Where are you from in Canada?

[antda 13]

Hi Everyone,

What an interesting question that Trailmix asked here:

So where is everyone from?

Lol...Funny, that whenever I'm asked this question, I and Everyone Else usually gets...

Here, let me explain it in the "condensed version" that I usually end up telling:

Age Birth-5 years: Some other foreign country (which I have no ties to and haven't been back ever since)

-Big City (Population millions+, 2 or so different locations)

Age 5- Age 23: "I am Canadian!!!" (And will always be Canadian, Naturalized Canadian Citizen at Age 9)

-Big City Toronto (Population millions+, 11 or so different locations)

Age 23- Present: "I fell in love, got married, moved 3 hours south to New York State, USA....I am American, who loves small-town/rural life!!!"

-Small Town #1 (Population 2000-3000, 2 different locations)

-Small Town #2 (Population 2000-3000, Soon to move in July/August 2009, My final move!)

I've moved a total of 15 times so far (and I have another move #16 on the way soon, plus a baby on the way...), moving overall between 3 different foreign contries, and in many different living situations. So yeah, I'm used to "living out of suitcases, backpacks, tupperware, and cardboard boxes" for most of my life....I don't mind moving though as I see it as a "new adventure" every time I move....

What I mind though is going through this frustrating immigration process while I move... (I'm sure you all feel the same way going through this whole immigration process as well)

And yes, I do get tired of people asking me "Where I'm From?", having to tell my "complicated life story" over and over again, and then having them being confused at what I just truthfully said to them...

Lol..this reminds me of a time when I was in the hospital, and the nurses asked that exact question (while I was in a lot of pain after coming out of the operating room and still under a lot of medication). So I told them the whole story...and needless to say..all they wanted to know was what town I was from...lol....(though what I told them made for good conversation afterwards in recovery anyways).

Since then, I've always asked others to be "more specific" whenever they ask "Where I'm From"...

Seriously, I should write a book about all of my travels and moves.....Oh what tales to tell, indeed!..

Lol...meanwhile, you here online can say that "I'm from VJ"...as this feels like "where I am from online".....

Ok, now that I've told my "condensed story"...Now it's your turn..."Where are all you VJers from?"

Ant (Needing to "settle down" and stop moving....Where I'm from....who knows anymore.... )

Edited May 23, 2009 by AntandD

[Marilyn. 340]

I was born in Manitoba but moved to BC when I was 15

[muffin 0]

Born and raised in Toronto. Lived in Kitchener/Waterloo during university.

[Krikit 1,164]

Remember when you'd drive down the 400 and you'd see wonderland and then about 10 minutes later you'd get to Toronto? Now you see homes and then wonderland.

I remember when they first built Wonderland and thinking "Wow. They sure did build it out in the boonies."

So true! My Grandparents had this cute little bungalow on Woodhaven Park Road, right off Lakeshore in Bronte. The last time I drove by, it had been torn down and this ginormous ugly mansion was being built! They had so much land.

I had a house off Woodhaven Park Road! Only it's not in Bronte. Bronte starts on the other side of Third Line. OMG.... I remember Bronte before it became part of Oakville! :o But that's where my parents live..... in the Coronation Park area. I had a house within walking distance of their house. My Mum cried when I moved.

Age Birth-5 years: Some other foreign country (which I have no ties to and haven't been back ever since)

[snip]

Since then, I've always asked others to be "more specific" whenever they ask "Where I'm From"...

Not asking where you're originally from, Ant, but was just curious as to why you're never specific about it?

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Born and raised in Toronto. Lived in Kitchener/Waterloo during university.

cool - U of Dub....or the highschool down the road (aka WLU)...lol no harm intended

[JillA 2]

Krikit, that's so funny, what years did you live off Woodhaven Park? My grandparents were very active in the community, they knew all their neighbors, my Gran walked with her dog Scooter every day and talked to everyone! They lived their from 1980-1999.

[SapphireDreams 71]

Born and raised in Toronto. Lived in Kitchener/Waterloo during university.

cool - U of Dub....or the highschool down the road (aka WLU)...lol no harm intended

I'm not muffin, but I went to Laurier

[Krikit 1,164]

Krikit, that's so funny, what years did you live off Woodhaven Park? My grandparents were very active in the community, they knew all their neighbors, my Gran walked with her dog Scooter every day and talked to everyone! They lived their from 1980-1999.

I lived there from 1983-2002. It's where my kids grew up. Maybe they knew Scooter! Did she know the Whites who lived on the corner? (That's not me, BTW. ) Oh no, wait. That's before their time, I think. I grew up in the area so I actually lived there for far longer than that. 1983-2002 is when I owned my own home there. Then I moved to Burlington.

[JillA 2]

Krikit, that's so funny, what years did you live off Woodhaven Park? My grandparents were very active in the community, they knew all their neighbors, my Gran walked with her dog Scooter every day and talked to everyone! They lived their from 1980-1999.

I lived there from 1983-2002. It's where my kids grew up. Maybe they knew Scooter! Did she know the Whites who lived on the corner? (That's not me, BTW. ) Oh no, wait. That's before their time, I think. I grew up in the area so I actually lived there for far longer than that. 1983-2002 is when I owned my own home there. Then I moved to Burlington.

