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Well yeah, English or no English, I have to admit migration might be making Australia less friendly. It may just be technological change in general though. While of Asian ancestry I don't know if I feel comfortable surrounded by Mandarin speakers (I only speak English), and feeling like I'm in a foreign country, though I do enjoy the different cuisines.
Cantonese is more common in Vancouver than Mandarin. I grew up in Vancouver, I'm non - Asian, but feel a sort of kinship with Chinese people and people of Chinese ancestry. So much so, that when I travel and there is not a significant Chinese population, that I feel something is missing.
We do have an area, Richmond, a city suburb south of Vancouver, that is the new Chinatown. I love going there because you do feel like you are in a foreign country! A little get away just a metro ride away.
As for integration, it's like any other group of immigrants. The parents don't integrate as well as their kids, but some do.
Cantonese is more common in Vancouver than Mandarin. I grew up in Vancouver, I'm non - Asian, but feel a sort of kinship with Chinese people and people of Chinese ancestry. So much so, that when I travel and there is not a significant Chinese population, that I feel something is missing.
We do have an area, Richmond, a city suburb south of Vancouver, that is the new Chinatown. I love going there because you do feel like you are in a foreign country! A little get away just a metro ride away.
As for integration, it's like any other group of immigrants. The parents don't integrate as well as their kids, but some do.
Mandarin has far outstripped Cantonese here...I think Melbourne's Chinatown was traditionally mostly Cantonese (dating from the Gold Rush) but now you here a lot more Mandarin there and in the Chinese enclaves like Box Hill. Springvale has a lot of Vietnamese, Chinese, Cambodians.etc so there's a sort of fusion, same with Cabramatta in Sydney.
Yes, I guess I'm used to be around a lot of Asians and that's not my issue, but it's things like at restaurants being spoken to in Mandarin, because since I look Chinese they expect me to know it. I've encountered this issue in Singapore as well. I also dont like being lumped into the 'FOBs' (not out of any superiority complex) but because I'm Australian and don't have much in common with them.
I also dont like being lumped into the 'FOBs' (not out of any superiority complex) but because I'm Australian and don't have much in common with them.
Yeah I know the feeling. It's like when FOB Indians start up a conversation with me in Hindi. I know just enough to understand what they're saying (most of the time) and I respond in English. Puzzled, they speak even louder in Hindi, hoping that will spur me into responding likewise, and I continue responding in English. It's quite comical for any third party who's watching.
Yeah I know the feeling. It's like when FOB Indians start up a conversation with me in Hindi. I know just enough to understand what they're saying (most of the time) and I respond in English. Puzzled, they speak even louder in Hindi, hoping that will spur me into responding likewise, and I continue responding in English. It's quite comical for any third party who's watching.
Haha, I guess they know you understand, haha...whereas for me they soon get the message when they see the blank look on my face lol.
Yeah I know the feeling. It's like when FOB Indians start up a conversation with me in Hindi. I know just enough to understand what they're saying (most of the time) and I respond in English. Puzzled, they speak even louder in Hindi, hoping that will spur me into responding likewise, and I continue responding in English. It's quite comical for any third party who's watching.
The city of Vancouver's population is over 604 thousand, Victoria's population is just over 80 thousand. Victoria has a lot of seniors and retired people living there because of the milder, warmer climate. To some people that less congested, small city atmosphere with more older people might make Victoria seem more laid back than Vancouver.
I've lived in and out of Vancouver back and forth for over 30 years and I think the city of Vancouver is a little bit insular compared to the suburbs that surround it. It's been my experience that the further out you get from the city into the suburbs and other smaller towns in the rest of the lower mainland then the more open and friendlier and more communal oriented the people are. I do agree with Mooguy that Vancouverites are friendly but take a long time to get to know. I don't think Vancouver is sterile or the people self-absorbed though. They're just more private than small town people, minding their own business living tightly together with a big population jammed into a small area and expect other people to do likewise and all respect each other's space and privacy. I think Vancouver is a good city for people who are highly independent, confident and self-possessed, not for people who are socially needy and demanding of a lot of emotional support from other people.
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That population figure is misleading, as Greater Victoria is made up of several adjoining communities and has a population of about 345,000. I do find the people here quite open and friendly, but then I'm the type of person that will start a conversation with almost anyone... Greater Victoria - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
That population figure is misleading, as Greater Victoria is made up of several adjoining communities and has a population of about 345,000. I do find the people here quite open and friendly, but then I'm the type of person that will start a conversation with almost anyone... Greater Victoria - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
I was trying to keep it simple and talking about just the cities of Victoria and Vancouver only, not the Greater Victoria region or Greater Vancouver region. The population numbers I gave were correct for the cities.
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