let's start off with some intros, eh? (argh! i can't stop saying that....)
so i started this tribe after being part of the Vancouver tribes for sometime, which i love, but still feel a little left out of them anyway. i'm always having this internal discourse on the binary of either side of the border, which i'm sure comes out in these tribes and annoys some canadians. hence, the tribe.
anyway, my husband grew up in vancouver, and now he teaches at ubc. we came from los angeles a year ago, and we're going back and forth between LA and Vancouver a lot! i'm liking vancouver a lot (i even like the rain), despite the complexities with taxes, statuses, etc., that comes along with border crossing.
what's it like for other americans in other parts of canada? are there other american vancouverites here?
so i started this tribe after being part of the Vancouver tribes for sometime, which i love, but still feel a little left out of them anyway. i'm always having this internal discourse on the binary of either side of the border, which i'm sure comes out in these tribes and annoys some canadians. hence, the tribe.
anyway, my husband grew up in vancouver, and now he teaches at ubc. we came from los angeles a year ago, and we're going back and forth between LA and Vancouver a lot! i'm liking vancouver a lot (i even like the rain), despite the complexities with taxes, statuses, etc., that comes along with border crossing.
what's it like for other americans in other parts of canada? are there other american vancouverites here?
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Vancouver
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Re: Introduce Yourself!
Fri, October 15, 2004 - 11:26 AMMy name's Rich, I grew up in Tacoma, moved to Seattle when I was 24, moved to Vancouver 8 years later. Nice to meet you!
When I lived in Seattle I struck up an online relationship with a very nice woman in Vancouver. After two years and dozens of trips between Seattle and Van, we were looking for a way to stay together, and who would move where. I got a scholarship to a film school in Vancouver and have lived here for two years.
And we got married as soon as I moved here :)
Done with school now, waiting on my Permanent Residence so I can work in the (from what I hear) thriving film industry here. IN the meantime, spending a lot of my days in the Vancouver tribes and trying to be a good househusband. Do you have your Residency yet? -
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Re: Introduce Yourself!
Fri, October 15, 2004 - 12:22 PMi just got it last month! it took about a year and a half....seemed long, but i guess that's pretty good for a bureaucracy. now i'm waiting for my medical insurance to kick in, praying that it does before i deliver our second child next month! even still, without insurance the cost of doing so isn't bad compared to what you're charged in the US without insurance (for my first child, the hospital charged the insurance company something like $10,000)...
nice to meet you too, rich!
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Re: Introduce Yourself!
Fri, October 15, 2004 - 12:39 PMHello, my name is Shannon. I crossed the border 3 years ago from Minneapolis to Calgary. My husband and I have been married since Feb. 28th, 2004 and I'm currently working on my Permanent Resident status. We currently live in very cold, very snowy Edmonton but I don't feel too far from Minneapolis because it's just like this down there, minus the mosquitos. Have had my healthcare since March and I couldn't be happier.. I love Alberta Capitol Health :) Even my mother is extremely jealous of me LOL.
It's nice to meet some fellow Americans living in the Great White North and I look forward to getting to know you all :) BTW, am I not the only American who is totally grossed out by fries and gravy? My husband just loves that stuff but it's so disgusting to me :P -
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Re: Introduce Yourself!
Fri, October 15, 2004 - 1:45 PMwe had fries and gravy in my hometown in Pennsylvania, but have you tried poutine?--fries, gravy, and melted cheese curds? when it's good, it's good, but when it's bad...well, you can imagine. i don't know how these canadians stay so healthy here, with all their fatty foods, like nanaimo bars (butter cream????) and trifle!
my brother-in-law is from edmonton...you should check out the movie FUBAR for a glimpse into canadian headbanger lifestyle (i think the movie is set edmonton). i had to be schooled on some of the lingo though....but it was a hilarious movie! -
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Re: Introduce Yourself!
