Confused.. Why Canada?
#66
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Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
I love the fact I can wander about downtown at 3am and not have to worry that some random ned is going to pull a knife
I like that commuting isn't that expensive compared to the likes of London, I like the fact that I was able to survive on a lower wage and only work the minimum number of hours per week.
I love the people. I love the diversity.
I like that we're about 90 minutes away from cottage country and/or Niagara Falls. I love the general atmosphere that surrounds the place.
#67
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Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
By the way, Toronto was never on our list of places to live in Canada as I don't like big cities and I believe they ALL have their problems due to their size so we're looking at NS for all that it offers in the way of 'family life'.
Hope you find what you're looking for.
Lynpy
#68
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Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
-20 is COLD, no matter how you put it. Last winter when it was -20 in Toronto, I was in Marbella, the temperature some days was +25, A typical day involved taking a walk on the beach with my dog and having a cafe con leche on the boardwalk. In the evening you need a light jacket, nothing more. Wet cold/dry cold whatever, -20 is COLD and it SUCKS.
#69
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Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
Hart, I believe it is Albertans who are labelled rednecks and are not that well accepted??
remember, Let those Eastern Bastards freeze in the dark
remember, Let those Eastern Bastards freeze in the dark
#70
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Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
Well I'm spanish and also trying to move to Canada. I have lived in England for ten years and I'm married to an English man.
So I could ask you the same....why Spain? Don't get me wrong is my country and I love it...for holidays and visiting my family but not to live there. Yes it might seem the perfect place if you look at it from a tourist point of you, I also love Marbella, Murcia, Costa del Sol when I go on holidays but the reality is that Spain has problems like any other country. The level of unemployment is very very high, they have a lot of problems with housing and imigration and also terrorism.
As much as I love being Spain I don't want my children to grow there, I don't particulary like their education system either.
I also love England but once again, now that I have a family I don't want them to grow up here either. Living here is so expensive, we live near Manchester and we have lots of youth hanging about in the streets. We have tried to move but houses are sooooo expensive that we will probably end up even more in debt.
Anyway after all this, each to their own . If you think Spain can give you what you are looking for go for it. As for us we can't wait to move to Canada.
So I could ask you the same....why Spain? Don't get me wrong is my country and I love it...for holidays and visiting my family but not to live there. Yes it might seem the perfect place if you look at it from a tourist point of you, I also love Marbella, Murcia, Costa del Sol when I go on holidays but the reality is that Spain has problems like any other country. The level of unemployment is very very high, they have a lot of problems with housing and imigration and also terrorism.
As much as I love being Spain I don't want my children to grow there, I don't particulary like their education system either.
I also love England but once again, now that I have a family I don't want them to grow up here either. Living here is so expensive, we live near Manchester and we have lots of youth hanging about in the streets. We have tried to move but houses are sooooo expensive that we will probably end up even more in debt.
Anyway after all this, each to their own . If you think Spain can give you what you are looking for go for it. As for us we can't wait to move to Canada.
#71
Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
-20 is COLD, no matter how you put it. Last winter when it was -20 in Toronto, I was in Marbella, the temperature some days was +25, A typical day involved taking a walk on the beach with my dog and having a cafe con leche on the boardwalk. In the evening you need a light jacket, nothing more. Wet cold/dry cold whatever, -20 is COLD and it SUCKS.
You can do that in areas of London as well. There are some areas in Toronto, I wouldn't do it either.
What kind of work will you be doing here.
Most people in Toronto keep to themselves. I lived in the same house for 10 years and the only contact most neighbours have with each other is a passing hello. Romanians, Iranians, Chinese, Indians, they all keep to themselves and amongst there all people.
We only go to Niagara Falls once every five years. And that is when we have overseas visitors. For the most part, besides the falls it is a dump.
You can do that in areas of London as well. There are some areas in Toronto, I wouldn't do it either.
What kind of work will you be doing here.
Most people in Toronto keep to themselves. I lived in the same house for 10 years and the only contact most neighbours have with each other is a passing hello. Romanians, Iranians, Chinese, Indians, they all keep to themselves and amongst there all people.
We only go to Niagara Falls once every five years. And that is when we have overseas visitors. For the most part, besides the falls it is a dump.
