So whats the difference between Canada and England eh?
... the answer is about 74 places in the FIFA football rankings, and probably just as many (in the opposite direction) in the ice hockey and baseball rankings..
But seriously, having been inspired to pose (and answer) questions about life, myself, anything by various other people in the last few days, I will answer this one today. Before i do, a quick hello to Rog (i promised him!), Liverpool fan for his sins and the main reason i am still working for my firm here. My little tribute to him.
So, i am advised that 'eh' gets added to lots of Canadian expressions and questions. I cant say i've noticed, except for the fact that they go for a nice bit of self mockery (hmm, that i have finally understood) on T shirts etc. Even on 1st July, you could see the T shirts with "canada d-eh" on them. By the way, Canada day was great, and really makes you wonder why we dont have such national celebrations of our own. Somehow, a jubilee every 25 years to celebrate the queen just isnt enough of a party..
But - differences. Oh yes. There are differences all over the place. From the cars to the language to the accent. I shall list a few - but before i do, i will highlight now that i only actually have one bug bear whinge. Only one thing makes me think this country could do it better (there havent been any black outs at the time of writing, so i ask for some flexibility on this!).. so here goes.
1) Driving
Specifically, driving through red lights. Its bad enough that the cars are the size of apartments, that gas is $1 a litre (45p - and they think thats expensive!). But those are just cultural. And besides, a big car leaves room for luxury. But there is no excuse surely for a rule which allows you to drive through a red light to turn right? Anyone? They use their horn a lot here too!
All this is breaking me into something of a nervous sweat, as i may need to take a driving test in Ontario in the next 45 days. This particular rant is my way of saying i'm sh*tting myself at the prospect of driving round here!
2) Spell checks
I do really need that Canadian dictionary. I read a good email once that described Canadian as "writing like English and talking like Americans". No, i still cant hear any difference between Canadians and Americans, but thats another matter! Trouble is, my computer is configured to US English, all my spellchecks and documents are US English - come to think of it a whole load of them are from the US - and i'm not sure what the answer is. I asked Kelly at work last week, and she didnt know either... apparently you can use both. This will end up bothering me less over the next few months, because if the last 2 weeks has taught me anything, its that i cant spell in my mother tongue!
3) French
Its everywhere. Honestly, you do it for 9 years at school, you travel 3,500 miles to get away from them and their language is on everything. Still, there are moments of humour. Je suis de Birmingham definitely being the best.... i'm bored to death! it gets better every time you say it.
4) Cupboards
Or as they call them here (apparently), closets. Except there arent any. Not empty ones anyway. Hmm, you could read anything into that! I have a kitchen wonderfully laid out, all brand new, with 6 cupboards. 2 are full of plates, bowls, cake tray, mugs and 8 wine glasses - who do they think i'm going to invite over?! - 1 has a toaster in, 1 has mixing bowl, chopping boards and measuring implements. 2 are under the sink and have the bin under there for any rubbish you might generate. So, 6 cupboards in my cool flat. All full.
Question: just where am i supposed to put my food?!!..
5) Fridges - thats where!
I swear mine is about the size of the average drinks fridge in a Woolies back home. Enormous. Thats where they keep the food. Bread (no bread bin!), jars, cans, tins of tuna, you name it, dump it in the fridge!... i'm learning to live with this too!
6) Washing machines
I had to ask 3 people in the office over 3 days last week how they use their washing machines before i tried using mine last week. You see, i've grown up in Europe, spent time in France, Germany, Austria and the UK blissfully of the belief that there is only one kind of washing machines.. there used to be those old fashioned twin tub things, but ive only ever seen one of those, and that was at my nans house.. but here, the thing is a top loader, and, as far as i can see, there is nowhere to put the powder. So you literally get the powder or liquid and pour it over the clothes... although you CAN do things in a different order. You can fill the washing machine up, have it going, and then drop the clothes in while its filling up! Madness. But since the proof of the pudding is simply whether the clothes come out clean, the result is a thumbs up. And since the water can be cold, this saves on energy too. Everyone a winner.
7) OK. here it is. My one bug bear. And its shopping. Well in fact, its price labelling. You see, everywhere in Europe (as far as i know), what you see on the label is what you pay. But not here. In fact, what you see on the label here is basically never what you pay. Once you start adding 8% tax here and 7% tax there to things, you've turned a $20 cap into a $23 cap. (Its a nice cap though, i really like it!!) The question then is - well if you know what youre eventually going to pay for it (as i presume locals do), then why dont you tell people thats what you're going to charge them? There must be reasons. For example there is a different set of taxes in application here to those in Quebec, although i dont know whether the rates differ. But surely it cant be that hard to price things on a 'what they'll cost' basis. Restaurants could do the maths, as it were, and add the 15% to the $15.99 pizza (mmmm) so you know you've got enough money.
But to be honest, there are hundreds of thousands of tourists in and around here, and they seem quite content to deal with it. As indeed do the locals. Maybe i should (indeed maybe i will) learn to deal with it better. After all, if that is the biggest thing i can find to complain about, despite the many differences, then things cant be too bad can they?
One similarity - just while thinking about it - they also have a free paper called Metro. But i shall come back to this. Thats a story all for itself, and for another post...
