Snowbirds: 10 Ways to Feel Like You’re in Canada... Thousands of Miles Away

Spending the winter in a warm climate is fantastic. But admit it: even if you love your destination, there's always something about Canada that you end up missing, like your daily double-double, your favourite TV show, or your Sunday morning maple syrup. These little reminders can boost your morale and bring you back “home” when the feeling of homesickness starts creeping in, even thousands of miles away.

Several Canadian snowbirds and soNomad customers have shared with us what helps them keep a little piece of Canada in their daily lives once they arrive at their destination.

1. Reading the News on a Tablet

For Alain B., Michel M., and many others, starting the day with Canadian news on their iPad is non-negotiable. “It keeps me connected to what's happening at home,” says Alain, striking a nice balance between immersion in Japanese culture and maintaining ties with Canada. 

It's a simple but effective ritual: a cup of coffee, a tablet and a few articles from La Presse, The Globe and Mail, or CBC News, to feel like you’re right back in Canada.

2. Watching Your Favourite Shows With a VPN

With a VPN, Gilles and Louise from VRN’GO can keep up with Canadian TV. From their RV in Melaque, Mexico, they still watch their favourite shows, check the weather in Canada, and follow the news as if they’d never left.

Réal M. uses his Fire TV Stick to watch Netflix as if he were still back home. Bonus: it allows him access to Canadian shows, which is just what he needs after a “busy” day in the sun.

3. Maintaining Media Habits

Some people have their daily rendezvous with a familiar Canadian voice, like Lucie G., who listens to Paul Arcand’s press review every morning, even in Thailand. “It keeps me up to date with everything that's going on in the world... but from a Canadian perspective,” she explains. 

Meanwhile, Linda G., from her rental apartment in Fuengirola, Spain, never misses her go-to news program, TV5 Monde, hosted by Céline Galipeau.

4. Connecting With Your Online Community

For Lucie G., Facebook and Instagram are essential: “I like to see what people back home are doing, it makes me feel close to them.” 

Whether it's to watch the snow fall on your friends' and family's yards or comment on their photos, social media allows you to stay directly connected to Canada.

5. Bringing a Little Bit of Maple Gold With You

If you ask Mary G. and Alain B. what ingredient they would never leave behind, the answer is immediate: maple syrup.

 “Especially if you're renting an apartment for several months,” adds Alain. It's perfect with pancakes, adding a unique flavour to a dish, or simply enjoying a spoonful of pure happiness.

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6. Finding a Restaurant That Becomes “Your” Restaurant

Lucie G. has a weakness for pizza. No matter where she goes, she searches for the best restaurant in town. “It's my comfort food,” she says. 

Finding “your” restaurant abroad is a bit like bumping into your go-to Canadian spot, but in a much more pleasant climate.

7. Recreating the Dishes You Make at Home

Linda G. likes to cook typical Canadian dishes, even when she's travelling to Fuengirola in Spain for the winter. 

A homemade spaghetti sauce, an improvised shepherd's pie, or St-Hubert-style chicken is a comforting way to bring home to your plate. 

If you've thought of slipping a packet of brown sauce into your suitcase, you're officially a pro.

8. Finding Familiar Landmarks or Major Chains

Some snowbirds admit to enjoying a detour to Walmart or Tim Hortons, which can be found in several unusual places, such as Bangkok, Thailand. 

For coffee that tastes “just like home” or to find your favourite ketchup chips, these brands can sometimes be reassuring reminders of home. 

And admit it: it makes you smile to see a little piece of Canada, even on the other side of the world.

9. Integrating Into a Local Canadian Community

For Réal M., as long as he is at his campground full of Canadians in Harlingen, Texas, he feels like he is in Canada. 

Shared dinners, conversations in French, and impromptu parties create a bubble where accents and cultural references are alive and well. This local network becomes a real temporary family.

10. Or... Doing Nothing at All to Recreate Canada

On the other hand, there is Tony P., who, during his stays in Italy, says, “We don't even watch TV. We immerse ourselves completely in their customs and way of life.”

For some, the real pleasure of spending the winter elsewhere is precisely to completely detach themselves from their habits. No poutine, no TV news: just discovery.

A Piece of Canada in Your Suitcase

All these little personal touches are part of the charm of Snowbird life. They remind us that, even thousands of miles away, we can still recreate a sense of home.

While you're dreaming about your suitcases, don't forget: a good trip also starts with good travel insurance. Get a quick quote with soNomad to accompany and protect you during your next winter in the sun.