Hi peeps, My big trip through Canada is only three weeks away now and I’m starting to feel nervous 😬 So I thought I’d post here to ask y’all a few things, mainly about socialising and meeting folks. - specifics about my travels at the bottom
1.) I’m still looking for couch surfing hosts in Vancouver and Toronto. People on beWelcome aren’t really answering. Is there some advice? Or advice on cheap accommodation for 1-3 nights in those towns? Or maybe even some of y’all who’d like to hosts me :)
2.) what are some good ways to meet people on the road? Are there social media apps that are favoured in Canada? Specific places for travellers? (YMCA, hostels, clubs…?)
3.) any other things you’d like to tell me? XD
My trip is: arriving in Vancouver on the 25th of Juli, renting a car on the next day. Plans to travel the west for about 3 weeks. Domestic flight to Toronto on the 16th of August, rental car in Toronto on the 17th, driving around Ontario and the east for two weeks. Departure from Toronto on the first of September.
See, I grew up in Vancouver, and I always thought exactly the same. Then I moved to the UK and realised that it’s only cold for Canada. There’s loads of situations where I’d normally have a chat with someone, in line to buy groceries or a coffee, but try that here and people look at you like you’ve grown a third arm.
Another thing that still trips me up after 5 years here is internalising the fact that when someone you see often but don’t really know isn’t actually trying to start a conversation when they say “you alright?” it’s just the same as saying hello. And good luck getting directions if you’re lost.