Before I moved to Canada, I did what every nervous newcomer does: I looked up the weather. Big mistake, or maybe a good one — the numbers I found said parts of the country regularly hit minus 40 degrees Celsius in winter. I remember feeling genuinely afraid. I pictured myself buried in snow for six…
My neighbors and I have a running joke: it would probably be faster to raise a family doctor from birth than to actually find one in Victoria, BC. Ten years in Canada, and I still don’t have one. So this post isn’t written from some expert-outsider view — it’s written from the same waiting list…
In Korea, if I got sick, I could see a doctor the same day. It cost money, but the appointment itself was never the problem. When I moved to Canada, I learned something surprising: healthcare here is free, but “free” and “fast” are two very different things. Nobody tells you that before you land. After…
Last month I was standing in the cereal aisle at my local grocery store, staring at a box with a giant red maple leaf on it, when it hit me: I genuinely had no idea what that maple leaf meant. Was this product made in Canada? Owned by a Canadian company? Or just… wrapped in…
When I first moved to Victoria, BC, I didn’t think twice about where my groceries came from. I just wanted things to be cheap and easy to find. It took me a few years — and a lot of trips to Costco and Real Canadian Superstore — before I started actually looking at where things…
I live about ten minutes from Fisherman’s Wharf in Victoria, so I end up there more often than I probably admit. It’s one of those spots I bring every out-of-town visitor to, and it’s still my go-to for a lazy Saturday lunch. If you’re planning a trip to Victoria, BC — or you’ve just moved…
Last week I was walking through downtown and had to stop in the middle of the sidewalk. Not because of traffic — because of a small crowd of Canada geese calmly crossing the street like they owned it. Cars actually waited for them. Nobody honked. That’s just… normal here. A few minutes later, I nearly…
If you’re camping at China Beach (I covered reservations, fees, and facilities in Part 1), don’t just stay at the campground. Two of the best things we did on our trip were a short drive away: brunch at a quirky roadside café, and a walk through what might be the most incredible tide pools I’ve…
Last summer, my family and I spent two nights camping at China Beach, one of the most popular frontcountry campgrounds on Vancouver Island’s west coast. I’d booked our site months ahead of time, and I’m glad I did — this place fills up fast every summer. If you’re new to Canada and thinking about your…
I still remember the first time I did a “quick Costco run” in Canada. I walked in for paper towels and rotisserie chicken. I walked out $312 poorer, with a 12-pack of muffins I did not need. Nine years later, that’s just… Tuesday. A few weeks ago I found one of those “cost of living…
