We’ve been here for a year now and how time flies. As we grow stronger as a family every day, we find new things to be truly grateful for in this new chapter of our life.
In this blog, I sit down and write some reflections on the year past.
The Greats
As you might have noticed, there’s a lot of time to do things here even on workdays. I never appreciated more the remote setup until I had a growing daughter, eager to explore her surroundings. Family time is a big part of our day and since most of the things we need are within reach, there’s always time to take to the parks.
Speaking of parks — they are a dime a dozen here! There’s a variety of them, from tot parks to wide open fields. There are parks with towering trees, where you will feel them breathing fresh air into you. There are kids playing, people walking their dogs, and families just spending a nice afternoon out. There is the drool-inducing aroma of grills and the heartwarming birthday celebrations of families with balloons and all. And the best thing of it all? It’s all free. Just bring yourself and your A-game picnic!
Plenty of events are also held in those parks. We’ve been to the most wholesome parade ever (Teddy Bear Parade), Canada Day, Dragonboat festivals, and many more. We’re especially proud of our Filipino heritage that are occasionally showcased in multicultural events. Happy kababayans all around!
Diversity is a big thing here. As one ad put it, “It’s not how Canadian you are. It’s who you are in Canada.”
And lastly, we’ve been constantly grateful for government-funded public goods like schools and transportation. We frequently read about complaints about public transportation, but it’s often a first-world problem based on what we’re used to! Our little one’s school has also been great, despite the ever-present middle-class anxieties of the ‘right education’. There are a lot of affordable community center programs that can supplement the classroom experience with the arts, dance, music, and sports. I think we’re off to a StrongStart 😉 and hope to guide our daughter as she grows up.
The Crazies
Okay, the crazies. Most stuff isn’t cheap. The global economy is in bad shape, and everything in groceries is becoming more expensive. Add to that the housing burden and you have enough anxieties that you should always check the budget!
Also, sidenote. Taxes are a main concern here. Obviously, the public goods have to come from taxes that everyone should pitch in. And we find that it’s an issue that’s key to many heated discussions here. One has to pull their weight — it always comes to that central idea. As much as everyone’s taxes are scrutinized, how it is spent is also prevalent in many conversations. Is it being spent correctly for key issues like housing affordability, law enforcement, the environment, and a list of other societal concerns?
Immigrants don’t just arrive in a country’s physical space. We also inherit its problems. To build a future.
More to Come
We haven’t been outside Metro Vancouver yet, so we’re excited to explore the great outdoors. It’s what Canada is all about. The great mountains, the pristine forests, wide open road trips, and of course, the multitude of ethnicities that one should meet.
All things considered, life has been great thanks to God’s grace.
My love, my little one, let’s build our home here.
It is the REAL DYL 