Differences between Canadian and British people
Jul 6th 2014, 3:40 pm
#197
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 3,363
Re: Differences between Canadian and British people
and here in Ottawa, they often refer to an east end community in Ottawa as
Glos-ses-ter and that community on the south side of Lake Simcoe as Kes wick and I have also heard Totten ham for the town near Orangeville. As well there is a football team called Full Ham
Glos-ses-ter and that community on the south side of Lake Simcoe as Kes wick and I have also heard Totten ham for the town near Orangeville. As well there is a football team called Full Ham
Jul 6th 2014, 3:49 pm
#198
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 50
Re: Differences between Canadian and British people
When, and why, exactly did you come to Canada. The fact that we have 2 official languages is one of the things that makes this country wonderful and enhances the place.
By 'creeping in the km's and litres' I assume you mean pre mid 1970's which is almost 40 years ago.
FYI the metric system is pretty well the only system taught 'back home' and math has been done in SI units only since 1988.
What is the basis behind your statement that you were not taught the metric system back home and you're not going to learn it now. Was your acceptance of Canadian standards somehow frozen in time and grandfathered to what you learnt in school 'back home'.
If you speak italian and spanish fluently I would have thought that the metric system would have been fairly easy to comprehend.
I can't decide if you are a troll, or Billy Britain (Viz) brought to life .
By 'creeping in the km's and litres' I assume you mean pre mid 1970's which is almost 40 years ago.
FYI the metric system is pretty well the only system taught 'back home' and math has been done in SI units only since 1988.
What is the basis behind your statement that you were not taught the metric system back home and you're not going to learn it now. Was your acceptance of Canadian standards somehow frozen in time and grandfathered to what you learnt in school 'back home'.
If you speak italian and spanish fluently I would have thought that the metric system would have been fairly easy to comprehend.
I can't decide if you are a troll, or Billy Britain (Viz) brought to life .
I was in school from 1945 - 1961 and then 2years of commercial college. Don't tell me what I learned in school I'm telling you. I learned in feet, inches yards miles and furlongs(ever heard of those?) also pounds,ounces. quarters pints and quarts. One would buy a quarter of sherbert lemons (is that what you've been eating all your life?) Learning a language does not necessarily incorporate weights and measures. I notice your writing of the languages I speak were underlined in red Perhaps a capital I and S would have been in order! Yes, I came to Canada many years ago but went back home as I couldn't stand living in a pigeon loft(flat) I was used to a front and back door and garden and the odour in the apartment block of all the different cooking was disgusting. Also I could not tolerate 40 below freezing. I returned in 2001when my Husband retired, bought a lot and built a house which is lovely unfortunately my Husband passed away 23rd December 2013 and I am now trying to do the best I can. I thought joining this site would help but all you people seem to do is snipe at one another so I thought that was the way to go. Talking about languages, yes, English is a bastard language but it's the best bastard language I know/
Jul 6th 2014, 4:15 pm
#199
Lowering the tone
Joined: Mar 2007
Location: Here and there
Posts: 7,351
Re: Differences between Canadian and British people
My sympathy on the loss of your husband.
Don't get frustrated with this site, it's a great place to vent and challenge and support, but most of all, have a laugh. Don't take anything too personally - you're free to shout your own opinions but others are free to challenge, as are you with theirs.
Be yourself, be mostly polite, be interesting. It's a great way to interact with a lot of interesting people.
Where about in Canada are you?
Don't get frustrated with this site, it's a great place to vent and challenge and support, but most of all, have a laugh. Don't take anything too personally - you're free to shout your own opinions but others are free to challenge, as are you with theirs.
Be yourself, be mostly polite, be interesting. It's a great way to interact with a lot of interesting people.
Where about in Canada are you?
Jul 6th 2014, 4:28 pm
#200
.
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 20,185
Re: Differences between Canadian and British people
Canada basically copies everything the US does so I always thought the switch over to metric was them being a bit obtuse.
Oh and Porthcawl, welcome to the site.
Oh and Porthcawl, welcome to the site.
