by "BvdV - The Dutch Engineer" (dutchengineer)
Published 09/12/2017 at 08:30
by "BvdV - The Dutch Engineer" (dutchengineer)
Published 09/12/2017 at 08:30
No Tags
STARS: 11
Repost for the Europeans.
As some of you may know, I’ve been living in Toronto for slightly over a week now, so I figured it was time to update you folks on oppo about my life here.
First off, I must say I’m really surprised by the size of the city. Of course, I knew I was moving to a city with over 2 million of people, but didn’t think it would be this big. I can’t complain though, as the room I rent is in a nice street, less than 15 minutes of cycling away from university.
On the topic of university, I must say that I really like the group of people I’m working with at UofT. We’re quite the cultural mix, but in the end we all get along just fine, and there is always room for a joke, or a talk. What I did notice, though, is that the working ethos seams to be slightly different from that in the Netherlands. People seem to work harder here, and seem to thrive working on short deadlines.
Not only my coworkers at university are nice though, it seems that the stereotype of every Canadian being very friendly, is very true. This especially holds for the Toronto oppos I met up to this point.
The weather is also great, although a lot of people keep warning me for the winter.
The only points of irritation I have are nothing is priced with taxes (it is in the Netherlands), so I either need to do math to figure out how expensive stuff is going to be, or I’ll be in for a surprise.
All in all, I really like it here. And will definitely survive the 3,5 months I planned to stay here without any major issues. (Although I’m going to go back home for a week in late October, as my mother wants to have me home for her 50th birthday)
If you want to follow my adventures in Toronto, you can do so by following my Instagram account:
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s. These are all iPhone pictures, I still need to sort through the pictures I’ve taken with my proper camera, after which I’ll probably post several of those to Photography.
"SpeedSix" (speedsix)
09/11/2017 at 22:32, STARS: 1
Seeing things priced with taxes included was a surprise on my trip to Japan earlier this year - I’ve only lived in Canada and no place that I traveled to before had tax-inclusive pricing.
"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
09/11/2017 at 22:33, STARS: 1
Awesome. Thanks for checkIng in. I hope to spend some quality time in Toronto one day. I just seem to keep missing it.
"CB" (jrcb)
09/11/2017 at 22:36, STARS: 2
You’ll be fine in Toronto winter. Just stay off the roads for the first day, because everyone forgets how to drive.
Glad you’re enjoying your time, though! One thing that doesn’t help with trying to figure out taxes is not everything is affected equally. For example, gas has it included, certain grocery items are exempt, et cetera. One place a lot of people will recommend to you for photography is High Park, since it’s quite a nice place.
"CB" (jrcb)
09/11/2017 at 22:36, STARS: 3
Wait for the Canadian Dollar to drop in value again. Might as well save some money considering how expensive Toronto is!
/Sad Canadian
"BvdV - The Dutch Engineer" (dutchengineer)
09/11/2017 at 22:37, STARS: 0
It’s just one of those things you get used to. I’m sure if you have one of both for your whole life, you won’t think twice about it, but it is just the switch that makes it hard.
"BvdV - The Dutch Engineer" (dutchengineer)
09/11/2017 at 22:38, STARS: 1
Yeah, it’s a lovely city, so I would definitely recommend to visit it someday!
"BvdV - The Dutch Engineer" (dutchengineer)
09/11/2017 at 22:42, STARS: 0
I’ll be gone when real winter starts, unless the snow comes early this year. Anyhow, I’ll keep the advice in mind.
Thanks! Yeah, that doesn’t make it easier. We have a kinda similar system in the Netherlands, but since everything is priced with taxes you don’t have to think about it.
Yeah, High Park is on the list to visit. Actually I was planning to cycle along the lake, from the exhibition grounds to High Park, this weekend, but changed my plans, as the weather was slightly colder than expected.
"CB" (jrcb)
09/11/2017 at 22:46, STARS: 1
Last year we got some snow at the end of November, and I remember loads of green Christmases growing up. You’ll be good. We usually play it up for people.
To make it more confusing, each province has its own taxes, so some provinces pay 13% (Ontario), some 15%, and some 5%. It’s ridiculous.
Sounds like a good route. Along the Don River up to Edwards Gardens is also nice (as long as you don’t get lost around Sunnybrook), although the Don River itself is a bit of a letdown.
"The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock" (jukesjukesjukes)
09/11/2017 at 22:51, STARS: 1
If you go to Cars & Coffee you see in an influx of Toronto Oppos, & some cars too. The Cletus special beer holder too.
"BvdV - The Dutch Engineer" (dutchengineer)
09/11/2017 at 22:52, STARS: 0
Thanks, I’ll see about going there too!
"Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom" (will-alib)
09/11/2017 at 22:54, STARS: 1
Just remember the rules when driving in Canada.
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"For Sweden" (rallybeetle)
09/11/2017 at 23:19, STARS: 1
Congrats on attending U of T!
Less congrats to the Varsity Blues for being 1-3 this season.
