I have some big news to share with you guys. I’m moving to Canada!
It’s something my family and me were thinking of doing for some time already. And have finally decided it’s time to leave the Netherlands and go on our next adventure – to Canada.
Well, it’s a big decision that’s happening in my personal life. But, it will have quite a big impact on the Culture Tourist, as well. That’s why I wanted to let you know more about it in this blog post. Keep on reading to learn more about why I’m moving to Canada.
Why have I decided to leave the Netherlands
OK, let’s start with my move to the Netherlands first. As some of you know, I’m originally from Croatia. And have moved to the Netherlands six years ago with my husband. We wanted to get some international experience, travel more and stay in the Netherlands for two years max.
However, we liked it so much that we stayed in the Netherlands for six years. We’ve got a child, bought a house, meet some wonderful friends, and I’ve started my company, in the meantime.
We loved living in both Amsterdam and Haarlem. I had an amazing opportunity to work in places like the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum. And I’ll always be grateful for that.
You will never be completely at home again, because a part of your heart will always be elsewhere. That is the price you pay for the richness of loving and knowing people in more than one place.
MIRIAM ADENEY
But, during the last year we realised if we’re going to stay a few years more, we’ll stay in the Netherlands forever. Our son is getting bigger, we’ve made a great life here, and we’re more and more attached to the country.
We also started to feel a certain wanderlust. An urge to explore some new places. And wanted to try living in some other country as expats.
I think we’re so fortunate to be able to live that kind of mobile life. And we wanted to take advantage of that.
My husband is working in IT, which is a great profession to be in right now. And it’s basically needed everywhere. And during the last year, my business went entirely online. So, I can work from pretty much anywhere.
On the other hand, our son is still small enough to not be too attached to his friends or a specific place. And he’s happy to move with us to another continent. Although, I’m not sure how much he understands what the move means. And that it’s not just an extended vacation.
Why I’m moving to Canada
Well, I don’t want to disappoint you, but there is not some very deep meaningful reason behind our decision to choose Canada to be our home for the next few years. Similar as it was with the Netherlands six years ago, our move to Canada is kind of coincidental.
When we started to think about the move, one of the biggest requirements we had was to go to an English speaking country. We wanted it to be outside Europe, so we can travel to some new places and experience a completely different culture. We were also looking for a liberal and safe place where we’ll feel good as foreigners. So, Canada naturally came to the top of our list.
A few months ago Marijan got a job offer from a big company based in Waterloo, close to Toronto. He went there, liked the company and the city. After we did some research, we loved Ontario region and decided to move to Canada.
And again, the same as it was with the Netherlands, I was never in Canada before. Or even in North America. So, it’s really going to be an adventure for me.
One of the reasons we chose to move to Ontario in Canada is also because it’s quite easy to travel to Europe from there. Which I will still be doing quite often because of my job here at the Culture Tourist.
I’ll be speaking at the fantastic Miss Adventure Festival in Croatia this June. And will be travelling and going on a few press trips to Belgium and some other fantastic European destinations during June and July this year.
I’m also planning to attend the Traverse 20 Conference in November, organised in Palma, Spain. So, having an airport well connected with Europe was definitely one of my requirements for this move.
I’m also really excited to explore the USA more. We already have a plan to travel to New York for my birthday in August. And, it’s so easy to get there from Toronto. You can definitely expect to see some of my museum videos dedicated to some fantastic museums in New York and Washington DC this year.
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What does my move to Canada mean for Culture Tourist
This move is definitely going to bring some changes to the Culture Tourist.
A big change you could already see with all that content about Thailand lately is that focus at the Culture Tourist is not on European destinations only, anymore. You’ll still find many articles about some lovely European cities, museums and destinations you should visit.
But, you can also expect to read more about Canada and the USA. I’m especially looking forward to exploring some amazing museums in New York this summer. And to search for some hidden places and cultural heritage in Canada.
Other than that, everything is staying pretty much the same.
You can still order my colouring postcards from anywhere in the world. And you’ll find plenty of inspiration to visit some beautiful destinations and learn more about art and history while travelling.
Well, these are my big news. I’m excited and scared at the same time. But, mostly thrilled to embark on this new adventure.
So, tell me, do I have any readers in Canada? Do you have any recommendations for me? Or tips about my move? Let me know in the comments!