Sometimes the biggest journeys begin with hope, courage, and a one-way ticket.
On October 27, 2022, I boarded a one-way flight to Canada.
I had waited a long time to receive my Permanent Residence while living in Belgrade, Serbia. Ironically, the wait for my PR was much longer than the time it took me to decide to leave. Once I received a job offer from a hotel in Ontario, everything happened quickly. I bought my ticket, packed my life into a few suitcases, said goodbye to my family, and left.
I was excited, hopeful, and ready for a new beginning, but I was also scared. I had no idea what my life would look like a few months later. I didn’t have a detailed plan—I only knew that this was an opportunity I couldn’t ignore.
Looking back almost four years later, there are many things I wish I had known before moving to Canada. Some were practical lessons, while others were emotional. Together, they shaped the person I am today.
This isn’t a guide to moving to Canada. It’s simply the story of what I learned after taking a leap of faith and beginning again.
One of the places that slowly became home.
Starting Over Isn’t as Easy as It Looks
When I arrived, I lived and worked at the hotel where I had accepted my first job.
One of the greatest blessings during those first weeks was the people around me. My colleagues helped me open a bank account, apply for documents, understand how different systems worked, and patiently answered questions that probably seemed simple to them but felt overwhelming to me.
Looking back, I realize how fortunate I was. Without their kindness, those first months would have been much more difficult.
Even with that support, I cried almost every day. I knew I would miss my family, but I never imagined how deeply. Outside of work, I barely knew anyone. Everything felt unfamiliar, and there were moments when I questioned whether I had made the right decision.
Today I understand those feelings weren’t a sign that I had made a mistake. They were simply part of beginning again.
Building Independence Takes Time
Within my first two months, I opened my bank account, received my health card, obtained my Ontario ID, and passed both my G1 and G2 driving tests. Those accomplishments gave me confidence.
Then reality arrived.
I realized that my hotel salary wasn’t enough for me to rent a place on my own. That realization brought stress and uncertainty, and I began searching for another opportunity because I wanted to become independent and build a life outside the hotel.
Finding another job wasn’t easy at first, but eventually everything worked out. Looking back, I’m grateful for my education and previous work experience in Serbia because they opened doors that helped me continue building my career in Canada.
Today, after moving from the hospitality industry to banking and recently receiving a promotion, I can honestly say that every difficult step was worth taking.
Canada Is Bigger Than I Imagined
Before moving here, I knew Canada was a huge country. What I didn’t understand was how much that would affect everyday life.
Coming from Europe, I was used to walking almost everywhere. Streets felt closer together, and daily life often happened on foot. In Canada, I quickly realized that a car isn’t a luxury in many places—it’s almost a necessity.
Today, life is different.
My fiancé and I live in downtown Burlington, across from Spencer Smith Park. We can walk along the waterfront, visit local cafés, go for evening runs by the lake, and enjoy many places without driving.
But outside many downtown areas, a car becomes almost essential because the distances are simply much greater than I had imagined.
Winter Teaches Patience
When people warned me about Canadian winters, I honestly thought they were exaggerating.
Now, almost four years later, I understand.
Winter isn’t only about snow. It’s about shorter days, colder mornings, and learning to appreciate the arrival of spring.
The darkest months, from November through February, require patience. By April, everything begins to feel alive again, making those first warm and sunny days feel even more special.
Building a Life Costs More Than You Expect
Housing quickly became my biggest expense. Groceries and phone plans were manageable, and coffee wasn’t expensive if it was an occasional treat. But rent, car insurance, and everyday living taught me that building a life in Canada requires careful planning and patience.
Even today, although my fiancé and I share our household expenses, saving money still requires discipline.
The Kindness of People Makes All the Difference
One of Canada’s greatest strengths is its people.
I’ve been incredibly fortunate to meet kind colleagues, supportive managers, and wonderful friends throughout my journey. Some friendships began at the hotel, while others started after I joined the bank.
Every one of those people helped Canada feel a little more like home.
Making friendships doesn’t happen overnight, but once they grow, they become one of the most valuable parts of starting over.
Home Can Exist in More Than One Place
Perhaps the biggest lesson surprised me the most.
I used to believe home could only be one place.
Now I know differently.
Serbia will always be home.
Canada has become home too.
And because my fiancé is Brazilian, Brazil has also become part of my story.
It’s a strange feeling. Whenever I’m in one country, I find myself missing another.
When I first arrived in Canada, I didn’t feel that I belonged here.
Today, I feel comfortable. I feel accepted. I have friendships, a career I enjoy, favourite coffee shops, walks through Spencer Smith Park, and a place that truly feels like home.
That feeling didn’t arrive the day I landed.
It grew quietly, one ordinary day at a time.
Looking Back
If I could sit beside the version of myself who boarded that one-way flight on October 27, 2022, I wouldn’t try to prepare her for every challenge.
I’d simply tell her this:
Be patient.
Accept help.
Trust yourself.
Not everything will go according to plan, but everything will teach you something.
One day you’ll look around and realize you’re no longer just living in Canada.
You’re living your life here.
Moving to Canada changed my life in ways I never expected. It challenged me, humbled me, and helped me grow into the person I am today.
Looking back today, I don’t remember every difficult day. I remember how those days slowly became the life I now call home.
☕ Over Coffee
Lola Choco Bar & Sweet House, Village Square, Burlington. One of the cozy places where I slowly began to feel at home in Canada. ☕🤍
Home isn’t built in a single day.
It’s built in the first friend who makes you laugh, the coffee shop where the barista remembers your order, and the quiet moments when a new place slowly begins to feel familiar.
One day you’ll realize you’re no longer simply visiting a new country.
You’re carrying two homes in your heart instead of one.
Life isn’t about choosing one country over another—it’s about carrying pieces of each place with you.
Thank you for sharing this chapter with me.
Until next time…
See you Over Coffee. ☕🤍
Life Between Countries 