"Spoon II" (Spoon_II)
09/11/2017 at 23:46, STARS: 1
Welcome to our large and (mostly) sparsely populated country! Hope you enjoy Toronto, there’s lots of fun stuff to do there!
"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
09/11/2017 at 23:46, STARS: 0
True. I live in one of the few North American large cities without a commensurate elevation in prices.
"Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell." (oppisitelock)
09/12/2017 at 04:36, STARS: 1
Awesome that you’re enjoying it, definitely on my list of places to visit. Some day...
"RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars" (rallydarkstrike)
09/12/2017 at 05:29, STARS: 2
Cool shots, glad you’re enjoying yourself! :) I expect a later cameo in a Reidus and Cletus ep :P
"Cé hé sin" (michael-m-mouse)
09/12/2017 at 05:31, STARS: 1
That’s a thing that used to drive me to distraction in the US and Canada. the only two places I’ve ever encountered it. Apparently the reason is that each state and province sets its own sales tax and so major retailers quote a nationwide price and leave the consumer work out what it’ll actually cost. Doesn’t explain small businesses of course. And don’t get me stated on “tips”.
"Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer" (smallbear94)
09/12/2017 at 07:09, STARS: 1
Agreed with you on taxes. As a born-in-Canada Canadian who has never known anything else I really can’t figure out why we do that. On the plus side it does keep your mental math reasonably sharp :)
As far as winter goes, what CB said. Though if we had one like last year you’ll barely need to worry about that... the temps were not too warm, but 9/10 times when stuff came out of the sky it was rain. Yuck.
"Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer" (smallbear94)
09/12/2017 at 07:17, STARS: 2
If a small business does it, they’ll look like their prices are way higher than everyone else’s. Partly because people are stupid, and partly because it’s been done like this for so long that nobody would even think to check, they’d just see the higher number an go nope. And then there’s people who won’t charge the tax if people pay by cash... a small chunk of the market, to be sure, but still there.
Tipping is idiotic.
"Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer" (smallbear94)
09/12/2017 at 07:19, STARS: 1
Also, Tim Horton’s sells Dutchies. I have no idea if it actually bears any resemblance to a Dutch food, but you could be a Dutchie eating a Dutchie in Canada.
#randomthoughts
"BvdV - The Dutch Engineer" (dutchengineer)
09/12/2017 at 08:34, STARS: 1
It sure does that :)
I’m used to rain, but yuck indeed. We’ll see though.
"BvdV - The Dutch Engineer" (dutchengineer)
09/12/2017 at 08:35, STARS: 1
Thanks! Yeah, I’ve been having a lot of fun already.
"BvdV - The Dutch Engineer" (dutchengineer)
09/12/2017 at 08:36, STARS: 1
Thanks!
There might be a cameo, but I’m not sure. I helped them hold the camera a few times when they were working on it, so I know for a fact I’m not in those parts ;)
"BvdV - The Dutch Engineer" (dutchengineer)
09/12/2017 at 08:38, STARS: 0
Thanks! It’s just a visiting graduate student thing, but it sure is a nice experience.
"BvdV - The Dutch Engineer" (dutchengineer)
09/12/2017 at 08:39, STARS: 0
Yeah, I’d definitely recommend it. Make sure you go when the canadian dollar is low, I feel sort of rich with my foreign euromonies.
"450X_FTW" (mistermic)
09/12/2017 at 08:42, STARS: 1
Since you’re into cycling, I suggest checking out Oxygen Bike Company if you need any bike help. Friends shop that he owns.
"BvdV - The Dutch Engineer" (dutchengineer)
09/12/2017 at 08:43, STARS: 1
Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind if I have any problems/need stuff.
"404 - User No Longer Available" (toni-cipriani)
09/12/2017 at 09:24, STARS: 1
There’s a bar over at Yonge-Dundas Square / 10 Dundas that has cheap wings and happy hour drinks every Wednesday.
"bhtooefr" (bhtooefr)
09/12/2017 at 09:31, STARS: 0
The other thing is that some places charge different rates for getting the same thing in different ways.
For instance, here in Ohio, for the same meal, I’ll get charged sales tax if I eat it at the restaurant - because I’m eating out, which is a luxury. If I’m getting the food to go, though, the state treats it as equivalent to getting groceries (it’s easier that way), and doesn’t tax it. (And, if I get a combo with a drink to go... If that drink is coffee or IIRC tea, it’s not taxed, but if it’s soda, the value of the drink is.)
In some other states, the model used is, if it’s cold food, it’s not taxed, whereas if it’s hot, it is (because it’s considered prepared food at that point).
"BvdV - The Dutch Engineer" (dutchengineer)
09/12/2017 at 09:47, STARS: 0
Cool, I’ll keep that in mind!
"duurtlang" (duurtlang)
09/12/2017 at 09:48, STARS: 0
What kind of food is a ‘Dutchie’? As a citizen of the Netherlands I have no idea.
"Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer" (smallbear94)
09/12/2017 at 10:00, STARS: 0
A kind of doughnut.
Looks like it got dropped from the menu though. I have no why it’s called that, if there even is a reason for it. Maybe it originated from Dutch immigrants? There was a fair amount that came here...