Living in a new city in a different province than where I grew up has been a really interesting experience so far! It’s funny, but there are all of these small things that I catch sometimes that are just a little different than back home. When I notice the little things I usually exclaim about how bizarre it is, but never get as much of a reaction as I expect. Maybe it’s because I’m a known over-exaggerator. I guess you have to be in my head to get it. Anyway, I thought I’d share my list of stuff that I’ve noticed to be different. Maybe some of you will get it.
Driving – Driving here is different, but not too much. People don’t get winter tires in winter, which is a bit strange to me and I sort of feel like I might die without them. And when you’re driving by a bus that wants to get into your lane, it’s not mandatory for you to stop for them so we just keep on driving by. Which is nice because then you don’t get stuck behind the bus!
ID Cards – In BC when you get your ID card it’s all fancy on plastic with cool holograms and things. But here, it’s just plain. Apparently they only recently moved over to plastic instead of paper ID cards. And the heath card that I got is still a little piece of paper rather than a card. Weird.
Health Care - In BC you have to pay a premium for health care depending on what your yearly income is. In Manitoba, it’s free!!! Woohoo!
There is pizza everywhere – I don’t know what brought there to be so many pizza places here, but a friend and I ended up seeing 5 in 2 blocks. And it’s ridiculously cheap! In Vancouver, a large multiple topping pizza is between $15-20 but here it’s like $10! And if you like only cheese like me, then it’s cheaper! Hallelujah! Little Caesar’s $5 pizza FTW!
Eating out is pricey – If you’re getting anything other than a large pizza, eating out is really tricky for those on a budget. The cheapest food that I’ve found has been around $11-$13 for lunch, and if you’re going for dinner it only goes up from there. In Vancouver, there are tons of places that you can go to get super cheap food, and tons of variety. I miss going for $8 dinners!
Blue skies – When I first moved here in the summer, I realized just how much sunshine Vancouver doesn’t get. With 3 weeks of pure blue skies, I was convinced that it was too sunny here. But now I’m more used to it, and am glad for the light during such short days.
The cold, obviously – Everybody knows that it gets ridiculously cold in Winnipeg, but I just thought that I would reiterate it. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced weather under -10°C in Vancouver, but here I’ve already lived through -20ºC and that’s not even the worst of it!
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
I’ve moved somewhere knew recently and have found things are better, more options for food and shopping etc but less countryside for walking. i miss the green!
And -20 seems INSANE! people over here in the good old UK go nuts if we have any snow at all. seriously, ransacked supermarkets and everything shuts! as if we have the plague!
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I find that by January I’m usually used to the cold weather. It’s nice when the spring starts to come around and those -5 to -10 temps seem so warm in comparison.
heh…I lived in Calgary before moving to Vancouver, where they still also have paper health cards (totally weird)…but the snow tire thing freaks me out! Isn’t there a lot of snow there?? Ah! And everytime an American someone says, ‘Oh, free Health Care in Canada!’, I’m like…Uh, no. I have to pay. A hell of a lot, actually. Silly BC!
I’m from a small mountain town in BC to and used to live in Vancouver and now I live in Saskatoon. I’ve noticed the same things as you!
I have also noticed that: they call nicky nicky nine doors here knock knock ginger and they also use the term “dinner” for either lunch or supper.
I like the free health care and I also like the fact that since I moved from out of province with a post secondary degree I get money every year!
I loved hearing your take on it. Winnipeg is a weird place. I agree about eating out not being cheap. Unless it’s fast food, you’re in for at least 11 plus plus plus. But, the blue skys can’t be beat. Well, i guess sand and surf would beat it. Glad to have you here.