For the past couple of months, we‘ve seen and experienced some things we find weird in Canada compared to Europe. We thought it would be fun to share with you in case you’re thinking of doing your exchange in Kingston at Queen’s University, so you’ll fit right in when you get here!
Just observing, no judgment here. To each their own!
Fashion
Europe, especially France and Italy where we’re from, are very fashion-forward. Whether it is to meet friends, run errands, go out or just go to school, people are usually putting a lot of thought into their outfits and look very put together.
At Queen’s however, it is not unusual to see students coming to class in comfy outfits. Sweatpants, hoodies, pyjamas, slippers, you’ll see it all! We should maybe take a note out of their book because it looks quite nice, especially for 8:30 am classes. But if you still prefer to put together classy outfits or just wear your regular European style, no one will really pay attention, it is a very judge-free place!
If you like shopping, you’ll see that the popular brands are not the same here as in Europe. While Zara, Mango, Bershka, and H&M are some of the big names in Europe, where most young adults go shopping, they are not as represented here in Canada. It seems that most people shop at Aritzia, Lululemon, Garage…
Shopping in person in Kingston might be difficult as there are only a couple of brands downtown: Urban Outfitters, and LuluLemon...
Food
Your first-time going grocery shopping in Canada is a very fun experience, and while most things are similar to Europe, a few elements are surprising!
During the fall season, you won’t only find pumpkin spice drinks in Starbucks. Grocery stores pile up with products to that flavor, from biscuits, creamers, cakes, cookies, cream cheese, pies…
While products like vegetables and fruits are sold specifically during certain months in Europe, you’ll find almost every product at any time of the year, without any seasonality in Canada! Strawberries all year long!
A fun activity you could do with the friends you’ll meet during your exchange is do a taste test of snacks, chocolate bars, and the large variety of cereals that are popular in Canada. Ask your Canadian friends and they’ll tell you which brands to get and which flavors!
Want to see what all these look like? Check out our latest TikTok!
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