Moving to Canada, sort of a before-and-after

I started writing this a few days before I moved, but never finished.

This will probably be my last chance to blog before the move to Canada. I had considered writing some big manifesto about why I'm doing what I'm doing, but that hasn't happened yet. I do have a lot of swirling emotions about the whole thing though, so I want to get down a few thoughts.

I'm making several life-changing transitions here. I'm moving to a new country. I'm going back to school. And I'm totally changing career paths.

The easiest one to discuss is the going back to school part. I've been thinking about that ever since I finished undergrad, and I pretty much always figured I'd be back eventually. It took six years. A whole lot has happened in that time, and I think I'm much better for it.

My reason for going back to school is mainly because of the changing career paths, though there are other parts. Basically I don't know of any ways to make a living that I'm currently capable or qualified to do that I want to do. I think I like doing research (at least somewhat), and I like the idea of getting paid to learn, so it seems to me that being a professor might be a good gig. I'm not sure of that, but going to grad school is the first step, and it seems pretty low-risk to get a Masters degree. A big open question for me at this point will be how much bullshit I'll be able to tolerate (and how much of what I might be required to do will I see as bullshit). I'm heading in with an open mind and a desire to learn, but who knows what will happen to that.

That more or less addresses that side of things, at least in a shallow way, but the manifesto was mainly supposed to focus on the leaving the country part. Here are a few dimensions that are on my mind:

1. Disassociating myself from the US Government, in a moral sense.
2. Avoiding the perils of US domestic life, in terms of personal health and safety.
   
3. Searching for a culture that I can feel comfortable in.
4. Being physically far removed from my family and friends.

The decision to apply to schools in Canada was partially my solution to the first 3 items, which are goals that I've been pursuing for maybe 2 years now. The fourth is a downside of my chosen solution. Anyway, some thoughts on each item...

The first point is something that I've felt strongly about at times, but I've also felt like it is futile and/or self-obsessed. Will being a grad student in Canada for at least 2 years make me feel like I've accomplished anything in this regard? Will I care? I don't know. Do I currently have any moral responsibility for the evils committed by the USG? I've paid taxes and voted for politicians, so I think I do. Would I if I was a grad student in the US? Any more than I would as a US Citizen going to school in Canada? I don't know. I guess if nothing else, it makes a statement, but I don't know how many people are listening to it.

The second point, about avoiding the perils of life in the US, is obviously about pure self-interest without the moral dimension of the first point. Our economy is going to shit with little hope of recovery in sight, and bombing Iran will only make that worse. Aside from that, life in the US is a major health risk. I read somewhere that breast milk of the average US mother contains so many toxins that you wouldn't be able to sell it as food. That just seems so fucked up to me, and is a perfect way to summarize how bad things are here. Our food and household products are poisons, and our healthcare system is a joke. Violent crime rates here are alarming as well. How much of all that is better in Canada? Well I know crime is much better. My understanding is that they have stricter food safety regulations than the US, and much better healthcare. Their economy is probably very heavily linked to ours, so that isn't good, but I think they're a lot more energy independent so that ought to be good for something. Another safety aspect is our increasingly authoritarian domestic policies, which I think might be getting worse in Canada too, but probably not nearly as bad as here.

The point about culture is related to the first two, but it is basically about personal preferences, rather than concerns for morality or safety. From what I've seen, Canada is just a nicer place (than places I've spent much time in the US). People are more friendly. They're more liberal and less religious. They care about environmental issues. They drink beer. I just think I'll be generally more at ease with my surroundings there.

I don't really feel like finishing it, but I will say a few more things. I drink a lot less beer here than I did in Ohio. It is more expensive here and I've yet to find much of a good selection. I've also been eating differently and walking ~5.5 miles most days, so I've lost some weight I think. Most of that walk is through the woods next to a stream, amidst an assortment of happy wildlife. I joined a softball team. It is fun but I prefer basketball, tennis and soccer. Their smallest bills in Canada are $5 and they have $1 and $2 coins. I like that arrangement. I'm going to buy a used bicycle. I have no idea about Canadian politics yet. Concern for environmental practices is pervasive around here, and not just among the University crowd. I've eaten asparagus just about every day. I like the people in my department a lot so far.