Torontonians - one person's experience (college, living, friendly) - City-Data Forum

qwerbilzak · 12-04-2010, 09:29 PM

I wanted to share my experience with Canadians as an American that seems to go counter to a lot of what I've read here in this forum and elsewhere, and get your thoughts.

1) On my last Toronto trip, I found people -- without exception -- to be extremely friendly, willing to chat, to help, smile, laugh, even go out of their way for us. Less so those who were obviously immigrants, and not like the US south where everyone's super friendly from the getgo. Rather, once we got talking to someone. This seems to contradict what I've read so often that Torontonians are cold and distant.

2) When I was teaching at a college in Boston, I had a few Canadian girls in the class. They were distinctly more easy-going and less up tight than their American cohorts, and -- how to put this delicately -- seemed to be much more at ease with their bodies and their sexuality, in terms of the clothes they wore and the way they acted.

3) I met a number of women on the last Toronto trip, and found them all, with hardly an exception to be act more "empowered" than women here in the States. That is, they acted confident, strong, almost more masculine than feminine (in attitude, not look). Some were downright frightening, to be honest.

Do these impressions resonate with you Canadians out there? Is this about par for the course? Or are these experiences out of the norm?

theterribleone · 12-05-2010, 12:08 PM

Yes they do.

I am glad you had a great time. Come back soon!!!

qwerbilzak · 12-05-2010, 03:43 PM

Good to hear, and I will!

YtownGuy · 12-05-2010, 03:58 PM

Sounds like the Toronto I know and love. Thanks for posting.

Diana Lane Lambert · 12-05-2010, 05:28 PM

Are you from Canada? How is it for a U.S. Citizen to live in Canada during the summer. I am not interested in Calgory...too flat.

qwerbilzak · 12-05-2010, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diana Lane Lambert

Are you from Canada? How is it for a U.S. Citizen to live in Canada during the summer. I am not interested in Calgory...too flat.

Hi Diana.

Not yet, but I'm in the immigration pipeline.

I've had a great experience with folks from Toronto and Canada in general, yet I've read lots of things here that run counter to those observations. Just trying to sort it all out.

Projekt Kahn · 12-08-2010, 07:02 PM

I have to disagree, living there is a different experience...theyre definitely not sexually liberal, in fact theyre more reserved

OZpharmer · 12-09-2010, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Projekt Kahn

I have to disagree, living there is a different experience...theyre definitely not sexually liberal, in fact theyre more reserved

Because Asian & East Indian/Middle Eastern culture is more prevalent than US?

Cornerguy1 · 12-09-2010, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OZpharmer

Because Asian & East Indian/Middle Eastern culture is more prevalent than US?

Noooooooo..........mostly cuz the females of the city wouldn't succumb to Projekt Kahn's charms so he retreated back across the border to Buffalo.

Trimac20 · 12-09-2010, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by qwerbilzak

I wanted to share my experience with Canadians as an American that seems to go counter to a lot of what I've read here in this forum and elsewhere, and get your thoughts.

1) On my last Toronto trip, I found people -- without exception -- to be extremely friendly, willing to chat, to help, smile, laugh, even go out of their way for us. Less so those who were obviously immigrants, and not like the US south where everyone's super friendly from the getgo. Rather, once we got talking to someone. This seems to contradict what I've read so often that Torontonians are cold and distant.

2) When I was teaching at a college in Boston, I had a few Canadian girls in the class. They were distinctly more easy-going and less up tight than their American cohorts, and -- how to put this delicately -- seemed to be much more at ease with their bodies and their sexuality, in terms of the clothes they wore and the way they acted.

3) I met a number of women on the last Toronto trip, and found them all, with hardly an exception to be act more "empowered" than women here in the States. That is, they acted confident, strong, almost more masculine than feminine (in attitude, not look). Some were downright frightening, to be honest.

Do these impressions resonate with you Canadians out there? Is this about par for the course? Or are these experiences out of the norm?

Care to explain?