It's days like these....
Aug 21st 2008, 1:37 pm
#76
Just Joined
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 27
Re: It's days like these....
It's six of one and half a dozen of the other.
No one place will be a panacea. When I lived in Sweden it was pretty much the same; gangs in the press, wories about 'da youf', "oooh look out immigrants" etc. and so on.
I'm anticipating living in East Vancouver come the spring, my girlfriend warns me it's 'pretty Ghetto' but then i've lived in Toxteth, and East Glasgow so it'd have to be pretty bad to worry me.
90% of daily life is pretty much the same the world over, work, kids, eat, sleep and the like. in London the bonus is the culture, in Vancouver hopefully it'll be the climbing, kayaking, and learning to snowboard.
I can't wait.
Perhaps the reason the vancouverites are so happy is the Vancouver Sun. It's the least reactionary (and probably most boring) newspaper i've ever read.
No one place will be a panacea. When I lived in Sweden it was pretty much the same; gangs in the press, wories about 'da youf', "oooh look out immigrants" etc. and so on.
I'm anticipating living in East Vancouver come the spring, my girlfriend warns me it's 'pretty Ghetto' but then i've lived in Toxteth, and East Glasgow so it'd have to be pretty bad to worry me.
90% of daily life is pretty much the same the world over, work, kids, eat, sleep and the like. in London the bonus is the culture, in Vancouver hopefully it'll be the climbing, kayaking, and learning to snowboard.
I can't wait.
Perhaps the reason the vancouverites are so happy is the Vancouver Sun. It's the least reactionary (and probably most boring) newspaper i've ever read.
Aug 21st 2008, 1:42 pm
#77
Elusive dreamer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 425
Re: It's days like these....
It's six of one and half a dozen of the other.
No one place will be a panacea. When I lived in Sweden it was pretty much the same; gangs in the press, wories about 'da youf', "oooh look out immigrants" etc. and so on.
I'm anticipating living in East Vancouver come the spring, my girlfriend warns me it's 'pretty Ghetto' but then i've lived in Toxteth, and East Glasgow so it'd have to be pretty bad to worry me.
90% of daily life is pretty much the same the world over, work, kids, eat, sleep and the like. in London the bonus is the culture, in Vancouver hopefully it'll be the climbing, kayaking, and learning to snowboard.
I can't wait.
Perhaps the reason the vancouverites are so happy is the Vancouver Sun. It's the least reactionary (and probably most boring) newspaper i've ever read.
No one place will be a panacea. When I lived in Sweden it was pretty much the same; gangs in the press, wories about 'da youf', "oooh look out immigrants" etc. and so on.
I'm anticipating living in East Vancouver come the spring, my girlfriend warns me it's 'pretty Ghetto' but then i've lived in Toxteth, and East Glasgow so it'd have to be pretty bad to worry me.
90% of daily life is pretty much the same the world over, work, kids, eat, sleep and the like. in London the bonus is the culture, in Vancouver hopefully it'll be the climbing, kayaking, and learning to snowboard.
I can't wait.
Perhaps the reason the vancouverites are so happy is the Vancouver Sun. It's the least reactionary (and probably most boring) newspaper i've ever read.
You may be on to something with the Vancouver Sun. I think that a lot of the misery in Britain is emphasised by the negative press which in turns makes people negative about life and causes a viscious circle.
You are right about the daily life comment. It is about the same. Where you will be happiest will depend on how you want to fill the rest 10% of your day!
Aug 21st 2008, 3:24 pm
#79
Banned
Joined: Dec 2006
Location: Beautiful BC
Posts: 1,106
Re: It's days like these....
That make me so happy I leave for Canada in 65 days!
Getting up at 5 am. The commute from Reading to London sat next to someone who's legs seem to be open at an impossible angle covering half of the seat that I am sitting in as well as the entire of there own. Fighting through the ticket barrier in Paddington because they only have two working for people going into the tube. Getting on the tube to no seats and people wheeling trolly bags and the stench of people who decided one more day without a shower wasnt pushing it. Almost getting into a fist fight with someone as I try and get off the tube because he doesnt understand the meaning of "keep left".
All of these and more are why I can't wait to say
"See you later London it's been horrible!"
65 Days and counting!
What finally pushed everyone else over the edge?
Getting up at 5 am. The commute from Reading to London sat next to someone who's legs seem to be open at an impossible angle covering half of the seat that I am sitting in as well as the entire of there own. Fighting through the ticket barrier in Paddington because they only have two working for people going into the tube. Getting on the tube to no seats and people wheeling trolly bags and the stench of people who decided one more day without a shower wasnt pushing it. Almost getting into a fist fight with someone as I try and get off the tube because he doesnt understand the meaning of "keep left".
All of these and more are why I can't wait to say
"See you later London it's been horrible!"
65 Days and counting!
What finally pushed everyone else over the edge?
as they used to back in the UK. Then guess what - I had the misfortune to have to navigate public transit in rush hour in the UK this past April, quite a few times. Omigod, it was way worse than back in Vancouver. Miserable gits, no one lines up anymore, elbows everywhere, swearing and shoving and threatening. It was horrible, and I was glad to get back here and away from it. Oh, and not much English was heard either, especially from the bus drivers!
Aug 21st 2008, 3:53 pm
#80
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2008
Location: In the Alberta mountains!
Posts: 423
Re: It's days like these....
First started reading your post and thought, that sounds similar to Vancouver. BUT, having commuted to d/t Vancouver from the burbs for many years by various forms of transit, I used to long for the good manners - and most everyone understanding the same language and rules as they used to back in the UK.
