Q：聽說溫哥華好山好水好無聊，這是真的嗎？
A: 在先前的貼文裡，我已詳細解釋了選擇溫哥華的原因，包括經濟上足以負擔的學程、學界的工作機會，以及宜居的環境。我想，在這裡住了兩年多後，我可以就個人經驗，提出一些觀點。當然，每個人對生活在溫哥華的看法不盡相同。
Let me begin by discussing my doctoral program in education policy. The total cost of the program was approximately 50,000 CAD for me as an international student. The program requirements, including courses, a comprehensive exam, and a research proposal, should be completed within three years. Completing the research itself can take anywhere from 1 to 3 years, if not longer. A similar program at a university of the same rank in the US could cost three times as much, if not more.
首先，讓我談談我的教育政策博士學程。由於我是以國際生的身分就學，因此整個學程的費用大約要５萬加幣。課程、各種考試與研究提案應在三年內完成。完成研究本身可能需要１到３年的時間……正常來講的話。在與之同等級的美國大學中，類似的學程費用可能是這個的三倍，甚至更多。
Some students asked why I chose education policy instead of linguistics or more teaching-related programs. Well, I have been working in various domains of education for over 15 years and, despite being in managerial positions, I did not have much experience in policymaking and governance. Having insights into these domains would enable me to make a greater impact on policies such as Taiwan’s Bilingual Language policy and possibly an updated media literacy policy, which I think is much needed in our post-truth world; hence, my decision.
有同學問我，為什麼不選語言學或其他與教學相關的課程，而選擇了教育政策呢？坦白說，我已在教育的各個領域工作了１５年以上，即便擔任過經理級的職位，但我卻缺乏政策制定與治理方面的經驗。深入這些領域，將使我更能影響統治者的決策，例如臺灣的雙語政策，以及在這個後真相的世界裡（我個人認為）所亟需更新的媒體識讀政策。因此，我才作了這樣的決定。
The program itself was beyond my expectations in terms of difficulty in my first year. However, working with people who were beyond my current abilities pushed me to the next level. Once I got used to reading, thinking, writing, and even speaking at a doctoral level, the program became more manageable. In fact, I was one of the first few students to become a doctoral candidate earlier this year.
在就學的第一年裡，學程本身的難度遠遠超出了我的預期。然而，與比自己秀異的人一起工作，無疑會使自我有所蛻變。當我習慣了博士層次的閱讀、思考、寫作乃至言說時，這個學程變得更好掌握。事實上，我是少數在今年初先成為博士候選人的學生之一。
Moreover, my professors have been exceptionally supportive, particularly my advisor, who has not only guided me through my dissertation journey but also provided me with opportunities to work as a research assistant. In a doctoral program, the relationship with your professors and board members often transcends the traditional teacher-student dynamic, evolving into something more akin to close friendships or familial ties—at least that’s been my experience. My cohort consists solely of Canadian educators, making me the only international student in that year’s program. Yet, each of us hails from distinct sectors within the field of education. With their diverse lenses and expertise, we were able to explore and dissect various aspects of education policies through nuanced deliberations. Overall, the program has been transformative, offering me a new perspective to critically examine educational issues at macro, meso, and micro levels. More importantly, it has equipped me with the knowledge and critical lens necessary to identify and address underlying challenges I was once unaware of, such as the impacts of neoliberalism on education.
此外，教授們非常支持我，尤其是我的導師。他不僅指導我完成了這趟博論之旅，還給了我擔任研究助理的機會。在博士學程裡，你與教授以及小組成員的關係，往往超越了傳統的師生互動，彼此變得更像是益友或家人——至少這是我的個人經驗。我是該年學程裡唯一一位國際生，其他同學都是加拿大的教育工作者。而我們都來自教育領域內的不同行當。透過他們的多元視角與專業知識，我們能夠以細緻的討論來探索並剖析教育政策的各個面向。總的來說，這個學程具有變革意義，提供了一種嶄新的觀點，使我得以從宏觀至微觀的層面上，批判地審視教育問題。更重要的是，它為我提供了知識與批判性的視角，以辨別乃至解決我此前從未慮及的潛在挑戰，如新自由主義對教育的影響。
OK, on to the living conditions. As for the environment, after being here for two years, I simply love it. Vancouver’s crisp, clean air, lush trees, convenience, and relative safety compared to the areas where I stayed in the US make it a place I would like to settle in. Each day feels like a blessing when I wake up, work, read, and take walks through the woods, breathing in the fresh air scented with pines that surround the city. UBC campus is particularly beautiful, being enveloped by forests on three sides and the sea on one. The campus also features the Nitobe Memorial Garden, a serene Japanese garden where I often take walks to unwind after studying and working all day. Please note that not all areas in Vancouver are like this, but comparatively speaking, much of Vancouver is surrounded by nature.
