First trip back to the UK - what a dump!
#46
slanderer of the innocent
Joined: Dec 2008
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 6,695
Re: First trip back to the UK - what a dump!
I went back in April last year and had the opposite reaction. It was idylic and made me question my entire reasons for emigrating and even now I can't think of a good reason to be here. Nothing against Canada, but I really can't see myself staying here beyond citizenship.
#47
Re: First trip back to the UK - what a dump!
And what baffled me was the TV documentaries on British Expats in Spain, France, Bulgaria who never even made an effort to integrate in to the local community but instead built their own little British villages with British stores and not learning the local language. And when asked why not the response was "they're foreigners". What the heck is up with that?
Just the other day watching "A place in the sun" or whatever it was, they suggested a place in Portugal which looked exactly like any given suburban street in UK. I fell about laughing.
#48
Re: First trip back to the UK - what a dump!
I like chavs and find them quite charming and affable. I definitely prefer them to all the gangsters around here with their guns and complete disregard for life. There was another fatal stabbing during a fight just last Friday night.
#49
Forum Regular
Joined: Jul 2011
Location: different province every month!
Posts: 133
Re: First trip back to the UK - what a dump!
it's not that bad back in England at all! Maybe in the shitty Home Counties suburban desert... I look forward to every visit back to the homestead. And I refuse to believe all this stuff about it being more expensive there than in Canada.
And as for the size of houses... England simply isn't big enough to be able to sustain the kind of faux palaces you get here in Canada. Unless you want to suburbanize the whole damn country.
I despise those people. Especially since they're typically the type that moan the most about immigrants not integrating back at home.
And as for the size of houses... England simply isn't big enough to be able to sustain the kind of faux palaces you get here in Canada. Unless you want to suburbanize the whole damn country.
And what baffled me was the TV documentaries on British Expats in Spain, France, Bulgaria who never even made an effort to integrate in to the local community but instead built their own little British villages with British stores and not learning the local language. And when asked why not the response was "they're foreigners". What the heck is up with that?
Last edited by ergyngfeld; Jan 2nd 2012 at 7:02 pm.
#50
Binned by Muderators
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: White Rock BC
Posts: 11,682
Re: First trip back to the UK - what a dump!
But they are not really very different than many, many posters in the canadian section of this website.
#51
Re: First trip back to the UK - what a dump!
To be honest I don't really know what 'integration' entails? I think one can be pleasant and courteous to people without having to frequent Tim Horton's, drink crap beer and watch ice hockey.
#52
Re: First trip back to the UK - what a dump!
Same with me....having left school in the early 80s, uni was not even a realistic option. Here I was easily able to gain entry to uni and earned a degree. To contrast the two nations, the uk was an attitude of don't bother, while here it was nothing but encouragement and sound advice. The uk of the 80s had a great way of destroying optimism and positivity....never encountered that here.
To be honest, it's swings and roundabouts. Comparing Vancouver to the major areas I lived in the uk, Vancouver offers way more, in terms of standard of living. Comparing small towns does not fair as well. I don't miss the English attitude, at least where I was from and the pub being the centre of the universe. I also experienced more violence and hatred in the uk....and that's speaking as a copper.
I think we tend to view places from the perspective of where we are from and where are and how well one suits vs the other. Generalizations are bound to follow.
To be honest, it's swings and roundabouts. Comparing Vancouver to the major areas I lived in the uk, Vancouver offers way more, in terms of standard of living. Comparing small towns does not fair as well. I don't miss the English attitude, at least where I was from and the pub being the centre of the universe. I also experienced more violence and hatred in the uk....and that's speaking as a copper.
I think we tend to view places from the perspective of where we are from and where are and how well one suits vs the other. Generalizations are bound to follow.
#53
Re: First trip back to the UK - what a dump!
I own a house in a village not far from Hove, and I spend a few months there each year. I can't say I've noticed many "chavs" in East Sussex, but I'm not sure how I'd recognise one, and anyway I don't get into Hove much. I prefer Brighton.
I've just come back from my gym in downtown Edmonton. As usual, the downtown area seemed inhabited by miserable, lost looking people, lethargically shuffling around, like a scene from a zombie movie.
But, I guess Ontario is different.
I've just come back from my gym in downtown Edmonton. As usual, the downtown area seemed inhabited by miserable, lost looking people, lethargically shuffling around, like a scene from a zombie movie.
But, I guess Ontario is different.
#54
Re: First trip back to the UK - what a dump!