Fri, October 15, 2004 - 3:50 PMIm originally from Saint Louis, Missouri. The PI running the lab that my wife was working in for her graduate degree accepted a position at UofT and invited her along. So here we are in Toronto. Been here about a year and a half so far.
I love it here. There are a lot of little differences, however. Like the ketchup. It tastes sweeter here, and ketchup flavored potato chips.
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Re: Introduce Yourself!
Fri, October 15, 2004 - 5:13 PMLOL yah, I've seen Fubar.. it was set in Calgary. Hilarious movie.
"Hey let's go grab a twofer and just 'giver!" -
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Re: Introduce Yourself!
Sat, October 16, 2004 - 4:52 PMI grew up moving around the US (Boston, Houston, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Minneapolis, D.C.) and moved to Canada for a relationship that ultimately didn't work out, but I am SO glad I stayed.
I've been in Toronto for the past 7 years but am moving to the Sunshine Coast, B.C. in November :)
Margo
www.practicalhippie.com
www.informationdistillery.com -
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Re: Introduce Yourself!
Mon, October 18, 2004 - 1:50 PMHi all, I want to start off by asking if I can join your tribe even thought I am Canadian? I was born in Calgary but moved to So Cal when I was 4. I moved back (Montreal) 2 years ago. I still feel like an outsider. All of the locals refer to me as “the American” -
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Re: Introduce Yourself!
Mon, October 18, 2004 - 3:12 PMwhy the heck not? identity is a fluid thing, no? do you feel like an outsider because you liked so cal? or is it because once you are tainted with a certain level of americanism, you can't wash out the stain no matter how hard you try, like lady macbeth? heh. -
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Re: Introduce Yourself!
Tue, October 19, 2004 - 9:35 AMWell, living in Québec is like nothing I have ever thought existed in North America. It has a lot of good things and bad things. One thing that is always present is the dislike towards Americans. I don’t mean like if someone gets the idea that you are an American that they will start anything but if you take any “better than you” attitude you are in for some trouble. -
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Re: Introduce Yourself!
Thu, October 21, 2004 - 8:00 AMHi, I am a French Canadian born in Montreal, Quebec, but like Dr. I feel like an outsider since I lived in Los Angeles (1 1/2 year) and China (9 months). Good think I love the rain because over there it rains much more than in Vancouver; by the way I was in Vancouver one week and I loved it.
I presently live in Cornwall, Ontario, waiting for my Green card to move into my husband's Mohawk Territory (Akwesasne, NY) just across the border. So for me it is the other way around, I am waiting to move to USA but I do not feel like I belong to any country, just that the red tape administrative paper work around "crossing" is just ridiculous. That must me because my husband is Native and I can see how easy it is for Natives to go anywhere they want without the hassle.
Dr.'s comment about Québec made me smile. It is very true, living in Québec is nothing like living any other place, not even Ontario. The way French Canadians think is also very different than the other part of Canada. Where do you live, Dr. ?
Sophie
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Re: Introduce Yourself!
Fri, October 22, 2004 - 12:38 AMHey I also live in Montreal. I was born in Texas and, besides Montreal, I have lived in New York City, Tel Aviv, Paris, and Bordeaux. I've been in Montreal for the last 3 1/2 years. I have been studying and am now applying for my residency. I love Montreal but sometimes get freaked about how long the winter is...
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Re: Introduce Yourself!
Thu, October 21, 2004 - 7:58 AMI was born & raised in bc,never lived in the U.S.A but wanted to join this tribe for 3 reasons
1: to say welcome to you refugees
2: to get a diferant pespective on liveing here
3: to say WOO HOO welcome to BC Margo! hope you love it as much as I do. oh and cus it's a small tribe(easyer to manage) -
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Re: Introduce Yourself!
Thu, October 21, 2004 - 10:55 AMSophie, I live in Montreal.
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Re: Introduce Yourself!
Mon, November 22, 2004 - 4:15 PMLike Chris, I'm born and bred in BC.
I have a lot of American friends who are very dear to me and on the whole, I like Americans and wish to welcome any and all of them to Canada.