好了，是該談談生活條件了。說到環境，在溫哥華生活了兩年後，我只想說——我超愛這裡。溫哥華清新的空氣、茂盛的樹林、便利的設施以及安全性（相較於我在美國住過的地區），讓我想要在這裡定居。每天起床後，工作、閱讀，然後走在香氣滿溢的松樹林中，享受著乾淨、清新的空氣，總讓我倍感幸運。ＵＢＣ的校園格外漂亮，三面環林，一面靠海。校園內還有澄靜的新渡戶紀念花園（Nitobe Memorial Garden），我經常到那裡散步，釋放一整天的學習與工作壓力。請注意，並非溫哥華的所有地區都是如此。但相對而言，這裡的許多地方都為大自然所環抱。
In terms of climate, Vancouver is often known as “Raincouver” due to its annual average of 169 rain days, though Taipei averages a bit higher at 187 days per year. So, I’m fairly used to the rain. You also get quite distinct seasons here, and summer can reach the high 20s on average. More buildings are installing air conditioners here, indicating hotter days. We also get about 1-2 weeks of snow and temperatures can drop below 5 Celsius in the winter. If you want to compare climates, then I would prefer San Diego, where I lived during my undergraduate years. Gosh, just nowhere can compare to that place. Sunny every day and never too hot in the past, but that could just be nostalgia working on me. It’s just what kind of weather you like, unless you are rich, then you can just fly to different places every season.
在氣候方面，溫哥華的平均降雨日為１６９天，因而常被稱為 Raincouver。不過台北的年均降雨日則略高一些，為１８ 7天。所以，我還蠻習慣雨天的。這裡的四季也很鮮明，夏季的平均溫度逼近３０度。有愈來愈多的大樓裝了冷氣，因此勢必會有很熱的時候。這裡的冬季，也會有１到２週的時間下雪，氣溫將低於５度。相較之下，我更喜歡大學時住的聖地亞哥。天啊，沒有任何地方能夠與它相比。那裡的天氣幾乎都是晴天，從來不會太熱。當然，這也有可能是我的懷舊情感在作祟。不過，還是要看自己喜歡怎樣的天氣，除非你是好命人，那就可以在每個季節飛到不同的地方去。
Transportation-wise, I’d say it’s pretty good. It certainly isn’t as convenient as Taiwan, but the roads are orderly as you do not often see pedestrians, bikes, scooters, and cars sharing the same lane. Public transit in Vancouver is surprisingly convenient and clean, though the population density isn’t high enough to support a system with as many stations as Taiwan. Compared to LA and London, I would say Vancouver’s Skytrain and Seabus are some of the best mass rapid transit systems I’ve experienced outside of Taiwan. I survived my first year living on campus with just the public transit system alone, since students get a free transportation pass, but I eventually bought a car here as there are some great deals for used cars.
