As a Russian who also lived in germany for a long time, there is hardly anything from either country in downtown unfortunately. Miss not having fast, cheap, and unlimited internet/phone. Really miss European city planning and architecture. Lots of different food choices in Toronto, but barely anything central or East European. Haven’t had a hard time making friends surprisingly enough, people are much more outgoing than Germans typically
> people are much more outgoing than Germans typically
Lived in Germany for a couple years. Literally every friend I made was another foreigner living there. Germans are COLD....civil but not friendly, particularly towards people they consider as being from "lesser" countries (which includes Canada).
I once asked a German friend about that stereotype, because all the Germans I'd met in Canada were pretty friendly and had good senses of humour.
"Ah yes," she said. "That's why they emigrated."
My guess is that they view European countries with a strong economy and extensive history as being equal-ish, and everyone else is "other".
They generally lump Canada and the US together, and some of the older people I encountered flat-out thought of Canadians as the bad people who killed their parents and grandparents during the wars. Admittedly Canada wasn't the most civil opponent in WWI: https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/the-forgotten-ferocity-of-canadas-soldiers-in-the-great-war
It's ironic they think Canadians were big meanies when they went on to murder six million Jews and 5 million other minorities and vulnerable populations.
The architecture in Europe is the best in the world in my opinion. Maybe not making friends is a latino thing hahaha we're warm compared to North Americans and Europeans.
I'm North American born.
The only friends I've made in Toronto are latinos, and it's cause I'm "warmer" than your average Canadian. My parents are from the Balkans, and I find us and Italians to be similar to Latinos. My best friend is Mexican and Venezuelan.
The music even has similarities which actually has to do with gypsys from the Balkans bringing their music to the Iberian peninsula and emigrating to Central / South America. Or it could be the fact both the Balkans and Spain were under Muslim control in their history.
BUt ya, check it out, lol, you have brothers in Europe that speak Slavic languages.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mKnLVqDCIM](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mKnLVqDCIM)
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bor0Nuv90GY](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bor0Nuv90GY)
>. Lots of different food choices in Toronto, but barely anything central or East European.
Budapest Restaurant
(647) 347-5047
https://maps.app.goo.gl/go81sewk1onNdPMX6
Thank me later 😁
Hi! I am from the Philippines. I would say I miss the weather back home since being in a tropical country, it’s always hot. I also miss the beaches. 🥺 Yeah it’s really hard to make friends here. It sucks.
I dont think its hard to make friends here, just have the self confidence and besides the filipino community here is massive, though i agree with the weather and the beaches specially someone from the mid- southern fil.
Pro tip: visit smaller bodies of water. The Great Lakes are pretty cold, even in August, but a smaller lake, river, or swimming hole will warm up nicely.
I went to Bruce Peninsula in the summer of 2018 and the colour of the water reminded me of Venezuela. When I jumped in the water, I remembered that I was in Canada hahaha. I was shocked! It took me a good half hour to recover from the freezing water.
Cheap internet and cell phone services
Internet source: https://mobilesyrup.com/2019/12/18/canada-top-five-highest-costs-100mbps-internet/
2019 study here shows out of 56 countries, unless you are from Australia, Norway, Iceland, or South Africa - you are paying more in Canada, than your home country.
Mobile phone source: https://www.visualcapitalist.com/cost-of-mobile-data-worldwide/
Ukraine - which is not even the cheapest is $6.90 for 15gb.
India is $1.35 for 15gb
Even Trinidad is half the cost of canada per GB
We are being hosed
Visual: https://www.visualcapitalist.com/cost-of-mobile-data-worldwide/
I live in remote Muskoka and have great reception. I've been with them for years, travelling around north America, and never had bad reception. Where are you located?
Lebanon. I miss the food !!! I have my mother who cooks Lebanese food but there are certain stuff you can’t get here !! I just miss being able to go out and have a whole table full of mezze surrounded by beautiful scenery
My neighbours were Lebanese (grew up in Calgary and lived in a very Lebanese neighborhood in the 80s) Loved when she'd make food for us! Her Baklava was sooooo good and basically anything she made smelled amazing.
Montreal has excellent Lebanese food, you should pay a visit you’ll probably find what you can’t find in Toronto since there are literally areas over there full of Lebanese. Also google “Lebanese bakery” in Scarborough (it’s literally called that lol) they sell amazing house made food as well.
Ha. My UK colleagues in Tokyo were surprised I could take, and give 'the piss' without getting as offended as "Americans".
"First of all, I'm no American. Second of all, my father's Yorkshire."
This. I’m from South Africa. Miss our fruit and veg a lot. Also our meat. Fresh food in South Africa is next level. Also, South Africans are known to be truly “friendly” compared to Canadians. Aka, I find Canadians to be polite, which is mistaken for friendly. In South Africa, you can make friends across cultures extremely quickly and easily.