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Re: Introduce Yourself!
Mon, October 25, 2004 - 11:08 AMhello.
i moved to vancouver in jan 2001 to be w/ my vancouverite boyfriend. we got married in july 2003. still working on my permanent residency status. not easy, but worth it.
i simply love it here. vancouver is beautiful. i feel as if it was custom made for me. i have so many friends already and am deep into the music scene. i had 5 local bands play at our wedding recepetion and we even went on tour w/ one of them for our honeymoon!
i'm an ex-pat to the full extent of the word. i even refer to myself as canadian sometimes. i am a true hockey fan (GO canucks!) and don't even talk to me about beer. just call me a beer NUT. my mother-in-law works for mission springs brewing company, the best microbrew i've ever tasted. she even gets us free kegs every once in a while!
SO glad to get out of the states w/ its rampant supremist patriotism. my twin sister and her husband will be moving here in january. and pending on the outcome of the election, so will 3 or 4 of my closest friends. this really is my home away from home. -
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Re: Introduce Yourself!
Tue, October 26, 2004 - 11:31 AMoh yeah,
...and my husband's cousin was actually IN Fubar! The part that was filmed in High River. Awesome.
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Re: Introduce Yourself!
Sun, November 7, 2004 - 2:15 PMHi, my name is Leah nad I joined because I am wanting to BECOME an expat to Canada. I can NOT imagine living here under the Bush regime another four years. I currently live near Sacramento, CA, nd I ma thinking of moving to Victoria, BC -
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Re: Introduce Yourself!
Tue, November 16, 2004 - 10:03 PMI too am here (in this Tribe) because I want to get out of here (Bush/Nike empire). I currently live in Fremont, California (Bay Area) and I am giving some serious thought to heading North--likely Vancover.
So I took the "skilled worker" assessment test on the website and shot a 78. They say anything over 67-68 is a pass. If this is so, how long do you thing it would it take for the paperwork to be approved if I applied now and wanted to move after approval? -
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Re: Introduce Yourself!
Mon, November 22, 2004 - 3:59 PMWhich website is this?
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Unsu...
Re: Introduce Yourself!
Mon, November 8, 2004 - 1:04 PMOriginally came to Saskatoon, Sk. six years ago on a year work visa. Moved to Toronto then Edmonton and finally Vancouver for the past two years.
I am nearing the end of my application process and awaiting word on my permanent residency, like some others here.
None too soon seeing the outcome of the election.....
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Re: Introduce Yourself!
Mon, November 22, 2004 - 10:03 AMHiya, Mama B. and group;
Call me "Joe"
I came to Vancouver in 1971, at age 18. Hitchhiked up from Sacramento, lived in parks, mooched, got credible ID. Found jobs, friends, apartments (then typically $75/mo.).
I had previously lived on USMC bases for all but three years of my life. I found the gun-play, incivility, and grinding poverty 'off base' most unpromising for any future down there. In fact, I was terrifed by the driveby shootings, 'disappearings' of friends, police intrusions.
There was eventually an immigration amnesty, and I got my status 'regularized'. Now I'm a dual citizen. As I understand it, Yanks no longer necessarily lose US citizenship on naturalization to a foriegn country, and Canada has no problem with however many passports, citizenships, residencies, etc one has.
It is truely paradisical up here (though less so than before in MetroVancouver).
It is _very_ difficult to find a 'niche' and life here can be incredibly expensive.
J.
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Re: Introduce Yourself!
Mon, November 22, 2004 - 3:54 PMI just moved to Vancouver in August on a student visa.
I moved because Rent and school are cheaper and for other personal reasons. I anticipated Bush's reelection. At the time, the exchange rate was better.
I lived in San Francisco for 9 years, then LA for one and moved my butt up here.
It is great; I would love to stay past my student visa. But right now I am concentrating on school and finding under the table work. I really need some income.
It's nice to find this place.
I'm looking forward to discussing my likes, dislikes and experiences good and bad about Canada!
