9 Things That Surprised Me When I Moved From The East Coast of Canada To The West Coast

The ocean

I was comforted by the fact that when I moved, I would have the familiarity of the ocean. While it's still the ocean, and I love it, it's actually totally different from the one I've come to love on the East Coast.

I've travelled, but never actually lived on the Pacific Ocean before. The colour, and even ocean breeze, are all so different. And the seaweed downright shocked me as I walked along the beach. Here, it's massive and a bit scary-looking.

The food options

My first week at the farmer's market had me giddy. Because of the milder weather, the fresh produce here is unreal. My favourite so far is the mouthwatering Okanagan peaches, which are the best I've ever had.

On top of the difference in produce, there are also some top-notch restaurants in Vancouver that put East Coast options to shame. Don't get me wrong, Halifax has some great places, but the sheer amount of options in Vancouver is unreal.

Perhaps the hardest part about going back home for visits is the limited food options. DoorDash just isn't as fun when there are only four options in your area (looking at you, Rothesay, New Brunswick).

The cost

Tell someone (anyone) on the East Coast that you're moving to B.C. and they will all undoubtedly make the same joke — "You know what they say B.C. stands for right? BRING CASH!!"

As much as I rolled my eyes after hearing it again and again, they all had a point. Compared to the costs of New Brunswick in terms of living, eating out, and doing activities, B.C. is much more costly.

The way people speak

I knew Maritime slang was distinct, but you don't realize by how much until you start to miss people saying things like "Holy Mackerel," "Blowin a gale," and "'Magine."

The lack of the Maritimer accent has me missing home on a regular basis.

Palm trees

Visiting English Bay for the first time blew my mind, to say the least.

In my mind, palm trees were strictly reserved for vacations, so I was a bit confused when I casually strolled by a street full of these. Little did I know, this is common on the West Coast.

Vancouver's climate is a lot warmer than places on the East Coast, letting a whole bunch of different plants grow. I love walking along a street and taking in the views of these trees.

The weather

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Don't bother checking the weather in Vancouver. It's rain, I promise. 

The benefit? You're not buried in snow like you are in the East all winter.

The downside? I might forget what the sun looks like.

This is another one that people had warned me about, and I brushed it off. I was slightly more blue skies when I moved to Whistler, but my whole time in Vancouver felt like I was living under a raincloud. If you're not used to it (or even if you are really), the weather there can really get to you. 

The hustle and bustle

Halifax is a city, but Vancouver is a CITY. Even what people refer to as "small towns" here seems to be triple the size of where I'm from.

The further you go from Vancouver, the slower-paced life seems, but still — nothing compares to the East Coast vibe. Nowhere there has that same busy city feel to it, so there's just a calmness that I miss.

The mountains

There is no mistaking Vancouver for Halifax when you get a glimpse of the massive mountains surrounding you, which are hard not to have in sight at all times.

I still feel like I'm waking up in a fairytale most days when I look outside.

It means that every hike is elevated, and even highway drives will take your breath away. Not even pictures could prepare me for just how beautiful the West Coast is.