I managed to be able to sit on the porch with my hat, scarf and gloves on chatting with friends and having a good time when it was -20, also managed the commute without being late once to work the entire winter.
I've done it in Scarborough, Etobicoke, downtown. Most people don't bother with anyone and most of the shootings and stabbings are gang-related of which I am not a part of although the occasional tragedy of innocent bystanders getting in the way is sad it's a lifetime away from what I grew up with in and around Glasgow. I hate London, it's one of the few big cities I deplore having to go to and when I do it's purely to show it to other people, most of whom come away disappointed with the disgusting prices and the fact it's nothing like it's made out to be.
This time I'll probably do something with my computer science degree, most of the interviews before went great until they found out I had a 1 year visa and hence I ended up working in a legal firm doing database stuff and the second ime ina travel firm doing database stuff. Neither paid great but in the year I was there for both I was able to leave with at least as much as I started with when I arrived.
I don't know what that says about you or your neighbours but I knew and was welcome at least 6 houses in each direction by the end of my year there and my group of friends has people of various backgrounds and ethnicities. Maybe it's just easier to inter-mingle at a younger age?
#72
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Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
I also find it odd that people are complaining so much about the decline of the UK and pine for how "it used to be". Yes, London is not what it was when I lived there in the Nineties. In fact, if anything it is even more prosperous now. The rising house prices are an indication of an economy on the rise.
There was an Economist cover story earlier this year titled "You've never had it so good." Here is an excerpt from some of it,
http://www.economist.com/opinion/dis...ory_id=8629539
So what gives?
There was an Economist cover story earlier this year titled "You've never had it so good." Here is an excerpt from some of it,
Yet in a way it is odd that Britain's spirits should be low. The place is enjoying a period of extraordinary prosperity. Fourteen years of stable growth have kept unemployment down. There have been social gains as well as economic ones: fewer children and pensioners live in poverty than ten years ago. Crime is broadly lower. And with prosperity has come renewed political clout. Britain has helped to shape aid for Africa, the debate on climate change, European enlargement and, last week, negotiations to restart world trade talks.
All this is especially remarkable in contrast with the recent past. A quarter-century ago, the home of the industrial revolution was closing factories and mines. The class war raged as unions took on the government and business. In the South Atlantic a weird little war palely recalled Britain's glory days. Comparison with mainland Europe is also gratifying. After the humiliation of il sorpasso, Britain's GDP per head has once more overtaken not just Italy's, but also France's and Germany's.
All this is especially remarkable in contrast with the recent past. A quarter-century ago, the home of the industrial revolution was closing factories and mines. The class war raged as unions took on the government and business. In the South Atlantic a weird little war palely recalled Britain's glory days. Comparison with mainland Europe is also gratifying. After the humiliation of il sorpasso, Britain's GDP per head has once more overtaken not just Italy's, but also France's and Germany's.
So what gives?
#73
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 15,883
Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
Yep we be all rednecks out here in real man country and don't be you all be forgettin' it.
Still having trouble getting over that one are we Howard? You really need to get out more the worlds moved on since then.
#74
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Re: Confused.. Why Canada?
1994-2002, worked up North contracting, moved around a bit, Warrington, Hull, Manchester, even out of the way places like Whitehaven on the edge of the beautiful Lake District (depressing town).
2003, returned to London and initially went straight back to Harrow while renting looking for a new property, having sold my 4 bed house in Manchester.
I found Harrow a strange and unknown place, the town centre had changed beyond recognition and 'trendy' bars had appeared everywhere full of drunken teens. Walking through the place was a challange, not feeling safe at all, the streets were menacing with arguing and fighting youths.
I eventually bought a tiny 2 bed flat in South Ealing at almost double the cost of the 4 bed house I sold.
Since then the prices have risen about 25% and the prices outside London has also risen as the prices roll out over the country (unfortunately when I sold in Manchester that had not started then, I would have benefited waiting a year, whose to know).
I would not have afforded my flat just 3 years later!!!!
My tiny 2 bed flat is now worth over $500,000
Living in Canada means my wife does not need to work for us to live, although my salary has dropped we should be able to afford a decent property on my wages alone.
What I miss, no local pub for socialising, town centres with with life, here they are dead as the malls and de-centralised shopping areas have killed the town centre.