RN1

I was surprised at how many familiar things I could get (some at a price I'll grant you though) we have holidayed in the USA for years & thought shopping would be almost the same but it really isn't. The breads not sweet for starters! You can even get Indian groceries easily (including garlic & corriander Naan!)

On the down side the driving is really horrendous & pedestrians (despite the bad driving) will just walk out into the road because they have right of way so many don't even bother looking at all! It's scary the 1st few times that happens!

Calgary is famous for having the worst snow clearance pretty much in the whole of Canada & we got to experience that first hand - it was really fun using the car as a toboggan!!

As a nurse I have actually found that the people I work with have a great sense of humour - maybe it's the profession I'm in! So I'm contradicting an earlier post on this one! :-)

We have really enjoyed ourselves here so far, yes there are some niggles but on balance I'd way rather be in Calgary than london UK.

clynnog

Depends where in Ottawa you are.. Have you tried Ben Ben's on Somerset (north side just east of Bronson)...very cheap and mainly oriental customers.

In Kanata, Rideau restaurant is good...they are very fast with take out.

Avoid Golden Palace on Carling Avenue unless you want to see a bad 70's rec room decor and 70's chinese food to match.

dollface

Thanks, I'm nearer Kanata where is Rideau restaurant??

jericho

OK, this is perhaps not the biggest surprise, but certainly has me stumped....

I work in the insurance industry, and came to Canada thinking insurance is insurance is insurance. In many respects, things are similar between the UK and Canada. However, in others, there are some crazy abnormalities.

For instance, say I let you borrow my car, and I have an auto insurance limit of $200,000. If you have a crash and seriously injure someone, once your own insurance policy has been exhausted, they come after mine. Eg, if the injured party was awared $10m in compo, and you only have $1m of insurance, they'll take your $1m, my $200k, and them I'm on the hook for the balance. Liability follows the owner of the vehicle, not the driver. If I borrow you my car and you dont have insurance and cause the same accident, I'd be in even worse trouble.... possibly jail.

Mental....

dollface

That is mental. My background is also insurance. Who did you work for in the UK?

jericho

I was a property/liability underwriter in manchester for a small Lloyds company. Now working for Aon. You?

Alberta_Rose

the price of chicken

dollface

The price of most groceries these day!

dollface

Claims Manager (local unit) for Willis Risk Management . Now stay at home mother

dollface

Oh to dress up again and attend the Insurance dinners

Elaine B.

I think in 8 years in Canada the only time I dressed up was the day I got married

dollface

I hear ya! after almost 11 years here, i've yet to get dressed up!!!!!!!!!

Cassie 10000

How much some Canadians complain, and we get called whinging poms.



(Sorry, I'm having one of those days)

Elaine B.

Especially about the weather

Cassie 10000

Oh god, don't even start on that one. The weather is the first thing that comes out of their mouths, some also walk around with great big bloody chips on their shoulders. Its exhausting listening to them moan on I'm stupid enough to stand and listen