Jul 6th 2014, 5:18 pm
#202
limey party pooper
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 9,982
Re: Differences between Canadian and British people
I was in school from 1945 - 1961 and then 2years of commercial college. Don't tell me what I learned in school I'm telling you. I learned in feet, inches yards miles and furlongs(ever heard of those?) also pounds,ounces. quarters pints and quarts. One would buy a quarter of sherbert lemons (is that what you've been eating all your life?) Learning a language does not necessarily incorporate weights and measures. I notice your writing of the languages I speak were underlined in red Perhaps a capital I and S would have been in order! Yes, I came to Canada many years ago but went back home as I couldn't stand living in a pigeon loft(flat) I was used to a front and back door and garden and the odour in the apartment block of all the different cooking was disgusting. Also I could not tolerate 40 below freezing. I returned in 2001when my Husband retired, bought a lot and built a house which is lovely unfortunately my Husband passed away 23rd December 2013 and I am now trying to do the best I can. I thought joining this site would help but all you people seem to do is snipe at one another so I thought that was the way to go. Talking about languages, yes, English is a bastard language but it's the best bastard language I know/
Hang around here, we get better
Jul 6th 2014, 5:19 pm
#203
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 50
Re: Differences between Canadian and British people
My sympathy on the loss of your husband.
Don't get frustrated with this site, it's a great place to vent and challenge and support, but most of all, have a laugh. Don't take anything too personally - you're free to shout your own opinions but others are free to challenge, as are you with theirs.
Be yourself, be mostly polite, be interesting. It's a great way to interact with a lot of interesting people.
Where about in Canada are you?
Don't get frustrated with this site, it's a great place to vent and challenge and support, but most of all, have a laugh. Don't take anything too personally - you're free to shout your own opinions but others are free to challenge, as are you with theirs.
Be yourself, be mostly polite, be interesting. It's a great way to interact with a lot of interesting people.
Where about in Canada are you?
Jul 6th 2014, 5:26 pm
#205
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2012
Location: South Bucks
Posts: 1,654
Re: Differences between Canadian and British people
I just turn a blind eye and it does not bother me. In fact I wish I could speak better French! I also speak a bit of Dutch!However I agree with what you say bout the racism towards First Nations is appalling and I detest it! I think all Canadians should spend a night or two on Comorant Island, Alert Bay and attend their museum in the old Residential school and perhaps they will have some empathy with the first Canadians!
To me the main differences between Brit and Canadian is humour, food, friendships (Canadians are shallow) Newspapers (Canadian put the good news on page 1 and bad at the bottom of page 3 while British papers do it the other way around) pubs, sport and finally politics. I do not see much British influence here at all any more as we are moving towards becoming so much more American!
But as you probably all know I miss Britain and the way of life there! Canada is still a beautiful place though and on nice sunny days when we are buying prawns off the boat for $2/lb I think we should stay here longer
Jul 6th 2014, 5:29 pm
#206
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2012
Location: South Bucks
Posts: 1,654
Re: Differences between Canadian and British people
I was in school from 1945 - 1961 and then 2years of commercial college. Don't tell me what I learned in school I'm telling you. I learned in feet, inches yards miles and furlongs(ever heard of those?) also pounds,ounces. quarters pints and quarts. One would buy a quarter of sherbert lemons (is that what you've been eating all your life?) Learning a language does not necessarily incorporate weights and measures. I notice your writing of the languages I speak were underlined in red Perhaps a capital I and S would have been in order! Yes, I came to Canada many years ago but went back home as I couldn't stand living in a pigeon loft(flat) I was used to a front and back door and garden and the odour in the apartment block of all the different cooking was disgusting. Also I could not tolerate 40 below freezing. I returned in 2001when my Husband retired, bought a lot and built a house which is lovely unfortunately my Husband passed away 23rd December 2013 and I am now trying to do the best I can. I thought joining this site would help but all you people seem to do is snipe at one another so I thought that was the way to go. Talking about languages, yes, English is a bastard language but it's the best bastard language I know/
Come on over to MBTUK it is more gentle there
Jul 6th 2014, 6:02 pm
#207
Stand-up Philosopher
Joined: Apr 2009
Location: Regina Saskatchewan
Posts: 16,344
Re: Differences between Canadian and British people
I am living just outside of Windsor. Ont. [/QUOTE]
Are you near Belle River? I have a sister in Belle River.
Are you near Belle River? I have a sister in Belle River.
Jul 6th 2014, 6:04 pm
#208
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 3,363
Re: Differences between Canadian and British people
My parents were roughly in school at the same time as you and they lived in the UK from their early 40's and they have managed to deal with mm,cm, metres, degrees centigrade etc w/o blowing a gasket. A furlong is 660 feet.
My schooling in the UK was in metres, cm etc but then the road signs were all in miles and mph which didn't make a lot of sense. When I moved to Canada in 1981 it was all metric and in my job I only use metric measurements.
