Wow (I just don't know)

[Doobie]

What do you forumers do when you feel like you can't find the direction you want to go in life? When you are confused about whether you want to go right or left? I'm stuck right now and have no clue about what I want to do after High School. I want to go to college but, what college? An even more important question is what major? Part of me wants to go live in Dominican Republic, and part of me wants to go to Canada or Australia. I am certain I want a change of scenario, out of New Jersey, probably even out of the Northeast, but where? I am so confused and lost in the direction of life, I know I can't ask for help but I can ask for your advice. What do I do?

[Jing]

go to a canadian college

[[Q]]

come to California. the good weather solves everything

[Riot]

Join the military.

[PiksS]

come to Latvia

[Axel]

Dont worry so much, you still have time to make up your mind. You can always change your major and you dont have to declare a major till your sophomore year (i think). Go college scouting.. visit some prospective ones to see which ones you like... campus, policies, class size, COST, student aid, etc. Remember you can also transfer to another college too...

I know I dont want to live where I do now either. I'd love to live in Canada, or Spain (i really want to become fluent in spanish) but it will all wait until I get through college. Who knows, if I get enough scholarship money maybe I can do a study abroard program.

Just keep your grades up and try to get involved in clubs and crap.

[Gundy]

Why do some of you guys want to live in Canada? (no offence to Canadians)

[Raps13]

Why do some of you guys want to live in Canada? (no offence to Canadians)

Because it's better than 99% of the countries out there

[Joe']

Is Canada a lot different than the United States? I always thought they were similar countries but now I see a lot of people from the United States wanting to move to Canada, so I guess something in Canada is better than in the US. Can somebody explain? I want to move to North America (not sure when though) but I still haven't find any city/town that fits me since most of the cities I would like to move to, are cold as hell, and I'm not really used to cold weather.

[mvpshaq32]

Why do some of you guys want to live in Canada? (no offence to Canadians)

Because it's better than 99% of the countries out there

I admit it too. I went touring in Toronto and the weather is nice, place is clean, everything is pretty cheap, and the people are nice. Where I live, if you wave to someone on the street or something, they'll give u the finger or glare at you. We were taking a boat and all the people we passed actually waves at us.

[Abctest123]

Come to Toronto, and get into York University or University of Toronto.

[Riot]

Canada isn't really that clean. America offers a much bigger variety of scenary and climates. You'll find some place that is suited for you in America...I'm not sure if the same thing can be said for Canada.

[Silas]

America has much better job opportunities and climates and stuff like Riot said, but then again, Canada has free healthcare, and if you travel the world you dont have to worry about people hating you.

[Riot]

America has much better job opportunities and climates and stuff like Riot said, but then again, Canada has free healthcare, and if you travel the world you dont have to worry about people hating you.

Yes, Canada does have "free healthcare". It sounds great, doesn't it? However, there are a few things that are bad with this "free healthcare".

1). There are long waiting lists for operations. Many Canadians actually go into America to get operations because they have to wait so long to get theirs in Canada. If you are sick you must wait your turn!

2). A lot of the doctors are moving to America because they get paid better and get less hours! All the "good" doctors realize this and move into America for a better life. I'm not saying Canada isn't a good life but doctors make more with less patients in America and they all realize it!

3). You cannot have private healthcare! Some place in Canada actually banned private healthcare. So even if you pay money you cannot get private healthcare (meaning no lines!).

4). Plus...is this healthcare system really "free"? Technically it isn't. It has to get funded somehow and it is funded through taxes. They tax you on everyday items for the free healthcare. The money for it is your own so it technically is not free.

The bottom line is this: if you want good healthcare you have to pay for it! The only problem is you can't do that in Canada because they won't let you.

[Joe']

We have a similar healthcare system here in Italy...Actually there are a few private medical centres but most of them are centres that only treat patients with particular diseases.
Anyways, I remember that when I lived in Argentina, me and my family had something like a prepaid medical system. Basically, we didn't have to pay everytime we needed medical attention, we just had to pay an ammount of money every month or every year, I don't remember well. The medical group is called Swiss Medical. Is there something similar in America? I haven't seen anything like that here.

[Silas]

America has much better job opportunities and climates and stuff like Riot said, but then again, Canada has free healthcare, and if you travel the world you dont have to worry about people hating you.

Yes, Canada does have "free healthcare". It sounds great, doesn't it? However, there are a few things that are bad with this "free healthcare".

1). There are long waiting lists for operations. Many Canadians actually go into America to get operations because they have to wait so long to get theirs in Canada. If you are sick you must wait your turn!

