Originally Posted by Jsmth321 (Post 11849563)

I just can't figure out how anyone pays for all the travel. Boggles my mind, but I guess I am not 20, and I didn't have the ability to travel and work around the world..... I had no idea those type of things existed when I was young enough, now I am too old, so all in the past now.

:lol:

Originally Posted by R I C H (Post 11849572)

I left high school in 1988, worked in a grocery store for 8 months (often 60+hrs per week), saved every penny I could, purchased a flight and picked up work as I needed to. I had a daily budget of $20 for food/accommodation and entertainment to last me 4 months before work was an absolute necessity.

Nobody fit enough is too old to travel.

Originally Posted by Jsmth321 (Post 11849581)

I worked 60 hours a week at 20, it was the only way I could get the time off I needed to travel. I only got 10 days off per year. I'd work for others so they would work for me. I doubt I would have been able to do the travel though if I had to pay for airline flights, but luckily I didn't and could just hop on any plane with open seats.

I had no issues with the travel I did in my 20's, just wish I had done more oversea's travel. But I spent the 5 years doing a lot of North America travel, well US and Mexico, never had the desire at the time to visit Canada.


Now I would travel if possible, health-wise it is, but financially it's not doable. Don't have the flexibility of a young person.

Originally Posted by Haylee32 (Post 11849094)

I see the exact same trend in my office. Huge office, lots of people, no common sense and no imagination, complaints to HR all the time about smallest silly things because people are scared to talk to each other about things that bother them.

Originally Posted by Former Lancastrian (Post 11850121)

Well they haven't qualified for the World Cup since 1986 so yeah Im disappointed.
They are crap at cricket but less so in Rugby. They do quite well on the Curling and Iced Hockey front and are usually better in the Winter Olympics as opposed to the summer Olympics.
The country consistently ranks in one of the best countries to live in from a variety of surveys.
Canada is not for everyone neither are the UK, Australia the US or any other country.

Originally Posted by Haylee32 (Post 11848983)

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.

Originally Posted by Aurora66 (Post 11850148)

Hi Haylee,

Oh my gosh! I totally agree with you! I am a Brit who moved here 21/2 years ago. We live in B.C. and it is the most bland, boring place ever. Sorry again to offend anyone but it is just my opinon. The country is without culture, without colourful people for the most part, very grey. It is virtually impossible to have an interesting conversation with anyone or to find anyone who knows or cares what is going on in the world. Is is also way too expensive to live here. It doesn't help that CIC and the immigration process is as backward and inefficient as they can possibly be, charging candidates repeatedly for their backlogs and incompetence. But I wish so much we had stayed in the UK, because Canada is nothing like I thought it would be. And if I could afford to do it, we would go back home. I totally agree with people who might be saying right now to themselves, "well if you don't like it you should go back". But I am stuck here, unable to work, because CIC have been completely shambolic with my pr application, losing documents and asking for more and more fees and the lack of communication is staggering.
We gave it a really good go, we walked the line with CIC and we have got involved in our community, but in hindsight, I wish we hadn't bothered. Not really worth it at all. Just think twice before taking all the time and money to come here.

Originally Posted by Tirytory (Post 11850190)

I don't see how you can tar a whole huge country with one brush. Since for the most part Canadians are first/second/third generation immigrants then I guess "their boring, grey, culture less lives" are descended from well us, the immigrants that went before us...

Anyhow I don't recognize the picture you paint. Many of my friends here are very political, and it's discussed freely. My conversations revolve around what's happening in the world, both serious matters/world events or about books etc. A lot of my friends here, Canadians have travelled far more extensively than I. I guess I met like minded people much the same as I did back in the UK. There are always people everywhere who don't want to delve too deep into more serious matters. It's not a Canadian thing, it's a people thing.

You also can't compare friendships founded over decades where you discussed everything and anything to new friendships especially when you're bridging another culture. How much effort do you make to find out information about what's important to Canadian culture or politics?

Originally Posted by Former Lancastrian (Post 11850121)

Well they haven't qualified for the World Cup since 1986 so yeah Im disappointed.
They are crap at cricket but less so in Rugby. They do quite well on the Curling and Iced Hockey front and are usually better in the Winter Olympics as opposed to the summer Olympics.
The country consistently ranks in one of the best countries to live in from a variety of surveys.
Canada is not for everyone neither are the UK, Australia the US or any other country.

Originally Posted by Tirytory (Post 11850190)

I don't see how you can tar a whole huge country with one brush. Since for the most part Canadians are first/second/third generation immigrants then I guess "their boring, grey, culture less lives" are descended from well us, the immigrants that went before us...

Anyhow I don't recognize the picture you paint. Many of my friends here are very political, and it's discussed freely. My conversations revolve around what's happening in the world, both serious matters/world events or about books etc. A lot of my friends here, Canadians have travelled far more extensively than I. I guess I met like minded people much the same as I did back in the UK. There are always people everywhere who don't want to delve too deep into more serious matters. It's not a Canadian thing, it's a people thing.

You also can't compare friendships founded over decades where you discussed everything and anything to new friendships especially when you're bridging another culture. How much effort do you make to find out information about what's important to Canadian culture or politics?

All of that said, I certainly want my children to go and travel, and I'm certainly planning on travelling a lot more. We live in a lovely place to bring up children which is a bit like being on holiday, skiing, all the water sports in the summer etc but it's not a place for a young adult. I've always wanted to take the kids on a gap year around India, Thailand, Australia etc. Now that's something to day dream about..

Originally Posted by Partially discharged (Post 11850216)

Totally agree with what you say. To complain that Canada is boring and grey and devoid of culture is a bit rich from somebody who came from a country where Lowry and Morrissey were celebrated on a cultural level.

Originally Posted by dbd33 (Post 11850265)

. Besides, Manchester hardly represents the entire United Kingdom.

By contrast, we have

"The glittering prizes and endless compromises shatter the illusion of integrity, yeah!"

which is hypocritical gibberish and we have pictures of rocks and we have songs about cod.