I have been in Canada for almost a month now, and there are definitely a few differences from England. From University life to city life, there have been a number of changes in workload, nights out and sport.
- The size
Canada is a massive country. I never realised how big until my classmates told me that they travelled 8 hours to get to University. My plane ride here was 7 hours and I came from a different country! However, the great thing about Canada means that there’s so much to explore with multiple provinces and cities. There are so many breathtaking sites from parks, rivers and buildings and it is definitely helping my instagram content…
- Money
This is probably the only negative part about Canada. The tax. Almost all exchange students can agree that it’s the biggest shock here, which constantly surprises you. In England we have our tax included in prices, so I know exactly what I’m paying. However, in Canada I always seem to forget about this little extra addition when i’m converting prices back to pounds.
3. Education
Canadians definitely have a heavier workload. In the UK the majority of subjects have coursework and final exams at the end of the semester (I understand not all courses are the same). However, in Canada each course is made up of three or four components and the majority with a midterm. So this is quite strange revising during the middle of the semester. Although there are multiple assignments and exams, it does mean that you have multiple chances to improve your grade throughout the semester, instead of relying on performing your best at the end of the semester.
4. Alcohol and nightlife
In the UK we’re used to being able to buy alcohol from almost all supermarkets and corner shops. In Canada alcohol is much harder to find. There’s only one store, the LCBO, that Canadians are able to buy alcohol from. Although it does make alcohol more inconvenient to buy, it does to an extent make it more special, as the LCBO is quite a fancy liquor store. The nightlife is also rather different, not only is the drinking age in Ottawa 19 but most pubs, bars and clubs close at 2am.
- Sport
The Canadians love their sport and not just ice hockey! I was fortunate enough this year to go to the annual Panda Game of Carleton University versus the University of Ottawa. Although I didn’t completely understand what was going on at this football game, that doesn’t mean it was any less of a good time. The school spirit was contagious, and it was a great day to celebrate Canadian culture, despite having some very British weather.