就交通方面來說，我認為還算不錯。雖然沒有臺灣那麽便利，但這裡的用路情況井然有序，幾乎不會看到行人、腳踏車、機車與汽車共用某個車道。即便溫哥華的人口密度不高，因而無法擁有臺灣那種站點綿密的系統，但這裡的公共交通卻出乎意料地便捷與乾淨。相較於洛杉磯與倫敦而言，溫哥華的 Skytrain 以及 Seabus 是除了臺灣之外，我所體驗過最好的大眾快捷運輸系統之一。在學校的第一年，我的生活完全仰仗公共交通系統，因為學生可享有免費的交通卡。但我最終還是在當地買了一輛車，因為這裡的二手車交易實在太划算了。
Driving here is a joy as the trees adorning the roads are beautiful, particularly in the autumn. The population is not as dense as in bigger metropolises like LA, so you do not get as much traffic. However, some new immigrant drivers do not follow local traffic laws and norms, causing some problems and stereotypes. European cars are comparatively cheaper than in Taiwan, while their Japanese counterparts are quite pricey, possibly because of import tax. The most common car manufacturers I see on the streets are Mazda, Subaru, Toyota, BMW, Mercedes, Tesla, and Porsche. I have not seen a higher concentration of white Teslas and Porsche SUVs anywhere else. New drivers and learners have to display corresponding stickers on the back of their cars, so be aware of those “N” and “L” when you drive, but hey, we all have to begin somewhere. Please everyone, drive safely and follow the rules.
在這裡自駕是種樂趣，尤其是秋天，路旁的樹木格外動人。溫哥華不像洛杉磯那樣是個擁有高人口密度的大都市，因此並沒有太大的交通壓力。但部分駕車的新移民不遵守當地的交通法規（laws）與慣例（norms），造成了一些問題及刻板印象。可能是因為關稅的關係，相對於臺灣來說，這裡的歐洲車比較便宜，而日系車則非常昂貴。我在路上最常見的車有馬自達、Subaru、Toyota、ＢＭＷ、賓士、特斯拉跟保時捷。我從未在其他地方見過這麼多白色的特斯拉跟保時捷休旅車。新手與初學者的車後都需要貼有相應的貼標，所以開車時要注意那些有「N」跟「L」的標誌。不過，凡事總有第一次嘛。總而言之，請大家務必注意行車安全，遵守交通法規。
As for work, Vancouver presents many business opportunities for me as an educator since it is a destination for international students from Japan, South Korea, and China. There are also quite a few Taiwanese students here, but far fewer than those who attend universities in California, as I mentioned before. A variety of factors probably contribute to this, mostly because U.S. schools are seen as more competitive and offer more potential job opportunities. I would agree with the sentiment that the US is generally more competitive when compared as a whole to Canada, and the pace of life is definitely faster, though it depends on where you live. I would also argue that, at least in Vancouver, there are still ample opportunities for students interested in art, film, education, and emerging tech industries, which is exactly the case for me as I started an ed-tech company earlier this year. Also, I’ve noticed more and more Taiwanese YouTubers living in Canada, although this could be due to algorithms influencing what I see. From chatting with students, many of them also prefer the comparatively relaxing lifestyle here and a smoother path to immigration compared to the US. Nonetheless, do some research and come see things for yourself. If you come here unprepared and without doing research in advance, you are likely to encounter difficulties when searching for a job.
至於工作，溫哥華是日本、韓國與中國等國際學生的目的地，為身為教育工作者的我提供了許多商機。這裡也有不少臺灣學生，但遠比加州的數量要少。造成此一現象的可能原因很多，或許主要是因為多數人認為美國的學校更具競爭力，有更多的潛在工作機會。我大致同意美國整體上比加拿大更具競爭力的觀點，生活節奏明顯較快（當然，這也取決於你居住的地方）。我還想說，至少在溫哥華，對於那些被藝術、電影、教育與新興科技行業所吸引的學生來說，仍有豐富的機會。這正是我在今年初創辦一間教育科技公司的原因。此外，我也注意到越來越多的臺灣 YouTuber 住在加拿大（也不排除這是演算法所製造的同溫層）。在與學生的交談中，我了解到許多人更喜歡這裡相對輕鬆的生活方式，還有那更為順暢的移民途徑。不過，我還是誠心地建議大家，要做點功課並親自來這裡體驗一番。若空降到一個人生地不熟的地方，工作必然不好找。
