G77

Did they not have the word "snake" in 1980?

bmnewmarket

I am certain they did, however i was only quoting the word used in the book!

gryphea

because the skiing is better than the fridge at Castleford

Bali2010

It really is wierd, a hill in a box

London Mike

+ 1 to this.

Alberta_Rose

So now I had to Google "Budgie-smugglers" and I have to say I am perturbed! http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=budgie...w=1280&bih=871

We came here for a holiday at a time when things were a little rocky at home, and fell in love with the place. I know people say you can't run away from your troubles, they'll come right along with you, but we were looking for a fresh start and things have worked out really well for us.

Also a) I had yearned to live "in the mountains" since we had an au paire from Switzerland when I was a tiny. b) I never though I would stay living in my home town (though it took 45 years for me to actually leave it!), and c) I had once already contemplated moving to Canada some 20 years earlier, but the time wasn't right and the notion passed.

It's not quite a "stress-free life" here, but I'd say none of our family is unhappy to be here, and some of us feel much happier. I have fallen in with a really great group of ladies, many of whom have become much closer friends than I ever had in the UK.

But I have also seen some really terrible things, and have decided there's quite a few more interesting ways to die here than in West Sussex. Nevertheless, or pehaps as a direct consequence, here I do feel much more "alive"!

I don't hate the UK; it's a great place to visit, but we are enjoying our life here now, and are proud to be able to say we are Canadians.

izzi81

I've visited quite a few times now and have always felt at home in Canada - the only place I didn't was Montreal! I enjoy the scenery, the laid-back attitude, the demeanour of the people (polite, friendly), the fact you can live near a city *and* in a rural area at the same time, and that the place isn't so jam-packed with people (those last 2 might be more Nova Scotia-specific!). I enjoy visiting the US as well so that will be more achieveable. I feel I fit the culture more in Canada than I do here. Obviously I'm saying that without having moved there yet, but I lived in Canada for 3 months and came away with that view, so I'm hoping it will still be the case! My OH is the same. Plus we're looking for something new, something that's a challenge

Steve_

The weather scares everyone until you actually live through it. I'm not saying -25 is pleasant because it certainly is not, however, don't let your imagination run away with you. And frankly if it's that big of a deal move to BC.

Canada is a better place to live than Australia overall I think as Australia only has a population of 21 million and is quite isolated, Canada has a population of 34 million and borders the US, so there are many more people and most of them speak English. Basically more opportunity. More places to go, etc. Also with house prices in Australia, I think you're better off generally speaking in terms of cost of living as well.

I suspect most people who emigrate from the UK want to move somewhere where people speak English and the culture isn't radically different, and Canada was until recently the largest English-speaking country that was relatively straightforward to immigrate into. Since the changes in the skilled worker list in 2008 and 2010 that have dramatically narrowed the NOC codes and imposed a quota, first thing you need to do is figure out if you can actually move here.

ultrarunner

Why Canada.....Because it's less crowded than the US, with abundance of space that gives you the 4 seasons. I am also able to have a bigger house than I could have had in the UK, with some other toys

dbd33

The GTA is less crowded than Utah? Nope. Since most people in Canada live in a tiny part of the country they're as squished day-to-day as residents of the UK or, say, New Jersey. It may be that there's lots of room in the Artic but that's not of any use to someone who has a job in Toronto.

iaink

Id have said traditionally that the main difference between the US and Canada is that the average Joe has a snowballs chance of getting a Canadian visa...

Geographic and cultural differences are probably greater East vs West than North vs South.

Japonica

Someone posted on the Oz forum recently that it was easier to kill a redback with your shoe compared to a grizzly.

iaink

They havent smelled my sneakers