2). A lot of the doctors are moving to America because they get paid better and get less hours! All the "good" doctors realize this and move into America for a better life. I'm not saying Canada isn't a good life but doctors make more with less patients in America and they all realize it!

3). You cannot have private healthcare! Some place in Canada actually banned private healthcare. So even if you pay money you cannot get private healthcare (meaning no lines!).

4). Plus...is this healthcare system really "free"? Technically it isn't. It has to get funded somehow and it is funded through taxes. They tax you on everyday items for the free healthcare. The money for it is your own so it technically is not free.

The bottom line is this: if you want good healthcare you have to pay for it! The only problem is you can't do that in Canada because they won't let you.

All I know is that a lot of people have to cross the border into Canada to get their medication because it is so expensive in America. I also dont think that just because there is more pay and less hours in certain places of the USA doesnt mean that every good doctor will move there. It means some good ones will move there, but mostly doctors who dont want to work as hard move there.

My father is an Oncologist and he has to work from 7 am to 6 pm 6-7 days a week and 7am to 7 or 8 pm 1 day a week. He lives in the USA and he could be working somewhere where the hours are less and the pay is greater, but that isn't everything, its the environment you work in and the people you know, as well as the satisfaction you can get.

Most every developed country in the world has switched to free healthcare except for the USA, where big business strives.

[iKe7in]

come to California. the good weather solves everything

I'll probably end up working there in 5-10 years, but I'd definitely miss winter, hockey coverage, and the lack of earthquakes.

Why do some of you guys want to live in Canada? (no offence to Canadians)

Safer, excellent health care, better education, and yes, cleaner.

Because it's better than 99% of the countries out there

Well I can't speak for Europe, although I think a lot of countries there are just as nice as Canada, but it's at least better than the other 66.7% of North America.

Is Canada a lot different than the United States?

Depends where you go. If you're from New York and you go to Regina, you'll notice a difference. If you go from New York to Toronto or Vancouver, you'll probably feel safer, but it looks pretty similar.

I always thought they were similar countries but now I see a lot of people from the United States wanting to move to Canada, so I guess something in Canada is better than in the US.

It's starting to go both ways though. A lot of people who disagree with the US government or want the better health care or education move to Canada, but a lot of Canadians who are looking for specific jobs (usually in business/commerce) move to the States to find a better paying job there. And lately the strain on the Canadian health care has prompted a lot of people to go to the states to avoid wait lists for certain surgeries/treatments.

I want to move to North America (not sure when though) but I still haven't find any city/town that fits me since most of the cities I would like to move to, are cold as hell, and I'm not really used to cold weather.

Wait about ten more years and global warming will give you a lot more options.

I admit it too. I went touring in Toronto and the weather is nice, place is clean, everything is pretty cheap, and the people are nice. Where I live, if you wave to someone on the street or something, they'll give u the finger or glare at you. We were taking a boat and all the people we passed actually waves at us.

Yeah that sounds like Toronto. There seems to be more of a feeling of community, especially downtown. There are lots of times you end up meeting new people whenever you go out and its really easy to make friends. Of course you still have to be careful with who you get involved with, but its really easy to find nice people jsut to hang out with after an event (game/movie/show) with.

Canada isn't really that clean.

Could've fooled me. The last two times I've been to the states (once to new york, once to florida) the roadsides always seem to be piled with garbage. Not huge piles of stuff, but still easily noticeable. I think the problem was when I was down in Florida it was just after a hurricane, so there was a lot of stuff thrown around by that. But in Syracuse where I was, the difference in cleanliness was very noticeable.

America offers a much bigger variety of scenary and climates.

Variety of climates? Except for the deserts in parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, what do you have that Canada doesn't? Other that Bush's attempt at his own version of Venice aka New Orleans. We both have huge mountain ranges, prairies, and rainforests, but we have a lot of tundra further north, which I'm pretty sure doesn't exist in the states. Not counting Alaska of course.

You'll find some place that is suited for you in America...I'm not sure if the same thing can be said for Canada.

There's a match for almost any living condition between the two. New York or any metropolitan area is very similar to Toronto or Montreal, areas like Minnesota, Wisconson or Michigan are very similar to Winnipeg or Southern Ontario (only with a lot less guns), Alberta and parts of Saskatchewan are very similar to Montana, Idaho, and the Dakotas, and there are very similar areas in California and BC.

The only noticeable differences are 1) health care/education/safety and 2) job opportunities and extreme wealth/poverty

EDIT: Gotta reply to this one too, got posted after I started my post,

Yes, Canada does have "free healthcare". It sounds great, doesn't it? However, there are a few things that are bad with this "free healthcare".

