Close Reading

Uk born and bred move to Canada 1978…never ever would live in the States.\nWhile over there one day a man asked me what did I think about America..deep breath I said never met an American I didn’t like but….Americans do not know what is going on in the outside world,they think they are the b all and end all yet they nothing about their own country hell they don’t know what is going in the next state to them.\nI asked did you ever think about the fact that the reason that in the constitution to bare arms was because of invasion,enemies invading your country and property because why the hell are you all armed…Oh he has never thought about that.\nAfter watching Jamal aka Jamal trying to watch teenagers in the states being asked very basic questions about the USA the answers were cringeworthy ..\nYour education stinks ,your healthcare is a money grabbing system..yes beautiful places to go to visit and that’s it..?

I have visited the US many, many, times and many different states during my life and always enjoyed going there. Even thought I’d probably retire there at least in the winter months. Now… there’s no way I would ever retire there! Even visiting scares me now that there’s so much gun violence, racism and political unrest. It makes me very sad because the countries such a mess now. ☹️

Sorry Tyler, but as a US immigrant born and raised in America who lived there until I was 69 and who happens to also be a minority in several ways, I can agree with the Canadian who lived in the states for 6 years and found it intolerable and for the same reasons only I was often on the receiving end of the craziness. Before anyone comes at me I lived in Chicago, Kansas City, New Orleans and Houston and visited several other cities, so I had a pretty broad experience of US society. And I would have left the states much earlier, but I didn’t have the money as family responsibilities drained all my resources. I’ve been living in Latin America mostly Mexico and have more peace of mind, feeling of safety, lack of discrimination and affordable life then I ever did in the states. I will not be moving back if I can help it ever. Peace!

have you ever herd the saying, nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there.??????? ??????????

Tyler you are oblivious to what happens in the US which is obvious by your reaction I think you should explore more about your own country. It seems to me Canadians know more about US history past and present, your politics, religious zealots, bigotry, racism, the list goes on. By the way the number one cause of death for children in the US is guns you might want to explore that. Going around living in your personal bubble isn't helping you realize the issues in the US and around the world. The best way for change to happen is to vote in people who will work towards it at the local, state and federal level. Everything is not political it's just groups who have pushed it in that direction. The US is not the same country I visited many times years ago. Would I have ever moved there...a resounding NO

In the 90's I used to visit California in the winter, and loved it. The people were great, fun and friendly. My last few visits were really depressing, the racism and homelessness really got to me. So I quit going. It's worse there now, so I don't anticipate ever visiting again. It's just not safe, you're not even safe from police... so sad.

I would not consider moving to the states for any reason, but my reason at this point is that I’m terminally ill and disabled and I can’t even get travel insurance to be able to visit my family there. My mother’s family are all Americans. I had a lot of fun visiting them in my late teens, back in the early 90’s but now I wouldn’t even drive across the border to go shopping. Well, I do go across the border to Alaska, because that’s just an hour away, but Alaska is very different from the continental United States. And I only go to Skagway for the afternoon to get fish and chips. I welcome Americans to Canada with open arms, but I have zero desire to ever live or visit there. One at a time, on my terms, in my country, Americans are great, but your nation is falling apart at the seams. I don’t feel safe there at all.

Are you ever gonna visit Canada Tyler?

I'm in the not even considering the US for any visits ever again. I know quite a few Americans - love them to death but they are in the minority IMO. At lest in the places I had to travel to. Europe I do twice a year now - love it everywhere!

I have a work visa for the US and go there often. I go to many places that are not in the cities. I'm actually in South Dakota as I write this and find it to be a very pleasant place. I generally find everybody to be very friendly but can't help feel there are some topics that I just don't feel comfortable talking about in fear of triggering a strong response. I like visiting but would not consider moving there to raise a family. There is just a much greater chance of volitivity there. \n One time, while dinning out, I had a guy ask me, that because I didn't have a gun, what would I do if someone came to my home to rob me at gun point. I told him it never happens. But he insisted many times, but what if they did. I told him that it's not something I'd ever thought about and that I probably had a greater chance of dying on the plane ride home than being shot by an armed robber in my own home. But he kept insisting. I eventually told him I would help the robber take my stuff out of the house because that is what I have insurance for. I could not believe that this guy did not understand the concept of NO ONE (other then criminals shooting other criminals in the city) having a gun. \n I actually do have a long gun at my place in the country but that's to keep me safe from large animals that may come out of the bush. It is locked up in a gun cabinet by law. I would never think of using it against another person. I'd go to jail for sure if I did. Many of my friends hunt and have several guns but the restrictions on where and when you can use them and the strict storage requirements help ensure that they are not travelling around with a gun at hand. There are actually a few places in Canada where I've been that you do, or should, have to travel with a gun but these are remote areas of the country with large predatory animals. 99% of the population do not live in these areas.

