Uncategorized

Dear Vancouver

102
102 Comments

Dear Vancouver,

If you’re reading this, I’ve already left. Please don’t try to follow me. We’ve had some wonderful years together, but lately the relationship has felt like a chore. I’m sorry to put it so bluntly, but I really think it’s time I saw other cities.

It’s not you, it’s me.. Well that’s not entirely true, it’s a bit you. When we got together you were young and beautiful. You knew it, but you had a humble side too, you never tried to be something you weren’t even though I know you’ve always looked up to the larger cities and wanted to run in their crowd.

Unfortunately just because you’ve seen a supermodel smoking crack doesn’t mean that smoking crack will turn you into a supermodel.

Lately it seems like you’ve lost the magic that makes you special, I hope that you can find it again and I hope that we can still be friends. I would like to come back and visit you someday, maybe I’ll find you older and wiser. I hope you forgive me for leaving in this way but I’ve found another city and we are in love, it just didn’t feel right to carry on the charade any longer.

Sincerely,

John

102 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Teacher

Expats not staying? Like I said, they have
lived in other countries for decades.

So you are saying westerners are treated equally in China, that's exacty my point. Thanks for clarifying. Chinese are not treated equally here.

Since when do rich white people not expect the royal treatment? But of course you can only hate that attitude when it comes from a Chinese. I'm out of here for the day. Have a great day Patriotz, I hope you can analyze your own attitude objectively.

0
0
patriotz

@Teacher:

I’m merely showing how white people act in Asia.

Rather, you're showing how expats act everywhere. No reason for them to try to fit in, since they're not staying.

It makes me sick how westerners are treated like Kings in China and Asia

Westerners per se are not treated like Kings in China and Asia. People with money are. It so happens that most Westerners (not all) living in or visiting Asia make lots of money compared to locals. Those who don't get little respect.

Unfortunately too many rich immigrants seem to expect the royal treatment here.

0
0
Teacher

@patriotz:

One. I never said expats were immigrants. I'm merely showing how white people act in Asia. China had only recently opened up to the world. Westerners have lived un other Asian countries for decades without the slighttest care to learn the language.

Two. I never said the communities were large in comparison. Nonetheless, they still have "taken over" some neighborhoods.

Three, I never said they have bad attitude against westerners. It's actually quite the opposite. It makes me sick how westerners are treated like Kings in China and Asia, knowing Chinese would be hated by many if they lived in the west.

0
0
Pollyanna

@jesse:

re: enjoying vancouver before noon

there is nothing better than driving west at 5pm along the burrard inlet and driving against a line of cars 30km long from poco to vancouver – oh no we certainly mustn't have light rail.

0
0
patriotz

@Teacher: There’s actually a very large expat communities in major cities such as Shanghai and Hong Kong. One, expats are not immigrants. They have no right of permanent stay or path to citizenship. In fact, China does not grant citizenship to children born in the country to expats. When Hong Kong was turned over to China, only ethnic Chinese were given citizenship, This excluded non-ethnic Chinese residents whose families (mostly from India, etc) had lived there for generations. Two, the expat communities are not "very large" in relation to the total population at all, they are miniscule. Even in Hong Kong, which was still a British colony a little over a decade ago, expats are just a few per cent (including other Asians). It's overwhelmingly Chinese as anyone who's been there can easily see. Now given its overpopulation and the… Read more »

0
0
Teacher

@Anonymous: Have you been to China? Do you know the history of some of the cities? Take "The Bund" in Shanghai for example, you can google it yourself. An entire section of the city along the river built in western architecture. Way back, when there were only white people in that part of town, they had a nice sign along the river walkway that said "no dogs or Chinese". I guess they tolerated it with guns to their heads. That was a long ago, so let's look to China today. There's actually a very large expat communities in major cities such as Shanghai and Hong Kong. They stick together and barely socialize with the locals. Not only do most expats not speak Chinese, many of their kids that grow up there don't. The fact is those Chinese kids at our… Read more »

0
0
Ravishing Rick

Asian caucasian ratio? I call numerator!

Hit the music!

0
0
Jack

@paradox:

“I went to the swimming pool in White Rock yesterday around 3 pm. I counted about 26 people of Asian origin versus 6 white people.”

What were you doing at the pool around 3pm? Would have thought that most people, regardless of origin, were preparing to watch the Stanley Cup Finals that started at 5pm.

0
0
Ravishing Rick

Cut the music! Li kai, you slum lord loving sweat hog, sit down and shutty…that's right, shutty.. The ravishing one has arrived. First of all, whats this about caucasians in a pool… i already did, and they were japanese twins fukhmi and fukhu As for your ord rady telling you about my shaggin wagon, how dare she… It got broken into last night, a day after I got it rehupholstered with floor to ceiling tiger print to match the tigers blood in my veins. The only thing that was missing were some empties and some loose change that i pay your old lady with…. So i knew itwas you!! Now,down to business, if you even think about touching roger's arena, think again! Anything comes between ravishing and his monster truck rally is road kill, kind of like the limp lifeless… Read more »

0
0
Patiently Waiting

"they all prowl the laneways (when they’re not working at their weekend jobs) looking for pop bottles and junk they can sell"

I'm noticing a more diverse group of people raiding blue bins. Its no longer just the druggies. It seems like anyone you see in this city could be desperate enough to collect cans. Is this how they make their mortgage payments?

