Prefer UK or Canada ?
Mar 18th 2013, 5:16 am
#76
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 3,363
Re: Prefer UK or Canada ?
I'm with Maryland Ned on this one....both countries have their pros and cons and one persons outlook is often very specific etc.
To say that Canada is sh*t etc and more sh*t than the UK and so dull and parochial etc..no wonder the cradle canadians find ex-pat brits so full of themselves, arrogant and annoying.
Living in Canada is not a one way ticket...you can always go back to chocolate box england...if you can find it and afford it.
Mar 18th 2013, 5:37 am
#78
.
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 20,185
Re: Prefer UK or Canada ?
Taking that line of thinking, the often ridiculed and mocked 'cradle' canadians are living in someone else's country...namely, the native indians and inuit peoples.
I'm with Maryland Ned on this one....both countries have their pros and cons and one persons outlook is often very specific etc.
To say that Canada is sh*t etc and more sh*t than the UK and so dull and parochial etc..no wonder the cradle canadians find ex-pat brits so full of themselves, arrogant and annoying.
Living in Canada is not a one way ticket...you can always go back to chocolate box england...if you can find it and afford it.
I'm with Maryland Ned on this one....both countries have their pros and cons and one persons outlook is often very specific etc.
To say that Canada is sh*t etc and more sh*t than the UK and so dull and parochial etc..no wonder the cradle canadians find ex-pat brits so full of themselves, arrogant and annoying.
Living in Canada is not a one way ticket...you can always go back to chocolate box england...if you can find it and afford it.
Mar 18th 2013, 5:51 am
#79
Bristolish expat
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: Bristol ~ Nanaimo, BC ... It's a bit like Salem's Lot!!
Posts: 1,699
Re: Prefer UK or Canada ?
I'd return to the UK in a heartbeat if my partner was up for it. Right now, I'm perfectly happy in Canada, I'm enjoying life here and, with our jobs and stuff, it just makes perfect sense to be here right now. However, the UK is and always will be home. I miss the architecture, the pubs, the footy, the curry, friends, family, the shops, the tv shows (which I can, of course, access over here with a little effort), the music scene, and the North East coastline.
One of the biggest things I miss is being close to everything. Growing up in Sunderland, I could be in Newcastle, Gateshead, South Shields, Durham, Hartlepool or Middlesbrough within half an hour. I could be in York in an hour, Edinburgh in an hour and a half, or London in three hours. If I wanted to jump on a plane, after a 20 minute drive to the airport, I could easily reach anywhere in Europe within a couple of hours and, with budget airlines, it wouldn't necessarily cost too much.
In Halifax, once you leave HRM, you're basically out in the sticks. Yes, there's some absolutely beautiful towns and scenery, but it's not quite the same. If I want to go to another big city, it's either a monster drive or an expensive flight.
I didn't mean for this to end up sounding like a massive moan - I genuinely like it here. It's just that there's a lot to miss about the UK. A lot of people are quick to moan about the UK (and there are certainly many things wrong with it) but, once you spend a lot of time outside the country, I think you begin to appreciate what a fantastic country we were born in.
One of the biggest things I miss is being close to everything. Growing up in Sunderland, I could be in Newcastle, Gateshead, South Shields, Durham, Hartlepool or Middlesbrough within half an hour. I could be in York in an hour, Edinburgh in an hour and a half, or London in three hours. If I wanted to jump on a plane, after a 20 minute drive to the airport, I could easily reach anywhere in Europe within a couple of hours and, with budget airlines, it wouldn't necessarily cost too much.
In Halifax, once you leave HRM, you're basically out in the sticks. Yes, there's some absolutely beautiful towns and scenery, but it's not quite the same. If I want to go to another big city, it's either a monster drive or an expensive flight.
I didn't mean for this to end up sounding like a massive moan - I genuinely like it here. It's just that there's a lot to miss about the UK. A lot of people are quick to moan about the UK (and there are certainly many things wrong with it) but, once you spend a lot of time outside the country, I think you begin to appreciate what a fantastic country we were born in.
I thought it was a great post too ... it certainly summed up how I feel. (except I'd replace paragraph 3 with Bath/Devon etc.
Last edited by bananahammock; Mar 18th 2013 at 5:53 am.
Mar 18th 2013, 5:58 am
#80
Up Your Kilt
Joined: Mar 2012
Location: 1313 Mockingbird Lane, Mockingbird Heights
Posts: 1,621
Re: Prefer UK or Canada ?
The thing of it is, Canadians really don't want you here. They'll be pleasant enough to your face but they're not exactly over the moon. Its one thing if you're facing a famine or a ethnic cleansing, then its fair enough, but to piss off from a rich and safe country for no good reason other than you don't like what's in the newspaper or you're a bit bored, seems churlish at best.
Mar 18th 2013, 6:02 am
#81
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2011
Location: Peterborough; ON
Posts: 200
Re: Prefer UK or Canada ?
Taking that line of thinking, the often ridiculed and mocked 'cradle' canadians are living in someone else's country...namely, the native indians and inuit peoples.
