited

BBC News. www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/39446895.

BBC News. www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/16979186.

CBC News. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/vietnamese-refugee-pay-it-forward-syrian-family-1.3464777.

CBC News. www.cbc.ca/news/world/syrian-refugee-crisis-lessons-from-vietnamese-boat-people-1.3224405.

Fox 4 News. fox4kc.com/2015/09/10/powerful-video-shows-the-toll-on-syrian-children-as-pres-obama-orders-acceptance-of-10000-refugees/.

Humanium. www.humanium.org/en/middle-east-north-africa/syria/.

PBS Frontline. www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/children-of-syria-by-the-numbers/.

Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_values.

ISU English

For this assignment I have chosen to talk about my family's European descent and specifically talking about the British in our blood.The life of the average person in the UK , the issues that the country currently faces and a couple other topics will be showcased in this blog. Finally my thoughts on what Canadian values are and how they change over the course of time.

The United Kingdom was rated number 13 in all the countries in the world; some of the criteria used in this examination were the: Employment Rate, HealthCare System, Average income, and the Climate to name a few.  In the UK there is an unemployment rate of 4.6% for adults with 11.9% of youths.There is a government funded health care system, similar to Canada's, which allows anyone in the country to access healthcare, with the average year income being  £22,044, 38343.19 dollars if translated to the Canadian dollar, so they are fairly comfortable when compared to other countries. Another factor when calculating a country's rank is its immigration policy; the criteria for Britain’s immigration policy: are as follows you’re 18 or over;you’re of good character, for example, you don’t have a serious or recent criminal record, and you haven’t tried to deceive the Home Office or been involved in immigration offences in the last 10 years; you’ll continue to live in the UK; and you’ve met the knowledge of English and life in the UK requirements. Additional factors way we examined such as: you must usually have lived in the UK for at least the 5 years before the date of your application; spent no more than 450 days outside the UK during those 5 years;and spent no more than 90 days outside the UK in the last 12 months. That was the criteria used when applying to become a British citizen, now I’ll show some of the canadian immigration policies and criteria. To be eligible to become a Canadian citizen, you must meet all conditions, including: the individual must be at least 18 years old to apply for Canadian citizenship; Permanent resident status this means you must have a permanent resident (PR) status in Canada and no unfulfilled conditions related to your PR status; also your PR status must not be in question. This means you must not:be under review for immigration or fraud reasons; have certain unfulfilled conditions related to your PR status; or be under a removal order (an order from Canadian officials to leave Canada); Time you have lived in Canada is examined as well, the set of rules for this are You must have been physically present in Canada as a permanent resident for at least:1,460 days during the six years right before the date you sign your application; 183 days during each of four calendar years that are fully or partially within the six years right before the date you apply, These requirements don’t apply to children under 18. Those were a couple of Canada’s immigration criteria, when compared to the British immigration rules Canada is far stricter and has more steps that must be followed before a person can become a full citizen.

Immigration is one of the issues currently facing the UK; due to the influx caused by the war in Syria and the general unease of the Middle East some people believe that more refugees should be let into the country while others believe that the same process should be applied to these people like they would be in times of peace, other issues include the Uk leaving the EU, and the recent terrorist attack on Manchester to name a few. For those of you that do not know The EU is a unique economic and political union between 28 European countries that together cover much of the continent. It was created in the aftermath of the Second World War. The first steps were to foster economic cooperation: the idea being that countries that trade with one another become economically interdependent and so more likely to avoid conflict.However it is not solely economically based; one of the EU's main goals is to promote human rights both internally and around the world. Human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights: these are the core values of the EU. Now  on Thursday 23 June, 2016, to decide whether the UK should leave or remain in the European Union. Leave won by 51.9% to 48.1%. This spawned the term “Brexit”, combining Britain and Exit, and while no definitive reason has been given there are a couple theories about why Britain's chose to vote to leave; one of these theories that I like spawns for the amount of low income areas that voted in favour of leaving, the theory is that these groups feared globalization. Next as many of you know of you know a terror attack occurred in Manchester, England at an Ariana Grande concert resulting in 22 deaths and has raised the country’s threat level to “Critical” for the first time in a decade. Some people believe that events like this will continue to happen if the country continues to allow refugees into the country and based on some of the issues other countries are having with the refugees I am having a hard time disagreeing with them; the rise in violent crimes in Germany is one of the strongest pieces of evidence if you wish to learn about it yourself.

