Is anyone else massively disappointed in Canada?
Jan 26th 2016, 6:17 pm
#16
Nuther day in paradise.ca
Joined: Aug 2008
Location: Ajax, Ontario
Posts: 7,263
Re: Is anyone else massively disappointed in Canada?
I've been here a little over two years, I was granted PR last November, I have a well paid job, great apartment downtown and I have made a decision to go back to London (UK).
My life will not be as comfortable as it is here (anyone who has ever lived in London knows how tough it is) but to me living in Toronto is soul destroying. I find people to be completely different and rather cold and very reserved, dating sucks too, I find Canadian men to be extremely passive and bland, even in my company nobody expects anything from anyone and it's always the bare minimum that gets done. It's like mediocrity is being encouraged and there is no place for individuality or over achievers. I never see Canadians discussing politics or any current events, nobody's interested in anything.
Toronto is great for a quiet family living. Not for young energetic ambitious individuals.
I don't want to offend anyone, these are my personal observations and I realize many people won't agree with me but I was wondering if anyone felt similar.
My life will not be as comfortable as it is here (anyone who has ever lived in London knows how tough it is) but to me living in Toronto is soul destroying. I find people to be completely different and rather cold and very reserved, dating sucks too, I find Canadian men to be extremely passive and bland, even in my company nobody expects anything from anyone and it's always the bare minimum that gets done. It's like mediocrity is being encouraged and there is no place for individuality or over achievers. I never see Canadians discussing politics or any current events, nobody's interested in anything.
Toronto is great for a quiet family living. Not for young energetic ambitious individuals.
I don't want to offend anyone, these are my personal observations and I realize many people won't agree with me but I was wondering if anyone felt similar.
Jan 26th 2016, 6:18 pm
#17
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 33
Re: Is anyone else massively disappointed in Canada?
You'd kind of expect that in a country's major city. Canada has to be one the most dull and uninspiring cultures ever invented. I had the misfortune of having to teach courses in a MA program that had both US and Canadian students. The Americans pissed all over the Canadians when it came to depth of knowledge, creativity and willingness to work hard. The one thing they excelled at was moaning about having to do any work.
Jan 26th 2016, 6:22 pm
#18
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,446
Re: Is anyone else massively disappointed in Canada?
Anyway as you yourself have discovered, you found a price you had to pay albeit a non-financial price. And that was at the heart of my post above - if you go overseas looking for one thing alone, such as a lower cost of living, you might find that other aspects of your "new life" become extremely disappointing.
Jan 26th 2016, 6:25 pm
#19
.
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 20,185
Re: Is anyone else massively disappointed in Canada?
Jan 26th 2016, 6:50 pm
#20
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,098
Re: Is anyone else massively disappointed in Canada?
Toronto great for quiet family living? Have I missed something?
Jan 26th 2016, 8:03 pm
#22
Account Closed
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 0
Re: Is anyone else massively disappointed in Canada?
Not being the US seems to be the biggest accomplishment in many Canadian eyes. Lol
Once you accept and realize Canada isnt the same as whatever country your from its a more tolerable place.
With such a small population over such a huge land mass, Canada just wont have the same offerings.
Once you accept and realize Canada isnt the same as whatever country your from its a more tolerable place.
With such a small population over such a huge land mass, Canada just wont have the same offerings.
It'd be tolerable if they understood and were honest about their shortcomings but they seem to have built up a myth about how great they are that has no bearing on reality. The best they can really come up with is to point out the occasional Canadian in the film or entertainment industry. "Oooh look, he/she's Canadian eh?"
Jan 26th 2016, 8:32 pm
#23
Dichotomus tinker
Joined: Aug 2013
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 6,678
Re: Is anyone else massively disappointed in Canada?
Jan 26th 2016, 9:32 pm
#24
Account Closed
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 0
Re: Is anyone else massively disappointed in Canada?
I wasnt talking population density. I was talking of physical size of the country of which Canada is 2nd largest in the world by size but with a small population spread over a huge distance.
Jan 26th 2016, 10:26 pm
#25
Oscar nominated
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Moncton, NB, CANADA
Posts: 50,833
Jan 26th 2016, 11:05 pm
#26
Dive Bar Drunk
Joined: Nov 2006
Location: Toronto
Posts: 8,649
Re: Is anyone else massively disappointed in Canada?
