Living abroad has its accom­panying ups and downs. You feel like you get to experience life all over again. One need to relearn lots of things, at times it gets very frustrating. How one handle situ­ations thrown at them with the usual aplomb can at times board­er into hilarity.

ITS ALL YOU CAN EAT NOT EAT ALL YOU CAN Filipinos are fond of hosting par­ties in Restaurants that boasted buffet style lunch or dinner. Here in Vancouver, one says “all you can eat” not “eat all you can” when describing these kinds of parties. It took me a while to get the hand of this as I tend to switch the two to the consterna­tion of my daughter who keeps correcting me.

IT’S TO GO NOT TAKE HOME When ordering in a fast food joint, here one says, to go not take home as we commonly say in the Philippines. You have to instruct the waiter right away when ordering because once or­dered he/she will assume you are eating in not bringing your order home.

DOUBLE DOUBLE NOT TWO SUGARS AND TWO CREAMS Ordering coffee in a coffeehouse calls for saying “double-double” to be understood. That is if you want sugar and cream in your coffee. You will be at once labeled an out of towner if you say “two sugars and two creams, please”.

IT’S WASHROOM NOT TOILET Don’t say toilet, loo, little girls/ boys room when wanting to use the restroom facilities. I learned this the hard way, when I watched a movie for the first time a few months into my Canada stay. It is not funny asking when you are in a dire need of the said washroom right away and all you get is a shrug or incomprehension.

IT’S SERVIETTE NOT NAPKIN When dining out, ask for servi­ette not napkin, as they associate the latter to a sanitary product. Not good if you are out with your Boss and want to give a good im­pression.

NOT ALL HANDSOME DUDES AND PRETTY GIRLS WHO SAYS HELLO WANTS TO GET TO KNOW YOU Canadians are very friendly, most when they pass you by and you made eye contact, will more likely than not smile, smile back or say hello. It’s in their breeding. But it doesn’t mean they want to get to know you as you would like them to, it’s a social gesture and noth­ing personal. Just smile back, say hello and move on.

TALK ABOUT THE WEATHER When faced with the prospect of making conversations with a Ca­nadian, the best way to break the ice is to talk about the weather. One gets to experience three kinds of weather (sunny, raining and snow) in just one day espe­cially if you live in Vancouver.

SAYING PLEASE,THANK YOU, PERFECT AND YOUR WELCOME Canadians are such courteous people, as a new comer don’t be surprised to hear the words thank you, perfect, please and your wel­come in almost all the conversa­tions you will have with them. It is just how they speak, all their con­versations will be peppered with these words. As an example, let’s say you want to order coffee, this is how your conversation will come out.
“ Good morning, how are you today?” you ask. “Am fine thank you and yourself?” the waitress replies. “Am just perfect, thank you” you say. “What are you hav­ing today?” she asks. “ I will have two regular coffee, one to go, the other one here, make both double double,please.”you say. “All righty, that will be $____.” she says. “ Per- fect, thank you so much.”you say. “Your welcome, have a great day.” she says. “You too, thanks.” you say.
It is very important to learn the lingo and the people mannerisms when you work, go to school or migrate to a new country. It will help you blend in better and at the same time not make you stand out as being from a dif­ferent place. Remember it is not them who needs to relearn things it is you.