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As I suppose you know, here in Catalonia, the weather is Mediterranean and I really like it, although now I think that we will have more summer period than winter winter because of all the changes that the world weather is suffering. And the fact is that I prefer winter, but winter in Catalonia means cold but we are not used to have rain everyday, that's what I don't know how I will feel in a place where it rains everyday, maybe where you live the weather is similar to Van or not? Maybe not, because you said you lived in the south of Washington state.
It's true that a lot of Catalan people would like Catalonia to be one country and not a part of Spain, but the fact, is that me, personally I like being Spanish, for me that's no problem.
At last, I would like to apologize if I do a lot of mistakes in written English, I try to do my best so you can understand.
One thing worth understanding is that this region has very distinct climatic regions. I lived in Seattle for sixteen years. From October to April inclusive, it basically rained. Now I live about three hours' drive away, where the sun shines 300 days a year. But it gets significantly colder; not much snow but a lot of wind; this area is a scrubby desert with little to break that wind. And in summer temperatures can clear 40 C, with hot wind blowing dust like a hair dryer full of talcum powder. So within three hours you can leave rainy Seattle, drive through snowy forested mountains and down a lush farm valley, and be in the desert.
BC doesn't have the same situation (I don't think Canada actually has a desert) but you should expect the same strong climate differences between Van and the interior. It's very hard to describe a regional climate in the Northwest overall because there are parts of the Olympic peninsula (and I'll bet along the BC coast, most of which you can't reach by roads) that get enough rain to make Van and Seattle look dry. In summer it's going to be nice in Van most of the time. In spring, winter and fall it's going to rain often.
Your written English is just fine, by the way. I can see where it could improve in small ways, but it's quite clear. If you speak as well as you write, or close, you should have no trouble getting along.
Expect daytime temperatures in the coldest part of the winter in Vancouver to be around 7 degrees C. I would say this is probably colder than Barcelona in the winter. It does rain quite a bit but there are frequent nice days as well. It usually snows once or twice during the winter but the snow often melts during the same day. Some winters there is no snow at all in Vancouver.
Summers will not be as hot as in Barcelona, with the average daytime temperature probably around 22 degrees C. As someone said, summers tend to be quite sunny in Vancouver with relatively low humidity.
BC doesn't have the same situation (I don't think Canada actually has a desert) but you should expect the same strong climate differences between Van and the interior.
Actually, BC does have the exact same situation. The Canadian/USA border is just a manmade fabrication - the climate and geography are identical on either side of the border, and that includes the BC and Washington state border.
BC (and therefore Canada) has a desert in the Okanagan Valley - it's based around Osoyoos.
Even the interior of BC around Kamloops and Lilloett is semi-arid - a drastic change from the other side of the Cascade mountain range where you'll find the lush, rainy temperate coast.
Back to the original question, Vancouver is a popular choice for international students to learn and study English. Vancouver doesn't have a stereotypical American drawl or the stereotypical Canadian gawky accent... it's a rather neutral accent. But so many people here in Vancouver have moved here from elsewhere, you'll encounter all kinds of accents in your daily experience in Vancouver.
One suggestion, if you really want to hear how locals speak, is to watch some online Vancouver TV shows, or listen to some local Vancouver radio stations. That will give you a good indication for accents, or lack thereof.
Actually, BC does have the exact same situation. The Canadian/USA border is just a manmade fabrication - the climate and geography are identical on either side of the border, and that includes the BC and Washington state border.
BC (and therefore Canada) has a desert in the Okanagan Valley - it's based around Osoyoos.
What I was specifically thinking of was the large, arid high desert that is the SE quadrant of Washington (where I live). I have never known of any area that large and that dry on the BC side. Up by the border, of course, I'd agree that there isn't much difference.
Wow, unbelievable that a thread like this has turned into something somewhat ugly.
I am from New York, have lived all over the US, and currently live just outside of Seattle. My boyfriend of 3 years lives in a suburb of Vancouver, and I've had the wonderful opportunity to spend a LOT of time up there.
If you're an international student, I believe that you'd find Vancouver to be a wonderful place. Not only to improve your English, but also to meet some of the friendliest people in the world. It's a CITY, and, as such, has problems that every city in the world faces. Safety wise? I think that you would be hard-pressed to find a city that is safer. And, yes, that does include Seattle, which, by my reckoning, has plenty of unsavory characters.
Weather-wise? Aside from a LOT of rain (and sometimes snow) in the fall and winter, it's a wonderful temperate place to live. No real extremes of temperature one way or another. (As a native New Yorker, I can tell you that I REALLY appreciate this fact.)
To sum it up, from my perspective, if you can handle many dreary (yet not overly cold) days in the winter, Vancouver is a very appealing place to spend time.
Location: The western periphery of Terra Australis
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Ah that's interesting...also, is there a 'working class' accent - that tends to be more working class? It seems most Canadians regardless of class, ethnicity (if they were born there or lived most of their lives there) speak similarly.
It seems most Canadians regardless of class, ethnicity (if they were born there or lived most of their lives there) speak similarly.
Really? 33 million people spread out over the second largest country in the world all speak with the same accent and inflection?
Next time my buddies from Alberta and Newfoundland get together, I'll be sure and tell them.
Canadian accents are no different from those found in the US in that they change by region. You can find a subtle difference in accent in as little as 100 miles.
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How Canadian is the accent in Vancouver?
