2014 Canadian Overseas Immersion Programme (Tonia)

Cultural Difference

After having stayed in Canada for around 16 days, I found that it is quite interesting if we live there. It is because Canada and Hong Kong have their own differences and similarities. Maybe some of us in the beginning of the trip did not really enjoy but I know that everyone got an unforgettable experience and missed this place after we went back to Hong Kong. If you have not been to Canada, I will explain more details to you all.

For the similar aspects, I think it should be the law. In Canada, if you are under 18, you need to show your ID card before you buy alcohol. It is illegal for people to sell alcohol to teenagers. It is the same in Hong Kong that if you are just a teenager who is under 18, you cannot drink alcohol. Otherwise, the police would arrest you. Another similarity is both of Hong Kong and Canada do not have many cultures.

In my opinion, there are more differences than similarities. First, the temperature difference between day and night can be around 10℃ in Canada. This would not happen in Hong Kong that the temperature is more or less the same. Besides, the time of the sunset in Hong Kong is between 6 and 7p.m. However, I think it is amazing that Canada does not get dark until about 9 o’clock. That means we can have more time to play, work or enjoy our life. It is also easy to see the sunset in Canada because there are not too many tall buildings. On the other hand, you cannot see it easily in Hong Kong since it is an international city where has many tall buildings. Additionally, we are too busy to have time to go camping for seeing the sunset.

Second, football culture is different in Canada and Hong Kong. In Canada, people call ‘football’ as soccer. The football there is something which is similar to hockey. I asked my host family whether football was the same as hockey but they said they were just similar. Canadians do not like soccer. Most of them do not watch the World Cup because they think it is not attractive. There is a football team in Saskaton and there is a store which sells jackets and some souvenirs of the team. Every citizen there loves it very much. However, Hong Kong people love watching the World Cup. They cheer for different teams but not for one team only like what Canadians do.

I think most of you may want to know what the differences between studying in Canada and Hong Kong are. In Hong Kong, we need to wear school uniforms when going to school but in Canada, you can wear whatever you like and even make-up. Both of them have their own advantages. It depends on what you like the most. For example, you can wear different clothes every day to show what clothes you have to your friends. On the other hand, you no need to think about which clothes you are going to wear every day. Apart from school uniforms, students in Canada can eat some snacks whenever they like during the lessons. They think this can help them stay awake. I really think it is a good idea although we may get fatter. Most of you may agree with me that Hong Kong schools should also allow us to do so. You can also have more freedom if you stay in Canada.

Finally, different places have different lifestyles. Wherever you stay, you should follow and respect them. Therefore, after knowing more about Canada, are you interested in staying in Canada? If you want to know more, please feel free to find me.