Novocastrian

I grew up in the UK, left there quite a while ago and spent 5 years in Californ-i-ay, before coming to live in Toronto (the first time)...so I have my opinion: What's your's?

Judy in Calgary

Both the USA and Canada (and Australia and New Zealand for that matter) are UK lite.

acer rose

PMSL. There is one particular American acquaintance I would love to watch going purple as he heard that.

Good to see you back Judy.

kt0157

Oh, there's no doubt that Canada looks to the South and not to the rest of the world. Everything is with reference to the neighbour, usually by copying what happens in the US with a slight twist to show "we're different". Healthcare that's insurance based, but state run insurance. Or sales tax, with a federal sales tax. Even the totally bizarre AMT has been copied.

K.

Atlantic Xpat

I think I'd probably agree but more for Central & West Canada. Atlantic Canada is a little more unique!

dbd33

Yes.

Tangram

can only comment on short period of time spent in TO for what it's worth, but yes to the first part.

dbd33

Toronto is, for all practical purposes, indistinguishable from Chicago. I suppose one could make a case that rural places in Canada differ from rural places in the US but, to me, one wheat field looks a lot like another wheat field.

Tantallon7

You're not kidding, either!

I was very surprised at the similarities - I'd say it 's clear to anyone familiar with both cities, that Toronto has consciously modelled itself on the Windy City. Uncanny.

dbd33

Visiting Americans usually comment on:

- the variety and quality of the food (I think this specifically a Toronto thing)

- the awfulness of the TV and radio (I expect it's difficult for a British person to imagine an American missing quality TV, nonetheless it is so).

That's about it. Other comments vary depending on the state they came from but most don't seem to notice that they're abroad. Except for Chet, of course, my sometime colleague Chet hates it here because he's black and his wife's white and because of that they were refused a room at the Marriott. In 2003 and again in 2005. Mostly I think he hates Canada because he can't easily sue and retire on the proceeds here whereas he could in the US.

dbd33

Navigation in Chicago is difficult. The buildings look the same as in Toronto but the lake's been moved.

kt0157

Really? How did he know? Did they say that to him?

K.

dbd33

In 2003 I met them at the hotel, it was just before Christmas and we were going to a party. I got there first and so was at the desk when he registered. The desk clerk pointed at Mrs Chet and said "what she?" he responded "That's my wife" to which the desk clerk responded "she no go in room". I thought he should call for a manager but he just walked away.
I thought he was mad to book there again but he's in their frequent guest program and generally likes Marriotts.

kt0157

That's shocking. From the idiomatic language you used, I take it the desk clerk was an immigrant not quite fully integrated into Canada and Canadian values?

K.

dbd33

I don't know that there are Canadian values but yes the clerk was of a culture in which a couple of mixed race is not readily accepted. I wondered at the time how he dealt with same sex couples; that must be much more common and presumably would also be a problem for him.