Still confused about Canadian calling....
#16
Re: Still confused about Canadian calling....
Suzi Quatro in a skirt!!
Last edited by BristolUK; Mar 7th 2012 at 6:57 pm.
#17
Re: Still confused about Canadian calling....
Am about to hit 3 year canniversary here in Fredericton NB and I have to admit I am still lost and confused as to the draw this country, sorry I have to say province as not been elsewhere, has for my OH and others
We moved here for a new and adventurous life initially in the maritimes with a view to take experiences in other parts of Canada when an if offered but I'll be honest I just don't 'get' it!
Admittedly I am a SE England home counties lass used to having my workplace ie London on my 1.5hour commute doorstep. Easy access to shops and amenities and if course no more than 1 and a quarter hours from the seaside. But let's be honest everybody without exception told me of how wonderful Canadia was its beauty and it's people!
Beauty? Ok when you have seen the amount of trees in NB you think if there is beauty, I can't see it for the trees, and the people, well let's put it this way, simply, frederictonians don't like outsiders not as friends nor as employees. Harsh? I don't think so. I had closer friendships and still do with the people I met in my 3 years in Amman, Jordan, which was warmer (lol) but still had nearly as much snow, just only lasted 2 weeks!
I have been recently surprised by my friend Sinead moving to Australia after 4 years here but then thought about it and it is not easy being the stranger here with the funny accent! My OH has a very good job in the RCAF so employment for him is not an issue, which I never take for granted, for me? It is!
So in summary, I just wanted to say that a visit gives you a pretty good view of amenities, etc but living here daily with the maritime mindset, very very hard and at times incredibly boring!
Ps must add that would love to x-country ski or snowshoe but had ankle op last feb and still healing so pretty wintry walks out too sadly!
I sorry if this post seems vague but I just want to be honest about how I see life here and of course appreciate others feel differently.
We moved here for a new and adventurous life initially in the maritimes with a view to take experiences in other parts of Canada when an if offered but I'll be honest I just don't 'get' it!
Admittedly I am a SE England home counties lass used to having my workplace ie London on my 1.5hour commute doorstep. Easy access to shops and amenities and if course no more than 1 and a quarter hours from the seaside. But let's be honest everybody without exception told me of how wonderful Canadia was its beauty and it's people!
Beauty? Ok when you have seen the amount of trees in NB you think if there is beauty, I can't see it for the trees, and the people, well let's put it this way, simply, frederictonians don't like outsiders not as friends nor as employees. Harsh? I don't think so. I had closer friendships and still do with the people I met in my 3 years in Amman, Jordan, which was warmer (lol) but still had nearly as much snow, just only lasted 2 weeks!
I have been recently surprised by my friend Sinead moving to Australia after 4 years here but then thought about it and it is not easy being the stranger here with the funny accent! My OH has a very good job in the RCAF so employment for him is not an issue, which I never take for granted, for me? It is!
So in summary, I just wanted to say that a visit gives you a pretty good view of amenities, etc but living here daily with the maritime mindset, very very hard and at times incredibly boring!
Ps must add that would love to x-country ski or snowshoe but had ankle op last feb and still healing so pretty wintry walks out too sadly!
I sorry if this post seems vague but I just want to be honest about how I see life here and of course appreciate others feel differently.
#18
The Brit is back
Joined: Apr 2010
Location: NS, Canada 2007-2013. Now....England!
Posts: 2,211
Re: Still confused about Canadian calling....
Am about to hit 3 year canniversary here in Fredericton NB and I have to admit I am still lost and confused as to the draw this country, sorry I have to say province as not been elsewhere, has for my OH and others
We moved here for a new and adventurous life initially in the maritimes with a view to take experiences in other parts of Canada when an if offered but I'll be honest I just don't 'get' it!
Admittedly I am a SE England home counties lass used to having my workplace ie London on my 1.5hour commute doorstep. Easy access to shops and amenities and if course no more than 1 and a quarter hours from the seaside. But let's be honest everybody without exception told me of how wonderful Canadia was its beauty and it's people!