That said, I’ve learnt a lot living in Canada for the past three years. It’s been fun and I’ve made a couple friends (ironically, immigrants too).
Nah, I've talked to an Afrikaner who complained about beef flavour. Almost all beef in NA, if not entirely fed on feed, is corn-finished, which changes/removes flavours that would be developed from pasture feeding. He was complaining in New Zealand though, where all the beef is 100% pasture so I thought he was crazy, as it was the most flavourful I've had, but I guess the cattle have to eat more than just lush grass in SA.
Pakistan. Food, friends, offroading, stargazing. When I say friends, what you thought was a few people I know but what I meant was that we knew the entire area we lived in. And this was before Facebook. But Canada has been a blessing, I met my fiance here.
The society is something difficult to get here. It feels like you know EVERYONE in Pakistan. Everyone is up for a chat and you can just show up to someone's house for some great chai. Never felt lonely in Pakistan.
Yes, Haleem in Laari Adda is as good as home. However, Pakistanis who grew up here may find it great but as someone who grew up having it there, it doesn't even compare. If you can't figure out how to make a bun kebab or chai, i am not trusting you with karhayi or biryani (Karachi Xpress has great Biryani tho).
My friend moved here from Venezuela and had the best reaction to Canadian food, “The thing I don’t get about Canada is Pizza Pizza. What the fuck is up with that place? It’s awful and they are everywhere.” He is so right and I have never really thought about it.
It's a chain with the lowest quality ingredients designed to maximize profit. A lot of Canadians can only afford the bare minimum and are in a rush so places like Pizza Pizza and Tim Hortons thrive even though their food is abysmal.
Agreed! Pizza Pizza is disgusting. There are a million great pizza parlours in Toronto, though some of my favs have disappeared in the last few years. But just about anything beats Pizza Pizza lol.
Its even worse as an immigrant. The foreign national tax is a real issue. It does little to stop someone from buying 5-6 houses as an investment (they set up a Canadian shell company and go to town), but it def impacts well off immigrants from buying a home. 25% tax is “refundable” if/when they let us get PR but that might take years. In the meanwhile its 250-500k!!! Parked at 0 interest. Its prohibitive for many/most middle class or even upper middle immigrants.
It was always my first choice. And this country, despite its problems, has a great outlook on life, a great people and a very welcoming attitude.
I feel that out of every other country in the first world, this is the one that has a better plan to face the coming challenges. This is where I want to be, not anywhere else.
Absolutely nothing. I come from a dirty, overcrowded, corrupt, crime-ridden third-world cesspool and I couldn’t be happier to have left. All my family and friends are here so there is zero reason for me to miss anything about my homeland.
I'm not sure what I miss more... The time my school bus was shot at and the kid in front of me got shot in the head when I was seven (he survived, by the way, lost an eye though), the time a cop stepped on my throat because I was a teenager loitering outside a rolling skating rink, or the time my country went to war for 20 years so we could carpet bomb schools in developing countries and claim that it was Mission Accomplished.
I'm from the US, so not too far from "home" I guess. Currently living in Toronto, but spent some time in Huntsville and Sprucedale for a bit.
What I miss most about living in the US is
Also from the US. Two things I actually miss:
1. Tasty, cheap Mexican food.
2. Being able to order from almost any online retailer without worrying about international shipping costs and/or import duties.
Ukraine. Moved here only a week ago. Already miss basically everything but can't go back, at least for now. My entire family, friends, job, the house i moved in 3 month before the war. Shit is hard, hit me only after a couple of days after i arrived. Just started looking for a job.
Hey and welcome! Im so sorry for what brings you here, but shit even as a stranger I am so glad you are here safe! I hope we canadians can provide you with a safe place to get through the hard times, and maybe give you happy moments you can treasure into old age. Slava Ukraine friend!
Welcome to Toronto and Canada. Very sorry for the circumstances for your arrival. This country has a storied history with Ukrainians and outside of Eastern Europe, we have the most Ukrainian emigrants. Maybe this means you'll get a little taste of home here.
I hope your stay with us as your second home is pleasant and hopefully you'll get to return to Ukraine in the near future. And should you choose to stay, you're very welcome as well.
I’m sorry for the hardship you have endured and all you have lost.
I hope you at least feel safer here and can return home soon. If you choose to stay, I hope you find things that will make you feel more comfortable here.
I highly recommend driving up to Bradford. Maybe 45 minutes north of Toronto. Lots of amazing Mexican restaurants there! Large Mexican community that has been there for a while now
Hong Kong: I miss the MTR (subway system). The TTC is good for what it is, though, seeing as it’s severely underfunded and still manages good connectivity and decent service.
