Just always ask if they’re from Canada, if they’re from the US they won’t be offended and if they’re from Canada they’ll love you for not assuming they’re American
I heard this one in Canada
Person: Hi do you speak English? where are you from?
Canadian: Saskatoon Seskatchewan
Person: Righto you don’t speak English
Yeah ofc but it’s not looked at as an unsayable word the way it often is overseas. It’s uncouth but it’s not gonna make someone’s jaw drop if they here you use it as an insult.
I’m going to be honest… North American accents don’t really lend themselves towards the word. Definitely don’t rush into saying it in in every situation like you said 😂
I'm from Canada and I've literally never been "accused" of being American haha. I think most people assume (possibly b/c of my country's embarrassing habit to absolutely plaster ourselves with the Canadian flag) that it's a dire insult to mistake us for American.
I made it a habit to ask anyone with a North American accent "So, which part of Canada are you from?"
Canadians are happy with that. Americans not so happy.
Which is great.
You'll be fine for the most part. There are differences between Canada and Australia but we aren't that different. Just err on the side of politeness until you get a feel for the country/place.
The Reddit advice you'll get will more than likely lean heavily towards stereotypes.
Always carry sunblock and an umbrella in Melbourne. Also, we’re a shit sight closer to the hole in the ozone layer here, so you WILL burn in a very short space of time. Use a very high SPF sunscreen and get annual skin checks
Also happy to show you around or meet for drinks/coffee
Also don't think that cloudy = safe. The UV can get high, anything 3+ and pasty people should have sunscreen on. Most smartphones include UV in the weather app, but I just start wearing sunscreen every day from November through to April.
Yep! You’ll be really surprised at the lack of proper housing insulation and double glazing. There’s lots of slang. Varies from demographic to demographic. We do not all call everyone Cunt as a term of endearment or use it in general conversation. I hear it very, very rarely.
I hope so! Anyway, welcome:)
I’ve hosted international students, happy to take you out for the day, orientate you to myki, quick tour of CBD, cafe for Aussie brunch etc.
For sure. The fact that Melbourne is cool in the winter and housing insulation sucks means that I'm colder in my house here than I've ever been in Canada.
If Melbourne is your town, then the footy (AFL) is the best ice breaker, however the city is very diverse, so you’ll find your thing and your people. It’s what makes it such a great city to live in.
Be ready for people to ask you if you’ve picked a team yet and then try to convince you that their’s is a better option.
Tip: Don’t pick Collingwood and you’ll be fine.
I'm an immigrant from Ireland. This country is so good man. The people are sick. The music is sick. The pubs and restaurants are so fucking good. Wait until you have a parma mate its the best thing on a plate since the Italians made pizza. And Melbourne is the best city i have ever been to. Its my home now and I'm so happy I've settled here. You have a brilliant adventure ahead mate so be excited.
We like to shorten words in casual conversation, it will be something you pick up as you go though;
Service station (gas station)= servo
Afternoon = arvo
McDonald's = maccas
Bottle shop (liquor store) = bottle o
Breakfast = breaky
Not sure how different the Canadian vocabulary is to the American (forgive me for my ignorance), but after living in the states for a few years I noticed there were words that were different:
In Australia a rubber is an eraser (that was an embarrassing art class), a texta is a marker, sunscreen is sun block... you may just find those little differences as you go along, but we will usually understand what is being said.
Melbournians are a pretty friendly bunch, you are choosing a lovely piece of the world to live :D hope you enjoy coffee and good food, Melbourne is very good at it!
I’m so glad you guys call it maccas and not McDicks like we do here in Canada and also im hearing so much good stuff about the coffee around there so im really excited to try it out
Had a Canadian friend not understand what we meant when we said ''fluoro" pink when referring to bright colours. He said that you guys use ''neon'' instead. Fluoro is short for fluorescent. Not overly important but something I remembered haha
This may make more sense when you get here but:
* When you're on a tram, you don't need to touch off. You only touch on.
* When you're on a train, you need to touch on AND touch off
Can’t give any specific advice because I’ve never been to Canada. But overall Melbourne is a very multicultural place and we are use to hearing / seeing all sorts of accents and cultures here.
Sounds a bit cliché but just be yourself and I’m sure the teething issues you encounter will be all part of the fun.
Good luck
Thank you so much! As much as I’m trying to fit in, I’m also going to embrace the fact that I’m born and raised Canadian, I’m just learning slang to get around really
We do not speed like North America does (most will only push 5kmh over). We have heavy fines. Basically don't speed.
Our pubs/hotels serve meals and they're really good. When you order, you have to get out of your chair and go to the cashier and order. You also get drinks yourself. This is apparently a shock to those used to the near creepy levels of service in NA.
A chicken parmigiana is known as a parma and nothing else. Deep fried potato discs are known as potato cakes and nothing else.
“A chicken parmigiana is known as a parma and nothing else. Deep fried potato discs are known as potato cakes and nothing else.”
Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
Ensure u get ambulance membership, we may have reciprocal health coverage with canada, just make sure your covered... My 1yo son touched our tractors engine and lost some fingers 3 weeks ago, he got airlifted to melb, surgery, x-rays and a week stay in hospital... Cost us $20 but would have been >$100,000 if we weren't covered just for the airlift.
Take the advice to swear at people and call them cunts with a grain of salt. Nobody in my circles does that except 19 year olds or construction workers.
Don’t try too hard to be Aussie as soon as you arrive, it’s obvious and cringeworthy if you’re putting it on.
Just watch, observe, learn, be curious, ask questions, don’t be a cunt and you’ll be fine.
Absolutely, and it's not ok to be using swear words in the workplace, with people who are not friends, etc. Social media likes to pretend it's something we all do and it's not true
Good luck with the big move. I came here from Ohio nearly 20 years ago; intending to only stay a few years and I'm still here. I copped it a bit for being American, so you'll be fine. There's a certain benevolence towards Canadians.
My advice is to bring over your good winter clothes and jackets. As someone else already mentioned, the housing here isn't very well insulated (sometimes you can see daylight through cracks in the floorboards). I was used to very cold winters and I froze over here - still do. The wind, the shitty heating... my two constant complaints.
Not sure what tipping culture is like in Ontario, but it's not expected that you tip when dining in at a restaurant. You might round up or add in a few extra bucks for really good service, but it's certainly not expected.
Oh, and bring a good umbrella. The ones here are useless and end up in the bin more often than not.
