I think the "didn't fit into Canadian culture, or found something imminently attractive about US life" may be reading too much into things. It's more like those people just found good jobs in the US that weren't available in their country. I'm a Canadian and found a great job in the US and moved down. I didn't move down thinking the culture would be better and then found work.
> I think the "didn't fit into Canadian culture, or found something imminently attractive about US life" may be reading too much into things.
That is probably true for Canadians. It is definitely easier, faster, and more accessible for a Canadian to immigrate to the US. Fewer reasons can be enough.
For immigrants from other countries even though good jobs is one of the priorities it does not always justify immigrating. There are often other additional factors that push people to immigrate.
Oh I totally agree with you about immigration from other countries not necessarily being about finding jobs immediately. My family (including me) immigrated to Canada from another country (a third world country) because the opportunities would be better. I can't imagine us having not done that and what kind of life I would be living today.
I think you did find something imminently attractive about US life: said great job. Do not underplay the fact that many of your peers (a) wouldn't even look for "a great job in the US", and (b) wouldn't move for it if one landed at their feet. There are plenty of things I may dislike about US, yet I am also here by choice rather than necessity.
> (a) wouldn't even look for "a great job in the US", and (b) wouldn't move for it if one landed at their feet.
1. Those peers may have spouses/SOs, that, depending on their profession would turn into stay-at-home house-wives/husbands, if the peer moves into the US. This is an immediate show-stopper for a lot of people.
2. Those peers may value Canadian culture more then the person you're responding to. That doesn't mean that the person who moves to the US for better paying work values US culture. They may prefer Canadian culture - just not $200,000/year prefer.