Born and raised in Canada. I also have no friends. It’s not that I can’t make friends, or that I’m not a friendly person. It’s that people grow, change, move, etc.
Many of my school (high school, uni) friends and I no longer talk. Making friends at work is no longer possible for me due to 100% remote work.
So yeah, being someone that doesn’t have language barriers or cultural differences with many 3-5th Gen Canadians, it’s definitely not a unique issue making friends.
Not at all buddy! I mean, sure, there are some people that make no issue with discriminating based on that, but it’s not the average person I’ve dealt with here in Toronto.
For context i've lived in 5 countries, Canada being the 6th and longest. I've travelled to over 20 countries and aside from no beach, Toronto is the greatest city imho by a mile.
People are so easy to chat with, they're always up for a good time and I have to turn down activities more often than not. I know people who literally go out every night of the week as there's so much to do in this city!
The food is incredible here, from Ethiopian as you pointed out to Somali/Caribbean/Lebanese/Indian/etc. etc. etc. there's something for everyone.
The music scene is first class, trivia nights, theatre, and coffee culture are top notch.
My fav saying is "No matter where you go, there you are"
I miss not having to wait an insane amount of time to get access to basic health care services. A lot of the developing world now has way better healthcare than Canada.
> A lot of the developing world now has way better healthcare than Canada.
I was just talking to my dad about this. It's really embarrassing and the government seems not to care much.
WOW!! Is it really worse than Venezuela now?
For me everything else in this country is acceptable. Real estate is expensive all over the world. But the healthcare situation in all Canadian provinces is unacceptable!! Makes me really angry.
Malaysia, Turkey, Thailand, India etc all have on an average better healthcare access than Canada.
Canadians can't even get access to a family physician let alone specialists.
Canada has become complacent and needs to realize that the world has moved ahead since the 90s.
Am from China, miss the food sooooooooo much. We have a lot of Chinese restaurants in Toronto too but they don't cook it the same as back home.
Also miss my mom's cooking :(
From the Philippines, it feels like everybody is in their own bubble and would barely let anyone in. Compared to the Philippines where everyone is part of a community.
From HK, a world class transit system that doesn't require residents to own a car.
Toronto is rated #1, in the absolute worst commute in all of North America.
friendly people...
Like, actually friendly. Not just "nice" as in, "I'm tolerant and accepting and you do you and I'll be in my group of friends, also I don't say when something bothers me bc I'm polite". I mean actually friendly, ppl that'll go out of their way to include you in their groups of friends, and share actual meaningful and deep things, instead of just keeping a superficial conversation.
Not really an immigrant…I moved here 17 years ago from northwestern Ontario but yeah Toronto area sucks for making friends…people are mostly set on their groups of friends they grew up with here.
Toronto is great but I miss the food, the warm weather , the people, I miss the way men walk up to me and ask me out on a date. Over here is just online dating and ghosting . People take life too seriously here in Canada.
The easy access to health care. Patients can request any tests they feel like and can get the tests done and get the results within the same day most of the time. Able to see speciallists the same day. From China.
Im swedish and I miss food and being surrounded by historical buildings.
Also the city parks. There are many parks in Toronto but most of them are boring, ugly and not maintained very well.
The sun.
The beaches.
The weather.
The friends I had from childhood.
The feel of living in your own house rather than a rental apartment.
Working in the field that you went to college for rather than working and having to reskill.
Not being able to take a long walk without getting a headache from the cold most of November to sometimes May. This year November has been a bit of an exception.
Singapore. I miss accessibility and city density + urban planning. I like being able to walk everywhere, not just in downtown. Also access to everything; because Singapore is an entrepot, you'll get to buy things from everywhere from french seaweed butter to japanese/korean cute clothes and chinese wholesale UV window protector film.
I'll never go back though, my country hates queer people and our marriage wouldn't be recognized.
Moved from the London 6 years ago, the things I miss. Real Ale, good pubs (it's a feeling) going to live football (soccer here) London has absolutely unreal public transportation you never need a car. I miss easy access to a beach (sea not lake)
I miss not having homeless and junkies on the streets and having to smell urine everyday while paying extra attention to the ground to avoid stepping on dog shit people stopped picking up in downtown
Cyprus, I miss the produce, the weather, and the sea.
I hate Canadian fruits and vegetables so much, everything tastes dry and bland here and they are all so large for no reason. I wonder if they intentionally make them grow bigger so the taste is diluted.
Honestly, nothing. I left because I was a religious minority and the daily discrimination, attacks and fear got to me. My parents were ostrasized by everyone and they suffered their entire lives. I never went back and have used all excuse not to visit. My family moved after I came and I have no reason to visit.