In terms of cost of living, gosh, the rent and house purchasing prices are crazy here. The average rent for a one-bedroom is now around 2,800 CAD/month. I recall it being about 1,700-2,000 just two years ago. Much of the high prices are blamed on immigrants, but the city just does not have the infrastructure to support so many people in such a short amount of time. With the country’s population reaching 40 million, there’s a stark mismatch between population growth and housing availability. Needless to say, it is a messy issue and it’s definitely not easy to purchase a home here. In fact, in some jurisdictions, you can only purchase properties if you have permanent residency or you have to pay a 20% tax. However, take what I say here with a grain of salt since I have not yet begun looking for a house here and laws always change:
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/230721/dq230721b-eng.htm
https://www.forbes.com/advisor/ca/real-estate/foreign-homebuyers-ban/
就生活成本而言，我的老天鵝，這裡的租金與房價真的非常驚人。目前，一間一房公寓的平均租金大約是每月２８００加幣。我記得，兩年前大概只要１７００至２０００加幣。在短時間內，該市根本沒有足夠的基礎建設來滿足人們的需求。隨著加國的人口數來到４千萬，人口成長與住宅供給明顯脫節。無須多言，這是個麻煩的問題，而且在這裡買房絕非易事。事實上，在某些法律所管轄的部分地區，你只能在獲得永久居留權或支付２０％的稅後，才能買房。不過，鑑於我還沒有開始在這裡找房子，而且法律總是會變的，所以上述內容未必全然可信。
For students, well, you’re in luck if you plan your housing far in advance. Many universities here provide student housing and are building more. The prices for dorms are affordable for both individual students and families. The government, from what I have seen, is also working to address the housing shortages by allowing housing to be built on public properties. There are also more affordable alternatives like rooming with others or living further away. Personally, having lived in LA, I am relatively used to the higher housing prices, although I do think rent is a bit out of control.
對學生來說，若能提前規劃好住宿，那麼你就很幸運了。這裡的許多大學都提供學生宿舍，而且還在持續擴建。無論是學生自己還是一整個家庭，宿舍的價格都相當優惠。就我所見，政府也在努力解決住宅短缺的問題，並允許在公共的資產上建造住宅。當然，還有更划算的選擇，例如與他人合租或住在較遠的地方。就我個人而言，既住過洛杉磯又住過臺北，我早已習慣了較高的房價，雖然租金確實有些失控。
As for food, I would say eating out is expensive, and not nearly as convenient as in Taiwan. A meal for one is about 15-20 CAD, if not higher, including tips. However, you can find a wide variety of authentic restaurants from various countries here, as Vancouver is a hub for immigration. I think I must have had more dim sum than when I was in Taiwan. As for grocery shopping, supermarket prices are just a tiny bit higher than in Taiwan, but it really depends on how you shop. I will say the produce and fruits here are delicious when in season. You gotta try the cherries and apples, and I enjoy grocery shopping at the various supermarkets here. You can basically find anything from your home countries.
至於飲食，我認為這裡的外食成本高昂，而且遠不及臺灣便利。一個人一餐大約要１５~ 2 0 加幣起跳，這還不包括小費。不過，在這裡你可以找到正宗的各國餐廳，因為溫哥華是移民的中心（hub）。我想，我在這裡吃的港式點心比在臺灣還要多。超市的價格也只比臺灣略高一些，但這取決於你的採買內容。我想說的是，當地的當季蔬果非常美味，一定要品嚐看看這裡的櫻桃與蘋果。我很喜歡在當地的各種超市購物。基本上，你能在這裡找到近乎所有的家鄉味。
In terms of education, I think California takes the cake in higher education. With its diverse and numerous top universities, it is hard to beat, though I think the programs in the US are a lot more expensive if you are not a resident. You should consult the school websites and do a comparison with the schools in Canada, as each program has different costs. Many students from Taiwan come over here for arts, music, and film in recent years, so universities in Vancouver also have their own specializations. From my personal experience in the UCs (UCSD and UCLA), I would say UBC’s general education for undergrads is competitive, though this varies widely between individual schools and programs. UCSD’s cell bio program, for example, is top-notch, while UBC’s Plant and Animal Science is also one of the world’s best.