I'm with Maryland Ned on this one....both countries have their pros and cons and one persons outlook is often very specific etc.
To say that Canada is sh*t etc and more sh*t than the UK and so dull and parochial etc..no wonder the cradle canadians find ex-pat brits so full of themselves, arrogant and annoying.
Living in Canada is not a one way ticket...you can always go back to chocolate box england...if you can find it and afford it.
I'm with Maryland Ned on this one....both countries have their pros and cons and one persons outlook is often very specific etc.
To say that Canada is sh*t etc and more sh*t than the UK and so dull and parochial etc..no wonder the cradle canadians find ex-pat brits so full of themselves, arrogant and annoying.
Living in Canada is not a one way ticket...you can always go back to chocolate box england...if you can find it and afford it.
Everywhere is "someone else's" country if you want to go back far enough in time - which is why I detest "immigrant bashing" wherever I see it.
At the end of the day if someone wants to try out another country for whatever reasons and they contribute to their new country on some level and build a happy life for themselves, then good luck to them. I can't help but get a sense of envy in some of the posts under the "Which country is better?" titles.
Last edited by Jimbo2012; Mar 18th 2013 at 6:06 am.
Mar 18th 2013, 6:21 am
#82
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Joined: Feb 2012
Location: Red Deer, Alberta
Posts: 243
Re: Prefer UK or Canada ?
The thing of it is, Canadians really don't want you here. They'll be pleasant enough to your face but they're not exactly over the moon. Its one thing if you're facing a famine or a ethnic cleansing, then its fair enough, but to piss off from a rich and safe country for no good reason other than you don't like what's in the newspaper or you're a bit bored, seems churlish at best.
Actually I did experience this for myself last week when I had a conversation with a lady who although fairly polite with it, did not even try to hide the fact that they don't want immigrants here. Comments like "Do they not have jobs in Britain??" "Do they only have the ones you don't want to do, like cleaning toilets??" and "We'll let anyone in here lately"....... I was quite taken aback but it has made me think now that perhaps they are not as nice as they appear to be on the surface
Mar 18th 2013, 6:24 am
#83
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 732
Re: Prefer UK or Canada ?
Although I agree with your summation, I don't think its a pointless debate at all. Hearing the views, experiences, insights, prejudices, naivete of others does help re-define your own perspective and remind you of aspects of each country that are sometimes forgotten or overlooked.
I know that the regular users of this site see these types of threads all the time (especially lately for some reason) and older users get fed up with taking the time to repost their own thoughts and feelings time and time again, I also know it's encouraged for new users to look through the search function to catch up with all the posts over the last 10 years but in reality this doesn't happen.
My personal feelings on Canada has changed drastically over the 6 years I have lived here and how I felt a year ago is not the same as how I feel today so the data does change we all know this is just a small amount of data and does not represent everyone whos ever made the move but it is still data.
Perhaps this thread has been read by someone who is set on Canada, maybe they read this and the dream in their head of Canada switches off for just a moment and they see that there are many people who would choose to live in England (because of x, y and z), that person will hopefully think about the complaints and realise that they can either make England work or they can risk everything to move to Canada.
My posting intent on this site isn't really about me convincing someone to come or stay it's just to add my experiences since living here, perhaps there is someone much like me that is thinking about making the move and they can relate to certain people on this board and hopefully make the best decision for themselves or their family.
After all whether you love, like or loathe Canada, it doesn't mean that your insights are wrong in any way, more that you took the risk and are explaining what went right or wrong with that dream and it can provide great insight for all those that are still in the dream stage.
Last edited by ArthurBrit; Mar 18th 2013 at 6:30 am.
Mar 18th 2013, 6:26 am
#84
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 732
Re: Prefer UK or Canada ?
Actually I did experience this for myself last week when I had a conversation with a lady who although fairly polite with it, did not even try to hide the fact that they don't want immigrants here. Comments like "Do they not have jobs in Britain??" "Do they only have the ones you don't want to do, like cleaning toilets??" and "We'll let anyone in here lately"....... I was quite taken aback but it has made me think now that perhaps they are not as nice as they appear to be on the surface
At the same time there are those Canadians that read about the 'retirement' stats for the baby boomer generation and are crying for there government(s) to let more of the young bloods in.
Much like anywhere else in the world there are several fences people sit on!
Mar 18th 2013, 6:27 am
#85
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Joined: Aug 2011
Location: Peterborough; ON
Posts: 200
Re: Prefer UK or Canada ?
Actually I did experience this for myself last week when I had a conversation with a lady who although fairly polite with it, did not even try to hide the fact that they don't want immigrants here. Comments like "Do they not have jobs in Britain??" "Do they only have the ones you don't want to do, like cleaning toilets??" and "We'll let anyone in here lately"....... I was quite taken aback but it has made me think now that perhaps they are not as nice as they appear to be on the surface
Why not just ask her where her ancestors came from? Her line of rhetoric might just suddenly end
That is exactly what Steve said when I told him 
Mar 18th 2013, 6:42 am
#87
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Re: Prefer UK or Canada ?
