Shard

Actually the question was in relation to Britain "driving you around the bend" and you "not liking it". There are parts of BC that have a faint whiff of Britishness.

Steve_

Oh, pretty much all of the UK drives me around the bend. Starting with arriving at LHR Terminal 5 which is sort of like a big shopping mall rammed with people but you can't easily escape from it. Then getting on the M25 in all of that traffic, etc.

I think possibly I suffer from some odd form of agoraphobia, I've never had a panic attack in my life but the UK just strikes me as being way too crowded. I suppose if I was in the Yorkshire dales I would be okay but any given major town, I'd rather not.

Also suddenly having lots of people talking does my head in, people in Calgary are pretty anti-social and rarely does anyone say "hello" if I'm walking, then all of a sudden having large numbers of people around me yapping their heads off disorientates me.

I notice it on plane flights as well, on an American plane flight people will not shut the hell up, on a Canadian plane flight you can hear a pin drop.

Shard

Ok, fair enough. Different strokes for different folks and all that. Never found Calgarians particularly anti-social though.

Steve_

Well more accurately people in Calgary are social in certain settings. Like the Stampede. But hardly anyone talks to their neighbours, it's a bit strange. I've always thought it's to do with the winters, you physically can't talk to someone on the street if you're wrapped up and plus being trapped indoors for months people lose their social skills.

I used to think it was my imagination but having spoken to a number of Albertans I've bumped into while on vacation they're definitely more reserved than the locals. In fact I'd say Albertans are more reserved than Canadians generally. When I'm back east, I'm like wow, I'm not used to people starting the conversation!

Oink

The way not to be homesick is understand all Canadians are wankers and then just on with it.

MillieF

In many ways I can't but agree...even if we put it somewhat differently! You do just seem to know that you will never be happy again, but that you can still cope and it will still be ok

P4rv1n

I'm super home sick, been in Vancouver since mid may of this year (married my Canadian spouse), we only just posted my PR application about 2 weeks ago Outland so fingers crossed I'm approved by mid summer next year, but I'm really struggling here. My time is killed by doing volunteering work, my main goal now is to return back to the uk and return to work and work until my PR is approved and then to return back to Canada. Ultimately I want to buy my own home here and move out of the in laws!

Novocastrian

This situation sounds (a) badly planned and (b) likely to come to grief.

Good luck.

P4rv1n

Hi, thanks I do agree badly planned, head was stuck in the clouds, I wanted to be with hubby after marriage (didn't want to do the long distance thing anymore), since being in Canada reality has smacked me very hard in the face, all I can do is try and make or right and beneficial for me, the only good this I did was not resign from work!

Mikeypm

Been here 13 months and to be honest have never felt any home sickness.

Oink

What part of the UK did you come from, what was your social class and your education level when you left?

Novocastrian

Stirrer.

Essex, Chav and O levels? Or was that you?

MillieF

Do stop it boys!

Some people aren't going to cope...for a while...remember...if you can when you didn't feel so bloody smug and combative?

Shirtback

Years 3 - 5 were the toughest for me; novelty of a new country had worn off, & the everyday niggles of a different culture got to me. Not to mention the OMG Canadian winters cliche. I've mentioned elsewhere on BE that if I hadn't had small children who loved (and still love it now they're big) living here, I would have moved on ...

My experience is probably very different from yours; I'd already been an expat for many years when I came here, & spent my childhood between 3 countries. I was used to moving countries & continents. Staying put here is the hardest thing I've ever done .

Oh, & I still hate, bitch & moan constantly, about the effing winter . And call the UK "home".

Regular visits, & "care" packages, take the edge off missing home.

Not much help, eh?

S

MillieF

Oh heavens...you never put it so well....we could be twins