"I hated living in Canada gotta go back again!"

[lamia]

I am canadian moved to the US 4 yrs ago
I hated living there the whole time when everything is SOOO expensive and US $ converted to CDn combined with 14% tax makes it even worse! while people are paid in canadian $
I hated missing out great deals while living in Canada the whole time. NO internet shopping (due to extravagant shipping) no good deals no grocery coupons nothing!the clothing selection is too limited !
I have a new BMW a bugaboo to match it a beautiful son a grand home and everything to think of now that I moved here to the US because everything is affordable Things I can't even think of having in Canada because everything would be unaffordable!

The problem is my husband might have to move there and I am going crazy at the idea of moving there again !

I am canadian born and national myself but I love living here.Nothing to hurt any feelings of die hard canadians

I know a lot of poeple are going to be offended of course Canada has a great health system combined with great social security benefits but it is just the bargain aspect I am talking about !After all i am a shopaholic!and going nuts at the thought of moving back to Canada
I am again sorry if i hurt any feelings!Will appreciate any input

[hipmaman]

Before I even attempt to respond, may I ask what kind of input you are looking for with this post?

[cartuin]

You might be surprised how much Canada has advanced in the four years you have been gone. You can actually buy items on the internet from Canadian stores now, big progress. You can clip grocery coupons from the paper, little bit of work but worth it. I hear that there are stores called the Gap and Old Navy in some parts of Canada, might be worth the drive for a day of shopping if close enough. I have even seen beautiful children in Canada!!

I am also not sure what kind of input you are looking for.

[lamia]

That is what i need...some input about how advanced Canada is now compared to 4 yrs ago in 2000

[Piglet]

Ummm... let's see, we no longer live in igloos, we traded our dogsled in for a car, we even upgraded from beaver pelts to real currency. Now that I think about it, we have running water, centralized heating, and indoor plumbing! How is that for progress?

You will have to forgive me, but I am astounded by your post. You are not moving to a third world country. You are moving to a wonderful place with nice people, great living conditions, good schools and plenty of opportunity. If your post is serious, then I really would like to know what it is that you are looking for as a response. Are you writing to brag about your BMW and Bugaboo and expensive tastes? Are you writing to show an utter lack of appreciation for Canada? Are you just really ignorant? If you have a specific question about shopping in Canada or baby gear availability, post away. If you are trolling, then please do not post in this forum.

Proudly Canadian,

[darby24]

EDIT: I've decided to take everything back. And to think, I had this great post written and chickened out and toned it down. Now really wish I hadn't. I'll leave what still applies in my mind.

I've now got better things to do than console some poor doctor who hates Vancouver. Boo hoo! If this truly isn't bait, you've really started off on the wrong foot and I would be surprised to see someone come to your aid in the future.

Didn't your mother tell you; if you don't have anything nice to say, say nothing at all!



I personally have found that your posts have come across with too much of a negative put down of the people you're trying to get help from. That's not going to get you very far. A general life tip is not too take jabs at people who could help you.

JMO.


Happy 40th National Flag Day to all my true fellow Canucks!
http://www.vintagesnowmobiles.50megs.com/canada%20flag.gif

[darby24]

Only 15 days left? Good luck with everything! Can't wait to hear your details.

[hipmaman]

Are you sure that you want to know how things are now in Canada or is this just to "b!tching around" as you so succintly put in the Bitching Post Forum? http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=18&topic_id=15538&mesg_id=15555&page=

A poster said she would gladly traded with you for a chance to live in Canada just for universal healthcare and paid mat. leave. You then replied that "I don't have to pay much for health care because I am a physician myself"

Well, healthcare is more than medical diagnosis for yourself and family! What about all the associated costs when you have to be hospitalised?

I would say that if you seriously agonising about relocating to Canada, then do yourself and family a favour by visiting the city to which your family most likely relocating and see for yourself how things are there. After all, where one lives is one of the most important issues in one's life, especially if there are children involved. Why b!tch about it or take strangers' words on what is so important.

Short of an actual trip, do a bit of research to read up on Canada in the 21 century. Last I heard, Canada ranked in the top few countries with high standard of living (way higher than the US). But wait... that might not matter since marks were given based on health/economic/social issues, instead of shopping. I'm not saying we don't have problems. But problems and benefits come hands in hands and they are different for each individual/family.

If you are trying to get agreement on how expensive things are in Canada. I am sure there are many of us on this forum would agree with you -- emphatically. But if you are serious about getting feedback on life in Canada, then I would suggest re-wording your questions properly so that you get the right and constructive feedback, instead of responses like mine which is a result of being offended by your posts.

[darby24]

I never check that forum, too bad I posted before then. I definitely would have re-worded my post as well!

[bubbaray]

I find it VERY hard to believe that this post is genuine! Personally I think its bait.

For starters, the poster seems to have a marginal grasp of written English -- I would expect a more professional and grammatically correct writing style from a "real" physician. Also, I've never heard a Canadian refer to themselves as a "national" -- all the Canadians I know use the words "citizen", "resident" or "landed immigrant".

Secondly, if s/he really is a physician, why would s/he be clipping coupons from the paper?!?!? Give me a BREAK!!!! Worrying about money??? Puleeez! Ship the B-mer and the Frog to Canada, keep the "grand home" in the US for vacations and quit whining.

I am sooooo sick of Canada being portrayed as a freakin' backwater, third world country. If you think Canada sucks, fine -- don't move back. There's no vacancy in the igloo anyway.



