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Meet Kate, a personal coach and content creator who moved from England to Canada back in 2017 where she was met and greeted by an array of cultural differences.

Today, Kate not only runs “The Newcomer Collective Community” that supports and helps connect internationals living in Canada, she also shares a glimpse into her daily Canadian life on TikTok.

Her video series “Culture Shocks In Canada” reveals all the quirks of expat life in the country of lovely people, ice hockey and maple syrup.

And in fact, there are so many more things that make up this beautiful country, so scroll down to see what Kate had to say about it in her videos!

The cultural shocks Kate shared about her expat life in Canada resonated with many people who joined the discussion

 

Bored Panda reached out to Kate Malcolm, the founder of the Newcomer Collective, an online community and resource hub for newcomers to Canada and the creator of this viral TikTok series. Malcolm hosts the New to Canada podcast where she interviews internationals who’ve moved there, learns all about their native countries, and the story of why they chose Canada as their new home.

“I also run the Moving to Canada Academy: An online video course and community that breaks down the steps of rebuilding your career and personal life in Canada so that you can feel happy and settled that much faster in your new life,” she added.

Malcolm moved from the UK to Canada in 2017 after she met and fell in love with her Canadian now-husband whilst backpacking in Thailand. “I know, it’s a crazy story… Canada had never been on my travel bucket list but I am so happy that life took me here unexpectedly.”

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Mohsie Supposie
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So annoying! You think you are getting a bargain, until you actually have to pay. At that point it's a bit embarrassing to cancel!

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Terence McGuire
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Haha, my Dad had several pugs out the front of his car in Winnipeg, battery warmer, gas line heater, block heater and it still wouldn’t start! -40 will do that, so glad to be back in Liverpool.

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It turns out that Malcolm also fell in love with the extreme seasons in Canada. “Instead of experiencing similar weather throughout the entire year in the UK, you can actually enjoy different seasons and all the activities that come with that. Summer = Boating on the lake. Fall = Hikes to view the multi-colored leaves. Winter = Skiing and sledding, etc.,” she explained.

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Plus, “It’s a great country to enjoy the outdoors and I especially love how diverse it is as well so you can meet people from all over the world,” she added.

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Helen Waight
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wait..you mean having bathroom doors that close fully is actually a rare thing outside the UK? Did not know this.

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Helen Waight
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This one might need some clarification: we don’t have raccoons in the UK. Wild animals going through your bins at night are usually foxes.

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When asked how Canada and its people differ from her home country, Malcolm said it was surprising to her when she moved to Canada that there were so many differences. “I thought that the UK and Canada would be pretty similar. We speak the same language, watch the same movies, eat the same food… But I quickly realized that it would take longer than I thought to adjust and settle into my new Canadian life.”

Malcolm told us that people always comment on her “British” accent, which took a while for her to get used to. “There are a lot of differences in phrases and vocabulary between British English and Canadian English, which got me into some embarrassing situations.”

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Miss Frankfurter
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cottages weren’t like that when I was a kid. Much smaller and we roughed it. If we did go in the winter, the water had been shut off or it would freeze the pipes. Water? You get an axe and a bucket. Head down to the lake, hack out the ice and get it that way. At night it got cold🥶 because the fire eventually went out. Lots of old quilts. They were warmer than the ones today. My uncle would get up early to get it going. Yep. The good old outhouse. But if there was a snow the night before, you’d have to dig yourself to there. There were times that didn’t end well🤣. Have to go at night? Good old chamber pot under the bed, and you better have a good throwing arm for the morning. The summer was much better, except for the black flies. You needed a blood transfusion when you came in at the end of the day. Loved every minute of it.

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Moreover, the national sports are all different there. “Country music is very popular, which is a genre of music I’d never listened to.”

“As a whole, Canadians are a lot more straightforward and extremely friendly, whereas British people have a dry, sarcastic humor and aren’t as bubbly straight away,” the TikToker said and added that it took her a while to get used to the energetic customer service there.

“Where I live in Ontario, Canadians tend to 'hide out' for a large portion of the year over the winter months and are less sociable, so it can get pretty lonely. Winters feel like they go on forever(!)”

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Mohsie Supposie
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The roads are all in a grid system, so there is a 1 in 4 chance, as opposed to 1 in 360!

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Michelle
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Depends on the city ur in. Not every city is set up the same. I hate how they payed out the city I live in after growing up in a city that was set up as a grid system

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Tiny Dancer
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's the CN Tower here in Toronto in the picture (which is nowhere near Winnipeg, BTW, which she mentions in another part of the video) and it's right by Lake Ontario. The lake is in the southern part of the city. Thus, everywhere I go, I just keep a map of the city in my head with the lake to the south and just go from there. Internal GPS, never fails.

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MRoyal
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Can't imagine not being able to figure out compass directions just by paying attention

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Chancey
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I just assumed that most CNN people could figure which way was north but looking at the sun/moon.

