Re: Is Canada Home?
 

I'm new to this site and couldn't help reply......I lived in Toronto for 2 years, Vancouver for 6 and the Okanagan for 19 years!!!! I moved back to the UK 2 years ago for family reasons and I'm driving everyone mad coz .....Canada is home. I knew it the minute I set foot in Summerland for a quick visit from Vancouver. So it took me till then to call it home (1985). I miss it terribly. The UK is fine, I have a good job, getting married in July, BUT........it's not HOME. I feel like an outsider. AND it's soooooo busy - people everywhere - and mainly grouchy people.

My son (15) was supposed to move here with me but he loves Penticton and is staying there. I don't blame him.......

Can't wait to get back.........am starting the sponsorship route for my fiance. Wish me luck!!!!!:thumbup:

Re: Is Canada Home?
 

We have been here for 18 months and also went "home" for Christmas. Missed Kelowna all the time we were there! We got a lift from Heathrow and went through central London to my parent's place. Went past Houses of Parliament, Tower of London, etc etc. We thought we might have missed the icons of London; but all I was thinking was "this is busy, grey and NOT Kelowna, take me home!". OF course it was great seeing family though (although the webcam and Skype/Messenger reduces the feeling of not seeing family - we talk every week).

Alex

Re: Is Canada Home?
 

That is something I noticed immediately the first time I went back to the UK. Far too many people, moving at ridiculous speed, and most of them looked like they wanted to kill me.

I was in central London last October, for the first time in several years. I found it to be very intimidating.

Re: Is Canada Home?
 

I am extremely fortunate in that my job takes me to either Canada or the Western States each month for a week. So that really makes me more homesick for Canada. The service is exemplary, the people go out of their way to give GREAT customer service - it certainly highlights the very poor service in the UK - not everywhere - but very noticeable. And don't get me started on the weather - ha ha!:D

Re: Is Canada Home?
 

"In a socially cohesive society, both the individual and society recognize the value of building a sense of acceptance and belonging among people based on trust, shared values and common experiences that bridge social, cultural, linguistic and religious differences. People are willing to participate in several dimensions of societal life and have equitable opportunities to do so. In Canada, integration is a two-way process of accommodation between newcomers and Canadians: it encourages immigrants to adapt to Canadian society without requiring them to abandon their cultures. It encourages people and institutions to respond in kind by respecting and reflecting the cultural differences newcomers bring to the country."

From the government of Canada, Deputy Minister, Citizenship and Immigration Canada

Maybe thats the problem then. Immigrants look for a sense of belonging and solidarity among their social groups in there adopted country of residence. But if everyone is from somewhere else it causes a collective lack of cultural identity. Therefore to achieve that sense of belonging becomes that more difficult.

Re: Is Canada Home?
 

That's part of it. A related issue is that in Canadian society cultures are esteemed, there are festivals of all sorts. Canada itself doesn't really have a culture (beyond not being America) so to identify oneself just with here would be to give up what's important. Conrad Black's the Canadian role model; he started off Canadian, when things were going well for him he became English and then, when things went badly he became Canadian again.

Re: Is Canada Home?
 

Did that happen yet? I thought the Feds were playing hardball.

Re: Is Canada Home?
 

I think i've now reached the point where i can safely say i'm more comfortable around these 'Quebecois' than i would be in a crowded mall (sorry shopping centre) in the UK... and my french ain't that great!!

Re: Is Canada Home?
 

Yeah........ its a huge subject and I am sure there will be many more books written about the naturalization of immigrants. As this era of Globalization moves on it will be interesting to see how cultures change and the issues are addressed.

Hell the UK is certainly sitting on a time bomb.

Re: Is Canada Home?
 

Bullocks, I spent 5yrs in Australia which always felt more like home than London where I spent 6yrs which always felt more like home than Lancashire where I spent 30yrs (divided over 3 periods I admit).

Re: Is Canada Home?
 

I was just remarking to hubby that the last time I had to go to London I needed to arrive and catch the tube in the "rush-hour" .... It was like a penguin shuffle, absolutely packed, from the platform at Victoria down to the underground through the barriers and down the escalators to the platform below ...... and all in dead silence, the only sound being the shuffling of feet, and nobody catching anybody's eye in case they might say something to them, (or worse!) :ohmy:

It was absolutely surreal to me. I couldn't fathom how anybody could do that every day. Personally I felt like I wanted to giggle, but I think it was incipient hysteria. (Fortunately I managed to contain myself!:p ) Honestly, it was grim! I'm sure the poor folks being herded into the gas chambers could hardly have looked more miserable!

I know ppl complain about overcrowding on the C-Train here in Calgary, and OH says he had to stand most of the way coming home today ..... but that people were talking, laughing and joking the whole way .... THAT's the difference! :thumbup:

Re: Is Canada Home?
 

I think the above comment is crass and inappropriate......:frown:

Re: Is Canada Home?
 

Oh please. This morning on the streetcar a woman complained about another's belching loudly. A fracas ensued during which the belching woman spat at the whining one. Through all this a man sat stoically clipping his toe nails. All of these people were white and said "eh?" a lot in that vulgar fashion beloved of the locals.

Gimme silence and decorum anyday.

Re: Is Canada Home?
 

No, I'm sorry. It's out doing the shopping. Would you like to leave a message?

Re: Is Canada Home?
 

I take your point and apologise for any offence. I am unable to delete the offending comment at this time.