Working for overseas airlines, ramp vs instructing exp.?

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Does anyone with actual experience have any input on what overseas airlines think of Canadian ramp>bush experience vs the typical instructor route?

I have been living in Japan the last few years and am going back to Canada to do my licenses and ratings. Basically I am keen to get out of Canada ASAP once I have enough total time and time in turbines to have a competitive F/O resume for an outfit like KAL or Miyazaki Air or something like that. I'm not opposed to the middle eastern airlines either but Asia is where I'd like to be. I have a 3 to 5 year timeline within which I'd like to be back in Asia as an F/O.

Basically I am concerned that wasting 6 months to 3 years in Northern Canada as a glorified baggage handler could negatively affect an application since I never intend to work for Air Canada or any other major Canadian airline. That's time that could be spent building hours instructing and living in a city that's not pitch black and 30c below half the year. On this forum the job ads almost always say "Northern Experience preferred" but I am very uncertain of the value of "Northern Experience" to some Miyazaki Air recruiting dude who's never even been to Canada or experienced sub zero temperatures.

Anyone with real experience in joining an overseas airline, your input regarding your career path, or any suggestions, would be especially appreciated.