Non-Canadians, what do you really think of Canada?
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Juke Joint Jezebel
Member
I thought it was really weird, the Toronto part at least. The city made me feel like I was stuck in a time capsule from a by-gone decade. Just something about the atmsophere and it's buildings and people. Felt distinctly 90's in a lot of places. I think it's just because of how young the country technically is, the architecture has a weird feel to it, not quite new, but not old enough to look antiquated, lots of conrete buildings. The vast majority of the bums in the city are surprisingly pleasant and well mannered as well I noticed. Although there was a worrying amount of them in comparision to the UK's cities. Does the city have it's fair share of poverty issues? The beaches and the wooden housing further down are lovely! Got my bikini on and lounged around there for an entire day. Weather was boiling! They had some pretty hype volleyball courts too. Got a few sessions in with a few nice lads who offered to play. Was a good time! That CN tower is a bit of an ugly eyesore though in my opinion. Bleh!
Also stayed at my aunties farmland outside of the city and even hit Niagra Falls later on. Those parts were lovely, but my god the insects are horrendous, with the nipping and the biting! Good thing I covered up well!
Also stayed at my aunties farmland outside of the city and even hit Niagra Falls later on. Those parts were lovely, but my god the insects are horrendous, with the nipping and the biting! Good thing I covered up well!
bananafactory
Banned
It's cool seeing the city love
But Y'all need to make it out to the prairies, maritimes, and Rocky mountains
But Y'all need to make it out to the prairies, maritimes, and Rocky mountains
TheCowboyPoet
Member
Yeah Vancouver with it's one or two snowfalls a year.... soooo brutal.
Except the never ending rain is brutal, and soulcrushing.... and awful. Just awful.
I'm from Canada and would LOVE to move to Sweden. LET'S TRADE LIVES!!!
Comparatively speaking, not really. It's a big city with big city problems... but I'd be very surprised if the prevalence of homelessness in Toronto was any higher than in cities like New York and London.
Juke Joint Jezebel
Member
Might just be that the homeless are more physically active then. Our homeless in liverpool just camp out on street corners, so we tend to walk by them without noticing. Canada's homeless seem pretty outgoing from my experience in Toronto, and mostly pleasant to communicate with!
Juke Joint Jezebel
Member
Oh, and I also tried a whole load of poutine from different places. It varied from pretty bloody nice, with big cheese curds and a lovely thick gravy, to fucking horrible with a pissy watery cheese and shit gravy, the cheese was like a sauce! Smaller places like "The Imperial Pub" in the city had way better poutine than a lot of bigger branches. Makes me wonder what the "perfect" or most popular poutine is for a lot of Canadians.
Mexican here, you're like the USA, but not as racist, paranoid, militaristic or awful in general, you're like the cool brother of that jerk, America.
Except the Francophone area, where apparently people will literally try to murder you for dearing to speak english. Or so im told.
Except the Francophone area, where apparently people will literally try to murder you for dearing to speak english. Or so im told.
User Name Here
Member
I visited Montreal when I was six, so my memories of it are based on that. All I can remember is watching cartoons in french and my cousin who was french or something. So yeah, Canada = french cartoons. That's all I got.
Well, I don't know what you were expecting.
Mass_Pincup
Banned
It's ok, a little empty, but people seems to be nice.
I'm going to study there in a month for 3 years and I don't know how i'm going to do it, it just seems so dead at time and there's the winter too. I heard it could go as low as -40°C or something ridiculous like that. It's going to be hard.
I'm going to study there in a month for 3 years and I don't know how i'm going to do it, it just seems so dead at time and there's the winter too. I heard it could go as low as -40°C or something ridiculous like that. It's going to be hard.
bananafactory
Banned
With wind chill it can hit -50
Whereaboots are you going to be studying? I can tell you what the winter will be like
O Canada is built for hockey games, though.
Slow build-up and naturally segues into raucous applause and cheering.
It's pretty meh outside of that tho.
TwEE-N-Toast
Banned
Pfffff...
Double pffff.
Ha, I really like Halifax. Type of place I'd live in. But I like to drink and love the ocean.
A colder version of the Pacific Northwest but with illegal weed, higher taxes, and more French speakers. A "safe bet" country if you want to live in a place that's fairly nice across the board with a better healthcare system and less income inequality ... but virtually no influence on the world stage, for better or for worse, and an overall lack of identity. It seems like a nice place, but it doesn't seem very diverse (in terms of landscape and types of cities) or interesting and, as a typical middle-class American, offers overall less than what I already have. I wouldn't want to live there instead of here, but a lot of Americans certainly would be better off in Canada.
Yes, we're just truly awful. That's why so many people from Mexico and other parts of central america have immigrated to the US.
Yes, we're just truly awful. That's why so many people from Mexico and other parts of central america have immigrated to the US.
Orbis Tabula
Member
It seems like a very nice place.
