Too many Brits?
Apr 3rd 2011, 3:36 am
#16
Just Joined
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 9
Re: Too many Brits?
@fledermaus, well if Canada turns out to be more like the UK then so be it. What I meant was that I want to have Canadian friends, not just stick to my own sub-community whilst I live there. I don't mind knowing British people too, but I don't want to know so many that all I know are British people.
From what I have read, Canada is more like America than it is like Britain. I've always been fascinated by how different things are in American compared to Britain. I'm even more intrigued by the differences between Canada and America. Ultimately I chose Canada on the basis that the people are friendly, they want software engineering graduates and the scenery is various and fantastic.
The truest description is that Canada is most like Canada.
@Lorna_D, does my above comment redeem me?
From what I have read, Canada is more like America than it is like Britain. I've always been fascinated by how different things are in American compared to Britain. I'm even more intrigued by the differences between Canada and America. Ultimately I chose Canada on the basis that the people are friendly, they want software engineering graduates and the scenery is various and fantastic.
The truest description is that Canada is most like Canada.
@Lorna_D, does my above comment redeem me?
Apr 3rd 2011, 4:40 am
#17
little snowy owl
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,921
Re: Too many Brits?
As for spelling, my experience (here in Calgary) is the opposite of dbd's.
"-our" is used in preference to "-or", and the "-ize" is used in preference to "-ise".
This web-site: http://www3.telus.net/linguisticsiss...anAmerican.htm would seem to support my view, but spelling is so inconsistent here anyway, that's it's hard to say which is "correct".
As for the too many Brits? (original question) the more you avoid the well-known, touristy places (like Banff) the less likely an issue this will be.
But anywhere you do go you can (probably) seek out ex-pats, with varying degrees of ease or difficulty, should you wish to.
In my line of work I meet a lot of people, and the smiling "I DO love your accent" is getting increasingly irritating, as it generally means they are not concentrating at all on what I am actually saying!
"-our" is used in preference to "-or", and the "-ize" is used in preference to "-ise".
This web-site: http://www3.telus.net/linguisticsiss...anAmerican.htm would seem to support my view, but spelling is so inconsistent here anyway, that's it's hard to say which is "correct".
As for the too many Brits? (original question) the more you avoid the well-known, touristy places (like Banff) the less likely an issue this will be.
But anywhere you do go you can (probably) seek out ex-pats, with varying degrees of ease or difficulty, should you wish to.
In my line of work I meet a lot of people, and the smiling "I DO love your accent" is getting increasingly irritating, as it generally means they are not concentrating at all on what I am actually saying!
Last edited by Alberta_Rose; Apr 3rd 2011 at 4:43 am.
Apr 3rd 2011, 6:06 am
#19
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2007
Location: kingsville, ontario
Posts: 250
Re: Too many Brits?
Most people I meet here in Canada, say their English anyway, so I feel right at home.
Apr 3rd 2011, 6:25 am
#20
Nuther day in paradise.ca
Joined: Aug 2008
Location: Ajax, Ontario
Posts: 7,263
Re: Too many Brits?
To Many Brits 
We don't have any Brit friends here. Just US, Jamaican, Canadian, south American, Serbian, Indian, ect.
Have noticed one or two English accents, now and again, mainly in Sobey's, and a few scots accents.
Thats what you will get in Canada, immigrants.
We don't have any Brit friends here. Just US, Jamaican, Canadian, south American, Serbian, Indian, ect.
Have noticed one or two English accents, now and again, mainly in Sobey's, and a few scots accents.
Thats what you will get in Canada, immigrants.
Apr 3rd 2011, 8:24 am
#21
.
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 20,185
Re: Too many Brits?
Are there any videos to help immigrants integrate into Canada?
Apr 3rd 2011, 8:27 am
#22
Nuther day in paradise.ca
Joined: Aug 2008
Location: Ajax, Ontario
Posts: 7,263
Apr 3rd 2011, 10:09 am
#23
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2008
Location: Ottawa
Posts: 487
Re: Too many Brits?
In several months I'll go to Canada via BUNAC to work for a year. I'm planning a little scouting trip to get a feel before hand.
The aim of going is really just to experience living in another culture. I keep hearing of these ex-pat communities of Brits and Aussies that apparently do nothing but bitch about Canada... which seems strange to me considering no one is forcing them to stay there.
Perhaps people expect too much perfection and forget that every country has the good, the bad and the ugly.
I'm a bit worried about being surrounded by too many Brits, as I don't want to move to a mini-Britain, I want to go to Canada. I like the idea of Americanization I hear Canadians chirping on about. Originally Toronto was on the cards, but having read more about Canada, I think Vancouver, Montreal, and other places are definitely on the table (the purposes of a scouting visit).