My opinion as a Canadian with no first hand life experience in the states but personally know plenty of people who do and follow many Americans on social media.\n\nI like to look at both sides of the story when I don’t personally know any better. First thing is when it comes to health care, Canadians use only the cost as an argument but never the quality. The only time I will ever use the government funded healthcare is for a broken bone. Any other issues my knowledge and experience makes me stay far and clear away from the hospitals. However I was talking with a retired business man who spends winter in Florida and he said he had a health issue while there, was referred to a certain doctor by a friend, made an appointment within a few days, not a yearlong waitlist, and with one visit had his issues fixed. Paid the bill and was done with it. Not a story of take this for a while then come back, come back to get referred to a specialist, wait a few months for the specialist, get an appointment 6 months later, and after surgery you feel only slightly better because in your mind you should be better. I do believe Canadian healthcare is low quality and sadly designed for the government to make money. American healthcare is private and needs to offer good quality services in order to succeed.\n\n\nNext subject is violence. Everyone I know and follow in the states have never had any major acts of violence towards them. I believe just like Canada, some areas are more prone to violence but since the states have 10x more people, they have 10x more violent spots which makes it seem worse. Rural Canada and rural United States seems to me very similar in the way people treat each other. \n\n\nI wouldn’t be scared to move there if that’s what would be best. Doubt it’ll happen because I enjoy having the amount of unpopulated area to go riding atvs, snowmobiles, and whatever else. Seems like the states have less area that everyone can freely enjoy but I could be wrong

Would not ever move there. Don’t even know when I would visit there again. Maybe I’d like to go (very many great places & things to do, lots of interesting history) but I don’t really want to take a chance with all the problems there. Probably won’t be going. Not to mention the insanity that has taken hold with so many ppl- crazy crazy times - I don’t even want to say I’m Canadian down there anymore because we get such ridiculous comments. I’ve even had people turn away if they find out I’m Canadian. Yes of course it depends on where you go blah blah blah but it’s exhausting & risky so really not worth it right now. As usual Tyler you’re really starting to understand! Just the idea that people always say “this never happens somewhere like here“ & then it does. Just the thought of “I never thought it would happen at our school“ and then it happens. No thanks

If you ever come to Canada. I know your friend from Canada. He will give you the directions to our home. We would like to welcome you to visit and stay. We welcome everyone. This is not something we promote, it is who we are. It is why we love our Country. \n\nI want to see a video of you travelling to every Canadian Province and Territories. We would welcome you!???❤️

I'm British, now retired and living in Spain for 20 years. Have noticed that in the last 10 years there are an awful lot of Americans who are moving here mainly because, although they still have to have private health, it's hugely cheaper here and the service is good; also the lifestyle is more laid back and they can visit a lot of different cultures. In the late 1960s my husband and I emigrated to Toronto, Canada. Visited the US a couple of times. First to NY city, second time down to Kentucky /Tennessee. My parents came on that trip with us. Met Americans at the motels we stayed in and a couple of times my father nearly lost it (don't know how he just kept quiet) as Americans his age were quite abusive and kept on about about how we'd never be able to repay America for their help in WW2 (my father fought in that for all 6 years). Anyway left Canada after 4 years and returned to England; not because we didn't like it but I was terribly homesick. None of the Canadians we're still in touch with would ever have moved to the US.

I feel so strongly about family safety, we stopped even visiting the US in the 80’s. If forced to leave Canada, I would live anywhere but the US. Canada is where I feel safe and I never once had to worry if I sent my kids to school, would I ever see them again.

Heck no, I won't go. Ever since you elected trump and revealed that about 40% of americans suck... yeah, I won't even visit anymore.

for me the safiest places are 1. bc and 2.ontario. quebec is the worst place i have ever visited, wish i could delete it from my memory.