Finally, I am going to talk about my view on what Canadian values are. To me there are only two things that truly qualify to been seen as Canadian Values and those are Acceptance and  Kindness, and I do think that that my family qualifies to be a true Canadian Family. I say this because of a couple reasons, the first is we help run charities “GetinTouchforHutch” is the main one but we also help other smaller charities, and we are accepting of all people so long as they are good people.

Works Cited

“Average Salary UK.” Monster.co.uk, www.monster.co.uk/career-advice/article/uk-average-salary-graphs. Accessed 3 June 2017.

“Become a British citizen.” Gov.uk, www.gov.uk/becoming-a-british-citizen. Accessed 3 June 2017.

“EUROPA-The EU in brief.” Europea.eu, europa.eu/european-union/about-eu/eu-in-brief_en. Accessed 3 June 2017.

“Find out if you’re eligible.” Government of Canada.ca, www.cic.gc.ca/english/citizenship/become-eligibility.asp. Accessed 3 June 2017.

Foster, Alice. “Why did Britain vote to leave the EU.” Express.co.uk, 21 Sept. 2016, www.express.co.uk/news/politics/713013/Brexit-why-Britain-vote-to-leave-EU-referendum-2016-division-immigration-inequality-UK.

Hunt, Alex, and Brian Wheeler. “Brexit: All you need to know about the UK leaving the EU.” BBC.com, 25 Apr. 2017, www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-32810887.

“Manchester Arena Suicide Bombing.” CNBC.com, 23 May 2017, www.cnbc.com/2017/05/22/serious-incident-at-uks-manchester-stadium-during-concert-where-loud-bang-heard.html.

“Quality of Life Index by Country 2017.” Numbeo.com, www.numbeo.com/quality-of-life/rankings_by_country.jsp. Accessed 3 June 2017.

“Quality of Life in United Kingdom.” Numbeo.com, www.numbeo.com/quality-of-life/country_result.jsp?country=United+Kingdom. Accessed 3 June 2017.

ISU blog

End Here, Start… England?

    Ella Claridge

My family has been in Canada for more years than we can remember. Seriously-- no one can put a finger on who immigrated here or when it happened. The one thing my family does know is that a long time ago, someone came to Canada from England.

Not knowing raises a few questions: why doesn’t anyone know how our family got to be here? Is it just not important to know or have we lost connections throughout long periods of time that would give us clues as to who came and why? Since much of this knowledge eludes me, I wanted to know, if someone had not brought my family to Canada, would I have a better life in England? Many people have immigrated to Canada over time, but does the fact that someone in my family did too define me as a person, or change the outcome of my life; or, am I better off living without the knowledge?

Assuming a distant family member immigrated to Canada before or around the time of WW1, I can assume it was because of a couple of reasons: a safe haven from war, with Britain being right in the centre of it; better job opportunities, I come from a family of farmers, so an abundance of farmland and a large demand for farmers, seems like a reasonable assumption; and finally, a change, a hope for a better life away from war (Canadian Museum of Immigration). Though at the time, Canada was somewhat different from England, it still adopted many of the same values/ideals; most likely because of the major role the Queen still has in the Canadian government. Also, because Canada was in the British Empire, and only started to become an independent country after battles, such as, Vimy Ridge, were won by the Canadian forces in WW1. (Royal.UK) Since immigrating to Canada was so popular around that time, from 1905-1914 immigration boosted to 250 000 people a year (immigrationtous.net), I guess my family aren’t big trend setters-- Canada was the comfortable choice in which many picked, somewhat like the less crowded, more spacious version of England. But whatever the case, I’m here, my family is here, so why?