在教育方面，如果你不是美國居民，該國的學費通常會貴上許多。即便如此，我仍認為加州是高等教育的佼佼者（take the cake），擁有多元且數量龐大的頂尖大學，這是他國難以匹敵的地方。你應查閱學校的官網，並與加拿大的學校相比較。因為每個學程的成本都不盡相同。近年來，有許多臺灣的學生到這裡學習藝術、音樂與電影，可見溫哥華的大學也有自己的專精處。就我個人求學於加大系統（ＵＣＳＤ與ＵＣＬＡ）的經驗來看，我會說ＵＢＣ學士階段的通識教育非常全面，但這在不同學院與學程之間的差異頗大。例如，ＵＣＳＤ的細胞生物學程是一時之選，而ＵＢＣ的植物與動物科學也是全球最頂尖的科系。
For primary and secondary education, as someone who has attended public school in California, I would have to say Vancouver is generally better, but this once again depends on where you live. For me, I particularly like the emphasis on equitable education and social justice. There is also a strong emphasis on indigenous rights, and on recognizing that we are all settlers and immigrants trying to create a better society. Of course, there are social tensions, but I think the schools and communities are more socially integrated than my experience in the US, where groups are often clumped together by race.
而在小學與中學教育方面，身為一個曾在加州就讀公立學校的人，我會選擇溫哥華。但這也取決於你住在哪裡。對我來說，我尤其偏愛重視公平教育與社會正義的地方。這裡也非常強調原住民的權利，以及身為定居者與移民者的我們，該如何共築更美好的社會。當然，社會中的緊張關係仍在所難免。但我認為，相較於我在美國的經驗（不同族群往往以種族來劃分）來說，在整個社會裡學校與社區更為一體。
I recall reading an article about Vancouver having a high hate crime rate against Asians. However, coming from the States, perhaps my experiences with more acute, in-your-face racism have blinded me to that in Vancouver, especially compared to when I grew up 30 years ago. That’s not to say there aren’t racial tensions here. I do recognize that different groups of minorities face different forms of discrimination. Additionally, the sudden influx of immigrants is often blamed for rising housing prices and living expenses, despite the fact that a multitude of factors contribute to these issues. COVID and misinformation spread online also don’t help in building trust and understanding between immigrants and the local population. Immigrants, rather than the government policies themselves, are often the first to be blamed by politicians seeking power, since they are easy targets and have less representation.
我曾讀過一篇文章，提到溫哥華對亞裔的仇恨犯罪率相對較高。但是，我畢竟待過洛杉磯，溫哥華的情況跟我３０年前的成長環境相比，真的是小巫見大巫。當然，我並不是說這裡沒有種族問題。不同的少數族群都面臨著形式各異的種族歧視。此外，哪怕實際影響物價的因素很多，但移民的湧入往往淪為房價與生活費升高的眾矢之的。疫情以及網路上流傳的錯誤訊息，也不利於移民與當地居民建立信任以相互理解。無論什麼事，移民總是最先受到指責的對象，因為他們是軟柿子，聲量也小很多。
However, based on my own limited experience here, I have felt more accepted, and education emphasizes equity and inclusivity more so than my experiences in California.
然而，就我在這裡的有限經驗，相對於加州而言，我覺得自己更為社會所接納，而且這裡的教育更強調公平與包容。
As for healthcare, I am covered by the school’s extended insurance plan, and Vancouver does have public healthcare (MSP) available to all, even non-residents who stay here for six months or longer. California also has public healthcare that is available only to low- to moderate-income, older, and disabled individuals, as well as to veterans and members of the military. Both locations are facing a shortage of doctors and nurses, and such a shortage may translate to longer wait times for illnesses in comparison to places like Taiwan, where you can see a doctor in minutes by visiting one of the clinics next to your house. Such convenience is definitely not the case in either location, and it is the reason why mainly elderly people return to Taiwan for their excellent medical care. From my experience, however, the system is efficient enough as I am mostly relatively healthy and am fortunate enough to have found a family doctor.