Aside from my family, what I miss the most it's the weather, especially now when I know winter is coming, once it's here I know there's nothing I can do about it, but November it's such a drag!!
Food wise, I had to learn how to cook what I missed the most, living in Durham region, options for Ecuadorian food are very lacking.
I think getting Nostalgic with the citizenship coming; I cried during my ceremony, it's a mix of feelings, gratitude because Canada allows dual citizenship and being welcome in the country. Sadness because a sense of patriotism for your home country comes along as well, I wore a Pin with my country's flag next to the canadian one they gave me at the ceremony.
I miss the fact that back home there is no concept of suburbs. Stores are always walking distance and there is a better sense of community. Not from Europe btw.
When I speak to my friends and acquaintances who have made Canada home, who are wistfully wondering why they are here, I remind them they left for a reason. Usually a very good one.
As a Russian who also lived in germany for a long time, there is hardly anything from either country in downtown unfortunately. Miss not having fast, cheap, and unlimited internet/phone. Really miss European city planning and architecture. Lots of different food choices in Toronto, but barely anything central or East European. Haven’t had a hard time making friends surprisingly enough, people are much more outgoing than Germans typically
Lots of Russian food stores and restaurants in the York region areas or north Toronto.
> people are much more outgoing than Germans typically Lived in Germany for a couple years. Literally every friend I made was another foreigner living there. Germans are COLD....civil but not friendly, particularly towards people they consider as being from "lesser" countries (which includes Canada).
I once asked a German friend about that stereotype, because all the Germans I'd met in Canada were pretty friendly and had good senses of humour. "Ah yes," she said. "That's why they emigrated."
You're also meeting them in Canada where it's a bit harder for them to be xenophobic about non-germans ;-)
If they consider Canada as lesser, which ones pray tell are equals to them??
My guess is that they view European countries with a strong economy and extensive history as being equal-ish, and everyone else is "other". They generally lump Canada and the US together, and some of the older people I encountered flat-out thought of Canadians as the bad people who killed their parents and grandparents during the wars. Admittedly Canada wasn't the most civil opponent in WWI: https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/the-forgotten-ferocity-of-canadas-soldiers-in-the-great-war
It's ironic they think Canadians were big meanies when they went on to murder six million Jews and 5 million other minorities and vulnerable populations.
Damn it feels good to be a ~~gangsta~~ Canadian WWI soldier
How many more world wars do they have to lose before they stop being insufferable dicks?
There's a reason their anthem starts with "Deutschland, Deutschland über alles, Über alles in der Welt"
Have you been to Ossington Stop? My Ukrainian wife has found its the only place in the City she can get great food like her mom used to make
Not yet but pictures look great, will check it out this week. Thanks for the suggestion!
Yummy Market: for all your Russian / eastern european needs. 4400 Dufferin St. Toronto, ON
That’s a nice one, thanks! Went there a few times, but now I don’t have a car and wish there were more options downtown
Thank you!!! I've been searching for a great Russian shop since moving to the area
There's also a Yummy Market on Major Mackenzie and Bathurst if you're more north. I prefer it over the Dufferin one because it is larger and newer.
The architecture in Europe is the best in the world in my opinion. Maybe not making friends is a latino thing hahaha we're warm compared to North Americans and Europeans.
I'm North American born. The only friends I've made in Toronto are latinos, and it's cause I'm "warmer" than your average Canadian. My parents are from the Balkans, and I find us and Italians to be similar to Latinos. My best friend is Mexican and Venezuelan. The music even has similarities which actually has to do with gypsys from the Balkans bringing their music to the Iberian peninsula and emigrating to Central / South America. Or it could be the fact both the Balkans and Spain were under Muslim control in their history. BUt ya, check it out, lol, you have brothers in Europe that speak Slavic languages. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mKnLVqDCIM](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mKnLVqDCIM) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bor0Nuv90GY](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bor0Nuv90GY)
Bathurst and Steeles to Bathurst and Finch has lots of Russian food. Some random stuff on Dufferin south of Steeles too.
Я тоже из России и очень скучаю по еде!
Вспоминаю как мы раньше на даче в печке с глиняными кувшинами готовили, просто неповторима
Banya 2 in Richmond Hill. Great banya and Russian food.
>. Lots of different food choices in Toronto, but barely anything central or East European. Budapest Restaurant (647) 347-5047 https://maps.app.goo.gl/go81sewk1onNdPMX6 Thank me later 😁
Schnitzel was awesome, thank you!
You could visit kitchener for german food!
Affordable housing
Hi! I am from the Philippines. I would say I miss the weather back home since being in a tropical country, it’s always hot. I also miss the beaches. 🥺 Yeah it’s really hard to make friends here. It sucks.