What are your experiences?
The aim of going is really just to experience living in another culture. I keep hearing of these ex-pat communities of Brits and Aussies that apparently do nothing but bitch about Canada... which seems strange to me considering no one is forcing them to stay there.
Perhaps people expect too much perfection and forget that every country has the good, the bad and the ugly.
I'm a bit worried about being surrounded by too many Brits, as I don't want to move to a mini-Britain, I want to go to Canada. I like the idea of Americanization I hear Canadians chirping on about. Originally Toronto was on the cards, but having read more about Canada, I think Vancouver, Montreal, and other places are definitely on the table (the purposes of a scouting visit).
What are your experiences?
Apr 3rd 2011, 10:17 am
#24
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2010
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Posts: 404
Re: Too many Brits?
Might want to avoid Cochrane AB then!
Apr 3rd 2011, 10:18 am
#25
Assimilated Pauper
Joined: Mar 2005
Location: Ontario
Posts: 40,023
Re: Too many Brits?
After umpteen years of working both I've come to the view that the difference is that parts of America are warm.
Apr 3rd 2011, 10:26 am
#26
Just Joined
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 9
Re: Too many Brits?
@mardyarse, ah well, I guess you get to choose how much you embed yourself in ex-pat communities
@dbd33, and they have a different sense of humour!
@dbd33, and they have a different sense of humour!
Apr 3rd 2011, 12:22 pm
#29
Seasoned Maritimer
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: Fredericton, New Brunswick CA
Posts: 8,309
Apr 3rd 2011, 3:00 pm
#30
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2008
Location: Toronto
Posts: 136
Re: Too many Brits?
I came here on a BUNAC visa 2 yrs ago. 2 yrs down the line I find myself with a mixture of friends, however most of the Canadians I call friends were made through my Canadian OH.
Though my initial aim was to have mainly Canadian friends it's pretty tough. The folk I met through my job were all around my age but after a long stressful day at work the last thing I wanted to do was hang out with them and discuss work. And now, even though I no longer work there, I have such a dislike for the company due to the stresses of being there I don't want to hang out with any old colleagues!
Locals already have their group of friends - from school and uni - and so it's tough to break into a local group of friends. It will take years to forge friendships here - so don't expect too much too soon. I have thrown myself into Meet-Ups, but you'll often find people who attend Meet-Ups are new to a place and also trying to make friends. They could be Canadian but probably aren't local-grown folks. Surely a Vancouverite in Toronto is as much a newcomer as a Brit in Toronto? They are just as far from their homeland!
I have to say my closest friends are Brits as I have managed to connect with a group of ladies all in the same position as me - here because of falling in love with a Canadian and because it was the best choice for love to last, not necessarily a move we would have made had love not been involved. We are all trying to settle and find people we have things in common with. That's not to say we bitch about Canada (well just our immigration wait!) and we get to try new things together!
As others have said, you can definitely avoid Brits, but it might come to it that you need a bit of British humour/company every now and again - and it's nothing to shy away from and be ashamed of! And as a BUNAC visa holder you should be also trying to avoid all the other Irish/Ozzie/Kiwi immigrants too I'd say!
Though my initial aim was to have mainly Canadian friends it's pretty tough. The folk I met through my job were all around my age but after a long stressful day at work the last thing I wanted to do was hang out with them and discuss work. And now, even though I no longer work there, I have such a dislike for the company due to the stresses of being there I don't want to hang out with any old colleagues!
Locals already have their group of friends - from school and uni - and so it's tough to break into a local group of friends. It will take years to forge friendships here - so don't expect too much too soon. I have thrown myself into Meet-Ups, but you'll often find people who attend Meet-Ups are new to a place and also trying to make friends. They could be Canadian but probably aren't local-grown folks. Surely a Vancouverite in Toronto is as much a newcomer as a Brit in Toronto? They are just as far from their homeland!
I have to say my closest friends are Brits as I have managed to connect with a group of ladies all in the same position as me - here because of falling in love with a Canadian and because it was the best choice for love to last, not necessarily a move we would have made had love not been involved. We are all trying to settle and find people we have things in common with. That's not to say we bitch about Canada (well just our immigration wait!) and we get to try new things together!
As others have said, you can definitely avoid Brits, but it might come to it that you need a bit of British humour/company every now and again - and it's nothing to shy away from and be ashamed of! And as a BUNAC visa holder you should be also trying to avoid all the other Irish/Ozzie/Kiwi immigrants too I'd say!
