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Explain Canada
- Thread starter warlord
- Start date
orangefruitbat
Adventurer
Being Canadian, here are a few things:
*Canada is very similar to the US (baring French-speaking Quebec), so we tend to define oureslves in how we're different than America, rather than in our similarities. There are differences, but they're not so big that you can't feel comfortable. In general, Canadians are slightly more liberal than Americans, but this tends to be overstaked (unless you're into canabis culture or are hoping to marry someone of the same sex). Culture in Vacouver (BC) isn't too different than Seattle. Albertans aren't too different than mid Western Americans, and us folk in Toronto aren't too differerent than those in say Chicago or Boston. East-Coasters are similar to those in the East coast of the US.
*things will be slightly cheaper here, as the American dollar gets a premium. Hower this exchnage rate is falling. 5 years ago, $1 CDN would be worth .65 US. Now its $1 to .85 or so. So don't expect a consistent rate over the next 3 or 4 years. Cost of living is roughly comparable. Overall, Canadians are less wealthy than Americans, and tend to drive smaller cars and live in smaller hourses. But it's not a huge difference.
*Winters are generally colder, but if you're from Minesota, then you know how to dress sensibly. Vancouver tends to be merely wet without a lot of snow, but if you live in Ottawa or Edmunton, be prepared for long winters.
*Canada has some excellent universities. None of our universities are as well-funded as say Harvard, but this really only affects top-level graduate research (or those pursuing sporting scholarships). Our best-funded research university (the University of Toronto), which is an excellent graduate university, is ironically not one I'd recommend for undergraduates as it can be big and impersonal. I would find a university that has a good program for you, that is of a comfortable size. (And possibly not too, too far from home, cause it's nice to visit).
*Most big cities have excellent role-playing stores and communities.
*Get comfortable with the metric system.
*Our beer is better.
*If you like hockey, things will be good. Lots of Canadians don't like hockey, and that's ok too.
*TV is about the same, but we get the CBC, which means the new Dr. Who. (not sure when the new season starts though).
*Canada is very similar to the US (baring French-speaking Quebec), so we tend to define oureslves in how we're different than America, rather than in our similarities. There are differences, but they're not so big that you can't feel comfortable. In general, Canadians are slightly more liberal than Americans, but this tends to be overstaked (unless you're into canabis culture or are hoping to marry someone of the same sex). Culture in Vacouver (BC) isn't too different than Seattle. Albertans aren't too different than mid Western Americans, and us folk in Toronto aren't too differerent than those in say Chicago or Boston. East-Coasters are similar to those in the East coast of the US.
*things will be slightly cheaper here, as the American dollar gets a premium. Hower this exchnage rate is falling. 5 years ago, $1 CDN would be worth .65 US. Now its $1 to .85 or so. So don't expect a consistent rate over the next 3 or 4 years. Cost of living is roughly comparable. Overall, Canadians are less wealthy than Americans, and tend to drive smaller cars and live in smaller hourses. But it's not a huge difference.
*Winters are generally colder, but if you're from Minesota, then you know how to dress sensibly. Vancouver tends to be merely wet without a lot of snow, but if you live in Ottawa or Edmunton, be prepared for long winters.
*Canada has some excellent universities. None of our universities are as well-funded as say Harvard, but this really only affects top-level graduate research (or those pursuing sporting scholarships). Our best-funded research university (the University of Toronto), which is an excellent graduate university, is ironically not one I'd recommend for undergraduates as it can be big and impersonal. I would find a university that has a good program for you, that is of a comfortable size. (And possibly not too, too far from home, cause it's nice to visit).
*Most big cities have excellent role-playing stores and communities.
*Get comfortable with the metric system.
*Our beer is better.
*If you like hockey, things will be good. Lots of Canadians don't like hockey, and that's ok too.
*TV is about the same, but we get the CBC, which means the new Dr. Who. (not sure when the new season starts though).
warlord said:
????????
Overall, house sizes and car sizes are the same as our American friends. We don't have as many Millionaires as the U.S. does, nor do we have Hollywood or Miami Beach, but to say the average house size and car models are smaller, is just not accurate. Canadian population is also much, much less then the Americans.
Our larger Canadian Universities are well regarded, thoughout the world. You will find that the American dollar will take you a little further in Canada.
