Head Count

Michelle
Senior Member



Joined: 04 Aug 2004
Posts: 97
Location: Scotland

Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 12:05 pm

 

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Well, I have noticed that this board is reeeeeaaaally slow. I am just wondering how many people actually use it. So, if you are reading this why not tell us all about yourself by answering the questions and then adding one of your own:

Where do you live?
Stirling, Scotland

Where are you from originally?
Toronto

Why are you in the UK?
We really wanted a change of pace from San Francisco, where we lived before Scotland.

What do you like/hate about the UK?
I like the greeness, the history and culture, the trains and the closeness to everything. The main thing I dislike is the whole drinking culture and I also find people a bit difficult to get to know.

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Two Pints
New Member



Joined: 04 Aug 2004
Posts: 7

Posted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 12:25 am

 

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<<<Well, I have noticed that this board is reeeeeaaaally slow. I am just wondering how many people actually use it.>>>

FWIW, I come to the forum a couple of times a week to read the messages but to be honest have felt too lazy to write any replies.

<<<Where do you live?>>>
Essex .

<<<Where are you from originally?>>>
Vancouver Island.

<<<Why are you in the UK?>>>
I've been asking myself that a lot lately! (Sorry, feeling homesick lately.)

<<<What do you like/hate about the UK?
I like the greeness, the history and culture, the trains and the closeness to everything. The main thing I dislike is the whole drinking culture and I also find people a bit difficult to get to know.>>>

I pretty much agree with your points Michelle.

Also, I like the inclusive quality of Britain - not sure if that makes sense. What I mean is I like how many sorts of people are 'seen' and taken as legitimate members of society in Britain.

I would add litter/littering to the 'don't like' list. I am still, after being here for 3 years, disgusted by the amount of litter I see.

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Canada1972
CanuckAbroad Regular



Joined: 10 Mar 2004
Posts: 54
Location: All over the UK

Posted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 2:52 am

 

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Where do you live?
Permanent address is Banbury, currently located in Lymington, Hampshire

Where are you from originally?
Hampton, New Brunswick

Why are you in the UK?
Work. I help manage various departments in hotels while they recruit their own staff. It allows me to see a lot, and travel has always been my passion.

What do you like/hate about the UK?
Love the age of things - one hotel had a 12th century chapel on the grounds - won't get that in Canada! Hate the drinking, the litter everywhere, and the fact the Brits take offence to my directness. I also detest the way everyone assumes that I am American when they meet me. I'm used to it after almost 5 years, but I don't like it any better. Thank god for Roots clothing!

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Michelle
Senior Member



Joined: 04 Aug 2004
Posts: 97
Location: Scotland

Posted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 12:24 pm

 

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Yes I can see how the litter is a problem. The city I am in is actually pretty tidy and I see it being picked up all the time though. I think I am more used to it after living in Oakland California for 3 years.
Of course I do notice that there isn't any hesitation by people to throw their trash on the ground and not think twice.

Funny about the being mistaken for American thing. It happens to me all the time as well but I don't think I sound Canadian anymore after being away for 10 years. I don't mind so much if the question is phrased as "Are you American?", they just don't know. I do find it irritating when it is asked as "what part of the US are you from". I just answer "The Canadian part!" Then there are profuse appologies.
More often than not people just don't say anything at all! I find it really odd as I have a baby and when I see mums with their babies that look the same age, I talk to them. I'll ask about the baby but they never ask anything back. Hmmmmm, maybe it's me...

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Two Pints
New Member



Joined: 04 Aug 2004
Posts: 7

Posted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 11:17 pm

 

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<<<I don't mind so much if the question is phrased as "Are you American?", they just don't know. I do find it irritating when it is asked as "what part of the US are you from". >>>

Oh, me too! And what's even worse is when you reply "uh, I'm actually Canadian" and they respond with a "Oh well that's the same thing anyway, innit."

A good experience - On the train and a man asked if he could sit next to me. During my "Yeah, sure, no ploblem. Let me move my stuff." he noticed my accent and asked if I was Canadian. I said yes and asked how did he know. He admitted he couldn't tell the difference but that he had made the mistake of assuming that someone with a 'North American accent' was automatically American with too many Canucks too many times. He learned that Americans aren't offended if they're asked if they're Canadian whereas ... well we know what the effect of doing the opposite is so he just assumes anyone with a North American accent is Canadian.