Beauty? Ok when you have seen the amount of trees in NB you think if there is beauty, I can't see it for the trees, and the people, well let's put it this way, simply, frederictonians don't like outsiders not as friends nor as employees. Harsh? I don't think so. I had closer friendships and still do with the people I met in my 3 years in Amman, Jordan, which was warmer (lol) but still had nearly as much snow, just only lasted 2 weeks!
I have been recently surprised by my friend Sinead moving to Australia after 4 years here but then thought about it and it is not easy being the stranger here with the funny accent! My OH has a very good job in the RCAF so employment for him is not an issue, which I never take for granted, for me? It is!
So in summary, I just wanted to say that a visit gives you a pretty good view of amenities, etc but living here daily with the maritime mindset, very very hard and at times incredibly boring!
Ps must add that would love to x-country ski or snowshoe but had ankle op last feb and still healing so pretty wintry walks out too sadly!
I sorry if this post seems vague but I just want to be honest about how I see life here and of course appreciate others feel differently.
We moved here for a new and adventurous life initially in the maritimes with a view to take experiences in other parts of Canada when an if offered but I'll be honest I just don't 'get' it!
Admittedly I am a SE England home counties lass used to having my workplace ie London on my 1.5hour commute doorstep. Easy access to shops and amenities and if course no more than 1 and a quarter hours from the seaside. But let's be honest everybody without exception told me of how wonderful Canadia was its beauty and it's people!
Beauty? Ok when you have seen the amount of trees in NB you think if there is beauty, I can't see it for the trees, and the people, well let's put it this way, simply, frederictonians don't like outsiders not as friends nor as employees. Harsh? I don't think so. I had closer friendships and still do with the people I met in my 3 years in Amman, Jordan, which was warmer (lol) but still had nearly as much snow, just only lasted 2 weeks!
I have been recently surprised by my friend Sinead moving to Australia after 4 years here but then thought about it and it is not easy being the stranger here with the funny accent! My OH has a very good job in the RCAF so employment for him is not an issue, which I never take for granted, for me? It is!
So in summary, I just wanted to say that a visit gives you a pretty good view of amenities, etc but living here daily with the maritime mindset, very very hard and at times incredibly boring!
Ps must add that would love to x-country ski or snowshoe but had ankle op last feb and still healing so pretty wintry walks out too sadly!
I sorry if this post seems vague but I just want to be honest about how I see life here and of course appreciate others feel differently.
#19
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Joined: Sep 2010
Location: Maryland (via Belfast, Manchester, Toronto and London)
Posts: 4,802
Re: Still confused about Canadian calling....
Seriously even after 4 years? To be honest ... I'm convincing myself that I'll be ok in a GTA winter...but if I'm honest, I'm not sure at all how I'll cope with 3-4 months of relentless grey sky, bone chilling cold and snowscapes. Is it something you can learn to tolerate coming from SE UK?
#20
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Joined: Nov 2011
Location: Somewhere between Vancouver & St Johns
Posts: 19,849
Re: Still confused about Canadian calling....
Average number of hours of bright sunshine a year in major Canadian cities. City Hours
Calgary, Alberta 2405
Winnipeg, Manitoba 2372
Regina, Saskatchewan 2338
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan 2329
Edmonton, Alberta 2299
Victoria, British Columbia 2193
Hamilton, Ontario 2088
Ottawa, Ontario 2061
Barrie, Ontario 2055
Toronto, Ontario 2038
Be like the Village People and Go West.
Calgary, Alberta 2405
Winnipeg, Manitoba 2372
Regina, Saskatchewan 2338
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan 2329
Edmonton, Alberta 2299
Victoria, British Columbia 2193
Hamilton, Ontario 2088
Ottawa, Ontario 2061
Barrie, Ontario 2055
Toronto, Ontario 2038
Be like the Village People and Go West.
#21
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Joined: Jan 2011
Location: Toronto
Posts: 453
Re: Still confused about Canadian calling....