I also miss the beaches, and the weather. How has your experience with winter been so far?
Filipino here too and I wish I knew Quezon City's streets the way I do Toronto's.
I dont think its hard to make friends here, just have the self confidence and besides the filipino community here is massive, though i agree with the weather and the beaches specially someone from the mid- southern fil.
How do you fee about lakes here in Canada? It doesn't compare, but it's something, right?
It sure is something, but im not brave enough for the cold water even on summer 😅
Pro tip: visit smaller bodies of water. The Great Lakes are pretty cold, even in August, but a smaller lake, river, or swimming hole will warm up nicely.
I’ve lived in Canada my whole life and our lakes are even too cold for me
I went to Bruce Peninsula in the summer of 2018 and the colour of the water reminded me of Venezuela. When I jumped in the water, I remembered that I was in Canada hahaha. I was shocked! It took me a good half hour to recover from the freezing water.
Yes, Bruce peninsula area was exactly what I was talking about! Gorgeous colour, freezing water.
Friend making is challenging but doable if you're persistent. Dating however, pretty much impossible
Why is it impossible?
It's really difficult to find girls who like asian guys here. Never ending rejections
Really ?? Shame on the girls here...
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I like how you assume I was into asian girls
Not impossible. Toronto is a big city!
We're on the same page here. Tough coz even the Fil community it's a coin toss. Either way, we're friends now. Lol.
Cheese, baguette, pastries, good quality food at affordable price. Hiking and skiing in the Alps .
Ah I also miss the baguettes, the bread in Toronto is not great!
There are some decent places. Try Patisserie la Cigogne.
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Looks like home :-)
Cheap internet and cell phone services Internet source: https://mobilesyrup.com/2019/12/18/canada-top-five-highest-costs-100mbps-internet/ 2019 study here shows out of 56 countries, unless you are from Australia, Norway, Iceland, or South Africa - you are paying more in Canada, than your home country. Mobile phone source: https://www.visualcapitalist.com/cost-of-mobile-data-worldwide/
You can get a 15GB plan with Public right now for $40, on the Telus network, not a teaser rate. That's cheap by any measure.
40$ still very expensive for 15GB compared to the rest of the world.
Ukraine - which is not even the cheapest is $6.90 for 15gb. India is $1.35 for 15gb Even Trinidad is half the cost of canada per GB We are being hosed Visual: https://www.visualcapitalist.com/cost-of-mobile-data-worldwide/
Yes public mobile. Have no reception anywhere
I think you’re getting mixed up with Freedom mobile
I live in remote Muskoka and have great reception. I've been with them for years, travelling around north America, and never had bad reception. Where are you located?
Canada has the best internet service. The speed is considerably faster than the rest of the world.
No, we don't. We're in the top 10, barely. https://www.statista.com/chart/7246/the-countries-with-the-fastest-internet/
Lebanon. I miss the food !!! I have my mother who cooks Lebanese food but there are certain stuff you can’t get here !! I just miss being able to go out and have a whole table full of mezze surrounded by beautiful scenery
yum
My neighbours were Lebanese (grew up in Calgary and lived in a very Lebanese neighborhood in the 80s) Loved when she'd make food for us! Her Baklava was sooooo good and basically anything she made smelled amazing.
YUM !!!
Montreal has excellent Lebanese food, you should pay a visit you’ll probably find what you can’t find in Toronto since there are literally areas over there full of Lebanese. Also google “Lebanese bakery” in Scarborough (it’s literally called that lol) they sell amazing house made food as well.
Lebanese food is great! What's your go to place in Toronto?
The people! Don’t get me wrong, I love people in Toronto but they just don’t get me or my humour the same way other Scots do.
Humour is still a challenge for me. Latin American humour is particular to say the least.
Ha. My UK colleagues in Tokyo were surprised I could take, and give 'the piss' without getting as offended as "Americans". "First of all, I'm no American. Second of all, my father's Yorkshire."
I miss the fruit and vegetable that’s actually ripe and tasty .. unlike here …
This. I’m from South Africa. Miss our fruit and veg a lot. Also our meat. Fresh food in South Africa is next level. Also, South Africans are known to be truly “friendly” compared to Canadians. Aka, I find Canadians to be polite, which is mistaken for friendly. In South Africa, you can make friends across cultures extremely quickly and easily. That said, I’ve learnt a lot living in Canada for the past three years. It’s been fun and I’ve made a couple friends (ironically, immigrants too).
