Barnstaple

I must say that we felt quite "accepted" when we moved to Canada in the late 80's. In fact many Canadians had connections with the UK in one way or another, and if they didnt they seemed to be quite fascinated with and wanted to visit the UK.

When we arrived we were invited to a Brit ex-pats meeting, and we attended with a view to meeting others and making friends. What we found was a bunch if people "stuck" in 50's/60's Britain, living in Canada. They had effectively transferred their lives to Canada and needed to keep to themselves.

We did not join that club and never returned.

We did find that many Brits came across as moaners; in fact an English friend called them "Whinging Brits" because they complained about everything not being as good as it was back in the UK.

So our reasons for returning to the UK did not include not being accepted. In fact, having moved back to the UK six years ago, we found it harder to meet and make friends here than we did in Canada. And I might add that we found North Americans, in general, more straightforward and assertive than those we have met in England; a trait that we appreciated. Many we now know say one thing and mean another, in order to be polite.

BristolUK

I'm curious. In what way worse?

In my early years here I was always frustrated by the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" attitude to things that either were broke or never worked in the first place.

"It's the way it is" has always annoyed me and it still exists but I do find that some of these things have changed and the more that people can see a change is an improvement, the more accepting of change they may be.

Editha

Dr Pangloss, I presume?

Novocastrian

Speaking candidely?

Editha

Well, yes. Not all change is good, as the last few days have shown.

BristolUK

I had to look that up.

NB has caught up with Canada regarding abortion availability.

The province stopped being the only one without a catastrophic drug program about three years ago. It was very unaffordable initially but now it is very affordable. Lowest income group (but still way above social assistance levels) can get coverage for $16 a month and $5 per prescription.

NB has just introduced free tuition for students in families with less than $60k income rather than tax breaks for the wealthier people that previously existed.

These are good things and grounds for optimism.

Nationally, Harper has been replaced.

Benson55

National Trust
English Heritage
Tate Modern
National Portrait gallery
Victoria and Albert Museum
Imperial War Museum

AND.....man many other museums and over 300 Roman sites abreast the UK, many concert Halls, opera, Plays...............where does one stop....

Gizwhizz

Yes the UK has all of these great cultural aspects and has accrued them over a huge period of time. Did you ever come to Canada expecting Roman remains? (Mind you if you want old there are some rather fabulous dinosaur bones in Drumheller)
i admit to being pretty bored with the lifestyle here but that is my fault rather than Canada's.

Editha

I lived in Edmonton Alberta. Edmo has a world class symphony orchestra, an opera house, a city art gallery plus several private galleries, a jazz club, a good museum, theatres, a zoo, and a botanic garden. It also has three universities. Each year it hosts a folk music festival, a fringe theatre festival, a jazz festival, and a fine art week. I could go on. I'd say that culturally it offered more than most British cities of a comparable size.

This week, I got notification that a member of the writers' group I helped found has just had a novel published, the third book from the group as a whole.

IMO Canada as a whole punches above its weight in the arts, particularly literature. I believe there is considerably more state support for artistic production than in the UK, one example being the Banff Centre, which I was fortunate to spend a week at. I can't think of any comparable place in the UK.

Lana51

I hear you Trish... Feeling exactly the same, completely trapped!
We have been here for nearly nine years and can just not adapt to this passive aggressive and controlling culture, we find it really unpleasant and almost intolerable to live with and absolutely do not want to spend too much longer here, just need to make a plan that doesn't disrupt our children's education!
Hugs xx

Lana51

on a positive note, would like to add that we spent two years in Alberta and it could have been another Country as people are delightful as opposed to Ontario!!!

TrishP

Thanks missus and hugs back. Hope you come up with a plan that works for your family.

scot47

In what was is it a "passive-aggressive and controlling culture" ? Is it vreally so different from back home ?

Editha

Well there is the 'We must do dinner some time' thing, which translates as 'You will never hear from me again.' But I think that is common to the USA as well.

feelbritish

I had that regularly in Canada with everyone I met. I would say that would be nice, hand over ph. No. Or email and nothing! In England usually we say that would be nice, when? then make a date in future.