Drake lives in Toronto lol, he visits USA but doesn't live there sorry to break it to you. Canada gives him way to many benefits as an ambassador that he won't ever move to the states

I've recognized how blessed I am to live in a part of the states that has drinkable tap water. I've been to almost every state and almost everywhere I've been in the states, people do not drink from the tap or if they do it goes through a filter first. Where I grew up, tap water was just as good if not better than bottled water, and where I live now (few hours away from my parents) it's not as good, but definitely still drinkable.\n\nVancouver was one of my favorite places I've ever visited, hopefully one day I'll make it over to Toronto and Ontario too.

I just visited Toronto for the 1st time this past New year's weekend (1st time in Canada). Best fucking tap water I've ever had in life, no exaggeration.

I'm from Cleveland, Ohio. The weirdest but greatest thing I've ever seen in Canada was 10 years ago visiting Toronto. Two cars are involved in a minor fender bender. This Asian dude with khakis and a dress shirt pops out of the front car. Then this black dude with a durag and a basketball jersey pops out the rear car. Then they start yelling at each other in French lmao. My mind was blown. I'm like now this is diversity ?

As someone who relocated to Columbus Ohio from Atlanta - it's so not worth it.\n\nIf my job didn't move me here, I wouldn't have ever moved here.\n\nThe city is getting better tho, but not visit worthy ?

It's sad how many scams there are. This is just another example. I hate to say it but the scam started with recruiting in India. Where most of the scams you hear about start. All the calls we get and the online scams seem to start in India too. If you ever get the chance to visit beautiful India you will get to see scams on the streets from the tourist traps to the food its crazy.

I am Canadian born but left for 14 years, now returned as for covid. and I see Canada differently now. I hate it with a passion. every single word is true. next time I leave I don't care if I ever see this place again. If it was not for my family I would not even visit. work work and low quality of life exactly

I was born in USA but this man speaks 100% truth. \n\nI feel afraid, lonely , depressed in California. People are mean, rude, cold, violent. So lonely people don't talk to nobody only to fight. Too much drugs. \n\nI'm visiting my parents in Mexico and I like Mexico better. People are very friendly there is crime but not too much. Right here it is nice lovely friendly people say hi friendly neighbors.\n\nUSA is full of everything virtual, everything online and yes consumerism , materialistic and yes very plastic. Working day and night never home. Stupid. I know a lot of people like my uncle always at work never home working 7 days a week like slaves and not ever home just to sleep. Ridiculous. \n\nMy Dad retired and went back to Mexico by Otay and I'm visiting my parents a lot here in Mexico more freedom and very friendly people friendly neighbors. \n\nNot horrible lonely America. In America too much cell phones nobody talks only text. Cold people no interaction no socialize only depression, drugs, drugs, drugs, money money, money, cell phones all day and fighting . \n\nPeople mean rude in USA I fight with everybody in USA too much racism. Too much entitled crazy people. I hate it in California. I prefer Mexico or other foreign countries like Africa, Thailand, Japan, Cambodia. \n\nNo greedy money hungry commercialism capitalist USA and Europe.

as a Canadian born and bread I am sadden to hear the challenges of new comers but there are a couple pieces of advice I can offer. even Canadians have to build references at adulthood. there are ways to start out. volunteering provides not only references but a sense of contribution and and community. educators and agencies you engage with as do religious institutions and any organizations you may come evolve with for references. as far as the climate dress in\n layers, invest in sturdy boots with good tread in the colder months and to get outside and learn not only to embrace but enjoy the colder months. hike the trails. the trails year round. you can pick up a cheap pair of grippers for your boots in the sporting goods department of any Canadian tire. pick up a cheap toboggan and slide down a hill. snowshoeing after a fresh fallen snow requires endurance but very little skill. its lovely how quiet how still and silent the woods are in the winter. how bright and visible the winter landscape is at night and how lush and green the woods in summer. if in Ontario definitely visit the falls. you can find culture and history in both Montreal and Quebec especially old Quebec. most people in both are bilingual in French and English and even a word or two of French is appreciated and you can be sure of a response in English.youd also be surprised at how possible it is to communicate even with a language barrier. if you are close to Toronto, you can explore many different cultures in both neighborhoods and events. I wish you all the best in where ever your futures lie xoxo

It is better to travel to canada multiple times before you decide to move permanently! You talk to your country men in your profession and they will tell you the truth or you can figure it out! Don't ever move to any country before you visit as a tourist !!