Most of the answers I’m looking for lie within dead relatives, so I was left with asking my dad, Alan Claridge. He knows about as much as I do, so my first question was obvious: why don’t we have a strong connection with our family’s past? “I was very young when my grandparents died, well when my dad’s parents died, so I didn’t get a chance to ask them anything about it,” he concluded. “We lived half a country away from my grandmother or anyone else who would know. So I guess, by extension, had I lived closer to my family or they lived longer, we would have known more.” I also wanted to know why we don’t express much from our closer family: like religion. My grandparents are very religious anglicans, and anglican actually originates from ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase meaning, “british church” (Wiki). So, why isn’t my immediate family anglican? “I was actually brought up anglican, but at 17, made a conscious decision not to be religious; at least not in the more standard meaning.” He concluded saying, “I think the person that made up the ‘treat people how you want to be treated’ saying, was dead on.” I completely agree, so that I why I do not express myself as a religious person, and will allow my future family to have the same option.

Since all we know is that we come from England, I compared the two countries to see if I would be better off here, or in England. To start, I looked at education. I want to be a doctor, so I will need to go through at least eight years of school. Since I would be an international student, the same program here would cost be almost double in the UK (internationalstudent.com). The british international student rate is the highest secondly only to the US, because if you want to study English, might as well do it in the country that invented it. Other than cost, most programs are the same, and the education system is almost the same, so this wouldn’t affect my decision much. This goes the same for medicine in the UK, I want to be a doctor, and the medical policies and healthcare is also almost exactly the same as it is in Canada.

Next, I looked at (un)employment rates. The UK has a 4.6% unemployment rate, the lowest it has been since 1975, and an employment rate of 74.8%: this compared to Canada’s unemployment rate of 6.5%, and employment rate of 61.4%. These are amazing numbers, especially since Brexit (Trading economics). Brexit was the UK voting to leave the European Union. The vote won by 51.9% to 48.1%. This move caused a  suspected drop in the euro, increase unemployment rates, and decrease of elements of their economy, but ultimately had little effect. Most of those numbers are on the up-and-up, though, the deal is not complete until 2019, it does not look to have a major effect of the Powerhouse that is the UK (BBC news).

One thing my family really appreciates is space. We live in the country on an acre of land, and that is something that is possible for many people in Canada. We have a population of 36.4 million people in 2016, with 9.985 million km^2 of land (Wiki). Whereas, England has a population of 53.1 million people, and 242 495 km^2 of land (Wiki). That is something I don’t think I could see myself living with. My dad explained, “London is too congested, there are too many people for me to feel comfortable for a long period of time.” This massive population makes everything more expensive for much less space. I would never be able to find a house like I have right now, in a place like England, it most likely wouldn’t even be in my price range.

Canada’s population vs. England’s population

Overall, I’m not sure exactly how we got here, but I know that that information does not need to be a big part of my life, nor dictate how I live. England is beautiful, with many great schools, and an economy that seems very strong even after something as big as Brexit. But, in comparison, is much too crowded to live comfortably, and is almost the same in every other column. So, I think that I am better off staying where I am, in the place most of my family has ever known, and not focusing on how things I don’t know are supposed to define me.

Works Cited

BBC. “Brexit: All you need to know about the UK leaving the EU.” BBC News, www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-32810887.

Claridge, Alan. Interview. 30 May 2017.

Gagnon, Erica. “Settling to the West.” Canadian Museum of Immigration, www.pier21.ca/research/immigration-history/settling-the-west-immigration-to-the-prairies-from-1867-to-1914.

INA. “WW1 and Immigration.” Immigration to North America, immigrationtous.net/318-world-war-i-and-immigration.html.

International Student. “UK Education System.” International Student, www.internationalstudent.com/study_uk/education_system/.

Royal UK. “History and Present Government.” Royal UK, www.royal.uk/canada.

Trading Economics. tradingeconomics.com/united-kingdom/unemployment-rate. Accessed 2017.

Wiki. “Anglicanism.” Wikipedia, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglicanism.

---. “Demography of England.” Wikipedia, 18 May 2017, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demography_of_England.

---. “Healthcare in England.” Wikipedia, 4 May 2017, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Healthcare_in_England.