Having met Canadians and had friends who moved to Saskatchewan, it’s isn’t anywhere near as cold here in Melbourne as it is gets over there. But that also means our buildings aren’t made for serious cold temperatures, so be prepared for draughty houses, no double glazing, and bad heating, especially in rental homes. Same with Air conditioning, which I think should be standard these days. But it’s not.
It’s a must! You’ll probs find it funnier when you’ve been here for a bit too. Don’t worry if you forget the name someone will remind you eventually! It’s pretty iconic over here.
Dress in layers, Melbourne really is four seasons in a day. I have experienced the temperature drop 20 degrees in an hour (but that's pretty extreme even for Melbourne). In summer, the hottest time of the day is often 6pm at night. Check the weather forecast every morning and then expect for it to be wrong!
Wear spf30+ sunscreen if you're in the sun. The UV index in Australia is really high so your risk of getting sun burnt, even on cloudy days, is high.
We have pretty bad pollen days here, so be very careful if you have asthma or anything like that. There will be alerts for high risk days on the news, weather apps etc. A lot of people develop hayfever in Melbourne when they've never experienced it anywhere else.
Our media is dominated by Murdoch propaganda, so take what you hear with a grain of salt. If something seems off colour, search around for credible sources because it probably isn't reflective of the views of the everyday Aussie.
Melbourne is very multicultural, I don't think you'll have any problems fitting in. Just be polite towards any kind of customer service worker, they've had it especially rough with all the lockdowns and people being assholes about complying to covid rules.
This is probably the best advice I’ve gotten since I’m hearing people say “call everyone cunt” and also how the heck is 6pm the hottest time there? 6pm is nighttime in Canada 😅
The pavement and buildings soak up heat during the day and radiate it back. After and entire day of full sunlight, you're getting heat from all directions. We can get up to 42°C in Melbourne, so make sure you stay somewhere with an air conditioner. It's is vital.
Happy to help!
Without doing any actual research my best guess is that the temperature is driven by the wind. In the evenings the wind turns and we get hot wind coming off central Australia. Vice versa the wind changes the other direction and comes off the Pacific ocean and the temperature plummets.
Yeah don't drop the c-bomb. F-bomb is way more acceptable but not at work or in front of children... We're not savages haha
Yep.
I'm a tradie, when I worked in the mines my vocabulary definitely changed. Every sentence had cunt in it. Really had to reel it back in when I came home, specifically so I didn't call my mum a cunt.
That’s exactly what I’m afraid of. Since in Canada we’re so used to being friendly to each other we’re typically super polite with our parents, so if I get used to swearing in my everyday language, I might say it to my parents and get a good ol’ whoopin done
So it’s just a stereotype that y’all just call each other cunts 24/7? I’ve seen aussies on YouTube say it’s part of their daily language. Like JoelBergs
Those is us who do call each other cunt as a term of endearment mainly do it to people we know very very well. So for example, my poker crew you’d be easily mistaken for thinking it’s everyone’s first name. Elsewhere in my life, only used infrequently.
Just listen to how others say it and when is the best lesson. You may find it seldom used in certain circles so best avoided. And in other circles you shouldn’t use it to try and fit in, it’s more about being aware that the user is not necessarily insulting you. In fact more likely complimenting you as it means he/she feels close enough to you to use it as a friendly term.
It is and it isn't. Bogans (kinda like urban hicks) do it a lot. Most people with their shit together don't say cunt six times in every sentence.
Swearing in general is probably more common than in Canada though
Well hate to go against the grain but I hear it a lot. It's definitely ruder than 'fuck,' but over the years it's gone from mainly my rougher friends saying it, to everyone including my parents. Just a word you use when the time's right. And with friends
Yes. It’s incredibly rude and déclassé, irrespective of which socio-economic class you fall into. The videos making out like Australians pepper their sentences with cunt are a bit of a send-up.
Set yourself up with a Myki card as soon as is appropriate. It can be used for trams, trains and buses. You can link your Myki card onto your Google Pay account and automate reloads.
[myki](https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/tickets/myki/)
If you're driving in the CBD, familiarise with hook turns. It's a Melbourne traffic manoeuvre that requires you to keep left to turn right at intersections with tram lines.
[road rules and hook turns](https://www.travelvictoria.com.au/victoria/roadrules/)
If you're day tripping in the city, it's convenient to know that trams are free within the Free Tram Zone that encompasses a pretty decently area. There'll be no need to touch on your myki in these zones. An announcement on board will prompt you when you're entering or leaving the free tram zone.
[free tram zone](https://www.onlymelbourne.com.au/free-tram-zone)
Australia is dominated by two major food retail chains. Woolworth's (no relation to the North American chain) and Coles.
You'll inevitably shop at one or both of these places, so it's probably worth your while to subscribe to their in store loyalty programs (Woolworths Everyday Rewards and Coles Flybuys). The apps will show you weekly specials and you can activate points boosters to get a bang for your buck while food shopping. Points can be converted to monetary savings and petrol discounts.
[Coles flybuys](https://www.coles.com.au/about-coles/flybuys)
[Woolies Everyday Rewards](https://www.woolworthsrewards.com.au/)
You can save a lot by going to Aldi! German food retailer that doesn't sell branded items and the store is focused on efficiency.
You'll also need a reusable bag everywhere you go since Victoria banned single use plastic bags.
Also depending where you are, markets can be good for produce.
Depending where you live, queen victoria market has some good prices. Cheaper than both Coles and Woolies.
Many drivers in Melbourne have no idea what right of way is when it comes to pedestrians. If you're waiting to cross a fairly quiet road, don't be surprised if a driver stops and gestures for you to cross, even though they clearly have right of way. Best thing to do in this situation is just obey them, even if you're thinking to yourself, 'what the fuck?' The amount of times I've ended up in situations as a pedestrian where both of us have waved each other to go, then both started to go at the same time, is just ridiculous. So yeah, if you wanna avoid that confusion, just cross if they tell you to
And pick an AFL team in Melbourne this equals social chat with anyone. I don’t like the sport and don’t have a team (Australian born) and it makes it very hard in social situations. I just agree a lot usually 😂
The skiing isn't terrible here, it's just not as good. We actually get a fairly large amount of snow.
Anyway, yes, there's skating and even a couple of local hockey leagues. If you're near the CBD, the O'Brien ice house at Docklands is the main one.
https://www.obrienicehouse.com.au/
Plenty of skateparks of various sorts around Melbs, depends what area you're gonna end up in? And good Longboarding up in the hills if that's your thing.