Didn't those attending Uni in the 80s qualify for grants and not have to pay tuition fees? Were you not clever enough to be admitted in the UK but were in Canada? Is it the fault of the UK that you mixed in circles you describe above? It is not the UK I recognize at all (being someone that could have gone to Uni in the 80s.
#55
Banned
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,088
Re: First trip back to the UK - what a dump!
Didn't those attending Uni in the 80s qualify for grants and not have to pay tuition fees? Were you not clever enough to be admitted in the UK but were in Canada? Is it the fault of the UK that you mixed in circles you describe above? It is not the UK I recognize at all (being someone that could have gone to Uni in the 80s.
Canada is much more equal and fair from my point of view a far as post secondary education went.....
Last edited by Boy d; Jan 2nd 2012 at 9:19 pm.
#56
Re: First trip back to the UK - what a dump!
I'm moving on...said what I wanted, I left the UK for the very reasons I saw when I went back. I moved to Canada for the very reasons that I experience while living here. I'm allowed to the dislike the UK, I do...enough said.
For those who slag off Barrie, you're right. it's a complete tip, please don't change your views, please stay away.
For those who slag off Barrie, you're right. it's a complete tip, please don't change your views, please stay away.
#57
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,986
Re: First trip back to the UK - what a dump!
Watching the local news. A main story is about the two murders and the dozen stabbings since new year.
There is also this:
http://www.thestar.com/news/article/...s-service?bn=1
though some of the fighting does look a bit crap.
There is also this:
http://www.thestar.com/news/article/...s-service?bn=1
though some of the fighting does look a bit crap.
Last edited by lmartin999; Jan 2nd 2012 at 10:10 pm.
#58
Re: First trip back to the UK - what a dump!
Just landed back from the UK 3 hours ago.
It was great catching up with family and friends and nice to watch thinking man's TV like Eastenders. I thought Pat Butcher was indestructible
It was good to go to decent supermarkets and do some proper shopping.
I did however miss the bar in my lobby somewhat.
On New Years Eve Eve (day before New Year). I found myself in an expensive bar in Mayfair. The Mojito's were being made by simply throwing all the ingredients in a glass, adding a spoon and a half of brown sugar and stirring it with a spoon. Unfortunately in an attempt to beat the happy hour promo deadline I ended up with four of the things.
I also got held up in London because someone had committed suicide on the train tracks apparently it is happening quite often at the mo.
I also squeezed in some trips to Birmingham and Bristol for some top nights out.
Mixed feelings about returning to Toronto but I enjoy my job and should make good cash this year. That combined with my amazing commute of a 10 minute walk each day will keep me ticking over.
I think the OP is still on their honey moon period. If some one told me I had to live in Barrie or head back to the UK I would've been landing at Heathrow before they got to the "or".
It was great catching up with family and friends and nice to watch thinking man's TV like Eastenders. I thought Pat Butcher was indestructible
It was good to go to decent supermarkets and do some proper shopping.
I did however miss the bar in my lobby somewhat.
On New Years Eve Eve (day before New Year). I found myself in an expensive bar in Mayfair. The Mojito's were being made by simply throwing all the ingredients in a glass, adding a spoon and a half of brown sugar and stirring it with a spoon. Unfortunately in an attempt to beat the happy hour promo deadline I ended up with four of the things.
I also got held up in London because someone had committed suicide on the train tracks apparently it is happening quite often at the mo.
I also squeezed in some trips to Birmingham and Bristol for some top nights out.
Mixed feelings about returning to Toronto but I enjoy my job and should make good cash this year. That combined with my amazing commute of a 10 minute walk each day will keep me ticking over.
I think the OP is still on their honey moon period. If some one told me I had to live in Barrie or head back to the UK I would've been landing at Heathrow before they got to the "or".
#59
Re: First trip back to the UK - what a dump!
My experience on BE over the years is that it is frequently those that slag of the UK with the most vehemence that are the ones that crawl back there with their tail between their legs when the new land of milk and honey (whether it be Canada or anywhere else) doesn't quite live up to the initial rose-tinted aspect.
#60
Re: First trip back to the UK - what a dump!
Watching the local news. A main story is about the two murders and the dozen stabbings since new year.
There is also this:
http://www.thestar.com/news/article/...s-service?bn=1
though some of the fighting does look a bit crap.
There is also this:
http://www.thestar.com/news/article/...s-service?bn=1
though some of the fighting does look a bit crap.
I checked out the Star yesterday to find out what I had been missing.
Headline story was a young black male murdered in a drive by shooting on New Years Day just down the road in Scarborough.
All this gang land activity and misbehaving youth is turning Toronto into Vancouver.......
Last edited by JamesM; Jan 2nd 2012 at 10:50 pm.