When I first moved to Canada ...
 

... I thought it was dead lazy, and frankly, a bit weird to sell grated cheddar cheese in a bag. Now I think "How bloody useful is that"?

... I used to despair at the outside-lane-hogging, undertaking, and lack of foresight when there was a lorry or a junction up ahead. Now I think undertaking is a fantastic use of my time and skills to get where I want to go. Oh, and they're called trucks, not lorries.

... I laughed at drive-thru cash machines. Bloody marvellous invention though, for lazy buggers who cannot possibly walk 15 paces into the bank when it's a tad chilly outside.

... I could not believe just how many minutes of an hour of television are dedicated to commercials. Repeat commercials at that. No change there then.

... I hated all the dark brown furniture. Oh god, give me some nice modern light oak.
Dear God, I'm contemplating a dark wood dining table. Please forgive me.

... I couldn't understand why we couldn't find a nice little 1.2 litre runaround car. I still don't. Understand I mean.
Mind you, there was nothing wrong with our 3.8 litre sofa-on-wheels Caravan. Most comfortable, lolloping thing ever, fab for kids and holidays. Environment and costs? Pah! I've now downsized to a 2.7 litre. Europeans, eh?

... I was very wary of forced-air heating. It's fast. It's OK. And I haven't expired of a breathing disease after all.

... I did nearly expire, however, at the price of a loaf. I'm still in shock.

... I loved the sky and the vast spaces. I love it even more now.

... I said I'm not gonna wear that.
Now - the warmer, the better - fashion be-damned.
Balacalvas? Not just for robbing banks apparently.

Your turn. And yes, it's a nearly-Friday thread :D

Re: When I first moved to Canada ...
 

...the doctor slapped me and I cried.

Re: When I first moved to Canada ...
 

I nearly died when our friends told us their 1 year old son loved his suspenders! - now I find myself talking toques, suspenders, elevators, vacations etc with the best of them!

Re: When I first moved to Canada ...
 

How the natives sniggered when I referred to the "jumper" I was wearing.


And the blank looks when asking for a "Biro"


I remember when -15 was unimaginably cold, now its just a nice day to go skiing.

Re: When I first moved to Canada ...
 

I argued for a better way of doing things. Now I just tend to accept it's not going to change and live with the inefficiencies and incompetence. :(

Re: When I first moved to Canada ...
 

I thought the snow went away after a couple of days, and would come back again, didn't realise once it lands in December (roughly) it stays till end of March (roughly)!

Thought you could hire skates at the local ice rinks, didn't realise everyone owned a pair! Oh and you don't sharpen them once a year!

Didn't realise when you leave a bottle of red wine in the car overnight and its parked outside in the winter, it will freeze and explode! Soon found out though.

I also didn't realise that when the snowploughs aren't out in the winter due to conditions you're not supposed to be either. However in my defence there was a sale going on!

Great Friday thread, cheers

Re: When I first moved to Canada ...
 

I remember my first Haloween. looking up into the sky in the morning and innocently not realising it would soon pour with candy

Re: When I first moved to Canada ...
 

I was shocked at the cost of food - I still am

Re: When I first moved to Canada ...
 

....I had never worn a woolly hat as a matter of course during the winter. Now I do, and I refer to it as a toque. (eh).

....I thought that $700 a month for a repayment on a Jeep Liberty was a good deal. That notion soon disappeared.

....I had conversations every week with my parents where they asked when I was moving back home. Now they seem to have finally accepted this is where I live.

....I thought I'd never eat crappy North American choclate, then I realised that any chocolate is better than no chocolate.

....I hadn't discovered British Expats. Then I did. And my productivity at work declined exponentially.;)

Re: When I first moved to Canada ...
 

I remember being upset at the realisation that yes, that is what they call beer.

Re: When I first moved to Canada ...
 

Gas was 95c ltr

Re: When I first moved to Canada ...
 

-25 is still considered a good day for a run in my circle.

What will be the reaction asking for an ERASER?

Trousers still makes people snicker. Calling it PANTS is just bang out of order or pants. LOL

Re: When I first moved to Canada ...
 

In '98 Gas was 35c/l. I thought something was wrong with my Rental Corolla as I could only get $12 into the tank....:unsure:

Re: When I first moved to Canada ...
 

29c out west in '96

Re: When I first moved to Canada ...
 

What does one wear when they run in -25?

Only reason I ask was when I tried I had to turn around after 10 minutes because I was loosing feeling around the pelvis area and was genuinely worried about frost bight.

On raising this question with cradles they simply responded I was mad to consider running outside in such conditions.

I have always preferred running in colder weather.