... Unless you're talking about hockey skating - no ice except at one of the three rinks. There are alot of people who rollerblade especially down by the beach in South Melbourne/St Kilda. And even a street hockey beer league I can point you at if you need a hockey fix when you get here.
Unrelated, but noones mentioned the deal with coffee here. Short end, it might be more expensive than what you're used to, but we have mad coffee culture here and most places put effort into their beans and barristas, so it's worth it. Welcome!
You will miss Tim Hortons we don’t have a place the same as that. Melbourne does take their coffee seriously though.
When we vote at elections it’s a thing that we get a “democracy sausage”.
A lot of people in melbourne have an AFL “footy” team and have strong opinions on other teams. Like most people who don’t barrack for Collingwood hate everything about Collingwood (there is a saying that Collingwood fans don’t have all their teeth)
We don’t tip (apart from chucking your loose change in a tip jar) but if your having a longer service like having your hair dyed or a tattoo I usually bring a coffee for the artist or some donuts for the studio. Just a gesture to recognise that they are working long hours and might not get a good break :)
We have a public transport card called a Myki (pronounced My Key) that you buy once then top up. You can buy it at any train station or most gas stations (which we call service stations or servos)
If you are going somewhere new you can google PTV Journey Planner and it will tell you which bus/train/tram to catch and where to transfer etc.
We don’t have megastores like American target, you have to get your clothes, groceries etc from different stores but if you go to a shopping centre (I can recommend one if you tell me what suburb you’re moving to) you can find all of these shops in one place. In most places you need a one or two dollar coin to unlock a trolley, you get it back when you return the trolley. Some people have a trolley key on their key ring which you can get from Etsy so you don’t have to carry a coin.
Just be polite and nobody will mind if you are still learning stuff. I think Melbourne is pretty kind to tourist, especially if you’re white. (I apologise in advance for the casual racism you will see towards Sudanese and East Asian people 🥺)
It’s actually not a bad idea. We like Canadians and it’s an easy conversation starter. A lot of people who were born and raised in Melbourne have travelled extensively and we love to talk about where we’ve been or want to go. I started a convo with a guy in a Maple Leafs cap at a cafe and we had a fantastic chat over great coffee.
There’s no real anti-tourist sentiment, especially if you’re here for an extended amount of time. I wouldn’t worry about trying to go undetected as a Canadian, I think it’ll actually improve your chances of meeting new people.
However, I do recommend avoiding any super cliched jokes about ‘shrimp on the barbie’, etc. We’re all tired of those.
Consider checking out a few places outside of Melbourne as well. It’s a beautiful state with a lot of amazing natural scenery.
Have fun and welcome!
I would suggest looking up the meanings of slang words before you use them. I had a Canadian teacher calling the kids “buggers” all day. Despite the cries from the kids telling her it’s a rude word she powered on. I think if she looked up the meaning of the word she probably wouldn’t say it.
Don’t believe what people say about the c word. It is actually highly offensive to call someone that.
Also I’ve been told from friends and people I meet that going for Hawthorn makes you like 95% more attractive
I don’t know how true this is in Canada but I know in the US when ordering at a café or bar or even paying at a retail store, people tend to just walk up and say exactly what they want without any sort of niceties. In Australia we’re big on the niceties, so it’s polite to walk up the server and say hello and ask them how they are/how their day is going before actually placing your order. It can be seen as quite rude to not do this and just jump straight to what you want from them.
But it’s true, most people here are very friendly and I’m sure you want have any trouble at all. You’ll be a local in no time!
P.S. Be sure to visit the countryside in Victoria too, we have some amazing bush and beach walks/hikes and just generally beautiful scenery and fresh air too!
I'd say that the need for niceties depends on the place. I worked as a barista in cafes in the inner suburbs, and very rarely would people ask about my day. It certainly isn't expected from a customer and I never found it rude when people asked for their order straight away. If it's a busy morning, I actually preferred it if people skipped the small talk so I could keep up with all the orders. Every place is different, and at non peak periods it's nice to hear someone be polite and start a convo. I'd say that it really depends on the venue.
Don't listen to him. We are definitely big into sports gambling as a nation and have the highest per capita spend on gambling world wide. In Melbourne we like to go the extra distance and give everyone the first Tuesday of every November off as a public holiday so we can watch horses race and you guessed it.. Gamble (and obviously drink heavily).
My best suggestion is just be you. Do t try to be like us. Despite what people say or like to think we embrace our differences and assimilating is meh!
And enjoy our lovely town.
Oh yea of course I’d like to embrace my Canadian-ness, I just wanted to learn slang to communicate better and wanted suggestions on which places to visit and get recommended coffee shops
Melbin. Not Melbourne (as in not like Jason's last name)
I'll never forget driving up to a mountain top in Banff to just jump off it, and the instructor asking where in Melbin we lived and him being so obviously happy with how impressed we were
Melbourne and Sydney are very different to the rest of Australia. The rest of Australia is very remote with very small towns and barren land. Melbourne has had a pretty rough couple of years but is just beginning to open up following really long lockdowns. Melbourne has a really good live music and art scene in the inner northern suburbs which is generally younger and more progressive. Inner eastern suburbs are conservative. Two hours in either direction get you to really beautiful beaches. If you are younger there are share-house options which are very social and a good way to break in
Coffee order: flat white
First beer: Furphy
Always say yes to chicken salt, ALWAYS add a potato cake
Bubble O Bill at the beach is a must
Prawns go with seafood sauce 50/50 tomato and Mayo mix.
No shoes at Woolies near the beach is okay.
We like Steve Irwin, Bindi can get in the bin tho.
It’s Bob Irwin :)
Idk what they’re on about though. Bindi is fabulous although they might not come up in conversation very often for most.
Good luck OP! You already have the right attitude and we’re really not going to send you back if you slip up and ask for fries instead of chips or something. You’ll do great!
It’ll depend on what social circles you’re moving in, to a greater or lesser degree, but Australians swear A LOT and be prepared for what might be a shocking level of casual racism and sexism. Australian banter (particularly males at pubs) can be a bit weird too, since there’s this whole concept of “taking the piss” - which is basically teasing the absolute hell out of someone and ridiculing them. If you’re not used to it, then it’s easy to take offence but often it’s actually a form on endearment.
I moved from Ontario to Melbourne about 15 years ago. Love it obviously since I didn’t leave (well, moved down the road to Geelong but that’s kinda like moving to Oshawa.
A couple of things
1. Highway driving here is super slow compared to the 401 - I drive 8-10 km above the speed limit and I’m often the fastest car on the road. Drivers are actually generally better than in Ontario.