Then guess what - I had the misfortune to have to navigate public transit in rush hour in the UK this past April, quite a few times. Omigod, it was way worse than back in Vancouver. Miserable gits, no one lines up anymore, elbows everywhere, swearing and shoving and threatening. It was horrible, and I was glad to get back here and away from it. Oh, and not much English was heard either, especially from the bus drivers!
as they used to back in the UK. Then guess what - I had the misfortune to have to navigate public transit in rush hour in the UK this past April, quite a few times. Omigod, it was way worse than back in Vancouver. Miserable gits, no one lines up anymore, elbows everywhere, swearing and shoving and threatening. It was horrible, and I was glad to get back here and away from it. Oh, and not much English was heard either, especially from the bus drivers!
I felt like a total wierdo for speaking English!.... let alone everyone staring at my Ski-bag (well it was mid-summer) thinking I was going to blow the train up!
I do miss one thing about the Tube though..... Knocking the people waiting to get on the tube flying if they dont give you room to get off!!
Aug 21st 2008, 5:16 pm
#81
NEMESIS
Joined: Jun 2008
Location: Toronto (from Manchester)
Posts: 1,651
Re: It's days like these....
On a recent visit home, I had the Joy of taking the Tube from Heathrow to Upminster.... Yup a full traverse of the system.... From Heathrow - City of London I could swear I was in russia... City of London, Back to fake cockney.... From The City out east, India, Pakistan, etc...
I felt like a total wierdo for speaking English!.... let alone everyone staring at my Ski-bag (well it was mid-summer) thinking I was going to blow the train up!
I do miss one thing about the Tube though..... Knocking the people waiting to get on the tube flying if they dont give you room to get off!!
I felt like a total wierdo for speaking English!.... let alone everyone staring at my Ski-bag (well it was mid-summer) thinking I was going to blow the train up!
I do miss one thing about the Tube though..... Knocking the people waiting to get on the tube flying if they dont give you room to get off!!
He is under no illusion that its going to be some kind of heavenly paradise without any problems whatsoever ! I too am trying to keep things real. But when all is said and done London seems to be getting worse by the month and i for one would rather take a chance on being happy in Canada than feeling an outcast in my (so called) own country.
As Ramsey found out its like we feel out of place speaking English in London anymore :curse: As for the "culture" that so many people keep banging on about ! The bad news is that its disappearing fast because nobody seems to want to integrate but just stay in their own little groups !
(and those little groups are getting bigger and bigger)
Aug 21st 2008, 5:21 pm
#82
Assimilated Pauper
Joined: Mar 2005
Location: Ontario
Posts: 40,018
Re: It's days like these....
As Ramsey found out its like we feel out of place speaking English in London anymore :curse: As for the "culture" that so many people keep banging on about ! The bad news is that its disappearing fast because nobody seems to want to integrate but just stay in their own little groups ! (and those little groups are getting bigger and bigger)
(and those little groups are getting bigger and bigger)
Aug 21st 2008, 5:37 pm
#83
NEMESIS
Joined: Jun 2008
Location: Toronto (from Manchester)
Posts: 1,651
Re: It's days like these....
You have hit the nail on the head with that comment !
As for the shopkeepers not speaking English.......my local shopkeeper just grunts then throws my change on the counter (and i think they mutter that i`m a **** in polish)
And before you say it they are probably right
As for the shopkeepers not speaking English.......my local shopkeeper just grunts then throws my change on the counter (and i think they mutter that i`m a **** in polish)
And before you say it they are probably right
Aug 21st 2008, 8:00 pm
#84
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2008
Location: In the Alberta mountains!
Posts: 423
Re: It's days like these....
You have hit the nail on the head with that comment !
As for the shopkeepers not speaking English.......my local shopkeeper just grunts then throws my change on the counter (and i think they mutter that i`m a **** in polish)
And before you say it they are probably right
As for the shopkeepers not speaking English.......my local shopkeeper just grunts then throws my change on the counter (and i think they mutter that i`m a **** in polish)
And before you say it they are probably right
Aug 21st 2008, 8:05 pm
#85
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 15,883
Re: It's days like these....
Every day my work coleague pop's into the Tim Hortons next door.... Every day he orders a steeped tea with 3 milk and 2 sugars..... Every day he gets to his desk and has got a coffee with 1 milk and 1 sugar (Why he goes back I have no idea!).... The little (East) Indian guy behind the counter has no-idea what people are ordering!.... it's actually quite amusing
Perhaps he'd be better off printing his order on something the size of a business card or bigger and showing it to the clerk each time.
Aug 21st 2008, 8:07 pm
#86
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2005
Location: Windsor, ON
Posts: 3,374
Re: It's days like these....
Off topic - but is it possible to get a "normal" (english) cup of tea in Canada - language issues when ordering aside....?
Aug 21st 2008, 8:08 pm
#87
Citizenship Nov 10 2016!!
Joined: Feb 2008
Location: Stewiacke Nova Scotia
Posts: 6,659
Aug 21st 2008, 8:12 pm
#89
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2008
Location: In the Alberta mountains!
Posts: 423
Re: It's days like these....
Hey... I wonder too... but it makes me laugh
I think the clerk understands "Sugar" and "Milk".... Quantities dont matter, and if you're asking for those you must be drinking coffee!!
I think the clerk understands "Sugar" and "Milk".... Quantities dont matter, and if you're asking for those you must be drinking coffee!!
Aug 21st 2008, 8:13 pm
#90
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2008
Location: In the Alberta mountains!
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