Tumbling_Dice

Absolutely. I too have travelled fairly extensively in Canada but I didn't live here. Beach and getting mullered holidays are also a waste of time... I much prefer to sample the local culture and see interesting things. If a beach happens to be in the area, I will plunge in for a dip. If a bar is nearby at beer o'clock, I will also plunge in for a dip.

dbd33

I too have camped extensively in destinations easily reached from Toronto; around Cape Breton, into the Grand Canyon, in many Provincial Parks including the north of Superior, in the Everglades, in Newfoundland, etc. etc. It's fun in a specific kind of way. Cottaging is not like that but like but like visiting a static caravan park where the people who live near you in Basildon also have caravans.

I like beaches. In February we went to L.A. to climb the stairs and walk on beaches. It was nice, scenic and interesting, but culturally it's not very different than here. Last Autumn I went to Pantelleria, the sort of trip one could easily do from the UK (pre-Brexit) but which is a song and dance from here. In both cases, lost earnings cost more than the trip itself. If one had paid vacation and started from Europe life would be so much easier.

ExpatSleeFamily

Believe me, you have only scratched the surface of places to see in Canada. Stay positive with your expat experience and make the most of it. I was just thinking that when you compare travelling in Europe versus Canada and even further with North America you might be feeling overwhelmed as you are typically only ever in one maybe two countries but the continent in total is almost 2.5 times the size of Europe (Canada is about the same size as Europe alone). The continent is huge with lots to see. Now one thing in Europe is because it is so tightly packed with different countries it can feel like you are visiting a lot of places and get to experience pockets of culture. But I would argue that this is also the case in Canada/United States (albeit with a much younger culture than Europe) except you are travelling between cities and provinces/states.

If anyone is interested my parents have a "rustic" campground in Northern Ontario, if you would like to go visit and meet a great bunch of Canadians just let me know.

bats

As I was replying to a comment on maternity benefits I thought it was obvious that I meant maternity leave pay.

ExpatSleeFamily

Yeah, that was my mistake. Like I was saying is the benefit period has increased to 1.5 years and most employers offer top-ups from the Government's 55%. I believe my last employer offered a topped-up of 80% but I also know there are employers that will offer 100% top-ups.

BristolUK

I wouldn't.

Just to take one example, Lakes.

Google images for Canadian Lakes and you get the same lakes and mountains set that you get for, say, Swiss lakes. Except the Swiss ones have castles, quaint villages and things dotted around too.

What's the Canadian equivalent of the Italian Lakes?

dbd33

What is the main thing I've missed?

dbd33

That's not culture though, culture is language, food, music.. Canada is culturally homogenous except for some immigrant enclaves.

BristolUK

Well, I did say just one example and my focus was more on the "lots to see" and "visiting lots of places" parts of the quoted bit in reference to it being the same in Canada.

I'd also argue that culture was a more likely feature of the castles and towns than the trees.

dbd33

I can't dispute that. Our advocate for Canadian cultural diversity is in Switzerland which, I would argue, is a more culturally diverse place than Canada despite the difference in landmass. Four official languages, three distinct cuisines; the chance to be somewhere quite different between lunch and dinner without crossing a border and the scenic bits are close enough for all citizens to have seen them. I rather like Switzerland.

Londonuck

Get a union job. I get 4 weeks

Moses2013

I would actually say 5 official languages these days. You have more Turkish speaking than Romansh.

dbd33

Also more English speakers and yu-yus but it's not about volume is it?

Meanwhile back in Canada, we've rather lost the point; if you have 10 days off per year, even 15, and use 4 for school closures and 5 for going home for domestic stuff; how much of the country can you possibly see?

scrubbedexpat091

Just read the contract first. Ive turned down union jobs as the pay was lower vs no union and benefits no better.

Union doesnt always mean better.

Moses2013

Sure, but I think that's the same for most people in any country, even if they have more days off. And then most people just go abroad and still don't explore their own country.