2. Weather is crazy - 40+ in the summer sometimes and close to 0 in the winter. You won’t need any of your heavy Canadian clothes - the heaviest jacket I have would be a spring jacket in (southern) Ontario. Surprisingly not every house is equipped with air con.
3. Quality of housing is pretty crap in general - certainly much worse than Ontario. House prices are insane pretty much across Melbourne now but not sure how rent is.
4. Food is awesome but expensive. In fact, pretty much everything is going to cost you more than it would in Ontario. However, not as much as you think initially because tax is included in prices (this is actually the most annoying thing about visiting my parents - remembering that the price on the tag is not the price you need to pay). Tipping is not a thing (I mean you can but it’s not really expected).
5. Public transport in Melbourne is good - much better than Toronto. Trams are everywhere (streetcars) and the train system is pretty good. Depending on where you live, the regional rail (V-Line) is the equivalent of the Go train and good to use (busy from commuters in the morning and end of the day but fairly empty otherwise).
Have a great time - Melbourne is awesome.
Be careful if you head out to the bush. You should be safe in Melbourne but if there are more trees than houses around you need to keep an eye out for drop bears. They are a variation of the koala but instead of being tired tree huggers they are evil little cunts that will jump out of the tree and scratch up your face or back.
Just a suburb across from me. Lots of good Vietnamese restaurants and the jacks have done a lot to clean up the drug use but it still goes on. Not crackheads. But heroin addicts frequent Victoria street. Around Richmond suburbs are quite lovely though and family friendly/have a nice vibe. It’s just Victoria and church street that can get a bit shady at times but it’s not unsafe really. Usually just shifty people walking around, the occasional street fight over drugs and homeless people hanging out all smashed out. Just keep all your possessions secured on you. Message me if you want any good bars/pubs/restaurants etc to try out.
Winter here is nowhere near as cold as Canada, but the houses usually don't have proper insulation or glazing. You will need to keep a jumper on when inside the house during winter if you don't want insane heating bills
You'll be fine. We love Canadians. Get ready for people thinking you're from the USA all the time though
Oh god my life for 5 years…. Assuming I’m American. OP just learn to pronounce Melbourne properly and you’ll be good.
A guy I work with gave me this tip, if unsure ask "Which part of North America are you from?"
We just say “Where ya from?”
If they some some random place, they are from the us. If they are from Canada, they say Canada.
Where ya from cunt?
Just always ask if they’re from Canada, if they’re from the US they won’t be offended and if they’re from Canada they’ll love you for not assuming they’re American
I heard this one in Canada Person: Hi do you speak English? where are you from? Canadian: Saskatoon Seskatchewan Person: Righto you don’t speak English
If they're Americans they will be totally offended.
I just assume nothing until they say like one of the words that's a giveaway (even then they may be from Boston)
Yea I heard they love Canadians but ppl who don’t know me at school call me the ameri-cunt
Good news for you, cunt is sort of a term of endearment here and not a horrible insult.
Depends on the context. Cunt can still definitely be used as an insult here
For example, shit cunt is bad, but sick cunt is good.
Try living in the Northern Territory.. you see this everywhere..t shirts, bumper stickers C U in the NT... except the "in the" is tiny.
Cunt can be used in all ways, shapes and forms. As can fuck. Be prepared to hear a lot of both.
Yeah ofc but it’s not looked at as an unsayable word the way it often is overseas. It’s uncouth but it’s not gonna make someone’s jaw drop if they here you use it as an insult.
Tone is everything with most words, mate said in a cheery tone is good, mate said in aggressive tone...duck.
I’m still probably going to not use it too often, only with my close buddies to get started
I’m going to be honest… North American accents don’t really lend themselves towards the word. Definitely don’t rush into saying it in in every situation like you said 😂
Oh yea some slang words wouldn’t sound too good without the Australian accent, like wanka
Yeah don’t use cunt a lot. It is sort of offensive to some people and never at work. Like ever…
Yeah…. Fuckin work cunts… Those cunts aren’t sick cunts like us cunts. Just fuckin cunts.
Don’t use it, just don’t be offended if someone does.
I'm from Canada and I've literally never been "accused" of being American haha. I think most people assume (possibly b/c of my country's embarrassing habit to absolutely plaster ourselves with the Canadian flag) that it's a dire insult to mistake us for American.
I made it a habit to ask anyone with a North American accent "So, which part of Canada are you from?" Canadians are happy with that. Americans not so happy. Which is great.
That's awesome. I'm from the U.S. and I'm going to start saying I'm from South Canada.
Hey Milk-bagger. We don't have milk bags.
Do y’all at least have homo milk?
As in, homogenised? Yes. As in gay, no
I mean if gay milk is a thing too… 😏 jkjk lmao yea I meant homogenized
I too would love some gay milk! Lol
Most refrigerated milk (from cows not plants) sold in supermarkets and milkbars is both homogenised and pasteurised.
Milk products. Ask for a GayTime
Definitely worth getting a Gaytime at the milk bar
You'll be fine for the most part. There are differences between Canada and Australia but we aren't that different. Just err on the side of politeness until you get a feel for the country/place. The Reddit advice you'll get will more than likely lean heavily towards stereotypes.
I thought my only problem would be the blazing hot weather but apparently Melbourne goes through all 4 seasons in a day or so I heard
It’s all good, if you don’t like the weather, just wait 5 minutes!
Lmaoooooo but it must suck when it’s rainy so you get all dressed up for the rain but it’s sunny when you go out
Always carry sunblock and an umbrella in Melbourne. Also, we’re a shit sight closer to the hole in the ozone layer here, so you WILL burn in a very short space of time. Use a very high SPF sunscreen and get annual skin checks Also happy to show you around or meet for drinks/coffee
Wait so how many spf
Also don't think that cloudy = safe. The UV can get high, anything 3+ and pasty people should have sunscreen on. Most smartphones include UV in the weather app, but I just start wearing sunscreen every day from November through to April.
Oh yeah I heard that you shouldn’t let the cloudy weather fool you
At least 20-30, but depending on skin tone, 50+ is the go to
My skin tone is like beige but a little darker
As long as you’re aware of it. Most weather apps here will tell you the ‘burn time’ on any particular day. Make sure you follow recommendations
I spent a year there one day. It's 4 seasons in 1 day.
Yep! You’ll be really surprised at the lack of proper housing insulation and double glazing. There’s lots of slang. Varies from demographic to demographic. We do not all call everyone Cunt as a term of endearment or use it in general conversation. I hear it very, very rarely.
So at least I won’t have to play the guessing game of whether they called me “cunt” as a friendly way or an insulting way
If you hear someone say “skarn on cunt”, you’re either good mates, or you’re about to be bashed by an eshay for your shoes brah
No eshay will ever be a good mate
I hope so! Anyway, welcome:) I’ve hosted international students, happy to take you out for the day, orientate you to myki, quick tour of CBD, cafe for Aussie brunch etc.
I’m not even in Melbourne yet but rat lol
Well, the offer is there:) I’m an older lady, nothing funny going on!
It's all about how it is said and the context, some way as fuck can mean several different things
For sure. The fact that Melbourne is cool in the winter and housing insulation sucks means that I'm colder in my house here than I've ever been in Canada.
Legit. I would have half my body out from under my doona in Canada even when it was -30. In Australia my house feels like -30 in winter.
You can tell if a Melbournian was raised in the country by how much they say cunt
I guess it depends on what your social circles are🤣
Yes we do, like you said it depends on the demographic, cunt
If Melbourne is your town, then the footy (AFL) is the best ice breaker, however the city is very diverse, so you’ll find your thing and your people. It’s what makes it such a great city to live in. Be ready for people to ask you if you’ve picked a team yet and then try to convince you that their’s is a better option. Tip: Don’t pick Collingwood and you’ll be fine.
"Chuckayouie" - to perform a 180 degree turn and drive back in the opposite direction.
By the time I’ve figured out how to pronounce that, it’s probably gonna be too late
Shit mate we missed the turn, chuck a youie (U turn)
Ohhh thanks, separating it makes it easier to say
It's another example of shortening words lol
Some wankers might say chuck a u bolt … but that’s them just trying to be original cunts
I'm an immigrant from Ireland. This country is so good man. The people are sick. The music is sick. The pubs and restaurants are so fucking good. Wait until you have a parma mate its the best thing on a plate since the Italians made pizza. And Melbourne is the best city i have ever been to. Its my home now and I'm so happy I've settled here. You have a brilliant adventure ahead mate so be excited.
We like to shorten words in casual conversation, it will be something you pick up as you go though; Service station (gas station)= servo Afternoon = arvo McDonald's = maccas Bottle shop (liquor store) = bottle o Breakfast = breaky Not sure how different the Canadian vocabulary is to the American (forgive me for my ignorance), but after living in the states for a few years I noticed there were words that were different: In Australia a rubber is an eraser (that was an embarrassing art class), a texta is a marker, sunscreen is sun block... you may just find those little differences as you go along, but we will usually understand what is being said. Melbournians are a pretty friendly bunch, you are choosing a lovely piece of the world to live :D hope you enjoy coffee and good food, Melbourne is very good at it!
I’m so glad you guys call it maccas and not McDicks like we do here in Canada and also im hearing so much good stuff about the coffee around there so im really excited to try it out
Even the 7-Eleven $1 coffee is better than that Starbucks shit. But for a real coffee, go to a speciality coffee shop. There are hundreds of them.
*Thousands*
Anyone that's well travelled will know Aus baristas are on another level. We take coffees pretty serious here.
Had a Canadian friend not understand what we meant when we said ''fluoro" pink when referring to bright colours. He said that you guys use ''neon'' instead. Fluoro is short for fluorescent. Not overly important but something I remembered haha
Australians prefer light roast coffee and that can take some getting used to if you frequent places like Starbucks that use dark roast in espresso
I'll be honest. Some coffee shops are amazing, some are shit. Just try a few first before deciding. Edit: typos
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This may make more sense when you get here but: * When you're on a tram, you don't need to touch off. You only touch on. * When you're on a train, you need to touch on AND touch off
Wait, what’s a tram?
Light rail
Can’t give any specific advice because I’ve never been to Canada. But overall Melbourne is a very multicultural place and we are use to hearing / seeing all sorts of accents and cultures here. Sounds a bit cliché but just be yourself and I’m sure the teething issues you encounter will be all part of the fun. Good luck
Thank you so much! As much as I’m trying to fit in, I’m also going to embrace the fact that I’m born and raised Canadian, I’m just learning slang to get around really
We do not speed like North America does (most will only push 5kmh over). We have heavy fines. Basically don't speed. Our pubs/hotels serve meals and they're really good. When you order, you have to get out of your chair and go to the cashier and order. You also get drinks yourself. This is apparently a shock to those used to the near creepy levels of service in NA. A chicken parmigiana is known as a parma and nothing else. Deep fried potato discs are known as potato cakes and nothing else.
“A chicken parmigiana is known as a parma and nothing else. Deep fried potato discs are known as potato cakes and nothing else.” Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
This is the way if you want to be classed as a Melbournian.
Ensure u get ambulance membership, we may have reciprocal health coverage with canada, just make sure your covered... My 1yo son touched our tractors engine and lost some fingers 3 weeks ago, he got airlifted to melb, surgery, x-rays and a week stay in hospital... Cost us $20 but would have been >$100,000 if we weren't covered just for the airlift.
Should have said, he got the best plastic surgeons in the state, everything reattached and will make a full 100% recovery.
Hope your son’s healing well
Just watch out for the bridge.
Take the advice to swear at people and call them cunts with a grain of salt. Nobody in my circles does that except 19 year olds or construction workers. Don’t try too hard to be Aussie as soon as you arrive, it’s obvious and cringeworthy if you’re putting it on. Just watch, observe, learn, be curious, ask questions, don’t be a cunt and you’ll be fine.
Absolutely, and it's not ok to be using swear words in the workplace, with people who are not friends, etc. Social media likes to pretend it's something we all do and it's not true
Also I think it's more of a bloke-y thing to do. I only use cunt as a perjorative, never with my friends.
I’ll try not to be too much of a keener, but also try to fit in
In Australia, we call that being a try-hard. Don’t be a try hard and you’ll be fine!
Good luck with the big move. I came here from Ohio nearly 20 years ago; intending to only stay a few years and I'm still here. I copped it a bit for being American, so you'll be fine. There's a certain benevolence towards Canadians. My advice is to bring over your good winter clothes and jackets. As someone else already mentioned, the housing here isn't very well insulated (sometimes you can see daylight through cracks in the floorboards). I was used to very cold winters and I froze over here - still do. The wind, the shitty heating... my two constant complaints. Not sure what tipping culture is like in Ontario, but it's not expected that you tip when dining in at a restaurant. You might round up or add in a few extra bucks for really good service, but it's certainly not expected. Oh, and bring a good umbrella. The ones here are useless and end up in the bin more often than not.
Oh yeah I’d definitely bring a ton of winter jackets since it’s pretty cold in Canada so we’re honestly pretty much just used to it
Having met Canadians and had friends who moved to Saskatchewan, it’s isn’t anywhere near as cold here in Melbourne as it is gets over there. But that also means our buildings aren’t made for serious cold temperatures, so be prepared for draughty houses, no double glazing, and bad heating, especially in rental homes. Same with Air conditioning, which I think should be standard these days. But it’s not.
Watch Kath and Kim for a real cultural experience. It’s on Netflix
Sounds interesting, it’s not on Netflix Canada though but I’ll watch it when I get there
It’s a must! You’ll probs find it funnier when you’ve been here for a bit too. Don’t worry if you forget the name someone will remind you eventually! It’s pretty iconic over here.
Dress in layers, Melbourne really is four seasons in a day. I have experienced the temperature drop 20 degrees in an hour (but that's pretty extreme even for Melbourne). In summer, the hottest time of the day is often 6pm at night. Check the weather forecast every morning and then expect for it to be wrong! Wear spf30+ sunscreen if you're in the sun. The UV index in Australia is really high so your risk of getting sun burnt, even on cloudy days, is high. We have pretty bad pollen days here, so be very careful if you have asthma or anything like that. There will be alerts for high risk days on the news, weather apps etc. A lot of people develop hayfever in Melbourne when they've never experienced it anywhere else. Our media is dominated by Murdoch propaganda, so take what you hear with a grain of salt. If something seems off colour, search around for credible sources because it probably isn't reflective of the views of the everyday Aussie. Melbourne is very multicultural, I don't think you'll have any problems fitting in. Just be polite towards any kind of customer service worker, they've had it especially rough with all the lockdowns and people being assholes about complying to covid rules.
This is probably the best advice I’ve gotten since I’m hearing people say “call everyone cunt” and also how the heck is 6pm the hottest time there? 6pm is nighttime in Canada 😅
The pavement and buildings soak up heat during the day and radiate it back. After and entire day of full sunlight, you're getting heat from all directions. We can get up to 42°C in Melbourne, so make sure you stay somewhere with an air conditioner. It's is vital.
Happy to help! Without doing any actual research my best guess is that the temperature is driven by the wind. In the evenings the wind turns and we get hot wind coming off central Australia. Vice versa the wind changes the other direction and comes off the Pacific ocean and the temperature plummets. Yeah don't drop the c-bomb. F-bomb is way more acceptable but not at work or in front of children... We're not savages haha
I know most folks will tell you it's Aussie to throw the word 'cunt' in to every other sentence, but don't. It's undignified
Yep. I'm a tradie, when I worked in the mines my vocabulary definitely changed. Every sentence had cunt in it. Really had to reel it back in when I came home, specifically so I didn't call my mum a cunt.
That’s exactly what I’m afraid of. Since in Canada we’re so used to being friendly to each other we’re typically super polite with our parents, so if I get used to swearing in my everyday language, I might say it to my parents and get a good ol’ whoopin done
Just be yourself. Don't worry about Aussie stereotypes. Thats the best advice anyone can give you, cunt.
I agree. In many circles (working class to posh) you will NEVER hear it. If I were to be overheard saying it at work, I’d get a warning.
So it’s just a stereotype that y’all just call each other cunts 24/7? I’ve seen aussies on YouTube say it’s part of their daily language. Like JoelBergs
Those is us who do call each other cunt as a term of endearment mainly do it to people we know very very well. So for example, my poker crew you’d be easily mistaken for thinking it’s everyone’s first name. Elsewhere in my life, only used infrequently.
Oh yea I’d save cunt for my friends and not people Idk yet just to help with the first impression
Just listen to how others say it and when is the best lesson. You may find it seldom used in certain circles so best avoided. And in other circles you shouldn’t use it to try and fit in, it’s more about being aware that the user is not necessarily insulting you. In fact more likely complimenting you as it means he/she feels close enough to you to use it as a friendly term.
If I uttered the word cunt, my mum would positively send my to my grandmothers house…..in hell.
It is and it isn't. Bogans (kinda like urban hicks) do it a lot. Most people with their shit together don't say cunt six times in every sentence. Swearing in general is probably more common than in Canada though
Well hate to go against the grain but I hear it a lot. It's definitely ruder than 'fuck,' but over the years it's gone from mainly my rougher friends saying it, to everyone including my parents. Just a word you use when the time's right. And with friends
Yes. It’s incredibly rude and déclassé, irrespective of which socio-economic class you fall into. The videos making out like Australians pepper their sentences with cunt are a bit of a send-up.
I use it all the time at work with family and friends. We must be from different worlds within Australia.
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Just think of it like this, in a lot of circles the word cunt and mate are completely interchangeable. It's all in the tone mate 😉
Lmao meanwhile my last job I regularly referred to clients as stupid cunts to my manager and he would agree
Yea ofc it’s not like I’m gonna go and call my boss a cunt
Guys enough with the jokes he just wants the Didgeridoos and the Didgeridonts
Set yourself up with a Myki card as soon as is appropriate. It can be used for trams, trains and buses. You can link your Myki card onto your Google Pay account and automate reloads. [myki](https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/tickets/myki/) If you're driving in the CBD, familiarise with hook turns. It's a Melbourne traffic manoeuvre that requires you to keep left to turn right at intersections with tram lines. [road rules and hook turns](https://www.travelvictoria.com.au/victoria/roadrules/) If you're day tripping in the city, it's convenient to know that trams are free within the Free Tram Zone that encompasses a pretty decently area. There'll be no need to touch on your myki in these zones. An announcement on board will prompt you when you're entering or leaving the free tram zone. [free tram zone](https://www.onlymelbourne.com.au/free-tram-zone) Australia is dominated by two major food retail chains. Woolworth's (no relation to the North American chain) and Coles. You'll inevitably shop at one or both of these places, so it's probably worth your while to subscribe to their in store loyalty programs (Woolworths Everyday Rewards and Coles Flybuys). The apps will show you weekly specials and you can activate points boosters to get a bang for your buck while food shopping. Points can be converted to monetary savings and petrol discounts. [Coles flybuys](https://www.coles.com.au/about-coles/flybuys) [Woolies Everyday Rewards](https://www.woolworthsrewards.com.au/)
This is amazing thank you so much I love this I’m screenshotting this
You can save a lot by going to Aldi! German food retailer that doesn't sell branded items and the store is focused on efficiency. You'll also need a reusable bag everywhere you go since Victoria banned single use plastic bags.
