I left my hometown of 20+ years to move to Canada, a place I'd never been. I love the surprises that come with living here.
Shay Bottomley
- I left my hometown in England to move to Canada, a place I'd never been.
- I love living in Calgary, Alberta, and the cold weather has been such a surprise.
I never thought I'd leave my hometown in the UK.
But after 20 years of making memories and building up my career in Maidenhead, England, I was ready for something new. And, in February, I headed to Canada to move to Calgary, Alberta.
I'd never even been to Canada, let alone lived there, so I was in for several surprises when I moved.
We complain about the weather in the UK, but it's nothing compared to Canada.
It's fair to say we're not good with extreme weather back home in Great Britain. A snowy day often causes chaos with closed schools and canceled flights.
I arrived in Canada when it was 0 degrees Celcius, or 33 degrees Fahrenheit, wrapped up in several layers. I braced for the worst.
Within moments of leaving the airport, however, I was shedding clothes as if a heat wave had hit. The dry air felt warmer than the humidity we have back home, despite the 10-degree difference.
Eventually, I found temperatures that seemed inconceivable in the UK were manageable here with just a jumper and a warm pair of mittens.
Still, it does get very cold here. With my newfound confidence in sub-zero temperatures, I felt confident preparing for the -30 C week we were expecting in Calgary.
I was too confident. A quick trip to the shops — a journey so short that I spent more time in the elevator than outside — left me huddling around the fire as soon as I returned home.
The Rockies are even more breathtaking than I imagined — in more ways than one.
My maiden visit to the Rocky Mountains was reserved for the summer once the air warmed up and I settled down. The mountain views were stunning, and the inkpots at the famous Johnston Canyon trail were mesmerizing.
The air was so crisp and clean away from the city's pollutants that I was left breathless. Also, the so-called "easy" trail I hiked left me exhausted.
Even as a semi-regular runner, I think I'll need a few more weeks at the gym before I tackle a more intermediate trail.
Poutine is incredible, but with the large portions, it's often hard to finish a plate of it.
Chips with gravy are not uncommon in the UK, although the latter is often resigned to a pot of sauce. In Canada, the two are commonly combined with cheese curds to create poutine — the most amazing yet simple concoction of flavors known to humankind.
I love it, but I've found that portion sizes are huge in Canada, and it's hard to clear my plate.
What many restaurants describe as an appetizer could be classed as a full entrée back in Europe. I've often left a plate unfinished in Canada while feeling somewhat apologetic to the chef.
I'm still finding out how big Canada actually is.
It may sound cliché, but the enormity of Canada is not to be underestimated. It's millions of miles bigger than all of the UK.
Back home, you may end up in another town or village after an hour's walk. In Calgary, such a journey might see you cover about an eighth of the city.
It's not just the cities that are ginormous, either. During a road trip through rural Alberta, I was staggered to see how little I'd traveled despite a two-hour drive.
It's no wonder air travel is a big deal over here.
Still, I have fallen in love with living here.
Canada is helping me become who I am.
Living here has taught me a sense of independence I missed after the coronavirus pandemic disrupted my university experience.
Canadians are very friendly too, and I feel tremendously lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the world.
There are differences from the UK that take some getting used to, but my months here have flown by, and I cannot wait to see what the future holds.
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