-cries on the Canadian prairies- no one ever visits. \n\nLoved the accent! Spot on! ?

when it comes to cultural differences, what you said there is a huge huge generalization. Why? Some preferred cultural behavior might be true for tiny nations (or small geographic areas). That is because of rather reasonable distances, habits could spread all over that area within past centuries (that is how all that is made). But talking even about Russians is a heavy stereotype. By best guess your Russians from around Moscow area and those close to eastern Chinese borders would differ more than those groups of of Chinese (or Mongolian if Mongolia is also close by), that are right on the other side of that eastern border with their Russian counterparts. And of course by Russians I mean here citizens of Russia and not their ethnicity. \nSo Saying how Europeans are all reserved (which funny enough if you mean Europe geographically would include Moscow), is just a huge misstep. It is like calling all USA citizens to be same way (something you might really want to avoid doing if ever you visit USA).\nAlso Climate. First of all Ontario is not the other name for Toronto or GTA area. It is rather big province. So that weather heavily depends if you are sitting in Toronto, Ottawa, North Bay or Windsor. That humid weather as you stated is only truth for the parts that are closer to those big lakes.\nAnd for the love of god. Canada DOES NOT have a paid insurance. Each province has its own paid insurance. So while certain things might be free in one province (like emergency ambulance), it is partially paid in other province.

I visited Montreal once and that was enough the rudest people I have ever encountered. There is a vast difference between Toronto one of the friendliest cities to Montreal.makes Perth Australia yes I'm Australian seem friendly no I don't live in Perth.

The one and only time I was in Canada was a visit to Montreal. My wife and I found the people there to be the rudest people we have ever encountered in all our travels, and will never return.

I’d love to visit Atlantic Canada: all my friends here on the West Coast say it’s very nice. \nI loved living in Quebec and Montreal, but both cities are very cold in winter—and I don’t speak no french too good, hoste! \nI’m from Ontario. it probably was a beautiful place until white people got there. But it’s way too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter. Most of my family has moved out to the West Coast. I guess they missed me.\nManitoba is very nice, but you’re right about cold winters and lots of mosquitoes in summer. Winnipeg is a fantastic city. The biggest city on the North American Plains.\nSouthwest Saskatchewan is absolutely beautiful. Nuff said.\nAlberta is one of my favourite provinces—just too bad about the goofy government they got there. I lived and worked there lots over the years. Many Albertans have moved out here to the West Coast to get away from the horrid politics there.\nBC is by far the best place to live. I live in the steep rain shadow of East Vancouver Island, nice and warm, short if any winter. All my friends live here. I used to live in Victoria—we might move back there—it’s my favourite city anywhere. Vancouver is a blast—but too big for me. I wouldn’t live anywhere else in this country but BC. \nFriends tell me Yukon is great but NWT’s Yellowknife is a hell-hole. I read a great online zine from Nunavut—Nunatsiaq. As close as I’m ever gonna get.\nSo you’re ranking is not very good from my perspective. Alberta sucks because of its dependence on bitumen—and it’s not “cyclical”, it’s doomed. Tons of crazy anti-vaxxers and religious right wingers, too. Quebec is wonderful, but too, too cold in winter. Plus muh french ain’t too good, eh...

I moved to New Brunswick from Alabama in 1i972. It has been my home ever since. I cannot imagine living anywhere else. I invite everyone to visit and see that I am right. We are bilingual and proud of it! J'ai déménagé au Nouveau-Brunswick d'Alabama en 1972. Il été mon chez moi pour depuis ce temps-à. Je ne peux pas imaginer démeurer quelqueplace d'autre. J'invite n'importe quelqu'un à nous visiter pour voir que j'ai raison. Nous sommes bilingue et en sommes fier!

Pretty good Adam I'd just mention a few of those things are...I don't want to say inaccurate but way more diverse. For instance French. Yes Quebec is the only French province BUT New Brunswick is the only Bilingual province and basically half and half. This is good for things like federal of provincial services because by law they must provide service in both languages but not so basically everywhere else. The problem with this is you can have an almost completely English town almost nobody speaks French and drive 15 minutes and be in a town where nobody speaks English. Research on this might be hard because a town with a French name may not have any French people in and vise versa. Also this problem is multiplied in the fact that if you Do want a French area we don't speak standard French or Quebecois but instead Le Chiac which is a difficult and confusing mix of old French and english (almost exactly like the Cajun dialect). Second part of this is that Montreal is easy to live in if you don't speak French and is so multicultural you are just apt to hear Swahili as French in public. Last part is be very careful where you move on the prairies as they have may isolated towns some that speak French also. Next is tipping I've never had to tip anyone for a haircut outside of the military and all other forms of tipping here on the east coast are purely optional and wait staff don't get upset if you don't leave a tip unless you were a jerk or left them extra work like making a big mess (I worked as cook for a while after I got out of the army and I rarely ever head staff complain) HOWEVER....tip a waitress well and she might accidentally give you 2 pieces of pie lol and tip a taxi driver well and he will not only get you the cheapest fare he will find ANYTHING you may need no questions asked. Lastly on the nice thing....we are nice for sure especially compared to our southern neighbours BUT there is a lot of passive aggressive nice that happens and this also varies greatly. For instance as a city boy of course you answered the way you did but a guy who have lived all over this country in big and small, French and English places who now has retired to a rural town I can say I find the cities quite snobby and the French and the English can be quite snobby to each other and where I live now if you asked a random stranger for 5$ chances are you would get it also driving down the road people you don't know will just wave at you as if you were the closest friends. Canada is certainly a weird place so many extremes and my advice to anyone wanting to move here is do your research and then visit and travel a bit if possible because even us Canadians can be surprised by thing or two across this gigantic country