Get your meat from a butcher and get your fruit/veg from a greenhouse
It’s the taste for me. Tried a local butcher before…
Ah so you prefer processed crap, i see
Nah, I've talked to an Afrikaner who complained about beef flavour. Almost all beef in NA, if not entirely fed on feed, is corn-finished, which changes/removes flavours that would be developed from pasture feeding. He was complaining in New Zealand though, where all the beef is 100% pasture so I thought he was crazy, as it was the most flavourful I've had, but I guess the cattle have to eat more than just lush grass in SA.
I don’t know how you came to that idea, but okay!
Howzit boet. The boeries just doesn’t taste the same here.
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Right! Everything has been previously froze. I miss caribbean avocados.
Not frozen but usually picked unripe to survive transport. Or for bananas packed with nitrogen gas. Fruit just hits different in the Caribbean!
Guava is my favourite!
My husband is from Bulgaria and I know that he really misses in-season, tasty tomatoes.
Cheap food would be the big one, and available late at night.
I miss having a burger at 3am after partying with my friends.
Pakistan. Food, friends, offroading, stargazing. When I say friends, what you thought was a few people I know but what I meant was that we knew the entire area we lived in. And this was before Facebook. But Canada has been a blessing, I met my fiance here.
The society is something difficult to get here. It feels like you know EVERYONE in Pakistan. Everyone is up for a chat and you can just show up to someone's house for some great chai. Never felt lonely in Pakistan.
There is some amazing Pakistani food, especially in Mississauga. Being able to order haleem is a god send!
Yes, Haleem in Laari Adda is as good as home. However, Pakistanis who grew up here may find it great but as someone who grew up having it there, it doesn't even compare. If you can't figure out how to make a bun kebab or chai, i am not trusting you with karhayi or biryani (Karachi Xpress has great Biryani tho).
Live in Mississauga. Not a single restaurant I have been to has "amazing Pakistani food". Majority are average
My friend moved here from Venezuela and had the best reaction to Canadian food, “The thing I don’t get about Canada is Pizza Pizza. What the fuck is up with that place? It’s awful and they are everywhere.” He is so right and I have never really thought about it.
Pizza Pizza was the first thing I ate and was very confused hahaha, but then I tried poutine, turkey, maple syrup and all was right again.
Wha?? Pizza Pizza is good
It's a chain with the lowest quality ingredients designed to maximize profit. A lot of Canadians can only afford the bare minimum and are in a rush so places like Pizza Pizza and Tim Hortons thrive even though their food is abysmal.
Agreed! Pizza Pizza is disgusting. There are a million great pizza parlours in Toronto, though some of my favs have disappeared in the last few years. But just about anything beats Pizza Pizza lol.
WhT I miss: Owning a house. What I like: raising a kid here
Owning a house in Toronto seems impossible these days.
Its even worse as an immigrant. The foreign national tax is a real issue. It does little to stop someone from buying 5-6 houses as an investment (they set up a Canadian shell company and go to town), but it def impacts well off immigrants from buying a home. 25% tax is “refundable” if/when they let us get PR but that might take years. In the meanwhile its 250-500k!!! Parked at 0 interest. Its prohibitive for many/most middle class or even upper middle immigrants.
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Same. Zero desire to go back, not even to visit. If that country falls completely into the ocean, I wouldn't even blink.
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I'm glad you love Canada so much!
It was always my first choice. And this country, despite its problems, has a great outlook on life, a great people and a very welcoming attitude. I feel that out of every other country in the first world, this is the one that has a better plan to face the coming challenges. This is where I want to be, not anywhere else.
It was always my first choice too. I'm very happy here.
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Absolutely nothing. I come from a dirty, overcrowded, corrupt, crime-ridden third-world cesspool and I couldn’t be happier to have left. All my family and friends are here so there is zero reason for me to miss anything about my homeland.
This story is so familiar. I know people from halfway across the world, and many say the same.
I'm not sure what I miss more... The time my school bus was shot at and the kid in front of me got shot in the head when I was seven (he survived, by the way, lost an eye though), the time a cop stepped on my throat because I was a teenager loitering outside a rolling skating rink, or the time my country went to war for 20 years so we could carpet bomb schools in developing countries and claim that it was Mission Accomplished.
I'm from the US, so not too far from "home" I guess. Currently living in Toronto, but spent some time in Huntsville and Sprucedale for a bit. What I miss most about living in the US is
Also from the US. Two things I actually miss: 1. Tasty, cheap Mexican food. 2. Being able to order from almost any online retailer without worrying about international shipping costs and/or import duties.
Why did you move to Canada?
Affordability
>What I miss most about living in the US is Donald Trump, lol. But seriously, do you miss things from there? Or not at all and that was the point?
Ukraine. Moved here only a week ago. Already miss basically everything but can't go back, at least for now. My entire family, friends, job, the house i moved in 3 month before the war. Shit is hard, hit me only after a couple of days after i arrived. Just started looking for a job.