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Re: Introduce Yourself!
Fri, March 4, 2005 - 4:06 PMI wouldn't mind having some income as well. Holy... But it was all still worth it.
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Re: Introduce Yourself!
Mon, November 29, 2004 - 11:07 AMI'm Carolyn in Toronto, born and raised here.
I'm researching about moving an American here. Are there really good sites out there outlining all the things you can do and need to do? I'm tryng to figure out how much moving costs, how long it takes, and what sort of things are required.
C
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Re: Introduce Yourself!
Tue, November 30, 2004 - 7:34 PMI'm not yet an american vancouverite, but am aspiring to be. I'm cashing in on my dual citizenship and aim to get up there within a year. Does anyone have any advice on house and job hunting? On transitioning and relocating via long distance? (I'm currently in San Francisco)
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Re: Introduce Yourself!
Mon, December 13, 2004 - 6:31 AMHi! My grandma was Canadian, and I spent a year living in Sooke and Victoria back in 93-94. Canada has once again become interesting to me... I love the natural beauty, the nearly-legalized pot, the wise stance on Iraq, and I can marry whoever I want! I'm a bit of a snowbird, with plans to spend time in Mexico, Australia, or Asia during the cold dark time (helps with my S.A.D.). -
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Re: Introduce Yourself!
Fri, December 17, 2004 - 7:52 AMHiya Folks, My name is Garyth and I'm planning to come "home" by late spring, my girlfriend, Ashley, and I are presently in Petaluma CA having our 55 bus engine rebuilt.
I was born in montreal in 65 to English parents, lived in an english bubble in a place called hudson heights, and moved to Britain when I was 8, always kept the Canadian passport knowing that I was going to be living there someday,I left Britain some 14 years ago and have got here via Taiwan, the Philippines and would you believe it Grants Pass! I have been trying to get out of here since the outbreak of war, various things have kept me here, some fantastic , some fuckin' not, I'm not to sure what it will be like to be a legite citizen as oppossed to, overstaying visas, having outa state drivers licence, no health insurance etc etc, Ashley and I will be getting married, but we are not sure where or when, and , if at all, it will affect her application for residency, anyways, we are pushing for spring, we have some friends in Comox, but will probably be having to go where there is more work, ie Vancouver. I work as a self employed house painter, and we will have the added hoops with boondocking in our bus conversion, we can't wait to turn the key!!! -
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Re: Introduce Yourself!
Fri, March 4, 2005 - 4:08 PMIf you're a painter, I don't think you'll have any problems. There is a lot of painting going on in Vancouver. Especially (I'm told) for making things look pretty for the olympics.
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Re: Introduce Yourself!
Fri, March 4, 2005 - 4:11 PMThere's a book called "Prescription for Nutritional Healing" that I used in college in the US and that was my healthcare. That (or something like it) might help.
I had a free dentist visit since I've been here. Knew a dentist...
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Re: Introduce Yourself!
Sat, February 12, 2005 - 1:13 PMI'm actually a 4th generation Vancouverite who's travelled away from home too much. I'm recently back after my most recent stint in NZ-OZ persuing yet another long distance relationship (of many including with LA queen Koren) and I *this time* I've learned my lesson, SWBC is the best in the world, my first love and I'll never leave again! Ya right.
So having been a refugee myself and wanting to help other refugees get comfortable in Lostus Land I have a lot of compassion and time for those who are trying to make this amazing place there home... Despite the trials of Immigration Canada, people less friendly in real terms than New Yorkers! and all the other trials and tribulations.
Behaviourly I'm a very American Canadian. Meaning I'm not so conservative in my personality.
I'm one of the longest community people in Tribal Harmonix but moreso in the predecessor of THX, MindBodyLove, by and large founded by Ken and Brian. It is hard to break into Vancouver cliques and I've travelled too much internationally to have really sucessfully done it myself. But whatever 'old timer' status I can bestow on any American immigrant would be my pleasure.
