leaving canada for another country was probably one of the best things i ever did
not because canada is a bad place (it has its problems, but i love the place), not because japan is a good place (i love this place too, but oh man oh man could i have talkies about issues), but because i gained an incredible amount of perspective on canada, america, and what it means to be canadian.
i feel like it's hard to see what the fishbowl looks like when you're inside of it.
Well fucking said.
I've spent all my life longing for the day I get the fuck out of my country, if only for a breather. And while I'm still nowhere near satiated with the West and ready to head back, I was surprised by how much my appreciation for it grew in such a short time. Not just my country, but the entire territory. From the language, to the history, culture, and traditions. A lot of it had to do with coming in contact with people who were genuinely intrigued and constantly asked about it. Something I wasn't really prepared for or thought I'm capable of given how negative I was about the Middle East, but when I opened my mouth I was surprised by all the things I had to say, pleasant stuff for the most part, the more I talked about it.
This lead me to read, research, and refresh my memory about certain things that I've long forgotten, just to be more versed in this activity the next time someone comes along and asks some tough questions. My appreciation definitely grew and I've gained new perspectives, thanks partly to the curiosities of others as well as not being able to help but contrast and compare the two clashing cultures constantly. It ultimately made me realize that while the pig picture still reeks of shit, on a micro level there are so many things to love and value.
I'm not sure if this is the same experience you or anyone else had upon leaving your countries, but this is basically the short version of mine so far.