Mass_Pincup
Banned
With wind chill it can hit -50
Whereaboots are you going to be studying? I can tell you what the winter will be like
I'm going to Trois-Rivières.
Learn2read
Member
I'd give my left nut to be living back in Halifax right now instead of the last three cities I've lived in (Toronto, London, Houston). Different strokes I guess but I bet we wouldn't get along IRL
I actually envy Canada of, well, almost everything. I say this as an American. I do think you have your shit together far better than the US.
I frequently am embarrassed by the actions of the US
Its what the US would be if we were run by democrats from the legislature and presidency for decades on end.
bananafactory
Banned
Hmmm yeah it gets cold there but shouldn't hit -40. You'll probably get a few -30 days in the winter but most coldest ones should be closer to -20, which is really nothing for a Canadian winter.
I have no idea what there is to do in that place though...so you may indeed find it boring.
Mass_Pincup
Banned
Alright, thanks that's a bit reassuring
It's close to Montréal so i'll hang out there If I want to do something I think.
bananafactory
Banned
Alright, thanks that's a bit reassuring
It's close to Montréal so i'll hang out there If I want to do something I think.
I was just in Montreal for the first time a few months ago, the language barrier was tough at times but it's a phenomenal city with tons to see and do. Hope you manage to find some enjoyment!
bananafactory
Banned
Yeah it's definitely apples to oranges in many areas. Not always a fair comparison.
That's an odd choice for a studying place for a non-canadian, considering how it's a small town lost in middle of Quebec, a province where everywhere outside of Montreal is 90% francophone. Thankfully for you, it's right in between Montreal and Quebec city(at least 1½ hour on the road for both), so if you're bored in that small town, you'll have 2 good options to spend time.
Hopefully you know some french or intend to take some french lessons, or you'll have trouble communicating with the locals, it's not like Montreal where half the people commonly speak english.
Bitanator
Member
considering most of the whole Canadian metal scene is condensed to a point, there are a lot of choices to choose from actually.
Annihilator
Entropy
Disciples of Power
Overthrow
Deathamin
Armoros
Dissection
Soothsayer
Dyoxen
Obliveon
Slaughter/Strappado
DBC
Genetic Error
Deranged
Just a few select choices from the the old school besides the ones you mentioned, plus there was band called splatterpunk from Canada believe it or not. There is so much diversity in Canadian Thrash being of the more underrated scenes besides Polish thrash scene, and the new bands as well kick major ass. I'd explore the scene further if I were you, because you have been missing out. Pleased by the Sacrifice mention though they truly are one of the Canadian masters.
A grass is greener wankfest for self hating Americans to fantasize about. No world influence, politically or culturally. No responsibility, which makes them a default "good guy" nation. Far less diversity in land, people, and weather than the U.S. It's one of a handful of countries where the overwhelming amount of gushing and slurping about it come from people who have never even been there and have imagined it as some iconic utopia.
I actually like Canada, but it's too cold (yes, even in Vancouver), and not any more exciting or interesting than living here in the States. It's our boring cousin with little personality.
This. It's annoying hearing people from countries with less people than single states in this country compare how well their systems work for the dozens of people who live there. The sheer number of people and massive amount of land that this country encompasses would cause problems for any nation. That's not saying we don't have huge problems, but these 1:1 comparisons with tiny nations are absurd.
I actually like Canada, but it's too cold (yes, even in Vancouver), and not any more exciting or interesting than living here in the States. It's our boring cousin with little personality.
This. It's annoying hearing people from countries with less people than single states in this country compare how well their systems work for the dozens of people who live there. The sheer number of people and massive amount of land that this country encompasses would cause problems for any nation. That's not saying we don't have huge problems, but these 1:1 comparisons with tiny nations are absurd.
Hey man, Vancouver here. I'm dying for some rain. Lol
I should find a way to watch the movie though because Id like to know more about Canada.
Honestly much of it is a mystery to me.
Also I agree on the apples to oranges comparisons. the Us is always compared to how well individual small countries are managed, when they are basically like a single US state. There are 50 states in the US and they rarely agree on anything.
Its very difficult to take a country this diverse and steer them in one direction.
Honestly much of it is a mystery to me.
Also I agree on the apples to oranges comparisons. the Us is always compared to how well individual small countries are managed, when they are basically like a single US state. There are 50 states in the US and they rarely agree on anything.
Its very difficult to take a country this diverse and steer them in one direction.
It was voted most admired nation in the world and plenty of Canadians from Canada love their nation....
of course. I should hope so.
Always nice to see your country's culture reduced in such a tactless way. Thanks for going the extra effort.
Canadians from other countries not as much, because they aren't from Canada.
My area of Louisiana is descended party from Nova Scotians.
Its very heavily French influenced and traditional. Makes me wonder if Nova Scotians party like Louisianians do or if the Cajuns just kind of roll that way.
You need to explain that since it is in North America, it too is America and you have a legal right to stay.
Mass_Pincup
Banned
I'm french so I'm good on that front.
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