I had a fantastic life back in London - lived in Greenwich and worked in Clerkenwell and moved for my OH to be closer to family. I enjoyed coming to Toronto on vacation but living here is a different story. It has stuff to do... it has shopping but it's not what I thought it'd be like. The winters are too harsh for me and I'm from Scotland!!! Almost 4 years for me. I guess Toronto has grown on me and I've finally accepted the city for what it is and not for what it isn't... but, if I could move back to London tomorrow... I would.
#22
Just Joined
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 16
Re: Still confused about Canadian calling....
Me too Chromeo! Although I wasn't as lucky as you to live further in or work in the city - I grew up at the western end of the Central line and lived in Kingston for a while. But I love London. It just makes me happy. I like TO. I do like the fact we can closer to downtown than we ever could in London. But like you if I could move back tomorrow, I would.....I'm very lucky my OH is happy to do that.
I live in the same neck of the woods in London ...and am seriously contemplating a move to Canada ..!!
#23
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Joined: Jan 2011
Location: Toronto
Posts: 453
Re: Still confused about Canadian calling....
Think carefully about any move though. Be aware of what kind of person you are and what you are trying to get away from. I am eternally grateful my OH lives in Toronto, if it had been any other city or in a rural location I think I'd have lost patience by now! I love the draw of a big city, i miss the history of London, and TO for me whilst it may not be as big, it is probably the best option for a Londoner who truly misses London!
#24
Re: Still confused about Canadian calling....
Well I should probably preface this by saying that prior to meeting my Canadian OH, I was very happy with my life in London, and had no desire to emigrate. Ultimately for me it boils down to family. We have none here - all OH's are in B.C. and all mine (with the exception of an aunt and cousin who are 3 hours from us in TO) are back in London. There was an interesting thread on here a week or so ago from a chap who's wife was seriously ill post-pregnancy. She is Canadian and so he has his in-laws close by to depend on, but it seriously made him thankful for that. We have no children yet, but are planning to and whilst I am happy to be living here together for the time being, once kids come along, we'll need the support of family. A lot of people move so their kids can have a better life - for me, part of what I loved growing up was being close to my cousins and my large extended family.
#25
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Joined: Jan 2011
Location: Toronto
Posts: 453
Re: Still confused about Canadian calling....
That chap is me. I wouldn't have moved to Canada, much less Newfoundland, if I hadn't met the Mrs and she persauded me to move over. I was perfectly happy in the UK despite living in Essex. A year in to living here I lost my job and back then, the economy wasn't so strong in St. John's. Moving elsewhere to find a job looked like being a likely outcome. As there is little point in living in Canada a squllion miles away from the relatives, we'dve as likely moved back to UK as elsewhere in Canada.
Don't get me wrong, I am happy here. We've made friends and it really suits our no kids lifestyle - it will be even better once i have a job! Hopefully if we are lucky enough to have kids, I want them to know their grandparents, aunts, uncles and if we stay in Toronto then both sets are going to be a 5-8 hour plane ride away.
#26
Account Closed
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 0
Re: Still confused about Canadian calling....
frederictonians don't like outsiders not as friends nor as employees
A bloke at work is from Fredericton and he says the same - small town small minds big heads!!!
I must admit that I dont understand the mindset of a lot of the locals Its like they have small man syndrome and does not take much to get them upset but Its unlikely that they will change based on what I think!
I have found it difficult to make friends here (being long haul trucker does not help)
My Dutch mate says that they are friendly but not sociable - I agree.
A bloke at work is from Fredericton and he says the same - small town small minds big heads!!!
I must admit that I dont understand the mindset of a lot of the locals Its like they have small man syndrome and does not take much to get them upset but Its unlikely that they will change based on what I think!
I have found it difficult to make friends here (being long haul trucker does not help)
My Dutch mate says that they are friendly but not sociable - I agree.
#27
BE user by choice
Joined: Oct 2010
Location: A Briton, married to a Canadian, now in Fredericton.
Posts: 4,854
Re: Still confused about Canadian calling....
