I didn't realise that....
 

Interested to hear about things that people didn't realise about Canada before they moved here.

We will have been here a year tomorrow, and these are things that just didn't cross my mind before we came:

Engineers work in feet and inches
How hot it can get in the summer (just didn't notice how far south some bits of Canada are :o )
How stunning fall is
That it would take me more than a year to tell the difference between 5 and 10 cent coins without reading the back :D

Anybody else found anything weird? (I think that if Iaink posted that picture of the thing he found in his car park on the Canadian Immigration website, the queue would immediately be cut in half :scared: )

Re: I didn't realise that....
 

I still have to think twice about that one, nearly six years on. :o

Re: I didn't realise that....
 

I've been here 5 years and still can't make change for coffee ... (you know, give the right coins to get only a quarter back etc, I never get that one right. Canada needs a 50c coin!!)

And talking of coins - and what about the twoonie? It really is the Queen with a bear behind! (always guaranteed to make my youngster laugh!) Wouldn't have been allowed in UK - too many people would have made the obvious comment!!! :D


Clare

Re: I didn't realise that....
 

I've given up with the smaller coins. It's enough effort to pick out quarters. I bought something the other day and it said $1.52 on the till display. The guy on the till said "$1.50 please", I gave him $1.50, and left. I guess it's got to the point like in the UK when 1/2p coin became so worthless that nobody could be bothered anymore.

Re: I didn't realise that....
 

Thats what "take a penny, leave a penny" is for. I always liked that idea.

Wouldnt work in the UK, all take and no leave I suspect!

Re: I didn't realise that....
 

All construction is in feet and inches too, which is kind of nice in a quaint way. I was brought up on the metric system as well! Now i'm re-learning the measurment system my PARENTS used to use. In many ways, i actually prefer it.

Re: I didn't realise that....
 

10c are the diddly ones....... it's the 5c and quarters I get muddled. I always have a purse full of small change, and it's about to fall apart with the strain.

I often amuse myself by filling the charity box at the supermarket till while my shopping is being packed, loaded, taken out to my car .......... I wish they'd pay for it as well....... :D

Re: I didn't realise that....
 

Yep the 10c diddly skinny ones
5c are the duppy ones
1/4s - 25c big shinny silver ones
loonies gold one
twonies are Two tones

Re: I didn't realise that....
 

Yeah, why make them sooooo similar in size..................damned inconsiderate if you ask me. I have been known to tip entire contents of purse out and say....'here you go, take it out of that"..............only when i'm in one of those can't be bothered moods.

What else didn't I know.............When we first got here I was constantly worried as we never seemed to recieve any mail.
Day after day I'd check the "rectangular mail box" attached to the side of the condo and kept saying how weird it was.................no one from the UK is bothering with us and we've only been gone 5 minutes !!

Weeks later a parcel was hand delivered to us at the door and the lady said................. "you guys really need to empty your mail box as its overflowing !!!!!" WHAT MAIL BOX??????

She led a very embarrassed English woman to the group of mailboxes over the road that we'd failed to notice and opened one up for me. Promptly trotted off to the Post Office for our own key.

Well !!!!....can't be expected to know everything !

Re: I didn't realise that....
 

Yep , thats a big "didnt realise" for me, that and full serve gas pumping.

Others have mentioned the heat and humidity about to descend upon us for the summer, that was an eye opener.

Didnt realise I could have a beach holiday in my own neighbourhood here:)

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I THINK thats provincial!

Re: I didn't realise that....
 

I only ever go out with twoonies, loonies and a couple of quarters in my pocket. Any other loose change goes into what we jokingly refer to as the swimming pool fund. It's amazing how quickly it can build up. I rolled the contents of the fund the other day. In 22 months we're racked up almost $500.

Rolling up coins is another thing I didn't realise I'd have to do here.

Re: I didn't realise that....
 

1. You only get 2 weeks holiday a year (if you are lucky!)
2. You have to pay to have a bank account and even pay for cheque books etc.
3. You have to pay for INCOMING calls on your cell phone. (This is so cheeky I think!)
4. The mosquitos here are on steriods.

1. The summers are so nice.
2. There is so much more to do than winter sports.
3. That a year and a half later I would still be looking at the scenery every day and saying to myself how beautiful it is.
4. That they have so much great veggie food.
5. Lots more good things I can't think of right now! :)

Re: I didn't realise that....
 

Mrs Cassidy gets Three

Use PC Finance then

Change plans then

Cant Help with that one sorry (I'm assured they do come to Calgary)



I guess that depends on your perception (People here are telling me Summer in Calgary sucks\People in Ontario claim they are too humid)

Doh!!

They take you away for talking to yourself ;)

You obvioulsy arent in Alberta!!!!

OHHHHHH PLEASE try. :D

Re: I didn't realise that....
 

Oh ffs!!!!!! :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: