Writing challenge #33: Toronto takes the place of Vancouver as costliest city in Canada

Expector Smith July 15, 2011 22:53

Hi Manuela(Forget-me-Not),

Thanks for the comment! Yes, it's the most expensive city for expats. Maybe it's so hard for so many foreign workers to get the necessities (food, clean water, shelter, etc) in the city - you need to pay more money to get such things, which may result in the surprisingly hight cost. Being a most expensive city doesn't mean the local people are so rich. Thanks for reminding me to reconsider the question.

Montreal used to be the biggest city in Canada. But more and more people have chosen to live in Toronto(English-speaking city) since the then request of independence in Quebec province (French-speaking area).

Forget-me-Not July 15, 2011 19:20

Hello Expector,

What an intersting report you posted here. But i have a little problem with your "discussion question".

I had so much troubles to believe that Luanda was the most expensive city of the world that, i cheked a few different websites and according to

http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/2011/07/12/2011-07-12_luanda_i...

you are right, Luanda is the most expensive city in the world. But there are some contradictions with other websites which write that Luanda is the most expensive city but for expats. (see)

http://www.expatforum.com/angola/luanda-named-as-most-expensive-cit... or

http://www.thestar.com/business/article/1024026--ouch-we-re-the-mos...

To me, it sounds more credible this way.

I am wondering how people from Angola could live in a city that is SOOO expensive as many of them don't even have money enough to buy the vital minimum . Thought the country has oil and diamonds, more than 50% of its inhabitants are very poor. So, i don't know which website gives the right information, but to me and according to what i know from that country, the second information seems to be more credible. I would be happy to have your opinion about this.

I was also suprised to read that, Toronto became the largest city of Canada and that Montreal was not the biggest anymore.

You thought me a lot with your news report. Tnaks Expector.

Expector Smith July 15, 2011 14:47

Hi Fernando,

Thanks for the comment! Yes, Canada is gorgeous with all the water - lakes, rivers, etc. I've visited some other cities nearby (I'm living in Montreal, Canada). I enjoyed seeing all the stunning sights. And, I'll be visiting Vancouver on my way home (I'll be going back to China late this month).

Expector Smith July 14, 2011 23:44

Thanks for the comment, Nafis! How are you? Yes, I agree with you.

Nafis July 14, 2011 15:01

For me, it's not unbelievable that an African country is the most expensive. I think it's normal. When you have oil, you have more problem!

Expector Smith July 14, 2011 14:52

@Junko

Yes, unbelievable! I wonder how they can afford to pay the so expensive rent there, too.

@Tara

Thanks for the nice comment! Yes, I hope other members can follow suit and take on this writing challenge. They can do it - maybe they need more time to work on their own writing before publishing it.

I'm trying to enjoy every minute of my stay here. I've already visited some other cities nearby - Ottawa, Toronto, Quebec. I really enjoyed all of them, and I got the perfect tan on my face and forearms. Sorry about failing to meet you in Toronto, but it was a busy 2-day bus tour and I was not allowed to leave the group. I'll be visiting Vancouver on my way home - I'll be going back to China late this month.

And, yes, I would have thought of New York City (the Big Apple) or the gorgeous Vancouver, too.

@farid

Thanks for reading the post! Yes, Montreal, where I'm living, used to be the biggest city in Canada. Maybe it will become the biggest city again and then Montreal will be the most expensive city in Canada.

@Hala

I just read the news online and I managed to rewrite it.

@idealist

Yes, you can say that again. Like countries in the Middle East - they are very rich because of the oil. But, I never thought of Angola when it comes to rich countries. Actually, I've been to Africa.

idealist July 14, 2011 9:12

haha, thank your really impressive topic! I HAVE TO SAY SOMETHING! :)

In fact,I don't very surpise that a city in a Africa country will become the top of expensive cost city BECAUSE it is an oil-rich country. You cannot judge oil-rich countrys' economics and costs according to other normal countries' experience.

According to the development level countries usually are divided into two group--developing countries, developed countries. It's not just according to GDP or some other Idexes but also reflect the countries' economics structures, living standars and so many other state of affairs in almost all of important fields.

BUT, the development in oil-rich countries are so amazing and special, they have their own special title named oil-exporting countries. YOU cannot use developing or delevoped to define them easily.

Everything you think can not happen or isn't right in normal logics will have its own reasonable explaination which you just don't know about it.

I think one day I should go there to see by my own eyes and try to understand~

Hala J.M July 14, 2011 5:34

Thanks alot for the valuable information,you enrich us with new ideas we don't know that before.

Tara Benwell July 14, 2011 2:12

This is excellent Expector! I am so impressed! And you accepted the BONUS challenge. Your recording is wonderful too. Thank you for being such a great model for the other writers. I hope you are still enjoying your stay in Canada.

Discussion Topic: I would have never guessed that an African city was the most expensive city in the world. I would have guessed New York City. This is such interesting news! I must search for Luanda on a map.

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Writing challenge #33: Toronto takes the place of Vancouver as costliest city in Canada

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