Melissa
Mom to Maya http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/binky.gif & Dog Mom to Bubba http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/dog.gif

http://www.babysfirstsite.org/newtickers/ticker/11089.birthday.png

[cartuin]

There's no vacancy in the igloo anyway.

Thanks for the laugh with that great line!!! :D

[lamia]

OK here for all those offended people.
-I am NOT trying to depict Canada as a third world country.Certainly it is not! I have lived in Vancouver BC and think it is the most beautiful place I have ever lived in .I will be moving there anyway if I do.I love waterfront,downtown Vancouver and the sky trains there.

-I am NOT worrying about money .I am still a resident physician in Psychiatry and my huband has a great job in Computers.Being a physician does NOT mean you are a millionare! I still have to pay off student loans,house bills,day care for my son tons of other bills that other people dont' have!!.That with my addiction for shopping for Cool baby stuff does not help at all!.Combined with Canada's strict policies for accepting American trained doctors I am bound to be taking a big Pay cut if I move there.

- I was in Canada in 2000 last time at that time internet shopping was almost non existent.If i ordered anything from the US it would be held at the postoffice and I had to pay tons of duty before I could pick it up.That pissed me off big time.I think things might have changed now and the value of the Canadian $ has also increased so maybe I can shop from local sites or Ebay now..

- I think I was just wanting to vent and that is it.For all those people pissed off I am sorry and hope to see you in Canada.
-

[smiliedds]

Am I in the wrong forum? Isn't this a forum about baby bargins in Canada? I am shocked to log on and find 'this'!!!

OT: I lived in the States too but for only 1 year. And I love shopping too. But for all the things I had access to when I was there, I am still glad that I am back. Uhm, I don't want to hurt anyone's feeling so I'll stop here.

Rebecca

[nov04]

I'm still trying to figure out 1. why this needed to be cross posted from the bitching forum and 2. Why on earth would something like this be posted in forum with Canadian members? I think this could have been worded a lot less offensively especially since you were looking for help.

edited to take out "pro"!!!!!!

[JeanneD]

>I'm still trying to figure out 1. why this needed to be cross
>posted from the bitching forum and 2. Why on earth would
>something like this be posted in a pro-Canadian forum? I
>think this could have been worded a lot less offensively
>especially since you were looking for help.

I agree that the original post could have been worded a lot better, but...

This is a Canadian forum, not necessarily a pro-Canadian forum. We're here for baby bargains, not national boosterism. Besides, if complaining about better shopping in the US means one isn't a "true Canadian," then I guess there must be a lot of fake Canadians out there. Including all my relatives! LOL.

Anyway, on a more positive note, I think it would be a great idea to put together a "baby gear survival guide" for families moving from the US (or other countries) to Canada. For instance:

- Links to Canadian online stores, to give an idea of the prices.
- What specialty items are widely available and reasonably priced in Canada (e.g., Robeez shoes, Kooshies stuff, locally-made nursing and maternity clothes).
- What specialty items are unavailable in Canada (e.g. certain clothing and stroller brands), and how much hassle/cost would be involved in importing them.
- The importance of having that magical and mysterious bilingual sticker on your car seat.

I admit to having a personal interest in such a guide, since there's a chance that our family could be moving back to Canada after several years in the US. Unlike the original poster, I'd be mostly happy about such a move...but then, I'm not a shopoholic. ;-) ) (I would miss the thrift shops and yard sales, though. The big spenders here think nothing of tossing out all kinds of great stuff!)

[psophia17]

I think the idea of a baby gear survival guide is AWESOME!

I moved to Vancouver from NY in August, 2004, and I'm still reeling with confusion over where to get things, only to find out that said things are either unavailable or completely unaffordable...and I'm not 10 minutes away from the stinking border!

[Piglet]

Hi,

While I agree that this is not a "pro-Canadian" forum, generally you will get more positive responses when asking a question by not offending the people who might consider answering. If the OP had phrased her question in such a manner as - "I was wondering where everyone buys baby stuff in Canada", she would have received many responses. We have all been there and done that... we have all ogled things that we can't get in Canada. I have griped many times about Gap Maternity not shipping here, but I have always been impressed with how many great things we can get.

I think complaining about Canada is a national pasttime (particularly now that the hockey season is cancelled). I am all for a good rant session now and then, but I realise that we have it pretty good all in all. My issue with the poster is that she wasn't looking for answers, she was looking to put down Canada, or at least that is how she came off. She never specified what kid of baby gear she was looking for, just that she hated the thought of moving back to such a backwater country with her expensive tastes. I was offended by the tone of the post and the fact that she needed reassurance that things have improved since 2000 - they weren't all that bad in 2000! They aren't all that bad now and they definitely are light years ahead of many countries in the world.

We are all on these forums to find good info on baby gear, but ultimately if our strollers were garbage, our bedding was minimal, and our clothing was non-designer, we would still be happy. Thankfully, we have healthy children, wonderful homes, good friends, etc. I consider those things more important than the ability to ship pretty maternity clothes from the US, and that has nothing to do with the country I call home.

[nov04]

You're making much more out of this post than I intended. We all seem to be here to make the very best out of being Canadians consumers. That's what I mean about being pro-Canadian not what you're talking about! I probably would have worded it differently if I had more than 2 hours of sleep 2 nights in a row.

[Piglet]

Thanks for the well wishes. Today is my last day of work (yay for the 1 year mat leave, while we are on the subject of what makes Canada great)! The baby's eviction papers have been served and I am getting pretty excited.