But seriously, having been inspired to pose (and answer) questions about life, myself, anything by various other people in the last few days, I will answer this one today. Before i do, a quick hello to Rog (i promised him!), Liverpool fan for his sins and the main reason i am still working for my firm here. My little tribute to him.
So, i am advised that 'eh' gets added to lots of Canadian expressions and questions. I cant say i've noticed, except for the fact that they go for a nice bit of self mockery (hmm, that i have finally understood) on T shirts etc. Even on 1st July, you could see the T shirts with "canada d-eh" on them. By the way, Canada day was great, and really makes you wonder why we dont have such national celebrations of our own. Somehow, a jubilee every 25 years to celebrate the queen just isnt enough of a party..
But - differences. Oh yes. There are differences all over the place. From the cars to the language to the accent. I shall list a few - but before i do, i will highlight now that i only actually have one bug bear whinge. Only one thing makes me think this country could do it better (there havent been any black outs at the time of writing, so i ask for some flexibility on this!).. so here goes.
1) Driving
Specifically, driving through red lights. Its bad enough that the cars are the size of apartments, that gas is $1 a litre (45p - and they think thats expensive!). But those are just cultural. And besides, a big car leaves room for luxury. But there is no excuse surely for a rule which allows you to drive through a red light to turn right? Anyone? They use their horn a lot here too!
All this is breaking me into something of a nervous sweat, as i may need to take a driving test in Ontario in the next 45 days. This particular rant is my way of saying i'm sh*tting myself at the prospect of driving round here!
2) Spell checks
I do really need that Canadian dictionary. I read a good email once that described Canadian as "writing like English and talking like Americans". No, i still cant hear any difference between Canadians and Americans, but thats another matter! Trouble is, my computer is configured to US English, all my spellchecks and documents are US English - come to think of it a whole load of them are from the US - and i'm not sure what the answer is. I asked Kelly at work last week, and she didnt know either... apparently you can use both. This will end up bothering me less over the next few months, because if the last 2 weeks has taught me anything, its that i cant spell in my mother tongue!
3) French
Its everywhere. Honestly, you do it for 9 years at school, you travel 3,500 miles to get away from them and their language is on everything. Still, there are moments of humour. Je suis de Birmingham definitely being the best.... i'm bored to death! it gets better every time you say it.
4) Cupboards
Or as they call them here (apparently), closets. Except there arent any. Not empty ones anyway. Hmm, you could read anything into that! I have a kitchen wonderfully laid out, all brand new, with 6 cupboards. 2 are full of plates, bowls, cake tray, mugs and 8 wine glasses - who do they think i'm going to invite over?! - 1 has a toaster in, 1 has mixing bowl, chopping boards and measuring implements. 2 are under the sink and have the bin under there for any rubbish you might generate. So, 6 cupboards in my cool flat. All full.
Question: just where am i supposed to put my food?!!..
5) Fridges - thats where!
I swear mine is about the size of the average drinks fridge in a Woolies back home. Enormous. Thats where they keep the food. Bread (no bread bin!), jars, cans, tins of tuna, you name it, dump it in the fridge!... i'm learning to live with this too!
6) Washing machines
I had to ask 3 people in the office over 3 days last week how they use their washing machines before i tried using mine last week. You see, i've grown up in Europe, spent time in France, Germany, Austria and the UK blissfully of the belief that there is only one kind of washing machines.. there used to be those old fashioned twin tub things, but ive only ever seen one of those, and that was at my nans house.. but here, the thing is a top loader, and, as far as i can see, there is nowhere to put the powder. So you literally get the powder or liquid and pour it over the clothes... although you CAN do things in a different order. You can fill the washing machine up, have it going, and then drop the clothes in while its filling up! Madness. But since the proof of the pudding is simply whether the clothes come out clean, the result is a thumbs up. And since the water can be cold, this saves on energy too. Everyone a winner.
7) OK. here it is. My one bug bear. And its shopping. Well in fact, its price labelling. You see, everywhere in Europe (as far as i know), what you see on the label is what you pay. But not here. In fact, what you see on the label here is basically never what you pay. Once you start adding 8% tax here and 7% tax there to things, you've turned a $20 cap into a $23 cap. (Its a nice cap though, i really like it!!) The question then is - well if you know what youre eventually going to pay for it (as i presume locals do), then why dont you tell people thats what you're going to charge them? There must be reasons. For example there is a different set of taxes in application here to those in Quebec, although i dont know whether the rates differ. But surely it cant be that hard to price things on a 'what they'll cost' basis. Restaurants could do the maths, as it were, and add the 15% to the $15.99 pizza (mmmm) so you know you've got enough money.
But to be honest, there are hundreds of thousands of tourists in and around here, and they seem quite content to deal with it. As indeed do the locals. Maybe i should (indeed maybe i will) learn to deal with it better. After all, if that is the biggest thing i can find to complain about, despite the many differences, then things cant be too bad can they?
One similarity - just while thinking about it - they also have a free paper called Metro. But i shall come back to this. Thats a story all for itself, and for another post...
posted by CBC at 4:50 pm
1 Comments:
They do that driving through red lights thing in America too. Quite scary when you expect traffic to be coming from the opposite direction, as a true brit should and thats just as a passenger.
Post a Comment
<< Home