Re: My thoughts so far on Canada
 

I think where he was coming from is that living on $40k will not be the same level of comfort / lifestyle as living on £40k!, or more directly that if a pint of beer is £2.50 in the uk, it will be $2.50 here.

The only place the dollar for pound thing is remotely close is probably housing, and gasoline! Also dont forget in ontario to add 15% to the sticker price before making the comparison as well! Of course if you are lucky enough to sell UK property and buy outright in canada on the profit, then that is one monthly expense gone, and the lower salary goes a lot further to improve your lifestyle. In my case at least I can afford to buy a place here on my salary, but then a lot of the rest of my income is eaten up by home ownership bills and expenses, but thats life!

As another poster said, some things are cheaper here, others are more expensive. Also the exchenge rate goes up and down too, which muddies the water. I think on balance most things are cheaper in Canada, but then salaries as a whole are lower too. My personal guess, based on where I am living is that if you can get your £ income multiplied by $1.7 (eg £10k is similar to $17k) , then you will be better off. But your millage may vary!

Anyone else care to hazard a guess, or am I sticking my neck on the block here!

Re: My thoughts so far on Canada
 

yes, as i have said elsewhere here; i've been in ontario about 3 mths and am now beginning to feel the differences, probably due to lack of warmth! i miss the roundabouts, my sunday morning stroll to buy my sunday paper from mr patel's corner shop, walks by the canal, even in winter ( you try going for a walk here when its -20C!!), english history, decent pubs, wh smiths, london transport tube system, etc etc! by the way, i am from streatham, which is not really classy, i know, but i was happy there. i suppose it was the green grass story really--when you get there, its always different!! eeeeek!

Re: My thoughts so far on Canada
 

Maybe its me, but I rather enjoy it...not for long walks mind, but its good to get out in the sunshine on the crisp windless sunny days and hear the snow cruch underfoot. Stops you going out of your mind (despite appearances otherwise!)

Beside, you aint seen nothing yet! this is just a bit chilly, not really cold, I dont even have the block heater pluged in yet!

Re: My thoughts so far on Canada
 

Just off the top of my head...

Affordable houses with such great basements.
In the main very friendly and helpful people.
Being able to swap my UK drivers licence to a full Ontario one.
I know it's early days but strangely -10 degress doesn't feel that cold.
The first snow blizzard was fun!
Poutine.
Walmart seems to have practically everything.
Pet Shops having Puppy Dogs for sale. (You wouldn't see that in the UK these days and perhaps you shouldn't but they are very cute!)
Simpson episodes that I haven't seen before.
The roads just don't seem that busy.
Montreal Downtown. It has such a great atmosphere.

Re: My thoughts so far on Canada
 

I know there are negatives to Canada and some of them have been expressed, but for me just the feeling of feeling a lot safer to walk around my neighbourhood (Mississauga - Streetsville) , just makes all of Canadas other problems trivial in comparison.. I think alot of the minor irritants go away with time....Mind I always have had a soft spot for Canada and I am grateful that they have basically said to me "heres a Visa come to our country and make the best of it " and MOST of the people I have met have been more then welcoming incluiding fellow Brits who have trodden the same path


Ray

Re: My thoughts so far on Canada
 

i agree! i love going for walks on crisp winter days.. and the sound of crunching snow is so great! i love the way a big snowfall makes everything so quiet and serene :)

Re: My thoughts so far on Canada
 

mmmmmmm poutine... *homer drool*

ditto!!

i dont miss spending hours on the M25...

the big difference for me here is the convenience. the fact that i dont have to drive into a town centre and spend a good fifteen minutes looking for parking just to take cash out of an ATM, and that doing twice the load of washing only takes half an hour..

Re: My thoughts so far on Canada
 

Poutine!!!... not got really into that... think it's the cheese suds... like the gravy bit!
Downtown Montreal, and the underground city! bloody good idea!
and Walmart does sell absolutely everything, and we're lucky that our nearest one is less than 10mins drive from us, so we can "pop" in before noon in the weekend.
..but getting back to food... St Hubert... or better known as the chicken place <drool>

Re: My thoughts so far on Canada
 

[QUOTE=martikaxx][QUOTE=

To be honest I'm just not sure quite what to make of things here. I'm certainly experiencing home sickness but also disappointment with what I have found although I do have difficulty in putting it into words because if I do it justs sounds so "picky". The thing is we left the UK because of our personal circumstances not because I disliked it and I can't help but feel that the UK is ahead of Canada in certain aspects. It's true that maybe where we are isn't the most desirable area say compared to BC or the Rockies and so on but I have to say that people should be so careful making their move unless they are so absolutely sure. I was sure and I'm not now.


I have been here now for four years and this has been the hardest time form me right now being home sick for blighty. Since I have been chatting to people on this site it has put a lot of things into perspective and now know I should hang fire and "suck it up". I know exactly what your going through so your not alone. Your definately not being "picky" as all the things you have listed are my gripes too. I didnt know what to expect when I arrived here in Alberta, maybe the land of milk and honey but its alot different to what I expected. The people are a lot less friendly than I had experienced when I just visited and thats made it really difficult. But what you have to try and remember is that eventually (after the homesickness as subsided) you a making a much better life for you and your family and that should outweight all the things you miss about home. Hope you are feeling better soon, as it will pass.
Regards[/QUOTE]

Hi, i was just wondering if you had been any where near Lloydminster and if so would you mind giving me some thoughts on it. I am originally from Newcastle in the UK and has moved to New Zealand 9 months ago on a work permit. Things here don't seem to be working for us, but it may be due to home sickness. And the so called quality of life does not seem to be here. The kids love it but its thier future i am worried about. All i hear here is kiwi's leaving to go to Oz or UK or Canada. I used to live in Toronto as a kid and still have found memeories of it. I was going to work in Victoria a few years ago but it fell through. Nice place though but not much money about as i was able to find out. If you or any one could help in any way it would be very much appreciated. Many thanks.

Re: My thoughts so far on Canada
 

Too kind. I think...

Re: My thoughts so far on Canada
 

OK, a beautiful sunny, windless -15 here this morning...should have had the block heater plugged in!

Re: My thoughts so far on Canada
 

ahh there's always one lesson to be learned.. i still havent plugged mine in here! so watch this space :D