Emmanuel is a Ghanaian traveler and professional currently residing in New Brunswick, Canada, a province with a relatively small Ghanaian community made up largely of international students. In an interview with DJ Nyaami on SVTV Africa’s Daily Hustle Worldwide, Emmanuel shared his extraordinary journey across continents, the realities of life abroad, and lessons from over two decades of global exposure.
According to Emmanuel, Canada is his 25th country. He began traveling at a young age, initially moving to Russia for an internship. He later traveled to Germany for international exposure, then to Estonia, before settling in Hungary, where he lived and worked for five years.
In 2020, Emmanuel moved to North America after hearing positive reports about Canada. He and his wife applied to school, relocated together, and graduated in 2021. They have remained in Canada since.
Emmanuel studied at the University of Ghana, Legon, where he pursued computer technology and took advantage of international internship opportunities. He explained that while living in Ghana, he felt limited, but discovering an organization that supported international mobility helped him expand his academic and professional exposure through conferences, internships, and work placements.
While in Hungary, Emmanuel worked legally and gained professional experience. His wife, who was studying in Poland, frequently visited him during that period. Their relationship grew through shared travel and education, and they eventually married.
Before relocating to Canada, the couple considered moving to another English-speaking country, but opted for Canada through the study route. Upon arrival, Emmanuel said reality quickly set in.
“I thought I could easily get gigs, but it was not like that. Even menial and warehouse jobs were difficult to get,” he revealed.
Although he had studied computer science in Legon, Emmanuel specialized further in cybersecurity in Canada. He noted that the coursework abroad was highly technical and demanding. After completing school, he secured a role as a Project Manager, making him one of the few foreign students who landed a professional job immediately after graduation, while many of his peers remained in retail jobs such as Walmart.
“Who you know abroad matters. Networks help you get opportunities,” he said.
Despite earning a professional salary, Emmanuel explained that high taxes, rent, and bills in Canada significantly reduce take-home income, making side hustles necessary.
“At one point, I had three jobs. I even did DoorDash. Even as a professional, you need side hustles,” he stated.
Emmanuel compared Canada to the United States, noting that the U.S. job market pays better and offers stronger healthcare benefits. He revealed that many people use Canada as a pathway to obtain documentation before eventually relocating to the U.S.
He also addressed the mental health challenges many immigrants face.
“A lot of people here are depressed, but they don’t talk about it,” he said, adding that some migrants arrive through asylum routes, struggle to work legally, and are overwhelmed by bills.
On cybersecurity, Emmanuel noted that although demand is high, employers prefer candidates with local experience and security clearance, which typically requires five years of residence. While he is trained as a cybersecurity analyst, he turned down a role in that field to pursue project management, which he enjoys more.
He acknowledged that job competition is intense, especially in major cities like Toronto, where hundreds of applicants may compete for a single opening. Some international students have since relocated to smaller provinces like New Brunswick in search of opportunities.
Now a father to a 10-month-old baby boy, Emmanuel says he has reduced his workload and focuses on stability. He emphasized that any job that lifts someone out of poverty is worth doing.
Reflecting honestly, Emmanuel admitted that life in parts of Europe felt better than Canada.
“If I had known, I might not have come,” he said, adding that he hopes to eventually return to Ghana.
The family initially avoided moving to the U.S. due to concerns about mass shootings at the time, though Emmanuel admits perspectives are changing.
Today, Emmanuel and his wife—who have been together for almost 10 years and married for three—own their own house in Canada, drive an SUV, take frequent vacations, and are raising their young child. He emphasized that skilled trades and creative jobs such as barbering, makeup artistry, photography, mechanics, and technical services thrive well in Canada.
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