Wow, what a small world! Their names were Ernie, Dorothy and Scooter. My Gran had pitch black curly hair, it never turned grey. They lived across the street from this Danish couple who had a real life train set in their backyard, that we could go on rides on. It was so cool. Every time I drive by now, there are so many monster houses on the street! I was sad to see their little home knocked down

[antda 13]

Hi Krikit,

Lol...Interesting question that you ask here about that, regarding me not being specific about where I'm born from...(and no, I don't take offense at all to you asking about it)

The simple answer would be: I'm Canadian and "that's where I'm from"! (and proud of it too... )

And to be associated with any other country other than Canada where I grew up in and spent most of my life there (well, maybe except for the USA, where I'm in now and will continue to spend the rest of my life here), just seems wrong to me. This is especially true for me, as my birth country has a bad reputation politically and culturally, I have not emotional/social/etc. connection there, and I wouldn't want to go there even if someone paid me to...lol....

It's like a "sore thumb" and downright to have my birth country "stick with me" for the rest of my life, so I'd rather just not mention it, as this causes extra confusion and complications for me and for everyone else too.....

But alas, I cannot change this fact legally, nor can I change my past, nor can I change my appearance. All I can do is make others aware of the "mistake" and correct it by simply saying:

"I am Canadian (and soon-to-be American)!" (and show them my Canadian/American paperwork if needed to prove such). No ands, ifs, buts, or anything else about it!

Hope this helps...Or at least gives you some better understanding as to what I have to deal with.

Ant (Canadian/American, and proud of it!)

Age Birth-5 years: Some other foreign country (which I have no ties to and haven't been back ever since)

Since then, I've always asked others to be "more specific" whenever they ask "Where I'm From"...

Not asking where you're originally from, Ant, but was just curious as to why you're never specific about it?

Edited May 26, 2009 by AntandD

[BermyCat 1]

Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia

14 days to 14 years in Bermuda

14 years to 30 years in Ontario (Ottawa/Guelph/Kitchener-Waterloo)

Back to Bermuda for two years

Now in Georgia

For those of you from Amherst, my parents have a home in Little River that I spent every single summer vacation at until I was 24.

~ Catherine

[Krikit 1,164]

Jill, if you'd like a little visual reminder of Bronte, take a look at this video. (Hey! I can see my brother's house! )

My Mum and I went for a walk on the pier the other day and decided to visit the model suite in The Shores ..... the new condo development where Bill Hill's used to be. It is absolutely stunning. You should go and visit it the next time you're in town. Well, my Mum is sold on the place but my Dad absolutely refuses to move. Which makes me really apprehensive because he is getting old and I'm worried that one of these days he is going to kill himself with the upkeep of their house..... because he still thinks he can do things (like cutting the grass and shovelling the driveway). He refused to let me cut the grass while I was there so I had to watch him take frequent rests to catch his breath, plus I saw him hold his chest in pain.... he has angina. Gawd. It was terrible. I'll kill him if he dies cutting the grass! I've made arrangements for someone else to come and do it but I'll bet you anything he'll still try.

Anyway.... I didn't mean to tell you all that! I just wanted to show you the video of Bronte.

[JillA 2]

Jill, if you'd like a little visual reminder of Bronte, take a look at this video. (Hey! I can see my brother's house! )

My Mum and I went for a walk on the pier the other day and decided to visit the model suite in The Shores ..... the new condo development where Bill Hill's used to be. It is absolutely stunning. You should go and visit it the next time you're in town. Well, my Mum is sold on the place but my Dad absolutely refuses to move. Which makes me really apprehensive because he is getting old and I'm worried that one of these days he is going to kill himself with the upkeep of their house..... because he still thinks he can do things (like cutting the grass and shovelling the driveway). He refused to let me cut the grass while I was there so I had to watch him take frequent rests to catch his breath, plus I saw him hold his chest in pain.... he has angina. Gawd. It was terrible. I'll kill him if he dies cutting the grass! I've made arrangements for someone else to come and do it but I'll bet you anything he'll still try.

Anyway.... I didn't mean to tell you all that! I just wanted to show you the video of Bronte.

Oh thanks! *Memories!* I can see my old apt building on Marine Drive! You know what they neglect to mention though, the disgusting black sludge that piles up every spring/summer and stinks up to high heaven of dead fish! They really need to dredge the harbour, it's so nasty.

I'll be in Oakville next week, so I'll probably take a look at the Shores! I miss Bill Hill's They had the best ice cream!

[LDora 7]

I am from BC.

I am from a town in BC called Dawson Creek.

As a result, I hate all Fox programming and James Van Der Beek. That stupid show was the worst thing.

On the other hand, it would have been easy to bilk the disappointed tourists if I had been, shall we say, a less scrupulous teenager.

"Yes. Yes, for fifty dollars I will take you on a tour. Here we have the window everyone was always climbing in and out of all the freaking time."

"This is an abandoned 7-11. Are you sure -- "

"TOUR'S OVER."

[cdneh 3,112]

I'm from Bridgenorth, near Peterbourgh Ontario. Lived around the province a bit, in Lindsay, Omemee and Lakefield, and then off for 15 years to Charlottetown PEI. From there to Halifax for a couple of years, and then to Auckland New Zealand for 16 years. Now in Virginia