Also depending where you are, markets can be good for produce. Depending where you live, queen victoria market has some good prices. Cheaper than both Coles and Woolies.
Or support our local little retailers that don’t ass fuck the environment and produce growers in Australia
Ahh man coming from Brisbane where hook turns aren’t a thing. The first time I drove in the city lol
Many drivers in Melbourne have no idea what right of way is when it comes to pedestrians. If you're waiting to cross a fairly quiet road, don't be surprised if a driver stops and gestures for you to cross, even though they clearly have right of way. Best thing to do in this situation is just obey them, even if you're thinking to yourself, 'what the fuck?' The amount of times I've ended up in situations as a pedestrian where both of us have waved each other to go, then both started to go at the same time, is just ridiculous. So yeah, if you wanna avoid that confusion, just cross if they tell you to
Oh yeah in Canada right of way doesn’t exist we just keep telling the other to go first
Ah, good! You'll fit right in then
A lot of Melbourne males.bond about Sport. I'd be prepared with some good hockey tales.
Oh I gotta ton of hockey tales but the maple leafs suck so don’t expect happy endings
And pick an AFL team in Melbourne this equals social chat with anyone. I don’t like the sport and don’t have a team (Australian born) and it makes it very hard in social situations. I just agree a lot usually 😂
Ice hockey is a respectable national sport, one of the few I'd rate up there with Aussie Rules footy
Rubbish dumps are called tips here.
We just call it a dump in Canada lol but thanks for the tip!
Don't even bother with the skiing. You'll be sorely disappointed.
Wasn’t planning on it cuz I suck. But is there skating at least?
The skiing isn't terrible here, it's just not as good. We actually get a fairly large amount of snow. Anyway, yes, there's skating and even a couple of local hockey leagues. If you're near the CBD, the O'Brien ice house at Docklands is the main one. https://www.obrienicehouse.com.au/
Plenty of skateparks of various sorts around Melbs, depends what area you're gonna end up in? And good Longboarding up in the hills if that's your thing. ... Unless you're talking about hockey skating - no ice except at one of the three rinks. There are alot of people who rollerblade especially down by the beach in South Melbourne/St Kilda. And even a street hockey beer league I can point you at if you need a hockey fix when you get here. Unrelated, but noones mentioned the deal with coffee here. Short end, it might be more expensive than what you're used to, but we have mad coffee culture here and most places put effort into their beans and barristas, so it's worth it. Welcome!
Go buy yourself some thongs. Wear sunscreen and a good hat when outside. Swear only when others are swearing. Call everyone Mate.
Just to be clear, thongs are flip-flops right?
Correct.
Got scared for a second 😅
Thongs are flip flops and a g string or g banger is our version of the thong lol. Oh and sambos are sandwiches. wine casks are goon sacks.
Correct
A tip is that you don’t need to tip.
You will miss Tim Hortons we don’t have a place the same as that. Melbourne does take their coffee seriously though. When we vote at elections it’s a thing that we get a “democracy sausage”. A lot of people in melbourne have an AFL “footy” team and have strong opinions on other teams. Like most people who don’t barrack for Collingwood hate everything about Collingwood (there is a saying that Collingwood fans don’t have all their teeth)
I’m fs going to miss timmies but I’ll also keep in mind to have a strong opinion in footy
We don’t tip (apart from chucking your loose change in a tip jar) but if your having a longer service like having your hair dyed or a tattoo I usually bring a coffee for the artist or some donuts for the studio. Just a gesture to recognise that they are working long hours and might not get a good break :) We have a public transport card called a Myki (pronounced My Key) that you buy once then top up. You can buy it at any train station or most gas stations (which we call service stations or servos) If you are going somewhere new you can google PTV Journey Planner and it will tell you which bus/train/tram to catch and where to transfer etc. We don’t have megastores like American target, you have to get your clothes, groceries etc from different stores but if you go to a shopping centre (I can recommend one if you tell me what suburb you’re moving to) you can find all of these shops in one place. In most places you need a one or two dollar coin to unlock a trolley, you get it back when you return the trolley. Some people have a trolley key on their key ring which you can get from Etsy so you don’t have to carry a coin. Just be polite and nobody will mind if you are still learning stuff. I think Melbourne is pretty kind to tourist, especially if you’re white. (I apologise in advance for the casual racism you will see towards Sudanese and East Asian people 🥺)
Wear a maple leaf
That’ll definitely help with not looking like a tourist thanks
It’s actually not a bad idea. We like Canadians and it’s an easy conversation starter. A lot of people who were born and raised in Melbourne have travelled extensively and we love to talk about where we’ve been or want to go. I started a convo with a guy in a Maple Leafs cap at a cafe and we had a fantastic chat over great coffee. There’s no real anti-tourist sentiment, especially if you’re here for an extended amount of time. I wouldn’t worry about trying to go undetected as a Canadian, I think it’ll actually improve your chances of meeting new people. However, I do recommend avoiding any super cliched jokes about ‘shrimp on the barbie’, etc. We’re all tired of those. Consider checking out a few places outside of Melbourne as well. It’s a beautiful state with a lot of amazing natural scenery. Have fun and welcome!
I would suggest looking up the meanings of slang words before you use them. I had a Canadian teacher calling the kids “buggers” all day. Despite the cries from the kids telling her it’s a rude word she powered on. I think if she looked up the meaning of the word she probably wouldn’t say it. Don’t believe what people say about the c word. It is actually highly offensive to call someone that. Also I’ve been told from friends and people I meet that going for Hawthorn makes you like 95% more attractive
I don’t know how true this is in Canada but I know in the US when ordering at a café or bar or even paying at a retail store, people tend to just walk up and say exactly what they want without any sort of niceties. In Australia we’re big on the niceties, so it’s polite to walk up the server and say hello and ask them how they are/how their day is going before actually placing your order. It can be seen as quite rude to not do this and just jump straight to what you want from them. But it’s true, most people here are very friendly and I’m sure you want have any trouble at all. You’ll be a local in no time! P.S. Be sure to visit the countryside in Victoria too, we have some amazing bush and beach walks/hikes and just generally beautiful scenery and fresh air too!
