caretaker

Was this the stripper fight outside the No5 Orange?

Gozit

I agree, i'm not that outdoorsy either, especially in winter.

Would be willing to get into summer outdoor stuff though.

I used to have a ton of friends around here we all enjoyed doing stuff then they chose to go away for school - I chose to stay here to save money and have more disposable income, as well as miss out on all the joys of student housing - none of which I regret. I was just unlucky in that most people have 1 or 2 friends that also decide to stay behind, I did not.

Now I have one close friend who lives in the same city as me, but she is the one constantly tied up with her S/O, so despite living a couple blocks away don't see her all too often.

This place likely doesn't meet my needs socially and in terms of having venues to meet people, but it is just too expensive to move somewhere else right now. I'm going to be here until January 2021 at least as that is when i'm finished school.

Can you elaborate on this one? I'm confused.

Exactly, and that's where i'm lacking. My friends are focused on their studies and affording to pay bills, or settling down and buying houses with their S/O. There isn't anything wrong with that, but my interests are different now that i'm just about finished my studies, have stayed at home and have $$ saved so I want to go travel, enjoy life, see a sports game, do road trips, etc and that stuff is alot more fun when you go with people vs doing it alone

Can someone explain (as a non-Brit) British pub culture to me? To me I would feel like if I walked into a bar here and started talking to people that most of them would already be there with friends and not open for a huge conversation or it would just seem awkward.

Cheers

As for my interests - i'm an IT professional so always up on the latest trends to do with that, but thats more a work thing and I get satisfaction for that at work. I'm learning Maltese, unfortunately not many clubs for that although I need to try and get in touch with the Maltese/Canadian association in Toronto to try and get in touch with other people similar in age. I love food, always trying new things and wanting to go to new restaurants, always up for trying new things....

I guess i feel there's not a whole lot of public gatherings or clubs that have to do with my interests. Though i'd definitely be open to trying some if there were.

Cheers all.

BristolUK

Just thinking...you've experienced life outside North America and you referenced a friend from abroad thinking the same way as you.

You commented on others - presumably with ties to Canada only - not wanting to get out and socialise.

So I was just thinking about the reputation that North Americans have for not travelling...you know, not many passport holders. And although there are more with passports than there used to be that's possibly because they now need them for trips to/from the same places they previously went to whereas they didn't before rather than actually using them to travel to new places.

I kind of equated the lack of adventure in travelling overseas, with a lack of adventure in socialising. "Done all there is to see and do, so don't want to do it all the time."

It made more sense to me when I thought it earlier than it does now.

DarwinCharles

From my time in Calgary and Edmonton, I found that socialising doesn't seem to be like the UK. We all go to town and meet up or our homes aren't too far from each other. In London, we have small towns in each area so there is the opportunity to socialise locally but I find the smaller cities - especially Edmonton, has a huge range of local shops and eateries, but apart from the mall, there's nowhere to hang out.

Hopefully, as more people move and the city builds up, the housing areas will have local cafes, bars and maybe walk throughs like mini sites for people to meander around in.

I'm going to maybe join a darts team. One way to meet other dual citizens like myself. It'd just be nice if I didn't have drive half hour, I think that's part of the problem.. The space in between every. Having said this, I love Canada.

Almost Canadian

I accept that it is almost a decade and a half since I left England and that things may have changed since that time but...

Men your age in the UK would be most likely "go out" on Friday and Saturday nights. While they may go out on their own, most would go out with friends and this would likely involve some form of "pub crawl" through the town. Invariably, this would continue until the pub closed and would, also likely, involve barfing between pubs. A trip to a kebab takeaway, or an Indian restaurant would be possible. Something like this:


Most would not expect to speak to random strangers and, as people mature, they would be unlikely to continue with the above and, instead, would visit "Country pubs" for food and a drink and a general chat. However, I don't imagine that there are many 21 years olds in the UK for whom this would be the norm.

This is what most would expect to see on a Friday or Saturday night:


Sits in a corner waiting to be flamed!

caretaker

I would need a driver so I could have more than a couple of beer. I've only played a few times in the years since my shoulder surgery and it wasn't pretty, but I'd like to get back into it. We used to have a ton of fun in our mini-league.

DarwinCharles

Haha, quite!

