I'm Canadian and I voted Yes.
I love adventure and love travelling as well. (It's the waiting at the airport that I hate.
) Anyways, I don't know if moving from a very fast paced city like Toronto to a "suburban business community" in Calgary would count in the thread but there are a lot of differences. In Toronto, I work in a concrete jungle, here in Calgary I work in a sort of Industrial Park type area. (The CN railway is just right behind the office. Princess, my wife would often say if you need to move back to TO just hop on the cargo train. Bye!!! Bye!!!
). I walk to work here and it's not too busy. I still haven't adjusted after living here for almost two years. I find it so weird, not used to seeing public transpo all the time or rush hour.
Anyways, I worked in Hong Kong for a month, and I just loved it. It is similar to Toronto, the public transport was good, some people speak English, the food is good, the people are friendly, lots of entertainment and I don't mind the small living accomodations at all. It's similar to Vancouver, just drive a few minutes to the beach or the mountains, and who can forget Ocean Park, my fave! I was offered a job and would have stayed there for two years but I had to consider Princess (my fiance at that time) feelings whether or not she wants to move. So I moved back. Then I was offered a job in NYC, Princess said yes to that but the late nights and crazy hours I keep made us decide this not the life for us if we want to stay "married" something has to be given up. Plus the fact, Princess didn't have a job, the noise, too many people and the news made her a bit wary and depressed in NYC. Princess lived most of her life in a small town in Prince Edward Island so moving to Toronto to study engineering was a already a major life change for her. So after two weeks we moved back to Toronto.
I think emigrating is splendid idea if you are still in your 20's and early 30's, single or have a spouse who have the same adventurous spirit, no kids, and you are still finding your way in the world. If I had the patience and passion for teaching, teaching ESL in a foriegn country would have been a great idea for a year or so....unfortunately.
Given a chance again, I would probably emigrate to Hong Kong or Singapore. I love Asia, it's not fast-pace and it's a culture very different to mine. I remember when I was still a grad student a few of my law school classmates were trying to get into firms in countries like Australia. I was contemplating about it but never had the drive to actually go and send my paperwork. I know one whom I had the opportunity to talk to and she said she loves it (Melbourne). My uncle who is in Sydney was encouraging me to do it but like I said I didn't have the drive at that time....oh well.
Anyways, I just would like to say
Good Luck, Silwen! I support you all the way!!!