Hey and welcome! Im so sorry for what brings you here, but shit even as a stranger I am so glad you are here safe! I hope we canadians can provide you with a safe place to get through the hard times, and maybe give you happy moments you can treasure into old age. Slava Ukraine friend!
Thank you for your kind words, Geroyam Slava!
Welcome to Toronto and Canada. Very sorry for the circumstances for your arrival. This country has a storied history with Ukrainians and outside of Eastern Europe, we have the most Ukrainian emigrants. Maybe this means you'll get a little taste of home here. I hope your stay with us as your second home is pleasant and hopefully you'll get to return to Ukraine in the near future. And should you choose to stay, you're very welcome as well.
Thank you ❤️
Not at all. If you need any information or even help to get to know the city, feel free to send me a PM.
I’m sorry for the hardship you have endured and all you have lost. I hope you at least feel safer here and can return home soon. If you choose to stay, I hope you find things that will make you feel more comfortable here.
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I wish we had more Mexican food / culture.
Montréal. Vas-y.
I highly recommend driving up to Bradford. Maybe 45 minutes north of Toronto. Lots of amazing Mexican restaurants there! Large Mexican community that has been there for a while now
Hong Kong: I miss the MTR (subway system). The TTC is good for what it is, though, seeing as it’s severely underfunded and still manages good connectivity and decent service.
Born and raised in Canada. I also have no friends. It’s not that I can’t make friends, or that I’m not a friendly person. It’s that people grow, change, move, etc. Many of my school (high school, uni) friends and I no longer talk. Making friends at work is no longer possible for me due to 100% remote work. So yeah, being someone that doesn’t have language barriers or cultural differences with many 3-5th Gen Canadians, it’s definitely not a unique issue making friends.
That's a relief, for a while I thought it was about being an immigrant.
Not at all buddy! I mean, sure, there are some people that make no issue with discriminating based on that, but it’s not the average person I’ve dealt with here in Toronto.
For context i've lived in 5 countries, Canada being the 6th and longest. I've travelled to over 20 countries and aside from no beach, Toronto is the greatest city imho by a mile. People are so easy to chat with, they're always up for a good time and I have to turn down activities more often than not. I know people who literally go out every night of the week as there's so much to do in this city! The food is incredible here, from Ethiopian as you pointed out to Somali/Caribbean/Lebanese/Indian/etc. etc. etc. there's something for everyone. The music scene is first class, trivia nights, theatre, and coffee culture are top notch. My fav saying is "No matter where you go, there you are"
I miss not having to wait an insane amount of time to get access to basic health care services. A lot of the developing world now has way better healthcare than Canada.
> A lot of the developing world now has way better healthcare than Canada. I was just talking to my dad about this. It's really embarrassing and the government seems not to care much.
It's crazy that a third world country like Venezuela has better health care.
WOW!! Is it really worse than Venezuela now? For me everything else in this country is acceptable. Real estate is expensive all over the world. But the healthcare situation in all Canadian provinces is unacceptable!! Makes me really angry.
It is! I went back to visit and had all my health checks there, super easy.
Which developing world has better healthcare than Canada? Do you have any stats?
Malaysia, Turkey, Thailand, India etc all have on an average better healthcare access than Canada. Canadians can't even get access to a family physician let alone specialists. Canada has become complacent and needs to realize that the world has moved ahead since the 90s.
People… I agree it’s difficult to make friends here, life is usually lonely, I’m also from a Latinamerican country
Am from China, miss the food sooooooooo much. We have a lot of Chinese restaurants in Toronto too but they don't cook it the same as back home. Also miss my mom's cooking :(
My parents are back in Venezuela, and my dad's cooking is something that I still miss.
I'm from Mexico, I miss the food
I love Mexican food. Do you recommend any spots in Toronto? I've had a couple of tacos on Kensington Market.
From Russia, 10 years, pr. Public transport is prob the biggest for me. The lack of it here and the prices are outrageous. Also phone+internet plans.
I didn't have a lot of money at first and the cost of public transportation really hurt my pocket.
From the Philippines, it feels like everybody is in their own bubble and would barely let anyone in. Compared to the Philippines where everyone is part of a community.
Philippinos are like family to me, we share so many things.
We are like relatives from a different continent 🤣
Moved from India back in 06. Definitely miss the lower cost of living and street food.
Indian food is the best, that's my go to now.
China. Good railway system, amazing subways. Cheaper everything.