I don't get where people get this idea that its completely free. Yes, you're protected better, but it still comes at a cost. Its just done in a way that helps everyone, not just the people who can easily afford it.

1). There are long waiting lists for operations. Many Canadians actually go into America to get operations because they have to wait so long to get theirs in Canada. If you are sick you must wait your turn!

It depends on the operation. For emergency operations, ie. life threatening, its all pretty much available as needed. For things that are about quality of life, like operations concerning ligament/bone replacement as a result of something like arthritis, the waits are longer, usually a month or two. The biggest demand is for something like an MRI, which can be a wait of three or four months.

2). A lot of the doctors are moving to America because they get paid better and get less hours!

That's because they can set up private practices and are allowed to help the people they choose. Isn't capitalism awesome.

All the "good" doctors realize this and move into America for a better life. I'm not saying Canada isn't a good life but doctors make more with less patients in America and they all realize it!

Well I've had three different family doctors through my life, and all of them were "good" doctors. No complaints here.

3). You cannot have private healthcare! Some place in Canada actually banned private healthcare. So even if you pay money you cannot get private healthcare (meaning no lines!).

You say that like its a good thing. Private health care is designed to only benefit the small percentage of people who can afford it. By banning it, you get the same doctors to help everyone, regardless of their wealth. And long lines? For any every day illness or concern, you can get an appointment with your family doctor within a day or two. And if you're willing to see a different doctor at the same office, you can get an appointment within a day.

4). Plus...is this healthcare system really "free"? Technically it isn't. It has to get funded somehow and it is funded through taxes. They tax you on everyday items for the free healthcare. The money for it is your own so it technically is not free.

Stop debating ignorance pal. Anyone who thinks its completely free is a moron. Canadians pay more taxes than Americans, and that in turn helps pay for lots of things, including health care.

The bottom line is this: if you want good healthcare you have to pay for it! The only problem is you can't do that in Canada because they won't let you.

Good healthcare? My family has gotten good, fast healthcare my entire life and I haven't noticed a change yet. You make it sound like they hire high school dropouts, hand them a clipboard, and hide them from the public, all just to keep this "free healthcare" hoax going.

But back to doobieknicks problem, calm down. It's not the end of the world if you don't know what you want to do, even if you get a few years out of high school. Just keep your grades up for now, and keep your options open. Then when you want to get serious do a blitz of research. Narrow it down to like 10 possible careers, then go find some info on how to get there, and see what the job actually entails.

I had known since about grade 8 that I wanted to get into this one animation program, because I wanted to work at a company like Disney or Pixar. As I got closer, I was questioning it because of the level of competition just to get into the program, and the stability and availability of a job in that field. So I kept taking a variety of courses in high school to keep my options open in case I never got into that animation program. I didn't really have anyhting in mind as a backup.

It actually took me three attempts of applying and submitting a portfolio before I got in, as well as two years of other, one year art courses. But as long as your willing to work really hard for something, especially academically, the options are pretty limitless.

[J@3]

I'd like to go to Canada, seems fairly similar to Australia in alot of ways. I once heard an American comedian say Australia was the cool Canada but the USA generally creeps me out for some reason.

[[Q]]

come to California. the good weather solves everything

I'll probably end up working there in 5-10 years, but I'd definitely miss winter, hockey coverage, and the lack of earthquakes.

yeah we get earthquakes here, but you don't even feel most of them. the last earthquake I actually as able to feel was a really short one about 2 years ago. and before that, I can't even remember. also, we get our fair share of hockey coverage. people are big on the mighty ducks in so cal.

[iKe7in]

But a couple months back, I remember reading that one of the major newpapers there, I believe it was the LA times was going to stop their hockey coverage and had fired two of their columnists who covered the Ducks and Kings.

[Riot]

Could've fooled me. The last two times I've been to the states (once to new york, once to florida) the roadsides always seem to be piled with garbage. Not huge piles of stuff, but still easily noticeable. I think the problem was when I was down in Florida it was just after a hurricane, so there was a lot of stuff thrown around by that. But in Syracuse where I was, the difference in cleanliness was very noticeable.

I was talking more in terms of the quality of air and pollution. Both America and Canada spew out a lot of pollution but lately, believe it or not, America has been doing more to reduce it's air pollution than Canada has. I actually think I read that Canada's has gotten worse.

Variety of climates? Except for the deserts in parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, what do you have that Canada doesn't?

Do you guys have the great beaches and warm weather of Florida? America is one of the few countries in the world where you can have it either way. You can live in Florida which is more of a tropical climate. You can live in Arizona which is more of a desert climate. You can live in Maine which is more of a snowy climate. You can live in Seattle which is more of a rainy climate. You can live in the great plains which is more of a moderate climate. Canada is too far north to offer the tropical and desert climates that America can offer. I think I'd take a beach in North Carolina or Florida over a beach in Canada.