ISU Blog

I have never really thought of where my ancestors were from and how they ended up in Canada, so I ended up having an interview with them to help better my knowledge. My Mom’s parents are both from the U.S.A, and they immigrated to Canada together in 1967, 2 years before my mom was adopted. After performing this interview I have realized that my values would have been significantly different if I lived in the United States than Canada. Overall, after bettering my knowledge of my ancestors I realized that my life would be different because of the values, rights and freedoms, and health care.  

According to my grandparents, who live in Nova Scotia currently, they immigrated to Canada August 3, 1967, where they moved to Nova Scotia from there. The reason they moved to Canada was of the gun regulations that were in place at the time, so they wanted to take action and move somewhere safe. They chose to settle in Nova Scotia due to job opportunities and follow previous generations that had immigrated to the East Coast of Canada.

A couple of years later, once settled into their new home, they decided to adopt my Mom within a week of her birth.  Nova Scotia allowed them the opportunity to work and play in a safer environment than they had moved from.  Canada had improved health care systems and communities to allow for a better quality of life.To this day, Canada is still amongst the top countries for places to live.  My Grandfather saw the opportunity to apply his University education to further develop himself.  The timing was such that there was a lack of skilled Educators so he was offered an “opportunity of a lifetime”. Similarly, to my Nana who worked at a bank for 10 years, but decided to follow my Grandfather and work in the same education system. Besides working my Nana also had to care for my Mom and Uncle, but also had to lead them through the right pathway to succeed in life.

My Mom has duplicated the role my Nana had towards her, and implementing it into my life to help me succeed. While my Mom was still young in Nova Scotia she decided to go to University where my Grandfather taught. After graduating, with an economics degree in 1991, she had to relocate to Ontario due to the economic recession in Canada to seek employment. My mom was successful in finding employment at Maytag Canada. This job shows the importance of education that allowed my Mom to be the dominant provider for the family.

The photographs are my grandparent’s Immigration forms, and letter to adopt my mom :

My life would be different if I lived in the United States due to different values, rights and freedoms and health care. The States is viewed as a patriotic society, in contrast to Canada where we value the equality of everyone in the country.  There is less discrimination towards minorities within Canada that has allowed me to meet and interact with all races, religions, etc. without judgement. Whereas in the States people are being excluded for being who they are, yet there is no improvement to that. The rights and freedoms are a lot different if I was living in the U.S. because of the gun laws there. The most significant thing is the gun laws that make you feel unsafe to the point that it is scary to walk around your neighbourhood. The health care in the States would make my life dramatically different in comparison to Canada. My Mom being the only source of income would be affected a lot by the U.S. health care because of the thousands of dollars she would have to spend. I currently have a knee injury that my Mom would not be able to afford. This is stopping me from doing the things I love, especially the sport soccer that I have been playing since I was 3 years old. If I lived in the States it would take years to fix the injury, or maybe my whole life. Since I live in Canada I am able to get my knee fixed in months. This would result me not pursuing my passion of playing soccer if living in the U.S. Overall, my life now is different than what it could have been with the: values, the safe environment, and the free health care living in Canada.  

The U.S. excels in their Military, and economically they are a lot stronger than Canada. According to my research the GDP per capita is a lot higher in the U.S.A compared to Canada. The States mainly spend their money on the Military in comparison to Canada where we spend mostly on our health care.

So, I have learned that being a teenager in the U.S.A; will give me different values that would make me a completely different person, also living in an unsafe environment, and having to struggle with paying for my healthcare. I am happy with my Grandparent’s decision to immigrate to Canada because it sounds like a better environment than the U.S.

These photos are my Grandparent’s and Mom’s Citizenship letters:

Works Cited

Riddle, Peter. “Adoption Letter.” 30 May 2017.

---. “Anne’s Citizenship.” 30 May 2017.

---. “Gail’s Citizenship.” 30 May 2017.

---. “Immigration.” 30 May 2017.

---. “Peter’s Citizenship.” 30 May 2017.

“The World Factbook.” Central Intelligence Agency, www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/us.html. Accessed 3 June 2017.

“The World Factbook.” Central Intelligence Agency, www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/ca.html. Accessed 3 June 2017.