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Re: Introduce Yourself!
Fri, March 4, 2005 - 3:55 PMPlease excuse my anonymity. I'm Miseur X and I got the fuck out of the US. I think the US has created and done some great things like Shelby Cobras, and has the Geand Canyon and many beautiful people, but I didn not enjoy the thought of being put into a privatized prison system because I had some ganja because someone wants to make money.
I also did not want to pay taxes that were going to things like creating the AIDS virus, bombing human beings FOR ANY REASON, paying police to oppress me, paying into social security and unemployment insurance that is not there when I need it, rampant greed and (the things discessed in the movie "The Corporation" although in Canada, not to the same extreme.
The people here are just so nice. I know, not everybody, but generally. I love .93 cent CDN pizza, The New Amsterdam Cafe, Da Kine before it closed, The Spirit Within, Canadian women, people in general I can just talk to so easily...
Now for that SIN number and passport... Why make it so difficult? I felt proud on Canada Day. Isn't that enough? :-)
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Re: Introduce Yourself!
Wed, April 13, 2005 - 3:37 PMI grew up in the US and moved to Vancouver, BC in Jan 2005. My husband got a job here and we both got 3 year work permits (apparently there is a new program that if one spouse gets a work permit through a Canadian company, then the spouse also qualifies for a work permit).
Mama B did you get your Care Card in time for the baby? We just got ours the other day, and our first baby is due next month. -
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Re: Introduce Yourself - My Turn.
Mon, April 18, 2005 - 11:07 AMMy name's Jed.
I came up here just over two years ago to be with my Canadian lady. I'm on the second year of a work permit and waiting for my residency to kick in (God knows how much longer that'll take...).
I moved here from Queens, NY. Still love NYC, but lived there my whole life and saw this as an opportunity to try something different. I think Vancovuer's pretty sweet, awesome balance of mountains/nature and city. My only complaint would be the smaller scope of bars, clubs, live music and musicians, but it's fair to say that I was spoiled when I lived in New York.
I'm starting to find roots here, and good friends, which is great.
~j -
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Re: Introduce Yourself - My Turn.
Mon, April 18, 2005 - 9:16 PMIt takes about two years to get settled in to Vancouver. I don't know what it is about the place.
I'm Canadian, and I never had problems meeting people in Toronto, Ottawa or Montreal, but I'm having a hard time here.
I've been here 19 months. Hopefully in the fall I'll see some turnaround. By then my fiance will be here, so we'll be able to find our scene together.
And I hear you on the clubs, night life, etc. I moved from the Toronto area and I miss the night life stuff too. Though, not as large as NYC, Toronto had a bigger and more varied entertainment scene.
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Re: Introduce Yourself - and Andy Stochansky
Tue, April 19, 2005 - 10:19 AMI hear so many people talk about how this is an unfriendly city, and I gotta tell ya, I'm trying to think of any way I can to majorly improve the situation.
BUT I'M ONLY ONE MAN!
I'm not the kind of person to complain and not do anything about it, so I actually HAVE put together a couple of events and parties, and they've been great- everyone wants to know when the next one is happening.
But it's incredibly hard to keep the momentum going by yourself, and still keep your day job. If everybody kept rotating the hosting of events, bringing in each of thier circles of friends to mix it up, I think the world would be a better and friendlier place. (I know you people are out there but the problem is I haven't had the pleasure of meeting you yet!)
I realize it's hard when you just move to a new city. And it's a hell of a lot easier when you live somewhere where you've had frineds for ten years-plus. I guess it'll all just take some time and effort....
I went to see Andy Stochansky at the Media Club last night.
He was forced to play at 7:30 (early show).
The semi-crowded club was enjoying the show but not overwhelmingly. He finished his set and came out for an encore (people were clapping in long appreciation, but not hooting and howling...). He walked past the stage, straight from the backroom into the crowd, walked up to people and asked them to get up, come to the front, dance. The rest of the band set up and he started into a song.