There's a match for almost any living condition between the two. New York or any metropolitan area is very similar to Toronto or Montreal, areas like Minnesota, Wisconson or Michigan are very similar to Winnipeg or Southern Ontario (only with a lot less guns), Alberta and parts of Saskatchewan are very similar to Montana, Idaho, and the Dakotas, and there are very similar areas in California and BC.

Okay...match Florida, Georgia, Texas, Arizona and the other southern states.

It depends on the operation. For emergency operations, ie. life threatening, its all pretty much available as needed. For things that are about quality of life, like operations concerning ligament/bone replacement as a result of something like arthritis, the waits are longer, usually a month or two. The biggest demand is for something like an MRI, which can be a wait of three or four months.

I don't know about you but I don't want to wait three months for an MRI.

That's because they can set up private practices and are allowed to help the people they choose. Isn't capitalism awesome.

It is awesome.

Well I've had three different family doctors through my life, and all of them were "good" doctors. No complaints here.

Are you sure one of them didn't drop you on your head?

You say that like its a good thing. Private health care is designed to only benefit the small percentage of people who can afford it. By banning it, you get the same doctors to help everyone, regardless of their wealth. And long lines? For any every day illness or concern, you can get an appointment with your family doctor within a day or two. And if you're willing to see a different doctor at the same office, you can get an appointment within a day.

1. I personally like private health care. Sure, it's going to eat up a lot of your paycheck but you are covered. Canada's free healthcare system has too many bugs for me to have faith in it. You can stick to your "free" healthcare and I'll stick to mine, deal?

2. By banning it you are becomming communist. Controlling what the people can and cannot buy? Forcing them to use the governments service and not their own. You are basically telling people that you must do it this way and not your own way. It doesn't matter if you can afford it or if you want it because they won't let you! Call me American but that's dumb!

[Matt]

regardless of health care there are other reasons i'd prefare Canada over the USA.

#1. It's safer.....Canada's homicide rate is about 1.78 per 100,000, or roughly 550 homicides per year. America, well, Chicago alone had 666 murders in 2002. In Washington & Detroit the rate per 100,000 is 40+. 16 other cities registered double digit rates. In 2002-03, Australia's rate of 0.27 gun-related homicides per 100,000 population was one-fifteenth that of the US. No mass murder's in this country in 10yrs i.e since Howard took over.

2. America's average salary is roughly 30-35k.....i don't know if that's good or bad (Canada has a comparable salary, although, when counting just full time employees the average income was $43,231) but America also has 30 million people living on low wage jobs, that is, on less than $8.70 per hour. $8.70 is government defined as poverty. A lot work for less than that, in jobs with no unions, and no benefits - holidays, medical, sick leave or other. And most jobs happen to be part time. I'm pretty sure in Canada the situation isn't as drastic.

Taking advantage of people at it's best. Americas basic promise, that if you work hard you can live decently, has been broken.

By comparison in Australia, the only way to get $5.50 an hour is if your 14 and working at McDonalds. Avg salary is $50,000 here btw and we get kickass benefits and our "poor" get kickass welfare.

3. Canada minds it's own business, America blows shit up. Right or wrong, that's for another discussion, but obviously the risks associated make Canada much safer from terrorism.

4. Environmentaly cleaner- someone verify this, because i'm going out on a limb, but Canada doesn't have the slums that America does does it? Or nothing out of the ordinary. From what i've seen of America it's not exactly clean.

In conclusion, the best place to live is probably Scandinavian countries.

[Silas]

Canada is really just like America's 51st goody goody state. They have a lot in common, but they're a lot cleaner, safer, and more predicatble and nicer. Though America has done a lot more and has a lot more cool stuff, though it is dirtier and more dangerous.

[Chris.]

A 3 month wait for a MRI scan isn't as bad as here, when my mum had to get one done I can't remeber exactly how long she waited but she had to wait alot longer, but it was free so I suppose you get what you pay for
I would love to visit America and Canada and see what their kind of life is like and maybe one day move over there, I'm pretty sure theres more friendly people, cheaper stuff and overall just better in most ways.
Here everyone is defending their country and saying how America is better than Canada or vice versa and here I am saying I would really like to visit America/Canada and possibly move over there when I'm older

[debiler]

Hey Riot, is there anything bad about the U.S.? Please tell me, I'd like to know... I'm not trying to flame you here, but everyone has something about their home country that bugs them. What about you?