Oh Dudlek, what an interesting post....we are moving to Fredericton in the Summer. I really hits a chord, because, we do have doubts.....you'd be mad not too. Also, frankly at the moment my stress levels are somewhat hyped up by the selling of the house, packing and planning - so none of me is normal. I think one of the things that possibly makes it easier for us, maybe like AX and Victorfoxtrot, is the fact that the OH is Canadian, and certainly my OH wants to go back to Canada....although we both want to discover somewhere 'new' together so are not returning to BC where he is from. I love London, the life, the activity (and certainly the shopping!) but I wouldn't want to live there now - I think both 'it' and I have changed too much. I want a sense of 'belonging' and I don't have it now - maybe Fredericton won't give it, but I think it's going to be a hell of a lot better for our son, which for now is the most important bit. We sort of feel that if life there is good then great, but in any case we will give it a shot, because by then we are 'in' Canada, so it's just a matter of shuffling off somewhere else - albeit a few thousand miles!
I find myself worrying about 'silly' things, that don't matter, because I am generally just a bit 'all over' scared, so focus on the minutiae. I know the first year is going to be fun, because it will be different, and then the second year probably ghastly, as suddenly all the differences might seem more negative.
Whilst you can't change the entire character of the natives of the province, is there anything else that you could change that might make your life happier?
I find myself worrying about 'silly' things, that don't matter, because I am generally just a bit 'all over' scared, so focus on the minutiae. I know the first year is going to be fun, because it will be different, and then the second year probably ghastly, as suddenly all the differences might seem more negative.
Whilst you can't change the entire character of the natives of the province, is there anything else that you could change that might make your life happier?
#28
Re: Still confused about Canadian calling....
frederictonians don't like outsiders not as friends nor as employees
A bloke at work is from Fredericton and he says the same - small town small minds big heads!!!
I must admit that I dont understand the mindset of a lot of the locals Its like they have small man syndrome and does not take much to get them upset but Its unlikely that they will change based on what I think!
I have found it difficult to make friends here (being long haul trucker does not help)
My Dutch mate says that they are friendly but not sociable - I agree.
A bloke at work is from Fredericton and he says the same - small town small minds big heads!!!
I must admit that I dont understand the mindset of a lot of the locals Its like they have small man syndrome and does not take much to get them upset but Its unlikely that they will change based on what I think!
I have found it difficult to make friends here (being long haul trucker does not help)
My Dutch mate says that they are friendly but not sociable - I agree.
#29
Just Joined
Joined: Mar 2012
Location: Fredericton, New Brunswick
Posts: 1
Re: Still confused about Canadian calling....
Hi, I read with interest your posting as your doubts sounds exactly like what we are going through at the moment.
We moved here from the UK in November 2010 and bought a house on the northside of Fredericton. We had visited the province before we came here and thought it would be nice to have a country lifestyle and improve our quality of life. Whilst we do not regret our move as it has been an experience we do wonder if we have chosen the wrong province. We are both having to work in jobs with funny shifts and so do not spend as much time together as a family as we would like although at least I get to work from home and so no childcare is necessary. We chose to pay for a private school for our eight year old as we have found the quality of education here to be dreadful. Fortunately we only have one child or we probably would not be able to afford it. When you have a teacher tell you that it doesn't matter if the spelling is incorrect as long as they understand it, it does make you wonder doesn't it!
Like you we do not find the people of Fredericton to be particularly friendly and welcoming, now I don't think this has much to do with us being 'foreigners' as we have spoken to other Canadians who are now living in other areas such as Moncton as it is so much friendlier. We have therefore made very few 'friends', acquaintances yes but that is about it.
I do miss the shops and the choice of goods, very shallow I know. I also miss the British sense of humour very much, we can't remember the last time we had a really good laugh with anyone other than each other.
When I look at what I have written it all looks very negative, maybe I just needed to write it down. Of course there are good points to living here, there is very little crime and it is a far more relaxed way of life. It is a nice place to bring up children. We have a much larger house than we did in the UK and I love seeing deer in the garden and watching the woodpeckers.
Maybe we should have actually done more research, we thought we had but maybe not enough. Maybe we just haven't given it long enough, but we can't see the job market changes dramatically there are not not the opportunities here.