就醫療保健而言，我享有學校的延伸保險。而溫哥華對所有人——包含在這裡待滿六個月的非居民——提供全民健保（public healthcare）。加州也有全民健保，但僅限於中低收入戶、年長者、行動不便者，以及在職與退伍軍人。這兩個地方都面臨著醫生與護士短缺的問題，使之與臺灣相比，看病的等待時間便顯得更為冗長。在臺灣，你可以在幾分鐘內，於住家附近的診所看到醫生。溫哥華與加州都不具備這樣的便利。這也是許多年長者返臺享受出色的醫療服務的原因。不過，根據我的經驗，這裡的系統還算有效率，主要是因為我在大多數的時間裡都相對健康，並很幸運地找到了家庭醫生。
Regarding safety, conditions in both places can differ depending on the area, but Vancouver is generally considered to be safer, especially in suburban locales. As for gun safety, well, I am sure a Google search will reveal which is safer. The violent crime rate and safety issues, problems that undoubtedly need to be reduced here, are also lower than in a city like Los Angeles. Don’t get me wrong, I love LA, but I feel safer in Vancouver. A statistical comparison can be found here to supplement my own personal experience:
兩個城市的安全情況可能因地區而異，但人們大多認為溫哥華更加安全，尤其是郊區。至於槍支問題，我想大家谷歌一下就能知道答案。此處的暴力犯罪率與安全問題無疑需要降低，不過仍低於洛杉磯。但千萬別誤會，我愛洛杉磯，只不過溫哥華讓我更有安全感。以下的統計數據及比較，能呼應我的個人經歷。
Now, before people start going into an uproar over crime statistics, I am merely sharing my experience. There are many US cities that are equally safe if not safer than Vancouver, which has its own share of social challenges. Vancouver East Hastings, for example, is often cited by foreign media for its homelessness and drug use. Beware many of these media “investigations” are mostly done for entertainment and have pre-determined agenda (clickbait, blame someone) instead of fully investigating the problem by interviewing all parties involved. They do not, for example, examine why drug addictions occur and persist depsite interventions. Since I am from LA, both cities are encountering an increase in homelessness, something you do not see as often in Taipei. If you want to get to the bottom of such a phenomenon, then examining some actual research by non-partisan groups is needed, not from the post of some guy sharing his life on FB or some YouTuber ranting about crime to gain views.
在大家開始對犯罪數據惴惴不安前，我必須說，我只是在分享個人經歷。美國有許多城市跟溫哥華一樣安全，甚至更加安全。而後者也有自己的社會問題。例如，溫哥華東喜士定（Vancouver East Hastings）的遊民與毒品問題，時常為外國媒體所報導。但請注意，許多媒體的「調查」大多有其目的（entertainment）與預謀（如誘騙點擊率、指責某人），而非透過採訪各方人士來全面調查這些問題。例如，即便政府有所介入，他們並未探究毒癮存在與存續的問題。由於我來自洛杉磯，兩個城市的遊民數量有增加的趨勢，而這樣的情況在臺北並不常見。如果你想深入了解此一現象，那麼就要審視一些無黨派團體的實際研究，而不是某篇臉書上的貼文，或某個為了博關注而對犯罪誇誇其談的 YouTuber 的影片。
Also regarding safety, no place is without risks. Safety is a shared responsibility, we should all recognize this and work to better our communities.
實際上，沒有任何一個地方是安全無虞的。安全是人們的共同責任，我們都該理解這點，並讓自己的群體變得更好。
Woah! That was a long story!! Now, have I piqued your interest about Canada? Want to see it for yourself? If so, whether you are interested in studying, working, or even moving to Canada, leave a comment. I am starting a summer study abroad program with UBC in 2024, and if you are interested, fill out the survey and I’ll send you more information: https://forms.gle/7xcgFEAb9kmEdi6c9
I will continue to share my experiences and any available programs for you.
天啊！這篇貼文真的落落長！你是否被加拿大吸引了呢？想親自去看看嗎？如果是的話，無論你是對到加拿大學習、工作或移民感興趣，都歡迎同學們在下方留言，告訴我們。
此外，我與ＵＢＣ合作的暑期海外學習計劃將於２０２４年啟動。若對此感興趣，請請填個問卷我再把相關資料寄給你：https://forms.gle/7xcgFEAb9kmEdi6c9
我將繼續分享我的經驗，以及所有可供各位參與的學程。