Bro \nAre you even from Canada? \nSome REAL TIPS \n1) Canada is expensive as fuck. Good luck on a minimum wage job. Don’t bother coming if you don’t have degrees because with such little population jobs are extremely competitive \n2) doctors visits and emergency rooms don’t cost anything upfront but do expect an 8 hour wait or 12 in a big city. Doesn’t matter what your “emergency” is... get in line. We have the longest waits in the world for things like X-rays and MRI’s. True story look it up. \n3) we have the most expense cell phone plans in the world with the shittiest coverage. In all fairness we have a small population and a massive landmass. \n4) if you’re moving to BC, car insurance is government run. So it’s extremely expensive (I think also the most expensive in the world) and it’s awful... so don’t ever get into an accident) other provinces don’t run this way. \n5) gas in BC is also very expansive because of multiple taxes, it’s affordable most places in the prairies though \n6) drinking is 18+ everywhere except BC where it’s 19+ \n\nSo if you want to live somewhere “nice” move to BC. but you’ll be poor as fuck. \nWant to live somewhere affordable, move to the prairies but it’s awful. \nYou can’t move to Quebec if you don’t speak French fluently. Toronto is okay and you won’t fit in anywhere in the eastern islands so don’t even bother. \n\nThe end.

What I have noticed all my life living in Canada is Caucasians don't like hearing the truth about anything where they are feel they are being made to look like the villain, but the objective is not to make anyone feel like they're on trial but to start acknowledging that this is going on regardless of if you've ever experienced/seen it or not. The reason Caucasians don't see it is because of what they call White Privilege. Caucasians will never have to deal with the subtleties of racism that minorities face everyday because they will never be treated that way even in other countries they visit or live. Many Caucasians aren't aware that stereotyping is racism as you will notice them say the weirdest things and make really weird assumptions like calling a Korean woman Chinese or mistaking a Hindu or Sikh for someone Islamic, which you should never do. Cultural insensitivity happens here because many Caucasians don't care much to learn about another culture and because of this there's it's creating even more issues. The race problem is Canada is huge and people are trying to say that it isn't but in the coming years more and more evidence is going to come out to the point where it will be irrefutable and there will either be a reform or civil war.

hey drew are you ever going to visit hawaii?

Trump if you can do me a favor next time Trudeau comes visiting , could you make him disappear would be nice for ever?

I would never ever live there . No way in punjabi community . I won't even visit there. I love my New York City . I'm United States citizen since 10 years and I do live with Italian Irish community . great people's and never get into another person business . God bless America ? !!!

She doesn't feel safe?????? Really???? You're in the safest country in the world which is being ruined by the mass immigration. You're safer than you'll ever be compared to the countries where you come from. Dress how you wish, but remember you're in Canada - and we have a culture too so when you separate yourself , isolate yourself, and don't integrate into a Canadian culture of course you're not going to feel the same. Why do we even give these issues so much energy and power. Its not Harper that is telling women what to wear - its your Islam society and culture that tells you what to wear. Hence, why outsider women can't visit and wear bare skin in Islam countries without shame or even punishment.

They should go the Greek way. A one way ticket home and 300 Euros. I am not saying all of them are bad, most are not but it seems the more militant ones bring disdain and misery to the English people. I was born in England & I do visit once a year. No-one (muslim) has ever bothered me and I go where I please but these militants need to be kicked out and stop this immigration allowing them to come in immediately. After all this trouble they wd be mad to let in more.