I've never been a pub crawler, I don't mind a pint and chat. Certainly yes, meeting at the pub and chatting or playing darts, eating was fun. These days I prefer bowling or drives out but still like to meet up with others, being stuck in can end up being depressing for some, little company and no change of scenery.

I absolutely love Calgary, really enjoy the views and things to do at the Rockies. I'll find ways to do things in Edmonton.

DarwinCharles

That's the problem. Now I have bad health, a local bar and small area to walk around would be great. Mcconahie area of Edmonton has this sort of thing- at least in walking distance. To have a few pints you certainly need a driver or Uber around the city.

scot47

Who emigrates for a better social life ? I always thought it was about Economics !

DarwinCharles

Sure, but we move for a better overall life, change and better community is always, a good thing, imho. So far, other Canadians have been kind and welcoming, so I'll be back in the Summer to get my own place. I do like the fact that some things are still done 'the old fashioned way' in Canada

Gozit

No, now that you explain it I 100% agree.

Don't get me started on driving...Used to love it when I turned 16 and it was a novelty, now driving 30-40mins to work/school every day for 3 years, a couple speeding tickets, driving 3-4 hours to see friends, driving isn't as fun anymore. Still love driving in new countries and exploring new places though.

Living somewhere where everything wasn't so close together and public transport was easier so I could drink would be great.

See, I would love that. But people here tend to rather drink at home due to cheaper booze, can make food at home, and don't have to pay for transport/DD.

I was born here, so I didn't emigrate, lol. If I were to emigrate it would 100% be for anything but economics, since Canada is one of the best countries for me economically. My field in Europe / internationally just doesn't make as much. But I am highly considering it for the adventure and to try and build a life with like minded people around me ... Gold Coast in Aus also appeals if it weren't so expensive to travel elsewhere from Aus.

scrubbedexpat091

If the cost of going to pubs/bars wasn't so expensive maybe it would be a more social thing to do, but its pretty expensive and its not as socially accepted unless a weekend of holiday and there is always the trouble of getting home after going to a pup, cabs are expensive, transit isn't compatible with a late night out, so drinking at home just makes more sense but is less social.

Gozit

It's interesting how you're considering moving here for that reason while i'm considering going the opposite direction for the same reason just shows how similar most Western/western European countries are and you've just gotta find what works for you!
Cheers

BristolUK

I left in 2004 and while that stuff certainly went on, it seemed to me that it was no longer limited to just Friday and Saturday nights

Also fair to say that plenty went out in groups who'd be perfectly well behaved. My group used to do (2 or 3) pubs in town and the country pub thing, sometimes two cars - with designated driver of course.

Lychee

There is no universal experience. It depends on so many factors, some in your control, some out of your control. Some are also connected to what part of Canada you're living in. Some of the stories I hear from New Brunswick or SW Ontario sound like they're in a completely different universe, for example, to what I've seen on the west coast.

One factor is to live somewhere with a high walkability score, where you don't need a car to access social spaces like pubs and bars. This often rules out most suburban areas and rural acreages where UK expats like to settle. And in Canada, this mostly pertains to places like Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver.

For example, the breweries in East Vancouver seem to have become the new community hubs and they're busy 7 days a week with people of all ages, including families with babies and toddlers. If you're into outdoor recreation (snowboarding, skiing, hiking, etc.) - that rallies like-minded folks together on the west coast of BC. You're not going to be a part of that group by sitting at home alone. Or just show up on the beach in the summer evening and that's where everyone's socializing in Vancouver, friends gathering over picnic dinners and drinks, beach volleyball, entire families enjoying the late summer evening. Walk along streets like Commercial Drive or Water Street and the restaurants and bars are full every night. People are out socializing. The secret is to know where to look and to not expect to find it in the same places you may have found it back at home.

Another major factor to consider is the energy and body language you're projecting. You get out what you put in. If you're open and curious and have positive energy and are willing to put yourself out there and make the first move, you're more likely to have more success making new friends. If you're putting out negative energy, constantly comparing Canada in a negative light to how better your life was back at home, nobody wants that. Canada is also a nation of immigrants. Your immigrant status isn't novel. Canadians aren't going to necessarily extend you into their friendship circle any more than you did to new immigrants back at home. You're going to have to do more work to establish friendships.