Canada surprises us every day, and more in this path of research prior to immigrating to a new country. When changing cultures we find new situations that can be completely new, or even shocking when it comes to knowing them.
Today I want to tell you 5 curious facts that surprised me when I arrived in the country of the maple leaf:
Take off your shoes when entering a house
Although the origins of this custom are not known, most people with whom I have interacted do so for 2 reasons: 1. To avoid dirtying the floors of the house (and more in winter) 2. For comfort, since you can walk barefoot or in stockings. At first it may seem difficult to get used to this but once you do, there is no going back.
You will find parks and green areas everywhere
That’s right! No matter how industrialized a city is, for example: Toronto. You will find hundreds of parks and places full of nature to disconnect and enjoy the outdoors. You can enjoy them in all seasons of the year, even in winter .
liquor is not available in any store or supermarket
Each province has its special and unique establishments authorized by the government to distribute and sell alcoholic beverages. They have quite strong restrictions and the regulation varies according to the province. However, in some supermarket chains (not all) we can find wine and beer for sale, but it is not very common.
The pedestrian comes first
In Canada, the pedestrian always has the right of way, and therefore is given priority. However, this does not mean that pedestrians should not respect the rules of the road. On the contrary, we must respect them since complying with the rules is fundamental for a safe coexistence in Canada.
No street dogs and cats
This was one of the things that most impacted me, because in my country it is very common to find stray animals outdoors. Canada protects animals a lot, so much so that at the time of an adoption or purchase of pets, it ensures even the animal will have a dignified life and be cared for. If you plan to adopt a pet, I advise you to prepare financially for its arrival. Care, insurance and veterinary medicine can be a bit expensive.
Have you ever faced new situations or customs in Canada? Which one impacted you the most? I read you in the comments!