I am sorry to hear about the loss of your husband and I hope you can enjoy this forum but if you are going to go on the attack about people in Canada who don't speak english, use metric, cook foods with strong odours, be prepared for some responses. In terms of food with strong odours, many true blue Canadians (even those who speak english) are not crazy about the smell of kippers or roast lamb. To each his own.
I do however agree with you that if you live near Windsor that the nearby US offerings are not too appealing. The unfortunate part about Detroit is that many areas of the City itself are no go areas and then the suburbs could be anywhere USA.
In terms of sniping commenters, unfortunately you haven't received the ire of some of the more caustic ones on this site.
My schooling in the UK was in metres, cm etc but then the road signs were all in miles and mph which didn't make a lot of sense. When I moved to Canada in 1981 it was all metric and in my job I only use metric measurements.
I am sorry to hear about the loss of your husband and I hope you can enjoy this forum but if you are going to go on the attack about people in Canada who don't speak english, use metric, cook foods with strong odours, be prepared for some responses. In terms of food with strong odours, many true blue Canadians (even those who speak english) are not crazy about the smell of kippers or roast lamb. To each his own.
I do however agree with you that if you live near Windsor that the nearby US offerings are not too appealing. The unfortunate part about Detroit is that many areas of the City itself are no go areas and then the suburbs could be anywhere USA.
In terms of sniping commenters, unfortunately you haven't received the ire of some of the more caustic ones on this site.
I was in school from 1945 - 1961 and then 2years of commercial college. Don't tell me what I learned in school I'm telling you. I learned in feet, inches yards miles and furlongs(ever heard of those?) also pounds,ounces. quarters pints and quarts. One would buy a quarter of sherbert lemons (is that what you've been eating all your life?) Learning a language does not necessarily incorporate weights and measures. I notice your writing of the languages I speak were underlined in red Perhaps a capital I and S would have been in order! Yes, I came to Canada many years ago but went back home as I couldn't stand living in a pigeon loft(flat) I was used to a front and back door and garden and the odour in the apartment block of all the different cooking was disgusting. Also I could not tolerate 40 below freezing. I returned in 2001when my Husband retired, bought a lot and built a house which is lovely unfortunately my Husband passed away 23rd December 2013 and I am now trying to do the best I can. I thought joining this site would help but all you people seem to do is snipe at one another so I thought that was the way to go. Talking about languages, yes, English is a bastard language but it's the best bastard language I know/
Jul 6th 2014, 6:46 pm
#209
limey party pooper
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 9,982
Re: Differences between Canadian and British people
I learned imperial measurements inEngland the for work learnt metric. I moved to canada and had to move back to imperial for work. Confusing
Jul 6th 2014, 8:32 pm
#210
Account Closed
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 0
Re: Differences between Canadian and British people
US measurements is what I learned growing up in the 80's and 90's. Metric was very lightly touched on in elementary school, but I mean very lightly, basically 1 or 2 lectures on it and that was it.
I've been in Canada 10 years I think now, maybe 11, its been too long I can't even remember..lol but any how, I am still no metric pro, but luckily the stores price everything per pound, still makes no sense to me when I see 50kg, I have no clue how heavy that actually is.
I know 15C is comfortable, and 30C is not, and 0 is freezing, but I could not tell you what their F counterpart is.
Distance I have figure out, speed as well.
I still prefer the US system, and tend to revert to it since its what I know, and only use metric when I am talking to a Canadian.
I use inches and feet for everything, meters and CM makes no sense to me still, always have to convert to understand it.
French labels don't bug me, bilingual labels have always been part of my life, was spanish as the 2nd, now its french.
I've been in Canada 10 years I think now, maybe 11, its been too long I can't even remember..lol but any how, I am still no metric pro, but luckily the stores price everything per pound, still makes no sense to me when I see 50kg, I have no clue how heavy that actually is.
I know 15C is comfortable, and 30C is not, and 0 is freezing, but I could not tell you what their F counterpart is.
Distance I have figure out, speed as well.
I still prefer the US system, and tend to revert to it since its what I know, and only use metric when I am talking to a Canadian.
I use inches and feet for everything, meters and CM makes no sense to me still, always have to convert to understand it.
French labels don't bug me, bilingual labels have always been part of my life, was spanish as the 2nd, now its french.
Last edited by scrubbedexpat091; Jul 6th 2014 at 8:35 pm.