A Canadian Immigrant's Story

Category: Shopping

Walmart 0

Shopping

Walmart and Superstore Mini Grocery Battle

If we compare Walmart and Superstore, which one will win? In this post, I will share my thoughts. As a new immigrant, one of the first questions that came to mind was: Which is the best place for grocery shopping? Honestly, the best grocery store depends on the shopper’s lifestyle, needs, and preferences. With sales and promotions, the top choice may change from time to time. As someone living alone, Costco’s cheaper but bigger portions do not work for me. As expected, Asian groceries are my go-to places for special items. But, Walmart and Superstore are my usual choices for...

Smoked Salmon 0

Daily Life / Food / Shopping

8 Excellent Gifts from Canada to Bring Home

Imagine the excitement of going home after living in Canada for a few years. Also, imagine the chaos of looking for gifts from Canada to bring home. Fret not. Today, we will talk about Canadian gifts that will be appreciated by your loved ones back home. This way, you can focus on planning happy reunions. Maple Syrup and Maple Goodies Is it a surprise that food products top my list of best gifts from Canada to bring home? Practically everybody loves to eat! Maple syrup and maple syrup-flavored goodies are first on my list since Canada is known as the...

Breathtaking View of British Columbia, Canada 0

Daily Life / Food / Shopping

7 Things About Canada That Surprised Me

Moving to another country brings us a lot of new experiences and takeaways. Today, let’s take a look at the things about Canada that surprised me in my first week as an immigrant. Sunny does not necessarily mean warm. Canada is a cold country. I guess everybody knows that. So, I prepared myself for the winter weather. But a girl from a tropical country does not know what “cold weather” means without experiencing it. Therefore, the weather still lands on top of my list of things about Canada that surprised me. On my first week in Canada, I walked to...

Record-Breaking Low Temperatures Resulted In Ice Sheets Floating on the Fraser River 0

Daily Life / Shopping

Enjoy the Season with the Right Winter Clothes and Accessories

When I first heard the forecast that British Columbia will experience record-breaking winter temperatures in December 2021, I got scared. You see, I moved from a tropical country to Lower Mainland, BC. There was no need to precisely apply the science of layering until that moment. But with a bit of research and lots of experiments, I found a combination of winter clothes and accessories that helped me survive enjoy winter. I am sharing these especially with newcomers and future immigrants so you can enjoy daily winter life as well. Have a look at this list and see what works...

DIY Projects Are Great Holiday Gift Ideas 0

Daily Life / Shopping / Things To Do in Canada

5 Holiday Gift Ideas to Circumvent Canada’s Supply Chain Issues

The lingering pandemic, uncertain economy, and raging weather put everybody through unprecedented challenges. The upcoming holidays are supposed to give us some sort of respite from these realities. However, these same issues are causing supply chain problems that threaten our much-needed celebrations. Now is a great time to be creative. Here are a few non-mainstream holiday gift ideas that can bring back the holiday cheer. 1. Stocking Stuffers and More from Liquidation Stores Liquidation stores offer discounted merchandise from brand-name closeouts and factory overruns. The photos feature above show toys and workout paraphernalia from a liquidation store. Shopping in liquidation...

Food Options in Canada Include Sushi and Sashimi from Groceries 0

Daily Life / Food / Shopping

Food Shopping in Canada to Satisfy Every Lifestyle

“Food shopping in Canada!”, said my colleague when I asked him what he wished he knew more of when he was a new immigrant. It’s completely understandable. Don’t we all need food for survival and comfort? The thing is, regular people here have to do all household chores including meal preparation. Fortunately, there are many food shopping options in Canada catering to various culinary skill levels, budgets, and lifestyles. Here are a few options apart from buying from restaurants and cooking from scratch. Deli and Ready to Eat Food Stores such as Real Canadian Superstore, Walmart, and Save-on-Foods offer salads,...

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Daily Life / Places in Canada / Public Transit / Shopping / Things To Do in Canada

Welcome to Montreal: A Straightforward Guide for Newcomers

Montreal, Quebec is a world-class city that is also known as the “Paris of North America”. It was named after Mount Royal, a hill in the center of the city. Established in 1642 on an island in Saint Lawrence River, Montreal is the second-most populous city in Canada. It has a rich cultural heritage being a former English and French colony. It is also home to high-class shopping stores, restaurants, clubs, bars, and several festivals all year round.   Guest writer Aeron Dellosa shares what you need to know if you’re planning to live in Montreal.  Demographics  Despite being in Quebec,...

Beautiful Vancouver 0

Daily Life / Food / Places in Canada / Shopping / Things To Do in Canada

Beautiful Vancouver: A City with Many Crowns

The beautiful city of Vancouver wears many crowns.  Its breathtaking backdrop of snow-capped mountains and sparkling blue waters have made it a mainstay in multiple lists of “Most Beautiful Cities in the World.” Its stability, culture and environment, infrastructure, healthcare, and education have allowed it to be named as one of the most livable cities in the world multiple times. Vancouver is also known as Hollywood North due to its popularity as a filming location. I love this city. Let me tell you why. Geography Vancouver was incorporated only in 1886 and is, therefore, a very young city. In fact,...

Shopping in Canada 0

Daily Life / Food / Shopping / Things To Do in Canada

Shopping in Canada Can Be Fun with These 7 Tips

Shopping in Canada can be a different, surprising, and pleasant experience for newcomers.  Here are 7 things to know to elevate your shopping experience. 1. Sales Tax The price tags of goods sold in Canada do not include taxes. These taxes are added at the till or upon checkout. Types of Sales Tax There are three types of sales tax in Canada: GST – Goods and Services Tax PST – Provincial Sales Tax HST  – Harmonized Sales Tax, which is a combination of GST and PST The Retail Council of Canada has a table of sales tax by province.  Sales...

Goods from Asian groceries in Canada 0

Daily Life / Food / Shopping

Asian Groceries in Canada That Bring Me Joy

My trips to Asian groceries in Canada always bring me nostalgia, adventures, and joy. Walking through each aisle is like treasure hunting that ultimately brings me a reminder of home.  Here are my current favorite Asian stores in Canada. Henlong Market Henlong offers a broad selection of Asian foods from Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines.  It also sells fresh produce from Hawaii.  It is conveniently located along 104 Avenue in Surrey, BC. What I find impressive in this store is their wide variety of fish products, processed meat, and frozen vegetables.  They offer frozen, marinated, dried, and smoked...