They say some people are born with restless feet. Mine showed up around age 27. What started as a working holiday in Australia became a decade-long journey through three countries — and eventually landed me in Winnipeg, Canada, with a one-way ticket and no safety net.
Australia, Then Hong Kong
My Australian working holiday was where I met my wife — a Hong Kong local. That connection pulled us to Hong Kong in my mid-thirties. Life there was good. Work was steady, the city was electric.
But as political tensions between Hong Kong and China deepened, we started asking harder questions about the future. We had just had our first child. The calculus was simple: the younger we made the move, the easier it would be for our family to rebuild somewhere stable. Canada became the answer.
Winnipeg, 2019 — Arriving Alone
In 2019, I packed up our life in Hong Kong and boarded a flight to Winnipeg — alone. The plan was clear: complete a post-secondary program, find work in a related field, and qualify for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) to obtain permanent residency. My wife stayed behind in Hong Kong with our infant, supporting me financially while I focused entirely on studying.
I won’t pretend I arrived with everything figured out. My English wasn’t strong, my Canadian savings were thin, and I was starting from scratch. What I did have was work experience from Korea, relevant certifications, and a track record of getting things done in challenging environments. I enrolled in a Project Management program at The University of Winnipeg — but first had to complete an English Pathway course because my IELTS score wasn’t high enough.
That was humbling. But hope was bigger than pride.
Then COVID Hit
My plan to build an international network through school evaporated almost immediately. Just as I transitioned into the main program, COVID-19 shut everything down. Classes went online. The campus emptied. My social life in Winnipeg narrowed to a one-bedroom apartment.
As graduation approached, anxiety grew. What if I can’t find a job? Which industry gives me the best shot at PR? These questions followed me to sleep every night.
But sometimes the hardest periods are the setup for something better. That’s what Part 2 is about.
👉 Part 2: First Job in Winnipeg and My Entry into Canadian Construction