Anyway my husband has now started applying for jobs in Ontario so we will see how it goes. If its meant to be its meant to be.
We moved here from the UK in November 2010 and bought a house on the northside of Fredericton. We had visited the province before we came here and thought it would be nice to have a country lifestyle and improve our quality of life. Whilst we do not regret our move as it has been an experience we do wonder if we have chosen the wrong province. We are both having to work in jobs with funny shifts and so do not spend as much time together as a family as we would like although at least I get to work from home and so no childcare is necessary. We chose to pay for a private school for our eight year old as we have found the quality of education here to be dreadful. Fortunately we only have one child or we probably would not be able to afford it. When you have a teacher tell you that it doesn't matter if the spelling is incorrect as long as they understand it, it does make you wonder doesn't it!
Like you we do not find the people of Fredericton to be particularly friendly and welcoming, now I don't think this has much to do with us being 'foreigners' as we have spoken to other Canadians who are now living in other areas such as Moncton as it is so much friendlier. We have therefore made very few 'friends', acquaintances yes but that is about it.
I do miss the shops and the choice of goods, very shallow I know. I also miss the British sense of humour very much, we can't remember the last time we had a really good laugh with anyone other than each other.
When I look at what I have written it all looks very negative, maybe I just needed to write it down. Of course there are good points to living here, there is very little crime and it is a far more relaxed way of life. It is a nice place to bring up children. We have a much larger house than we did in the UK and I love seeing deer in the garden and watching the woodpeckers.
Maybe we should have actually done more research, we thought we had but maybe not enough. Maybe we just haven't given it long enough, but we can't see the job market changes dramatically there are not not the opportunities here.
Anyway my husband has now started applying for jobs in Ontario so we will see how it goes. If its meant to be its meant to be.
#30
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2008
Location: Fredericton, NB
Posts: 113
Re: Still confused about Canadian calling....
Hi again
thanks all for all your supportive comments, it really helps to know that I am not the only one that feels the way I do, though I do appreciate not everyone feels the same way.
We are now,probably, moving to Kingston, Ontario this summer. OH is being posted there so maybe a change of scene might help and closer to bigger cities? For those of you out there about to say how similar Kingston is to Fredericton eg history, retiries, 'in with the in crowd' mentality, I do appreciate it may be similar to what we are leaving but at least we are not too far away from day trip to Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal etc for a dust off the cobwebs.
So, I am off to plan a mad rush 2 week holiday down the east coast of the US to Boston and NYC and a summer week to the tourist hotspots of th maritimes ie Shediac beach, whilst doing a housing de-clutter assessment of our home here, with a positive view of downsizing being less to dust and hoover! Think I may insist on a pool this time! Here's hoping.
Yogi.bear, we moved out oldest daughter from Naashwaaksis middle school to Ecole Sainte Anne, where she, and we, are much happier. Hope Kingston schools turn out to be OK, english middle school curriculum seems same as NB curriculum so we'll see. PM me if you want to have a chat or meet for a coffee?
thanks all for all your supportive comments, it really helps to know that I am not the only one that feels the way I do, though I do appreciate not everyone feels the same way.
We are now,probably, moving to Kingston, Ontario this summer. OH is being posted there so maybe a change of scene might help and closer to bigger cities? For those of you out there about to say how similar Kingston is to Fredericton eg history, retiries, 'in with the in crowd' mentality, I do appreciate it may be similar to what we are leaving but at least we are not too far away from day trip to Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal etc for a dust off the cobwebs.
So, I am off to plan a mad rush 2 week holiday down the east coast of the US to Boston and NYC and a summer week to the tourist hotspots of th maritimes ie Shediac beach, whilst doing a housing de-clutter assessment of our home here, with a positive view of downsizing being less to dust and hoover! Think I may insist on a pool this time! Here's hoping.
Yogi.bear, we moved out oldest daughter from Naashwaaksis middle school to Ecole Sainte Anne, where she, and we, are much happier. Hope Kingston schools turn out to be OK, english middle school curriculum seems same as NB curriculum so we'll see. PM me if you want to have a chat or meet for a coffee?