Immigrant Truths I Had to Learn the Hard Way: My 16-Year Journey in Canada

Apr 25

Sixteen years ago, I boarded a plane with one-way ticket, a heart full of hope, a few suitcases and dreams much bigger than I could carry

I still remember the feeling, excited, nervous, teary-eyed, but full of dreams. We were leaving everything familiar behind for a future we believed in. “Canada will be better,” I told myself. “Just work hard, keep a positive mindset, and things will fall into place.”

Spoiler alert: It didn’t quite happen that way.

I was ready for the fresh start. But nothing truly prepares you for the emotional rollercoaster that comes with uprooting your life and planting it into a whole new world. The weather is the least of it. The real adjustment? It's what happens inside.

Now, after 16 years of living, learning, stumbling, growing, grieving and thriving in this country I now call home, I want to share the immigrant truths I had to learn the hard way—truths I wish someone told me before I arrived, but that I now carry with grace and gratitude.

Through this space, I want to share those hard-earned immigrant truths, in the hope they reach someone who might need them.

Starting Over Means Starting From Scratch — and That’s Okay

Back home, I had a degree, years of work experience and a strong sense of professional identity. Then I got here and suddenly, none of it seemed to count.

I remember sitting in interviews trying to explain what I used to do, only to hear “Canadian experience preferred.” I took jobs I never imagined I’d take. I started from the bottom -literally and emotionally.

But looking back now, those early jobs built more than just my resume. They built resilience. They taught me humility. They reminded me that every big dream has to be rebuilt, sometimes brick by brick.

Loneliness Isn’t Just About Being Alone

There’s a particular ache that comes with being far away from everything and everyone you know. Though, there were phone calls and photos (Messenger, Viber or WhatsApp are not a thing yet that time). But nothing replaces physical presence - birthdays missed, hugs you can’t give, laughter you can’t share in person (few tears dropped from my eyes when I was typing this part).

There were nights I cried myself to sleep wondering if we made the right decision. But slowly, the loneliness eased as we found our people, through community, through church, through neighbours and co-workers who became family.

It takes time. But home finds you again, even in unfamiliar places.

You Carry the Weight of Two Worlds

You don’t stop becoming a citizen of your home country just because you now live in Canada. You don’t stop being Filipino just because you’re now in Canada. But sometimes, you feel like you’re too Canadian for the Philippines and too Filipino for Canada.

You live in this in-between—holding onto your roots while trying to grow new ones. It’s a balancing act. Some days, it feels heavy. Some days, it feels like a gift. I’ve learned that it’s okay to be both. I am both. I can love my homeland while fully embracing this new land.

Success Takes Time—Like, Real Time

Let me say this louder for the ones in the back: there are no shortcuts. Some years, I was just surviving—living paycheque to paycheque, figuring out the bus routes, the financial system, the healthcare system, the tax forms (why are they so confusing?!).

But I kept showing up. I worked hard, said yes to opportunities, adapted, saved, learned and leaned into community. But what I truly learned from this - there’s beauty in the slow burn of success. Because when it finally comes, you know you earned it.

You Will Lose People Along the Way

Some friendships won’t survive the distance. Some family ties will loosen. And some people won’t understand why you left in the first place. There’s grief in that. Silent, invisible grief (am I crying again?). But there’s also healing. You make space for new relationships—ones that align with the version of you that’s emerging.

It hurts. And it’s okay to acknowledge that hurt. But know this: the people who are meant to walk with you on this journey will find you.

Your Identity Will Evolve

For a long time, I clung tightly to my old identity, afraid of losing who I was. But slowly, Canada began to shape me too—in my values, my habits, my way of thinking. No, I wouldn’t say that I lose myself. I just grew.
I’m still Filipino, but I’m also a blend of everything I’ve been through, everyone I’ve met and every choice I’ve made. And I truly believe that that evolution doesn’t mean betrayal. It means becoming.

The Dream Grows As You Do

When we arrived, all I wanted was a safe home, stable work and a better future for my kids. But over the years, those dreams expanded.
Now, I’m a storyteller (a blogger wannabe!), a financial advisor, a mortgage broker, a community advocate. I help fellow immigrants and families make empowered decisions about their money, their future, and their dreams.

Honestly, this life I’m living now? I couldn’t have imagined it back in 2009. But that’s the beauty of it all—your dream gets bigger the more you believe in yourself.

Each of these lessons came with tears, growing pains and quiet victories. They weren’t easy to learn, but they were necessary. If you're in the middle of your own journey—whether you're just getting started or feeling stuck somewhere in between—I want you to know you're not alone.

Know that this country will challenge you. But it will also shape you, stretch you and surprise you in the most beautiful ways.

And with that...

Let me give you this, final sip:

If you’re new in Canada, or just starting over in any way—this post is for you. It’s okay to feel scared. It’s okay to miss home. But also know this: growth is messy. Progress is slow. And you are stronger than you think.

From one immigrant heart to another—keep going.
You’re not alone.

Until our next cup,