<<<More often than not people just don't say anything at all! I find it really odd as I have a baby and when I see mums with their babies that look the same age, I talk to them. I'll ask about the baby but they never ask anything back. Hmmmmm, maybe it's me...>>>

I have had similar experiences myself. Just not feeling like I'm understood or that I'm not understanding them. More often than not, the 'flow' of the conversation just doesn't come easy when I talk with most (not all) British people and I find it quite difficult to strike up conversations with the most (not all) British people I meet. I think it's partly the "British reserve" thing and partly that I'm simply not the most extroverted woman in the world. It's a difficult combination that has made connecting with people and forming friendships (here in the UK) difficult for me.

For what it's worth, two British people I know quite well both think Brits (and this is a sweeping generalization!) are socially inept (their words, not mine!), if that makes you feel any better!

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themeone
Senior Member



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

Posted: Sat Sep 04, 2004 4:07 am

 

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I'm here from a different perspective. Although Canadian born, and have lived in Canada for brief periods, I've lived in the UK most of my life, and am basically British in upbringing and outlook.

The experiences people relate about finding it hard to form relationships in another country happen to everyone. It's just a question of being out of your comfort zone, and yet (in the case of the UK and Canada) fooled by the common language and some superficial similarities of lifestyle that maybe you're still in the comfort zone!

I have travelled quite extensively in the world, and have found it easier to relate to people in more "foreign" countries, than I found it to relate to Canadians in Canada. This is not to say there's anything at all wrong with Canadians, I think it simply illustrates there is a huge difference between Canadian and British culture and outlook which should not be under-estimated.

I also think that when we're in a country we're used to, we have our own little circles, and networks, and tend not to move outside them much. We don't need to. Yet as soon as we go elsewhere, suddenly we're forced to interact with all types of people we're probably unused to dealing with, even at home. Let's face it, there are plenty of British people I can't relate to - the litter louts, the lager louts etc. I kind of understand why they're like that, but that doesn't mean I want to talk to them and I'd be far happier if they were just, sort of, not here!

I'm hoping I can see things from both sides, and can help some of you newcomers to the UK through those difficult early times in a new place.

And yes, this forum is S-L-O-W!

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Nadia
Junior Member



Joined: 29 Aug 2004
Posts: 24
Location: Toronto, Canada

Posted: Sat Sep 04, 2004 10:29 am

 

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Where do you live?
Currently in Toronto

Where are you from originally?
Persian

Why are you thinking of moving?
I really need to live somewhere different. Toronto just isn't it for me and I feel like there's something else out there for me to experience. I also think that I would connect more with European culture than North American.


What do you like/hate about the UK/Ireland?
What attracts me most to Ireland (which is where I hope to end up) and/or UK is the history, culture and the nature. I am tired of the big city feel. I also love to travel.

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republican
Super Member



Joined: 14 May 2003
Posts: 193
Location: England

Posted: Sat Sep 04, 2004 11:10 pm

 

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Where do you live?
Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire-sigh

Where are you from originally?
Ottawa sort of. I was born there but I moved soon after. I consider the rural south of Ontario my home-Elora, Kitchener-Waterloo that area.

Why are you in the UK?
Y'know, I ask myself that often? I think it was a combination of alot of things. Firstly,my parents are from Europe-my Moms from England and I think they always wanted to go back. Then the 1990s came with the recession and jobs were being lost all around.BTW let me take this time to Thank Brian Mulroony and the rest of the NAFTA lovin' Tories! I guess my parents decided that was the best time to leave. England was chosen because both my Mother and I have British citizenship and because we had family there.

What do you like/hate about the UK?
Not much to like. Wales is of course very nice. Also I like that I can travelaround Europe with greater ease and I think I have a better appreatiation for Canada being gone. What I dislike is the drinking culture, the not very nice lagers-whenever I'm home my Uncle always has a nice selection of beers for me the littering, the unfriendlyness of a lot of English-can you believe I have been in Melton for about 7 years and still could not tell you confidently the name of all my neighbours? I know my Grandmother's neighbours in Elora better than I know my own!

to add my own:

What I miss most about home:
My friends, family, Sleeman's lager-though unlike most English I have never been drunk and only drink because I enjoy a good beer. Tim Hortons and the great Province of Ontario!

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

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