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Aunt Messy
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You're in Toronto? The CN tower is ALWAYS south. This is not complicated.

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Pernille.
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have no idea how it is in North America, but in Europe one can definitely get by without knowing how to navigate by a compass or being able to identify NWSE. Unless you have been sailing or been a scout the sun is just rising over the neighbours, and the wind is coming around the corner.

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DeoManus Argentem
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are a lot of clueless people in the US too! I've always liked to give directions in compass directions (eg turn north, drive east X miles) myself. I can kind of understand it if you just got into town and are only going to be there a very short time, but to live there?! Especially crazy where I live in SE Florida (beach is east, alligators and used car lots/flea markets are west... Durr, where are you?)

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Bouche Clay
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've been in my home for just over half a year. Somehow I got it in my head my front door faces north. It actually faces south. I've gotten lost because I can't get my head around facing south.

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Dan Holden
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can't imagine trying to find my way around a city without having studied the map enough to have a general idea of the layout. I don't mean memorizing streets or anything, just having a general idea of the layout of the city, which way is north etc.

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Carly Romer
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1 month ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

LOL try explaining Vancouver’s ‘neighborhoods’ to an outsider….it makes sense to us locals, but not to tourists or newcomers. 😂🤣😂

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RoseAnne Hutchence
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The sun rises in the east ... and most of us can see it (it's not blocked by buildings).

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Connie Bonneville
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I do this all the time in the US and people get confused. I didn't realize this was a Canadian trait!

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Joy
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I get my left and my right mixed up. My left hand feels right and so does my right so I've never been able to figure out how maps work. I use buildings, signposts and landmarks to ID my way around. So I have no idea where North is except ahead.

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The Starsong Princess
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also, in southern Ontario, everyone else knows where the lake is in relation to where they are. So for me, the lake is south, therefore north is away from the lake. So yes, it’s a built in compass.

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Rissie
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You're phone does too. With several other examples here, she sounds annoyingly naive.

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ElenaK
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Europe, we keep them in the fridge as well. We have a special place also at the fridge's door.

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Another thing which is pretty hard to get used to, according to Malcolm, is that the taxes are added to prices when you are paying the total bill and the amount depends on which province you are in. “This took a while to get used to because taxes are automatically built into the prices of everything back in the UK.”

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“I also still find tipping culture quite hard to deal with. There is a real pressure to tip high to ensure servers get a living wage, which I don’t think is fair on the consumer - and there is also a tipping expectation for many services that we never tip for in the UK (e.g. hairdressers, massage therapists, food delivery drivers, etc.),” Malcolm explained. Recently, CBC News reached out to her to offer her thoughts on tipping as it is a hot debate right now post-pandemic.

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Seule Forever
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Canadian here. Most of the time it's not from your front door but there is a assign places where you take the bus in your neighborhood with other kids (example, all the kids from one streets take the bus on one specific spot) So depending where you live, the "bus stop" could be right in front of your house or 5 min walk from it. Well it was that way when I was at school, maybe it changes. Sorry if this whole explanation was confusing...

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There have also been cultural differences that pleasantly surprised Malcolm. “This might be controversial but I actually enjoy driving in Canada a lot more than in the UK! The roads are wider and it feels like you have more space to drive safely. There are less roundabouts and more traffic lights, which I find a lot easier to use. Less traffic cameras and fines to worry about - and of course, being able to turn right on a red light is really convenient,” she explained.

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She was also pleasantly surprised by how varied the landscape is across Canada. “You can choose to see the mountains, lakes, prairies or rugged damp coastline and it’s all in the same beautiful country.”

“Finally, I absolutely LOVE cottage country in Ontario. The fact that Canadians seem to have more disposable income than the average British family, so they can afford a 2nd holiday home on a nearby lake to vacation with their family, or buy a boat or jet-ski is probably my favorite thing about Canada! Summers are so amazing here,” the British expat explained.

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Astrius
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not everywhere. Depends of the city. In Montreal you sure can’t, but you could in Sherbrooke.

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Having said that, Malcolm missed a lot of things from the UK. “Of course, I miss my friends and family as I came to Canada alone. I miss British pubs and being able to go there for drinks socially with your colleagues after work. I miss live music as I feel it is much easier to find everywhere in the UK (e.g. festivals, intimate music venues, open mic nights, etc.)”

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“Then, of course, I miss a lot of British food (e.g. a good roast dinner, Galaxy chocolate, and grab-and-go lunches from Pret-a-Manger or Boots),” she concluded.

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Caro Caro
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Aw come on! You're from Europe. Stilton is expensive, so are the other cheeses. And lots of em smell baaaaad (but are so delicious)

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Arthur Waite
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just keep driving - there's another Tim's in just a few blocks.... and another, and...

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The cultural shocks Kate shared about her expat life in Canada resonated with many people who joined the discussion