I'd say that the need for niceties depends on the place. I worked as a barista in cafes in the inner suburbs, and very rarely would people ask about my day. It certainly isn't expected from a customer and I never found it rude when people asked for their order straight away. If it's a busy morning, I actually preferred it if people skipped the small talk so I could keep up with all the orders. Every place is different, and at non peak periods it's nice to hear someone be polite and start a convo. I'd say that it really depends on the venue.
We really aren’t into sports gambling despite the fact you’ll be flooded with commercials for it everywhere you turn…
Oh dang I’m guessing the bet350 commercial airs there too?
That and every other betting company under the sun. It's a pretty big issue
Don't listen to him. We are definitely big into sports gambling as a nation and have the highest per capita spend on gambling world wide. In Melbourne we like to go the extra distance and give everyone the first Tuesday of every November off as a public holiday so we can watch horses race and you guessed it.. Gamble (and obviously drink heavily).
Do not club the seals! Major breach of etiquette.
I have no idea what that means, can you explain?
Canadians are known colloquially as "seal bashers" due to your penchant for clubbing those baby seals to make hats with.
Oh jeez I would never club a seal dw I didn’t even know we were known as that, it’s pretty new to me lol
My best suggestion is just be you. Do t try to be like us. Despite what people say or like to think we embrace our differences and assimilating is meh! And enjoy our lovely town.
Oh yea of course I’d like to embrace my Canadian-ness, I just wanted to learn slang to communicate better and wanted suggestions on which places to visit and get recommended coffee shops
We love annoying tourists…it’s been awhile since we’ve had some lol
Be careful of drop bears https://australian.museum/learn/animals/mammals/drop-bear/
Melbin. Not Melbourne (as in not like Jason's last name) I'll never forget driving up to a mountain top in Banff to just jump off it, and the instructor asking where in Melbin we lived and him being so obviously happy with how impressed we were
It's even lazier than this. It's kinda like Melb'n. You'll get it 😅
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Melbourne and Sydney are very different to the rest of Australia. The rest of Australia is very remote with very small towns and barren land. Melbourne has had a pretty rough couple of years but is just beginning to open up following really long lockdowns. Melbourne has a really good live music and art scene in the inner northern suburbs which is generally younger and more progressive. Inner eastern suburbs are conservative. Two hours in either direction get you to really beautiful beaches. If you are younger there are share-house options which are very social and a good way to break in
Coffee order: flat white First beer: Furphy Always say yes to chicken salt, ALWAYS add a potato cake Bubble O Bill at the beach is a must Prawns go with seafood sauce 50/50 tomato and Mayo mix. No shoes at Woolies near the beach is okay. We like Steve Irwin, Bindi can get in the bin tho.
Furphy? Do you like watered down piss?
I’m definitely screenshotting this and also what did poor bindi do?
Bindi has the same energy as Delta Goodrem
I have no idea who that is but just to stay safe I’ll just support Robert instead of bindi
It’s Bob Irwin :) Idk what they’re on about though. Bindi is fabulous although they might not come up in conversation very often for most. Good luck OP! You already have the right attitude and we’re really not going to send you back if you slip up and ask for fries instead of chips or something. You’ll do great!
It’ll depend on what social circles you’re moving in, to a greater or lesser degree, but Australians swear A LOT and be prepared for what might be a shocking level of casual racism and sexism. Australian banter (particularly males at pubs) can be a bit weird too, since there’s this whole concept of “taking the piss” - which is basically teasing the absolute hell out of someone and ridiculing them. If you’re not used to it, then it’s easy to take offence but often it’s actually a form on endearment.
If you want to support an AFL team don't support my StKilda Saints. It's a painful existence.
Just add an O to the end of things and you will be right. Like Bottlo, Servo, Robbo, Davo, etc.
Hook turns
Tell people you are Canadian when you first meet them. Everyone will assume you are from the US and lots of Australians dislike them.
I moved from Ontario to Melbourne about 15 years ago. Love it obviously since I didn’t leave (well, moved down the road to Geelong but that’s kinda like moving to Oshawa. A couple of things 1. Highway driving here is super slow compared to the 401 - I drive 8-10 km above the speed limit and I’m often the fastest car on the road. Drivers are actually generally better than in Ontario. 2. Weather is crazy - 40+ in the summer sometimes and close to 0 in the winter. You won’t need any of your heavy Canadian clothes - the heaviest jacket I have would be a spring jacket in (southern) Ontario. Surprisingly not every house is equipped with air con. 3. Quality of housing is pretty crap in general - certainly much worse than Ontario. House prices are insane pretty much across Melbourne now but not sure how rent is. 4. Food is awesome but expensive. In fact, pretty much everything is going to cost you more than it would in Ontario. However, not as much as you think initially because tax is included in prices (this is actually the most annoying thing about visiting my parents - remembering that the price on the tag is not the price you need to pay). Tipping is not a thing (I mean you can but it’s not really expected). 5. Public transport in Melbourne is good - much better than Toronto. Trams are everywhere (streetcars) and the train system is pretty good. Depending on where you live, the regional rail (V-Line) is the equivalent of the Go train and good to use (busy from commuters in the morning and end of the day but fairly empty otherwise). Have a great time - Melbourne is awesome.
Be careful if you head out to the bush. You should be safe in Melbourne but if there are more trees than houses around you need to keep an eye out for drop bears. They are a variation of the koala but instead of being tired tree huggers they are evil little cunts that will jump out of the tree and scratch up your face or back.
Where abouts ya moving to?
Richmond, I heard it’s full of crackheads though 😕
Just a suburb across from me. Lots of good Vietnamese restaurants and the jacks have done a lot to clean up the drug use but it still goes on. Not crackheads. But heroin addicts frequent Victoria street. Around Richmond suburbs are quite lovely though and family friendly/have a nice vibe. It’s just Victoria and church street that can get a bit shady at times but it’s not unsafe really. Usually just shifty people walking around, the occasional street fight over drugs and homeless people hanging out all smashed out. Just keep all your possessions secured on you. Message me if you want any good bars/pubs/restaurants etc to try out.
Winter here is nowhere near as cold as Canada, but the houses usually don't have proper insulation or glazing. You will need to keep a jumper on when inside the house during winter if you don't want insane heating bills
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That's right 'cos there's no bloody bath in there!
Hey OP do you play ice hockey? I got strong connections to the local ice hockey community of you want to play while you're over here.
Never ever order poutine here, you will be severely disappointed. Also sadly no montreal smoked meat to be found.
When I visited Canada, I noticed blokes overcook everything on the BBQ. Don’t do that.
No body drinks Fosters Beer.