0
0
Anonymous

It is perfectly reasonable to comment on the 26-6 Asian-Caucasian ratio at the Whiterock swimming pool if this a radical shift in numbers within a short time-frame. Do you thing Chinese people would not do the same thing if the roles were reversed and this was happening in a Chinese city? I work in a large Lower Mainland school (pop 2000+) and the population is now 85% Asian. Looking back at the graduating class photos that line the hallways, as recently as the late 70's the students were predominately white. A monumental cultural shift has taken place. When teams or music bands from our school win an award and have their photo in the paper, it is not uncommon for the entire group of students to be Chinese. I coached a team several years ago and when my parents saw… Read more »

0
0
Anonymous

@Not much of a name…: ….That always makes me laugh. If I could afford a $2.5M house, I’d be sending my kids to private school…..

Isn't that the ultimate irony? Anywhere outside of the fantasy land that we live in, your statement would be true. But here, where folks pay stupid amounts of money for a dump they can’t afford, then rent out the basement and the attic, then build a laneway house, then take on a couple of UBC students, then have their parent and grandparents and brothers and sisters move in and on weekends, they all prowl the laneways (when they’re not working at their weekend jobs) looking for pop bottles and junk they can sell, it’s not true!

0
0
paradox

@cullen

stop being hypocritical and trying to dodge the issue by calling me racist.

Everybody in the media and here is talking about how chinese buyers are driving the prices and changing the city. Is that racism?

My girlfriend is asian and I have many asian friends as well. Stating the facts has nothing to do with racism.

0
0
Anonymouse

@paradox:

"I went to the swimming pool in White Rock yesterday around 3 pm. I counted about 26 people of Asian origin versus 6 white people."

Aren't most people usually at work at 3pm on a Wednesday? Perhaps that explains your head-count…..

0
0
Anonymouse

@Lazar:

"BPOM, contrary most people that come here from Belgrade (Serbia) find Vancouver quite boring and dull when it comes to culture, art, music, nightlife, clubbing, restaurants and fun in general."

In many ways it is quite dull. I don't think anybody would say that Vancouver has the best of anything. It doesn't have the best beaches, the best galleries, the best bars, the best restaurants, the best parks, or the best ski hills – but it has a good enough combination of all of them to make it a very liveable place.

0
0
McDuck

@Collum:

You are right. Meth is just a very negative angry person. Doesn't matter where he goes, will still be very angry. Its what you make of it. People are very nice here. Even people who are new to this city are very nice.

0
0
Anonymouse

@Best place on meth:

"Having traveled most of Europe I have to concur."

Good, then you do know what I'm talking about when I say that you find douchey people everywhere. Ever been to Barcelona? Notice how a significant proportion of the cars have scratches down the entire length of each side? That's caused by impatient moped riders trying to squeeze their way through gaps in stationary traffic which are too narrow, causing hundreds of dollars worth of damage in the process.

Wake me up when you ever witness something like that even once in Vancouver, let alone on a daily basis.

0
0
Romeo Jordan

http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Financial+in…

McLostit, the above link is for you.

0
0
Romeo Jordan

Don't worry, they will all go home (I mean the ones who are just here for the RE ride) once prices crash.

Yes, I said the word. CRASH.

Wake up you goobers. Smell the coffee.

xoxox

Romeo Jordan

0
0
Jr

@Collum: You know a few years ago I would have agreed with you. Now, however, I feel that Asian immigration is excessive; we are being overrun and that is not a good thing.

0
0
Devore

@fixie guy: Seriously? Who took the jam out of your doughnut today?

0
0
fixie guy

71 Devore Says: "You people need to lighten up. Vancouver compares well to other world-class cities, like, say, Seattle.."

You need to wake up. Vancouver is a Gamma city, rated on the same plane as Denver. Only the hubris and ignorance of its citizens is truly world class.

0
0
Anonymous

"I went to the swimming pool in White Rock yesterday around 3 pm. I counted about 26 people of Asian origin versus 6 white people."

did they arrive in a helicopter with bags of cash?

0
0
Best place on meth

@Lazar:

>>>BPOM, contrary most people that come here from Belgrade (Serbia) find Vancouver quite boring and dull when it comes to culture, art, music, nightlife, clubbing, restaurants and fun in general.<<<

Actually, you're quite right and so are they.

Having traveled most of Europe I have to concur.

0
0
Collum

@paradox Says:

"I went to the swimming pool in White Rock yesterday around 3 pm. I counted about 26 people of Asian origin versus 6 white people."

Anyone who counts people according to race has serious issues. What is the acceptable ratio of white to non-white people in your world?

0
0