Our standard ond style of living is the same in Canada as in the U.S. We watch the same programs, eat the same foods, listen to the same music, and drive the same cars. I have lived in the U.S. a good portion of my life, and the differences I have seen are more regional then anything else. I have always thought it funny when travelling through the States, and talking to people who believe that Canada is the arctic, and only hunters, hockey players and eskimos live there.
You will also find that the average American is far more patriotic then the average Canadian.
Blue_Kryptonite
First Post
My observation as a native of New York with Canadian relatives in a couple provinces: Socially, the USA is RPGnet. Canada is ENWorld. Most of the same discourse, but one is cleaner, friendlier, and more polite than the other.
Dextra
Social Justice Wizard
Canadia!
One big difference in post-secondary education between the US and Canada is the number of alcohol-related deaths and injuries. Even though the drinking age in the US is higher, a culture of excess has built up around campuses, and many students' health and education suffer because of it. In Canada, the drinking age is lower (19, 18 in Quebec), and there seems to be less of a forbidden-fruit syndrome. Our American friends come up and drink themselves silly for a few weeks whilst they adjust to the new paradigm, but almost all then join in with theirmore responsible less alcoholic Canuck peers.
If you are going to consider education in Quebec, do yourself a favour and try and pick up a rudimentary French course along the way. Sure, McGill and Concordia offer a brilliant course calendar, but you may be hard-pressed to find a part-time job (or meet anyone outside of campus) in Montreal if you don't understand French.
I disagree with the statement that Canadians are less patriotic than our US counterparts. It's just we're not so in-your-face flag-waving about it. We're more polite. To proclaim our superiority too loudly might make other countries' citizens feel inadequate, and that wouldn't be very nice now, would it?
As a general rule, people tend to get along better here. To paraphrase one of Pierre Trudeau's sons, this can largely be explained by the fact that no matter where you live in Canada (well, except Toronto, and they don't really count as Canadians anyhow, right?) winter is coming (aside: been reading Game Of Thrones, and this saying of the Starks now strikes truer than ever before!). It gives us a bit of a staunch determined feel, a mild smugness of our toughness, pioneering spirit, and "we're all in this together" to survive the infamous Canadian Winter ov Doom, and we tend to be more tolerant of differences. Well, except for those damned close-minded rightwing Albertans. (PS tongue=in cheek. I heart my oilmoney-soaked redneck friends!)
Honestly, though, in general the majority of our differences are subtle, most charming.
For more information, I heartily encourage you to read
Canadian World Domination
One big difference in post-secondary education between the US and Canada is the number of alcohol-related deaths and injuries. Even though the drinking age in the US is higher, a culture of excess has built up around campuses, and many students' health and education suffer because of it. In Canada, the drinking age is lower (19, 18 in Quebec), and there seems to be less of a forbidden-fruit syndrome. Our American friends come up and drink themselves silly for a few weeks whilst they adjust to the new paradigm, but almost all then join in with their
If you are going to consider education in Quebec, do yourself a favour and try and pick up a rudimentary French course along the way. Sure, McGill and Concordia offer a brilliant course calendar, but you may be hard-pressed to find a part-time job (or meet anyone outside of campus) in Montreal if you don't understand French.
I disagree with the statement that Canadians are less patriotic than our US counterparts. It's just we're not so in-your-face flag-waving about it. We're more polite. To proclaim our superiority too loudly might make other countries' citizens feel inadequate, and that wouldn't be very nice now, would it?
As a general rule, people tend to get along better here. To paraphrase one of Pierre Trudeau's sons, this can largely be explained by the fact that no matter where you live in Canada (well, except Toronto, and they don't really count as Canadians anyhow, right?) winter is coming (aside: been reading Game Of Thrones, and this saying of the Starks now strikes truer than ever before!). It gives us a bit of a staunch determined feel, a mild smugness of our toughness, pioneering spirit, and "we're all in this together" to survive the infamous Canadian Winter ov Doom, and we tend to be more tolerant of differences. Well, except for those damned close-minded rightwing Albertans. (PS tongue=in cheek. I heart my oilmoney-soaked redneck friends!)
Honestly, though, in general the majority of our differences are subtle, most charming.
For more information, I heartily encourage you to read
Canadian World Domination
MaxKaladin
First Post
Pffft! That's not true. We know about the lumberjacks.devilbat said:
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