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.

Re: When I first moved to Canada ...
 

Its a good question, back when I used to XC ski there was always a fine line between dressing down enough that I didnt sweat to death and being warm enough that if I fell and hurt myself I wouldnt freeze to death. Layers and a backpack was what I came up with. Running in the city the risk of injury is probably not as bad. Still, running in -25 seems a bit extreme to me too.

Re: When I first moved to Canada ...
 

It was 28 cents A GALLON in 1969 ! My Dodge Monaco rag top was quite thirsty. ;)

Re: When I first moved to Canada ...
 

There are thermal tights good for this that you can buy, you wear a couple of shirts and a thermal jacket. Loads of gloves out there too

http://www.runningwarehouse.com/descpageMRA-MMBTRP.html

I won 2 half marathons in Ontario back in the Winter this year

Re: When I first moved to Canada ...
 

I ran in Calgary through last winter, well into the minus twenties: Good cold weather running tights, layers on top, decent gloves and hat and a ski mask for the really cold days - and a very long hot shower when you get home.

I ran with another brit, or on my own, none of the locals I knew would run in the winter, they all moved indoors.

The Running Room always seemed to have a good selection of winter running gear.

Re: When I first moved to Canada ...
 

You run in tights? :thumbup:

Re: When I first moved to Canada ...
 

....why my OH got funny looks from his staff, when asked if they were nipping out for a quick fag!

and still asking the lotto guy for a "lucky dip" every week....you'd think I'd remember!

Re: When I first moved to Canada ...
 

Not just any...thermal running ones for the winter, short shorts for the spring/summer ;) Hello ladies :D

Re: When I first moved to Canada ...
 

-I thought I would die from Goretex overexposure
-Wondered why none of the women had ever heard of high heels and dresses. Wondered why everyone was wearing jeans.
-Why are there street signs hanging on wires? Why?
-Why are there newspapers in boxes?
-I thought the suburbs were heinously ugly, depressing, car-bound places and I still do.
-What are those boot things? And why are they rated to -50? It's only -10 here.


Now:

I own several pairs of jeans
I still don't own any Goretex :thumbup:
I still refuse to live in a real 'burb. And I still don't like malls :thumbup:
I now know there is a whole clothing culture devoted to snow because of the rest of Canada, but I still don't understand why the stores are selling it in Van. WE need raingear not snowboots. I don't get it?

Re: When I first moved to Canada ...
 

I'm picturing Edmund in the first season of Blackadder.

Re: When I first moved to Canada ...
 

Junk in tights? Wrong wrong wrong.

Good thread Ann.

I saw deer on the front lawn and thought omg how pretty and quaint.

Now I would wish for them to grow bigger horns so - well you kow why ;)


I wondered why the hell the people at the supermarket were packing my groceries and carrying them to the car - i'm not an invalid you know.

Now I think - awesome one less thing for me to do.

Why the hell can't I buy chocolate and cigarettes at the liquor store?

Now I think, why the hell can't I buy chocolate and cigarettes at the liquor store.

Re: When I first moved to Canada ...
 

I first arrived here (Toronto) after 5 years in California, I remember thinking, "Ah! This's a bit more civilized"

then I went out to buy some booze...

Re: When I first moved to Canada ...
 

... I though "**** me, I am going to get fat if I get used to eating portions that big."


I was right.

Re: When I first moved to Canada ...
 

Does that count as a whole one? ;)

Re: When I first moved to Canada ...
 

I know! Right? :lol: (Well, choccie and crisps for me but the principle is the same)

Some great comments and observations - and I have laughed at many - thanks for playing, and keep 'em coming.

Re: When I first moved to Canada ...
 

Thought seeing a middle-aged man in a full length fur coat with matching fur hat and gloves was the funniest thing ever.
Still do, in fact.

Re: When I first moved to Canada ...
 

I thought getting a big fluffy dog was a good idea....

The idea of a brown car, with brown interior was hideous.

I never thought I'd have another Spitfire.

I thought I would have and enjoy another motorbike.

I thought winters can't be that bad.

I didn't realise you could actually go out and survive in -40


...4 dog owning winters later I realise why so many people have little handbag sized dogs:rofl: I have nothing against little dogs btw.

I no longer notice brown interior.

I have another Spitfire -now being replaced by a Capri.

There is too much gravel and too many idiotic truck drivers to enjoy motorbiking.

Winters CAN be that bad.

and due to owning a big fluffy dog I realise that -40 is really unpleasant to walk the dog in but it is survivable:rofl:

Re: When I first moved to Canada ...
 

When I first came to Canada I thought the people I met were insufferably dull.

Now, I do a lot of fishing.

Re: When I first moved to Canada ...
 

You should work on expressing that in a haiku.

I'll do it for you:

Canada, dull folk indeed,
Insufferable? Yes.
Nothing more to say,
But the catch is good near here.

I thenk yew.

Re: When I first moved to Canada ...
 

I have a sensible car!

Re: When I first moved to Canada ...
 

My OH stole the 'Winnipeg Free Press' Newspaper for a week until I was in the store with him and told him it actually isnt free! Our Canadian friends thought this was hilarious! :rofl:

Re: When I first moved to Canada ...
 

:rofl::rofl: thats just cheered up my weekend!

Re: When I first moved to Canada ...
 

I realize its a wonderfully endearing story, but he must be a bit thick to really think they were free. :confused:

Re: When I first moved to Canada ...
 

Yes and No! We do get loads of free papers and advertising stuff here, so he just thought it was another one.

However, I knew you had to pay for it! :thumbup:

Re: When I first moved to Canada ...
 

:lol:

Re: When I first moved to Canada ...
 

Yay! Which Mk do you have?