Restaurants, fuel and property are cheaper than in London.
Alcohol not so.
But I know in my profession I could earn in pounds what people want to pay me here in dollars.
What terrifies me about moving back to London is getting on the tube during rush hour again, long commutes and having to elbow my way to get served at the bar.
That being said I also golf and snowboard a lot here. In London I'd get drunk, eat out and be a much fatter human being.
You seem to have given the place a decent stint and certainly there is more work opportunities in London if that is more important.
I'd actually prefer to have a family in England. Mainly because in England commuter towns have a bit more to them than they do in Canada and your children are more exposed to the realities of the world.
Last edited by JamesM; Jan 26th 2016 at 11:13 pm.
Jan 27th 2016, 2:29 am
#27
Joined: Feb 2006
Location: Red Deer, Alberta
Posts: 10,612
Re: Is anyone else massively disappointed in Canada?
My daughter is 21. We are encouraging her to travel. I see her at 21 and compare what she is doing to what I was doing at that age - She needs to go and experience some life. Thankfully she wants to travel! Admittedly we do live in Red Deer so o comparison to Toronto, but there is nothing here for young adults apart from early marriage and babies and getting nails done. YAWN.
Jan 27th 2016, 2:35 am
#28
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Posts: 0
Re: Is anyone else massively disappointed in Canada?
My daughter is 21. We are encouraging her to travel. I see her at 21 and compare what she is doing to what I was doing at that age - She needs to go and experience some life. Thankfully she wants to travel! Admittedly we do live in Red Deer so o comparison to Toronto, but there is nothing here for young adults apart from early marriage and babies and getting nails done. YAWN.
That said I got to fly free or nearly free, had it not been for that would have been impossible to travel due to high cost.
I think many young people would like to travel more then they do, they just lack the funds to leave this continent and such.
I haven't figured out if UK and Australian youth are better off money wise, or if they are just all wealthy vs their Canadian and US counterparts.
Canada has grown on me, I actually feel odd when in San Diego now, the amount of people, the faster pace of life seems odd to me now.....lol...But there is still a lot I do miss about home that just isn't possible here, but such is life. Life is a compromise if you don't want to spend it alone.
Last edited by scrubbedexpat091; Jan 27th 2016 at 2:40 am.
Jan 27th 2016, 4:10 am
#29
Pea Brain
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: TBD
Posts: 6,005
Re: Is anyone else massively disappointed in Canada?
I did a fair amount of travel in my early 20's, but wish I had done more, mostly more out of North America travel.
That said I got to fly free or nearly free, had it not been for that would have been impossible to travel due to high cost.
I think many young people would like to travel more then they do, they just lack the funds to leave this continent and such.
I haven't figured out if UK and Australian youth are better off money wise, or if they are just all wealthy vs their Canadian and US counterparts.
That said I got to fly free or nearly free, had it not been for that would have been impossible to travel due to high cost.
I think many young people would like to travel more then they do, they just lack the funds to leave this continent and such.
I haven't figured out if UK and Australian youth are better off money wise, or if they are just all wealthy vs their Canadian and US counterparts.
The vast majority that I employ live hand to mouth each month, save a little to fund experiences and further travel they have ambition for. All the Americans I've employed have been funded by the bank of Mum and Dad, live in expensive slope-side condos for the season and appear far more privileged.
Jan 27th 2016, 4:17 am
#30
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Posts: 0
Re: Is anyone else massively disappointed in Canada?
From my experience of global travelling in my late teens and early 20's, and more recently as an employer of similarly aged individuals (mostly Aussies, Kiwis, and Europeans), I wouldn't say US counterparts aren't any less well off at all. They generally appear more insular (less adventurous) and reluctant to make the commitment (lifestyle compromises) that travel/work require at that age.
The vast majority that I employ live hand to mouth each month, save a little to fund experiences and further travel they have ambition for. All the Americans I've employed have been funded by the bank of Mum and Dad, live in expensive slope-side condos for the season and appear far more privileged.
The vast majority that I employ live hand to mouth each month, save a little to fund experiences and further travel they have ambition for. All the Americans I've employed have been funded by the bank of Mum and Dad, live in expensive slope-side condos for the season and appear far more privileged.