Actually I did experience this for myself last week when I had a conversation with a lady who although fairly polite with it, did not even try to hide the fact that they don't want immigrants here. Comments like "Do they not have jobs in Britain??" "Do they only have the ones you don't want to do, like cleaning toilets??" and "We'll let anyone in here lately"....... I was quite taken aback but it has made me think now that perhaps they are not as nice as they appear to be on the surface
Most Canadians I have met are aware of their own heritage (since many aren't far off from being immigrants themselves), aware that their country is a nation of immigrants and aware that Canada needs more immigrants. There is more empathy there towards immigrants IMO. Of course this is a generalization based on my own experiences and there will be exceptions in individual cases.
In the UK, most people I've met feel that their heritage is well established as being British and that the UK doesn't need any more immigrants - especially since public services and the infrastructure is creaking under the strain of current population. I just haven't seen the same empathy towards immigrants in the UK. Again a generalization based on my own experience.
Mar 18th 2013, 7:06 am
#88
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Joined: Feb 2012
Location: Red Deer, Alberta
Posts: 243
Re: Prefer UK or Canada ?
You should have asked her when her ancestors (probably her grandparents) arrived in Canada! You think there aren't racists and anti-immigration types in both countries? Have you ever heard of The National Front?
Most Canadians I have met are aware of their own heritage (since many aren't far off from being immigrants themselves), aware that their country is a nation of immigrants and aware that Canada needs more immigrants. There is more empathy there towards immigrants IMO. Of course this is a generalization based on my own experiences and there will be exceptions in individual cases.
In the UK, most people I've met feel that their heritage is well established as being British and that the UK doesn't need any more immigrants - especially since public services and the infrastructure is creaking under the strain of current population. I just haven't seen the same empathy towards immigrants in the UK. Again a generalization based on my own experience.
Most Canadians I have met are aware of their own heritage (since many aren't far off from being immigrants themselves), aware that their country is a nation of immigrants and aware that Canada needs more immigrants. There is more empathy there towards immigrants IMO. Of course this is a generalization based on my own experiences and there will be exceptions in individual cases.
In the UK, most people I've met feel that their heritage is well established as being British and that the UK doesn't need any more immigrants - especially since public services and the infrastructure is creaking under the strain of current population. I just haven't seen the same empathy towards immigrants in the UK. Again a generalization based on my own experience.
I am fully aware that Britain is full of anti immigration types and racists, I was just saying that is the first time i'd experienced it for myself here in Canada. For the most part people are fascinated about where you come from or telling you the history of their family back to the UK.
My parents are often moaning about the immigrants on Skype but I have to tell them "Don't diss the immigrants, I am one remember"
Mar 18th 2013, 7:06 am
#89
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2011
Location: Peterborough; ON
Posts: 200
Re: Prefer UK or Canada ?
You should have asked her when her ancestors (probably her grandparents) arrived in Canada! You think there aren't racists and anti-immigration types in both countries? Have you ever heard of The National Front?
Most Canadians I have met are aware of their own heritage (since many aren't far off from being immigrants themselves), aware that their country is a nation of immigrants and aware that Canada needs more immigrants. There is more empathy there towards immigrants IMO. Of course this is a generalization based on my own experiences and there will be exceptions in individual cases.
In the UK, most people I've met feel that their heritage is well established as being British and that the UK doesn't need any more immigrants - especially since public services and the infrastructure is creaking under the strain of current population. I just haven't seen the same empathy towards immigrants in the UK. Again a generalization based on my own experience.
Most Canadians I have met are aware of their own heritage (since many aren't far off from being immigrants themselves), aware that their country is a nation of immigrants and aware that Canada needs more immigrants. There is more empathy there towards immigrants IMO. Of course this is a generalization based on my own experiences and there will be exceptions in individual cases.
In the UK, most people I've met feel that their heritage is well established as being British and that the UK doesn't need any more immigrants - especially since public services and the infrastructure is creaking under the strain of current population. I just haven't seen the same empathy towards immigrants in the UK. Again a generalization based on my own experience.
Mar 18th 2013, 7:28 am
#90
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Joined: May 2009
Location: Langley, BC
Posts: 1,968
Re: Prefer UK or Canada ?
The only immigrant issues I've run into is just a confusion that you live in Canada, for example I went to renew my license at the ICBC and the guy behind the counter said "you know you can only renew canadian driving licenses here right?" ...er... yeah? and I had someone ask me for directions to the closest Skytrain station when I was downtown, and I pulled out my cellphone to double check, and the guy was like "are you a tourist?" ... yes I'm a tourist racking up a massive data bill on my cellphone :/
If I ever encountered any hostility all I would have to do is point to the name of the province and the Union flag embedded in the BC flag to shut them up.
If I ever encountered any hostility all I would have to do is point to the name of the province and the Union flag embedded in the BC flag to shut them up.
