mandymoochops

As Novo said - re read his original post.

He has also come on here to ask our opinion being Brits an' all. I also tend to think that with an open and informed mind he will love it there even if he decides to return to his motherland in future years.

WOOHOO GOAL FOR THE FLAMES...............

Go for it you might meet a nice British girl

Novocastrian

I think I have some empathy for the OP because he reminds me of our eldest.

We have two sons, one of which has supped deep of the kool aid and is perfectly happy to be in Canada, hockey and all, trivial, empty, conversations to boot (although he's by no means thick, not at all).

The eldest imbued basic political theory and keen observation of this and of other societies and cultures from somewhere along the way (certainly not from me, oh no, ). I blame the Canadian education system.

He's not unhappy here either, but would certainly thrive more effectively in Europe or possibly Japan.

mandymoochops

Well I suspect your eldest will turn into one of those backpacking people with a beard and zen like quality about him, your youngest will just probably grow a bigger beard in November

MarylandNed

Yep - it really is all relative. Just living and working in a different country can be very appealing simply because of the opportunity to experience something different (culture, climate, food, etc) - even if the standard of living is lower. There are many people who would happily leave Tower Hamlets for Toronto. Not sure how many would be happy going the other way but your daughter is obviously one of them. London is an exciting city and your point about easy access to Europe is well taken - it's one of the things I miss most about living in the UK in general and London in particular.

Novocastrian

This is probably the wrong place to mention this, but CBC Newsworld in Toronto have just run a report about US inflation on the price of peanut butter (of all things).

They actually found some fools (in Calgary actually, where prices haven't gone up at all like the rest of Canada) to interview who said that peanut butter was something they can't do without and that they consider this to be an important matter.

<j.c bursts into tears>.

helcat12

The OP may well be right that the UK has more "culture" (by which I assume he means historical good stuff such as museums, historic buildings, Shakespeare, castles, Roman city walls, ballet and orchestras etc and all that disparate stuff which most foreigners seem to refer to as culture.)

BUT he should consider that the majority of the UK population are only interested in staying in watching rubbish TV soaps or the football and drinking cheap Stella Artois and their idea of a brilliant day out is Alton Towers.

He will find the actual man in the street no better cultured than the average Canadian and probably a lot less well-mannered.

It is strange that the UK still has this reputation abroad as a place of manners, good taste, culture and artistic endeavour.

It may be that the OP will find it ultimately depressing that by far the greater part of the population hasn't any idea of the wonders of culture that the UK has to offer - they have never been to the Royal National ballet or Stratford to see Shakespeare, never walked the Roman city walls of Chester or been to the Tower of London or Warwick Castle, never visited an 11th century church; they have never heard an orchestral recital or seen the historic docks at Liverpool or been to the National History Museum or the Tate Modern, never seen Morris men or heard a Folk music session and have never been to a lecture on any kind of academic subject for improving their minds and worse still, that they wouldn't appreciate it if they did.

Of course, in certain circles the OP will find these things, but they are the things that I do with my old Uni friends and I can honestly say that in over 40 years as a UK resident (born and bred) rarely have I met anyone else who has any interest in these things, either socially or among work colleagues.

I would certainly tell the OP to go to the UK and enjoy all the "culture" he can manage to digest, but do not expect the man in the street to be interested in it.

lmartin999

Go for it! Going to be a lot more fun than Toronto.

Anyone have any opinions on Didsbury by the way? Yes, I know its up North...

Editha

You are not a member of such a very small minority. Over 5% of the population are members of the National Trust. Personally, I think Warwick Castle is a kitsch tourist trap, and folk music is ghastly nonsense, but each to their own.

JamesM

Yes I once attempted the Didsbury Dozen.

Still unfinished........

But the place is a haven of tranquility. Lot's of nice pubs, bars and restaurants and easily commutable to Manchester City Centre.

helcat12

I cited these examples as things that the UK has which are our cultural heritage.
No-one asked your personal opinion of them.

5%of the UK are members of the National Trust?
If that is your yardstick of culture than we must disagree on how to measure that but in any case using your measure I do actually think 5% is a small minority.

What is done at Warwick Castle (or St Paul's Cathedral or any other historic venue to make money for its upkeep) does not detract from the historical interest or worth of the building to the scholar.

I was hoping to make the OP aware that if he is expecting the cultural heritage of the UK to be appreciated by the majority or to readily meet educated and erudite people with an appreciation of cultural pursuits to satisfy his appetite for learned discourse he will have to choose where he lives and socialises very carefully or be enormously disappointed.

Like many people on this forum, he might find that his home country isn't that bad after all when he has seen what living in anther country is like.

I expect him to like it in the UK a lot but he will also go back to Canada with a more realistic view.

Travel broadens the mind and what better age to be able to do it than in your early twenties without any family ties?
Good Luck to him.

londonlisa

Hey
I am not British but feel that I can fairly comment as I am Canadian and currently living in London.

I came when I was 24 and relatively fresh from University so can relate. I have now lived here for 10 years and think that your impressions are relatively accurate. For what it's worth, I have had a great experience here and would recommend that you go for it and make the trip. As others have said at 21, you have little to lose and loads to gain. Public transport is brillant, you have easy access to Europe and there is lots of 'culture and history' on offer. London is busy and cool and exciting.

I would do a bit more investigation about job prospects, also consider what sort of job you'd be willing to do if it took you a while to get something in your field. It is very likely in terms of rent that you will be living in a house / flat share as it is very expensive, more so than Toronto and you might not be in the best area. I did have a job lined up when I came which was

I had never even visited when I came and after a few months of 'culture shock' I adjusted fine. If you can afford come for a recce do but I don't think it is essential, if you really hate it here and it doesn't work out you can leave.

I am now heading back to Canada hopefully in the summer, it is with a heavy heart but I am at a different point in my life- coming back with a my partner, little girl and baby and feel that Canada is best for us now.

Best of luck whatever your decision.

borgman

We went to Warwick Castle the other day, what a rip off!
A family ticket for 2 adults and 2 kids £102 ! and then £6 to park the car!
Hot dog or burger £5.95. Typical british day out?
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attract...e_England.html

There are things to do which don't cost, walking etc, We went to mount Snowdon which is free to do but again £6 to park and £20 per person to go up in the train. We walked being cheapskates!

dbd33

That will depend on the country of birth of the Canadian. If you mean cradles then the Brit will be more cultured, he or she will know to take his or her hat off when eating, and probably better mannered, the hat will likely be removed.

MarylandNed

I think charging/paying for parking is the new British national pastime. My wife's uncle came over from the UK to visit us last year (mostly US with a short side trip to Canada) and he was genuinely astonished at the number of places we could go to without having to pay for parking.

MarylandNed

Yep, I used to live in that area of Manchester - first in West Didsbury and then Withington - and went to Didsbury quite often. Was last there a couple of years ago. If you're going to live somewhere in Manchester with easy access to the city centre, then I can't think of a better place. There are lots of good pubs and restaurants. Whether it's a good fit or not depends on your personal circumstances. It was great hanging out there as a student and living there in my early 20s when I didn't have kids. Not so sure that I'd want to bring kids up there though.