The difference, for him, and for us (the audience), between everyone sitting down and enjoying the music, to standing together in front of the stage and movng as one, was amazing. He did a quick tomtom drum solo, even though he's a singer and already has a drummer. He sang with a lot of passion and he invited us into his world. Then he closed with a gorgeous ballad and walked of the stage, knowing he personally was able to bring the show up, about 6 notches...simply by having the balls to walk past the invisible line of the stage, into the crowd, and ASK people to join him.
Something like that is worth trying, in eveyday, daily life situations. Wouldn't it be worth it some days, if you could bring your mood and the mood of those around you up, about 6 notches? I'm going to work on this...
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Re: Introduce Yourself - and Andy Stochansky
Wed, April 20, 2005 - 7:55 PMI'm wanting to know more about this alleged unfriendliness in Vancouver. I'm originally from New England, where they don't exactly warm up to newcomers right away - when we moved from Connecticut to Vermont it took people two and a half years to welcome me into their clan. And when I moved to SF, although the people out here are by far friendlier, it took me about a couple of years to make real friends out here, too - mainly because lots of people out here are flighty. So what's worse? How does Vancouver stack up? Is it because the people are that reserved, or are these just the musings of newcomers trying to hit their stride and find their niche? I'm very curious, as I'm seriously, seriously considering moving there. -
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Re: Introduce Yourself - and Andy Stochansky
Wed, April 20, 2005 - 11:21 PMI'm just going to use this as an example, but when I moved to Toronto, I'd found about half a dozen hangout buddies within my first two weeks of living there.
After 19 months of living here, I have two friends, and one of them is an old friend from back in Ontario. The other is a very busy student and spends a great deal of time focussing on her relationship.
I have a nodding acquaintance with most of my neighbours, and the deepest and most meaniful relationship I have with anyone I've met in BC is with the sales girl who works the cosmetics counter at the Shoppers Drug Mart at Broadway and Commercial.
I've found that the population here is very transient, so people wait to see if you are going to stick it out before they decide to be friends with you. And "friends" seems to be a very superficial thing. It's like there are people you don't know, and then you have your friends.
The city is competitive, but not in the way I'm used to it being competitive. Here, it seems that one competes by what one does outside of work, and bragging rights go to the person who works the least, plays the most, and does the more extreme sport, all while keeping a roof over their head and the wolves from the door.
It's funny, I've heard people complain that the city is so unfriendly, and then turn around and act stunned and annoyed that a stranger is talking to them.
It's just funny that way. -
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Re: Introduce Yourself - and Andy Stochansky
Thu, April 21, 2005 - 8:40 AMTo be fair, I've never moved anywhere else in my life.
I've traveled rather extensively, but NYC was always my home base. So I'm not the one who can compare different cities...in this way.
Maybe when people move to NY, they feel cast out. I don't know. I was always one of the ones doing the welcoming.
Lori's absolutely right about the transient population and the odd competition ("Who's Got the Coolest Life, According to Whatever Magazine"). I think she lives in Kits, 'cause that's where I saw it most.
Maybe all these people were new in Vancouver once, too, and looked for a circle of friends. It took so long, that when they found it, they turned their back to the outside and never looked back again.
Jesus Christ, I'm turning into a drama queen.
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Re: Introduce Yourself - and Andy Stochansky
Thu, April 21, 2005 - 11:07 AMI don't live in Kits.
If it's this bad in Hippy Lesbian Ville (aka Commercial Drive) I shudder to think how bad it is in Kits. There are also a lot of judgements made here based around food. Vegetarian/vegan is an accepted norm, and if your dog isn't on a raw food diet, you are a neglectful owner.
My roommate, also a BC transplant, also thinks that the lack of nightlife and coldness is also part of the pot head culture that is so prevalent in BC. Pot heads don't tend to get up to a lot of activity in the evenings, and don't tend to socialize much out of their social circles.
I think you are right about people turning their backs on new people. Once you're in, you stay in.
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