spouse of scouse

Er.....

scilly

I have lived in Canada for over 50 years, although not in Ontario. I have spent time there and in most other provinces.

I think I have a pretty good idea of Canada and Canadians, and also was a professional when I worked, although in a completely different profession than the OP.

I have also lived for periods of time in the US, Australia, and NZ, as well as England, and by that I mean living as a local, looking after a house, family, buying food etc etc.

I think that I might make a definite comparison between Canada and most countries.

1. Canadians are no more lazy, racist or unprofessional than those in any other country, including the ones I've listed. In fact, I have never come across a lazy or unprofessional Canadian, though some are racist.

2. The cost of living in Canada while high is also mot much different from any of those countries.

3. Medical costs in any other country will always be higher than in the UK, but Canada is one of the lowest that I've come across, and is excellent. I would say that the care I have had is much better than any that I had in the UK, or that my family had there. It also does not cost that much. I've seen top class surgeons, spent time in hospital, etc, and all I've paid has been for the cost of the room.

4. Sounds strange, but I have experienced racism and discrimination as a Caucasian ....... but not only in Canada.

In conclusion, please do not plan on asking questions and making statements like the one that you have on this thread and on the Canadian thread if you think of going to Australia. They have an excellent phrase that they use or used to use against Brits like you appear to be. I heard it used several times against brash Brits, and would never want to be the victim!

LegalEagleTX

OP was talking about Canada, not NZ. The consensus of replies to the OP's post was that Canada was not for him, which I would share.

There is a term of endearment in NZ/Aus for Brits that complain too much and has two words that start with "W" and "P". My advice is DO NOT BE THIS PERSON. If a Kiwi or Aussie calls you this, at a BBQ or other social gathering, it may appear in jest but they are calling you out and you can bet that's how you are being perceived and talked about. You will not be liked and you will not fit in.

MrsFychan

this only makes sense if you live in an opposite World. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/...d-report-finds
Health care is attrocious if you have an ongoing problem which is why 'New Zealand sits in the middle of other OECD countries when comparing total population suicide rates. Our suicide rate is higher than Ireland’s or the United Kingdom’s, but lower than Australia’s or the United States' taken from:https://mentalhealth.org.nz/suicide-...ide-statistics
Why there are working so hard to slow the transmission of Covid as Health Care would not be able to cope.

MrsFychan

No idea what words you are alluding to and actually dont need to know. the comments mostly commonly used in jest is actually, You need to pop to Bunnings - meaning harden up

spouse of scouse

I remember the phrase 'whinging Pom' but haven't heard it for decades (although it's probably still used by some people). As an Australian there's not much chance of the term being directed at me, and no chance at all that I'll direct it towards anyone else.

Moses2013

These days that phrase would be considered racism and anyone anywhere can experience racism. I remember a guy from Germany who said he experienced racism in NZ because he was listening to loud metal music in his room. The neighbours complained and because he believed it was his religion, he should be allowed to listen to metal music at any time. Must of been on drugs and it just shows the world is a strange place with strange people.

LegalEagleTX

I had to look it up. It appears the Australian human rights and equal opportunities commission was asked to consider whether the term Pom was racist and ruled it wasn't quite an insult while hardly a compliment https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...tralia.cricket. So it could be shouted by Australian fans at cricket matches with England. The adjective 'whingeing' can apply to anyone of any race, although there does appear to be a lot of whingeing on this forum.

LegalEagleTX

Good for you. But let me tell you as a native Antipodean, if you have an accent and you complain a lot there's every chance of it being directed at you, regardless of your actual residency status. The last time I heard someone called it to their face was about 20 years ago when I was working in Sydney, so I am not even sure if people go that far these days. But they will still use that term behind your back if you happen to a brit with a surely attitude to your adopted country.

spouse of scouse

Not sure you can 'tell me' anything about Australia and Australians, since I was born and lived here for 60 of my 63 years.

The other 3 were spent in the UK recently. With my English husband, who has the strongest scouse accent despite living in Oz for 25 years, and although some words he says are incomprehensible to the odd Aussie, whether Australian born or not (including me when I first met him ) he doesn't recall ever being called a whinging Pom. As for someone, somewhere, maybe saying it behind his back, who cares? He certainly doesn't.

LegalEagleTX

I'd say most Australians would consider you Australian for sure. And you are right, I couldn't tell you anything about Australians that you wouldn't already know

spouse of scouse

I'm actually a 3rd generation Aussie, with Scottish and English ancestors. I've only once been mistaken as coming from somewhere else, when I lived on Merseyside a shop assistant said 'you're not from around here are you, you're from down south'. It was genuine interest, not an insult

LegalEagleTX

They were right about the down south part I lived and worked in the UK for 20 years, most insults I got was being mistaken for an Australian 80% of the time. After a while a just shrugged my shoulders and said "How did you guess?'. Now living in Texas I'm mistaken for a Brit 80%, Aussie 18% and then Kiwi. And it's generally a Brit expat that gets it right.

Justcol

With a knee jerk response like that, maybe the problem is you.?!

Brisbannite

One of the best, and most well considered posts I've read on here in a while.

Sounds to me like the OP is suffering from confirmation bias. I say let him find out the hard way why so many New Zealanders (including LegalEagleTX) don't live in New Zealand (but love it so much from afar ).

BTW I've never ever heard anyone use the WP term in either NZ or Aus. I did hear "pommy" once but that was a Kiwi talking about the British accent years ago. I've seen horrendous casual racism in New Zealand directed towards people of Asian appearance, and Maori and Pacific Islanders - and that included racism from people in positions of responsibility including police, teachers and medical professionals which demonstrated to me how ingrained it was in society.

But plenty of motorcycle clubs and patches to chose from, I'm sure he'll be just fine.