Head Count

Michelle
Senior Member



Joined: 04 Aug 2004
Posts: 97
Location: Scotland

Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2004 5:11 am

 

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[quote="republican"]
About the whole "not American Canadian thing" after about 11 years I don't mind. The thing is, why should we expect them to know the difference? Did we know all the the British accents when we moved? I diddn't.Heck, sometimes I still confuse the Welsh for the Irish or vice versa. What does offend me is if I correct someone and they something like "ah well, same thing isn't it"?
sigh...
republican[/quote]

I totally agree! Of course it's hard to tell the difference sometimes, especially if the person you are listening to has been away from Canada for some time. You are right that it is difficult to tell the difference between some British accents as well. I am sure that Scottish, Welsh and Irish people get really tired of being asked where in England they are from!

By the way, why'd you have to go and mention Tim Hortons like that?!!

Last time I saw a Tim Hortons was at the airport in Toronto. I was on my way to the UK. My starting point was actually San Francisco and we were travelling on American Airlines. Well, for some reason once you check in on American you go through immigration right there, while you are still in Canada. Anyways, they had this big glass wall which you couldn't get to the other side of as you've already gone through the check in ect. Well, there is no food on this side of the glass wall and right on the other side is a giant Tim Horton's staring at you, just taunting you! It probably wasn't giant but it did seem to loom there...mmmm doughnuts.

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republican
Super Member



Joined: 14 May 2003
Posts: 193
Location: England

Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2004 6:39 am

 

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Yeah, I wish I haddn't mentioned Tim Hortens-just the thought makes me more homesick-its funny the things we miss from home!
How long have you been in Scotland? I have been in England for 11 long LONG years. Actually I just remembered that the 1st Sept was my 11th "aniversary" of sorts. I am leaving England in October tospend a year in Europe and then back to Canada with me!! I am also going in a few weeks for a holiday.
I really miss my home-even though I have been longer in the UK and have British citizenship I still feel like an outisder.
Still, not long now eh?
republican

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Michelle
Senior Member



Joined: 04 Aug 2004
Posts: 97
Location: Scotland

Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2004 1:22 pm

 

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[quote="republican"]Yeah, I wish I haddn't mentioned Tim Hortens-just the thought makes me more homesick-its funny the things we miss from home!
How long have you been in Scotland? I have been in England for 11 long LONG years. Actually I just remembered that the 1st Sept was my 11th "aniversary" of sorts. I am leaving England in October tospend a year in Europe and then back to Canada with me!! I am also going in a few weeks for a holiday.
I really miss my home-even though I have been longer in the UK and have British citizenship I still feel like an outisder.
Still, not long now eh?
republican[/quote]

I have been in Scotland for 3 years this month. However I was in The San Francisco Bay Area for 7 years before here so I've been away nearly as long as you have. I am considering a movie back to Canada, not because I don't like it here but because I feel like my daughter will grow up not knowing her family.
It was funny when I moved here that I felt like I really didn't know where "home" was. I mean, I am Canadian and I am proud of that but I felt more like San Francisco was home. Last time I was back in Toronto I didn't feel like I belonged there anymore. I think that came from the fact that I left there at 24, so really spent my "adult" years away.
Good luck to you on your move back.
Michelle

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republican
Super Member



Joined: 14 May 2003
Posts: 193
Location: England

Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2004 9:51 pm

 

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Thanks for wishing me luck
Being away for a long time can make things different. One of the things I learned and quickly is that 1993 is long gone and I'll never go back. Things change and continue to change. One thing I have done to stay in the loop is everyday I read the Globe and Mail newspaper. I also keep in touch with friends and family back home so that I know whats happening in their lives. It might just be Toronto is not your home anymore-it might not be mine but I'm gonna find out and see.
Good luck to you too
republican

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Brenda
Super Member



Joined: 21 Feb 2004
Posts: 178
Location: Stirling

Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2004 12:30 am

 

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Hello everyone! I have just returned from some time away from my computer and think Michelle’s posting is a great idea. Here are my responses.


Where do you live?
Dunblane, Scotland (Just a short train ride from Stirling where I have made a Canadian friend.)

Where are you from originally?
I’m from Kamloops, B.C., a place that’s hot in the summer (it’s a dry heat – no humidity) and cold in the winter.

Why are you in the UK?
I graduated from university with a B.Ed. but could not find a full-time job. I registered with a teaching agency in London and they sent out my resume to schools. Within a month I had three job offers and accepted one in Kent. I ended up meeting and marrying a man in Scotland so that’s why I’ve stayed. He’s great. (Incidentally, “great” is one of the few words I can say with an accent.)

What do you like/hate about the UK
I like
-mail on a Saturday
-the fact that cashiers get to sit down and do their job
-my washer/dryer with a delayed start feature
-charity collection plastic bags (great idea!)
-roundabouts
-the lack of mosquitoes (should that be “es”?)


I don’t like
- people who drive white vans
- the way motorcycles follow the rules of the road until it means they won’t be “first in line”
-smoking in public places
-cheeky children and their proud parents (can you tell I’m a teacher?)
-how Inland Revenue just goes into my savings account and takes a few pence of tax periodically – (imagine the outcry if that happened in Canada.)
- not having screens on the windows of my house
-the amount of door to door canvassers in my neighbourhood
- the advertisements by the TV License people
-having to camp without a fire pit or trees nearby to attach the tarp.
- the culture of celebrity
- how women here neglect to pull/pluck or otherwise dispose of stray dark hairs on their chins. It freaks me out.

All that being said, I am feeling more at ease here. I think this has a lot to do with finally getting a permanent job, even though it’s only two days per week. At least I know where I will be next year, I have never had that before.

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Two Pints
New Member



Joined: 04 Aug 2004
Posts: 7

Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2004 5:45 am

 

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Brenda wrote
<<< - the advertisements by the TV License people>>>

LOL!

Yeah, they're a bit over-the-top aren't they? They actually make me want to cancel my licence just to see "if they can catch me" .

Nice to see another BCer on here!

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Brenda
Super Member



Joined: 21 Feb 2004
Posts: 178
Location: Stirling

Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2004 11:24 am

 

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Incidentally, I called the TV people to complain about the threatening nature of their commercials and was told that they're meant to be threatening; that's the way they get results.

Good for them. Another great example of customer service.

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themeone
Senior Member



Joined: 28 May 2004
Posts: 84
Location: London UK

Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2004 10:46 am

 

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Yes, unfortunately threats are more likely to get the licence fees in than appealing to people's sense of fair play. It's the same with notices on public transport threatening fines and prosecution for vandalism and abuse of transport staff. With a lot of people in the UK, just telling them to be nice and well behaved doesn't work. Sad but true.

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