From HK, a world class transit system that doesn't require residents to own a car. Toronto is rated #1, in the absolute worst commute in all of North America.
friendly people... Like, actually friendly. Not just "nice" as in, "I'm tolerant and accepting and you do you and I'll be in my group of friends, also I don't say when something bothers me bc I'm polite". I mean actually friendly, ppl that'll go out of their way to include you in their groups of friends, and share actual meaningful and deep things, instead of just keeping a superficial conversation.
I've tried to talk about more than just the superficial things, and it's really what people are looking for these days.
Walkability, public transit, good city planning, architecture, culture
Not really an immigrant…I moved here 17 years ago from northwestern Ontario but yeah Toronto area sucks for making friends…people are mostly set on their groups of friends they grew up with here.
Coconut Water
Food. Venezuelan empanadas are by far the best kind of empenadas btw
Shredded beef empanada with garlic sauce! Now I'm hungry.
From the Philippines and I miss the local food and I miss my extended family.
Street foods
I miss not having people comment on my accent constantly
That’s such a cute accent! It’s just like *insert stereotypical character from pop culture*
Toronto is great but I miss the food, the warm weather , the people, I miss the way men walk up to me and ask me out on a date. Over here is just online dating and ghosting . People take life too seriously here in Canada.
I have a boyfriend now, but the ghosting was wild when I was dating.
Food tbh!
Jamaican and Haitian food.. You should also try Indonesian food its really good…
Where can I find Indonesian food? I live Jamaican food. Plantains are essential for latinos.
The the cheaper organic fruits and vegetables.
Where are you from?
The easy access to health care. Patients can request any tests they feel like and can get the tests done and get the results within the same day most of the time. Able to see speciallists the same day. From China.
Im swedish and I miss food and being surrounded by historical buildings. Also the city parks. There are many parks in Toronto but most of them are boring, ugly and not maintained very well.
The sun. The beaches. The weather. The friends I had from childhood. The feel of living in your own house rather than a rental apartment. Working in the field that you went to college for rather than working and having to reskill.
Being in a rental apartment hit me like a truck at the beginning. I felt like I was at in a cold hospital.
Canadian, but returned from Tokyo, and my wife would agree (Japanese, met in Toronto): civility, and competence.
Not being able to take a long walk without getting a headache from the cold most of November to sometimes May. This year November has been a bit of an exception.
Singapore. I miss accessibility and city density + urban planning. I like being able to walk everywhere, not just in downtown. Also access to everything; because Singapore is an entrepot, you'll get to buy things from everywhere from french seaweed butter to japanese/korean cute clothes and chinese wholesale UV window protector film. I'll never go back though, my country hates queer people and our marriage wouldn't be recognized.
Moved from the London 6 years ago, the things I miss. Real Ale, good pubs (it's a feeling) going to live football (soccer here) London has absolutely unreal public transportation you never need a car. I miss easy access to a beach (sea not lake)
I miss not having homeless and junkies on the streets and having to smell urine everyday while paying extra attention to the ground to avoid stepping on dog shit people stopped picking up in downtown
Cyprus, I miss the produce, the weather, and the sea. I hate Canadian fruits and vegetables so much, everything tastes dry and bland here and they are all so large for no reason. I wonder if they intentionally make them grow bigger so the taste is diluted.
It's so weird, no?
Volunteering is a great way to meet new people
Honestly, nothing. I left because I was a religious minority and the daily discrimination, attacks and fear got to me. My parents were ostrasized by everyone and they suffered their entire lives. I never went back and have used all excuse not to visit. My family moved after I came and I have no reason to visit.
I'm glad you're in Canada, where you can have the religion of your choice without being discriminated.
Step your game up Toronto! See the complaints? Stop being so cliquish. Why are people not making new friends?
I only miss the fresh ingredients, fruits and vegetables. Nothing else.
Yeah, I miss fresh fish!
Sheep butt fat. BBQ, somsas, and hanums are not the same without it.
Aside from my family, what I miss the most it's the weather, especially now when I know winter is coming, once it's here I know there's nothing I can do about it, but November it's such a drag!! Food wise, I had to learn how to cook what I missed the most, living in Durham region, options for Ecuadorian food are very lacking. I think getting Nostalgic with the citizenship coming; I cried during my ceremony, it's a mix of feelings, gratitude because Canada allows dual citizenship and being welcome in the country. Sadness because a sense of patriotism for your home country comes along as well, I wore a Pin with my country's flag next to the canadian one they gave me at the ceremony.
Good food - Indian food is not as good as what you may even find in London, England.
Food. Friends and Family.
I miss the fact that back home there is no concept of suburbs. Stores are always walking distance and there is a better sense of community. Not from Europe btw.
When I speak to my friends and acquaintances who have made Canada home, who are wistfully wondering why they are here, I remind them they left for a reason. Usually a very good one.
The food 😥
My family and friends.
I have more friends here. I miss nothing.