CANADA - SHERBROOKE

I have now spent one out of 4 months of my semester abroad in Canada at the Bishop’s University and I have been engaged in a cultural environment that feels both familiar and distinctly different from my home country of Austria. One of the most striking aspects of life in Canada is the friendliness and informality that characterizes daily interactions. From the moment I arrived at the airport, I was met with warm smiles and an openness that felt welcoming and authentic. This experience has given me the opportunity to reflect not only on Canadian culture, but also on my own values and assumptions about communication and relationships in social settings.

In Canada, it is not uncommon for strangers to engage in small talk, whether in a café, a grocery store, or while waiting in line at the university dining hall. People are quick to say hello or ask how the day went. This friendliness is not limited to polite manners but seems to be anchored in the fabric of Canadian social life. In Liechtenstein, interactions with strangers are generally more reserved. People tend to be polite, but there is a stronger emphasis on maintaining personal boundaries and a sense of formality, especially with people we don´t know well. In other words, people mind more their own business.

At first, this openness in Canada felt a bit unusual. I remember my first trip to the grocery store, where the cashier not only asked me how I was but also engaged me in a brief conversation about my heritage and whether I liked it so far in Canada (she knew that I wasn´t from here because of my French skills). In Liechtenstein, such an exchange would typically be limited to a simple greeting and a “thank you” after you paid. The Canadian approach surprised me at first, but I soon began to appreciate the ease with which people connect and socialize. It made daily activities feel more communal, like I was part of a larger social network, even in the most ordinary settings.

Even more interesting is the level of informality in communication, even in settings where I would expect more formality. At Bishop’s University, for instance, the relationship between students and professors is noticeably relaxed. Professors often go by their first names, and classroom discussions feel less hierarchical. In contrast, academic environments in Liechtenstein tend to be more formal, with clear boundaries between professors and students. The Canadian style encourages a sense of openness and high activity during the lessons, which made me first feel a little bit uncomfortable, but over time I learned to express my thoughts in class.

This informality goes beyond the academia sphere. In social settings, the lines between formal and informal interactions seem to blur. I have noticed that people speak and dress more casually, even in situations where I would have expected a certain level of formality. For example, during class, most students wear sweatpants and Birkenstocks (Slippers) which reflects a laid-back approach. This is quite different from my experiences in Liechtenstein, where students tend to dress more formally for class.

This cultural difference has made me reflect on my values and the way I perceive social interactions. In Liechtenstein, I have always valued respect for personal space and formalities, particularly in professional or academic environment. I saw these behaviors as a sign of respect and professionalism. My time in Canada, however, has served as a challenge for me to reevaluate the importance of those boundaries. Though it is true that formality might be respect, I have found that informality may create a close relation, as well as equality between them, which I prefer more. The casual conversations I have had with Canadians, whether with professors, classmates, or strangers, have shown me that informality doesn´t necessarily mean lack of respect. Instead, it can be an environment in which people are more at ease and feel connected-in turn making you more comfortable making mistakes.

This experience has also made me more aware of how my cultural background influences my perceptions. Before coming to Canada, I had never really questioned the value I placed on formality and personal boundaries. It was just the way things were done. But now, I find myself thinking more critically about why we interact the way we do and how these interactions shape our social relationships. Canadian friendliness and informality have shown me that there are different ways to express respect and build connections. While I still appreciate the formality I am used to in Liechtenstein, I have come to value the warmth and openness that characterize Canadian social life.

In short, time in Canada allowed me to understand more how the practice of cultural behavior, such as being friendly or informal, reflected broader values and shaped everyday life. This experience broadened not only my perspective on how we think about and approach others but also allowed reflection on the assumptions I hold about culture. The more the exchange semester progresses, the more I look forward to learning about Canadian culture and how it continuously both challenges and enriches my understanding of intercultural communication.