Is it REALLY much better????
Jun 20th 2012, 1:38 am
#286
Dive Bar Drunk
Joined: Nov 2006
Location: Toronto
Posts: 8,649
Re: Is it REALLY much better????
So, having one of those moments...
What my wife and I have/could potentially have here in the uk, in the cold light of day is.... pretty ok
We are pursuing a life in Canada. (for all the reasons most people emigrate for....) i.e. "cos its better!"
But will it really be that much better and worth all the years of stress... and money ??
What we want from Canada is to secure good careers, give ourselves and our kids a nice house, in a nice part of town, access to the outdoors and to a city etc...
But we actually have that HERE ! And its just not 'enough'...
So why are we not satisfied? Is it because we have been villifying this place so much over the years we rarely see the good?
Am I the only one in the history of immigration that is chasing something that doesnt exist?
To the people with the experience and hindsight....
HOW do I get these rose tinted glasses off and dampen the adventurous feeling that 'something out there is better' ?!
What my wife and I have/could potentially have here in the uk, in the cold light of day is.... pretty ok
We are pursuing a life in Canada. (for all the reasons most people emigrate for....) i.e. "cos its better!"
But will it really be that much better and worth all the years of stress... and money ??
What we want from Canada is to secure good careers, give ourselves and our kids a nice house, in a nice part of town, access to the outdoors and to a city etc...
But we actually have that HERE ! And its just not 'enough'...
So why are we not satisfied? Is it because we have been villifying this place so much over the years we rarely see the good?
Am I the only one in the history of immigration that is chasing something that doesnt exist?
To the people with the experience and hindsight....
HOW do I get these rose tinted glasses off and dampen the adventurous feeling that 'something out there is better' ?!
I definitely think you don't see the good in the UK and the sad thing is that if you move to Canada that'll be all you think about.
People tend to only remember the good stuff.
The reality is that either way you are taking a gamble. My advice is make the decision and stick with it. The Canada thing is definitely the bigger gamble and it will need a lot of work. You will be massively tested by lots of things that you have not considered.
I doubt very much that you'll be happy right of the plane and you will have to work at things.
Anyway just my two pence.
As for Canada being an outdoorsy place I seldom leave my block these days. The outdoors would be nice if it wasn't a good hour, hour and a half away.
Jun 20th 2012, 1:46 am
#288
Dive Bar Drunk
Joined: Nov 2006
Location: Toronto
Posts: 8,649
Re: Is it REALLY much better????
I have absolutely no problem with anyone criticizing constructively anything in Canada. What I take issue with is the "it's cold in the winter" and "can't find Marmite or decent Fish&Chips" type comments. Of course it's cold in the winter. It has been for zillions of years and Fish&Chips/Marmite are not that important to Canadians. If something is wrong/missing in Canada then don't whine and moan about it. Offer an alternative solution or suck it up and don't comment.
It's important to point out to anyone moving here that with the lack of competition in retail shopping and banking that there will be lots of things missing and lots of things overpriced. You also have to get used to the whole 5 to 10 years behind thing..........
Other than that it is a good life. Low crime, proper summer, proper winter, sweet potato fries and service in bars. No other benefits over the UK than these. Certainly not in Toronto anyway.
Jun 20th 2012, 2:32 am
#290
Banned
Joined: Oct 2008
Location: the GTA
Posts: 3,824
Re: Is it REALLY much better????
It's not Fish and Chips in Canada it is Fish and Fries. I can accept it is different so why can't the Yocals just name it correctly.
What absolute nonsense. I know of many places in the GTA where Fish and Chips is displayed on the store sign. I know of none saying Fish and Fries.
What absolute nonsense. I know of many places in the GTA where Fish and Chips is displayed on the store sign. I know of none saying Fish and Fries.
Jun 20th 2012, 2:39 am
#291
Dive Bar Drunk
Joined: Nov 2006
Location: Toronto
Posts: 8,649
Re: Is it REALLY much better????
It's not Fish and Chips in Canada it is Fish and Fries. I can accept it is different so why can't the Yocals just name it correctly.
What absolute nonsense. I know of many places in the GTA where Fish and Chips is displayed on the store sign. I know of none saying Fish and Fries.
What absolute nonsense. I know of many places in the GTA where Fish and Chips is displayed on the store sign. I know of none saying Fish and Fries.
Jun 20th 2012, 4:35 am
#292
Beep
Joined: Jan 2009
Location: Here
Posts: 8,311
Re: Is it REALLY much better????
Jun 20th 2012, 6:57 am
#293
BE user by choice
Joined: Oct 2010
Location: A Briton, married to a Canadian, now in Fredericton.
Posts: 4,854
Re: Is it REALLY much better????
This is an innocent query, what is the matter with Canadian fish and chips? What's the difference between a chip and a fry? I have either been remarkably lucky in my, Admitedly rare, sorties into Canada's F&C, but I really am wondering what I'm missing?
Jun 20th 2012, 11:35 am
#294
Account Closed
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,404
Re: Is it REALLY much better????
It's weird, because if you asked for chips with anything else (eg/ steak & chips) you'd get a steak and a bag of crisps.
Jun 20th 2012, 1:44 pm
#295
Dive Bar Drunk
Joined: Nov 2006
Location: Toronto
Posts: 8,649
Re: Is it REALLY much better????
I don't have a bad word to say about the fish. Infact I probably prefer the fish in Canada.
Jun 20th 2012, 1:48 pm
#296
Beep
Joined: Jan 2009
Location: Here
Posts: 8,311
Re: Is it REALLY much better????
They only tend to cook fries in one style in Toronto. You don't get the nice big thick ones that ooze potato that you get back in the old country. You'll find the chips you get in Jack Astor's are almost the same as the one in the "Fish and Chip" shop.
I don't have a bad word to say about the fish. Infact I probably prefer the fish in Canada.
I don't have a bad word to say about the fish. Infact I probably prefer the fish in Canada.
The chips are generally shit. Mostly is like what I imagine McDonald's fries to be like. They look similar anyhow.
Jun 20th 2012, 2:13 pm
#297
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Aug 2005
Location: South of Calgary
Posts: 13,375
Re: Is it REALLY much better????
You need to look for "steak cut" chips. They are comparable in size and shape to English chips. I have to admit that I haven't found anywhere that cooks them to the same result that one can find in most seaside towns in the UK: greasy, soggy, half cooked, expensive, but then I accept that I am not an expert in such things.
Jun 20th 2012, 2:16 pm
#298
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 11,272
Re: Is it REALLY much better????
You need to look for "steak cut" chips. They are comparable in size and shape to English chips. I have to admit that I haven't found anywhere that cooks them to the same result that one can find in most seaside towns in the UK: greasy, soggy, half cooked, expensive, but then I accept that I am not an expert in such things.
Jun 20th 2012, 2:20 pm
#299
.
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 20,185
Re: Is it REALLY much better????
They don't do proper cod.
Jun 20th 2012, 2:23 pm
#300
ModerĪ±tor Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2003
Location: Upstate South Carolina
Posts: 30,768
Re: Is it REALLY much better????
Whats not proper about it
Cod, Haddock, Hallibut are all readily available around here.
My local chippy does soggy english style chips, even served in newspaper.
My favourite chips though are the ones at swiss chalet. It seems I've "gone native"...
Cod, Haddock, Hallibut are all readily available around here.
My local chippy does soggy english style chips, even served in newspaper.
My favourite chips though are the ones at swiss chalet. It seems I've "gone native"...