Canada Life (1) - in Toronto, with the people

I have been living in Canada for 4 years now. Toronto is the city I stayed for 3.5 years and then came to Vancouver in 2025. The two cities are probably the two most well known by people who are not familiar with Canada. But these 2 cities are actually very different. Here’s the short conclusion: If you like Asia big cities like Tokyo, Hong Kong you would probably like Vancouver more. And if you like New York and scenery like mountains and sea doesn’t make you feel better, then you won’t reject Toronto.

I stayed in Toronto from 2021 Winter till 2025 Summer. Went to Toronto because of school, and arriving during the COVID times which even the campus is not opened. Restaurants require vaccine record and school demand the record of going back to school in the coming Winter semester. I would say it’s not that bad actually, but for context that is the situation I arrived. For the first 5 months of staying, I am not really get used it. Not because of taking care of myself, like cooking, doing laundry, these daily life things are surprisingly not bothering me, but friends are the problem. In 2020/2021, a lot of Hong Kong people left Hong Kong to go elsewhere, UK is the most popular choice amongst all the countries. Bunch of my friends went to UK. In 2021 Christmas, I feel the contrast the most as my friends are meeting each other in UK even though they are in different countries. So I once doubt if my choice is correct or not. I doubt it till February of 2022, the third month I was in Toronto. And the reason is I am too busy from school and got no time to think of this problem. And lucky enough I can go back on campus by the end of January and managed to meet a few friends.

I don’t know if others are having the same problem when moving to a new city for feeling lost and lonely when seeing your friends meeting each other on social media. But I did at the start of this new life. And for myself, it is proven that friends and social matters to me even though I don't like to social with others.

After the end of 2022 Winter semester, I went back to Hong Kong for summer and took a break as I got serious home sick in those few months and I burnt out after the devastated semester. But my second year is such a blessing. Even though it is still tough as course load is crazy, but I met a great person. This man literally bring me a whole friend group afterwards. And also I met some stunning Professors in this semester, never imagined I would go to any of the Professor’s office hour for writing a paper and enjoying it. That Fall semester is the toughest one yet the most enjoyable one upon all of the semesters in school. Since that semester I’m lucky enough to start meeting more people and friends.