My hometown by David Nield https://padlet.com/davidnield/t90p1hsrfv8w9u1g en-us 2023-03-29 21:27:27 UTC 2025-10-30 17:27:26 UTC hello@padlet.com Herne Bay davidnield https://padlet.com/davidnield/t90p1hsrfv8w9u1g/wish/2537345057 Herne Bay is a small town on the south-east coast of England, 100 kms from London on the way to France. It’s very close to Canterbury, which is famous for its cathedral and history.

The people are generally conservative and not so open to the world. Over 60% of the people are over 60 and they come to my hometown, Herne Bay, to retire. The old people like to drink tea or coffee and talk about ‘the old days’ when things were better…

There is not a lot of culture in Herne Bay. The young and old go to the amusement arcades to have fun; the rest go to the beach in the summer and stay indoors (pubs and TV) in the winter. 

Herne Bay was always too small for me. When I was a teenager, I worked at the local French summer school, where kids from Paris learnt English. This was my window onto the world and my future.

]]> 2023-03-29 21:33:29 UTC https://padlet.com/davidnield/t90p1hsrfv8w9u1g/wish/2537345057 Birmingham, West Midlands https://padlet.com/davidnield/t90p1hsrfv8w9u1g/wish/2540680781 Birmingham is England's second city and home to over 15 million people, home of the industrial revolution, Cadbury's chocolate and more.

Brummies as the people of the city are known are a very diverse bunch, due to the history of the former British empire and embracing immigration. My suburb, Moseley is also home to Hobbits!

Birmingham is a very trendy city, cultural experiences tend to be free or charged at a low amount unlike cities in Canada. There is a famous amusement park called Alton Towers near the city and the well known Warwick Castle within an easy commute.

Living in such a diverse city inspired me to see the world, to live in many different places and as one of my old friends from the city said - come back when you have seen the world. Life is short, Birmingham will always be home... so many other places are also home!]]> 2023-04-01 15:05:20 UTC https://padlet.com/davidnield/t90p1hsrfv8w9u1g/wish/2540680781 Istanbul https://padlet.com/davidnield/t90p1hsrfv8w9u1g/wish/2540681018 Istanbul is an ancient megacity situated at the junction of the Marmara and Black Seas. It is the only city in the world that I know of that has territory on two continents (Asia and Europe). It has been the capital of several states, kingdoms, and empires, but contrary to common belief is not the capital of Turkey today.

The people are diverse; on top of the local Turkish population there is a heavy presence of expats as well as several million Syrian refugees. The denizens of Istanbul love cats very much. The street cats and dogs of Istanbul often ride the metro. 

Istanbul has a long and storied past as a bastion of culture. It has a thriving music scene, arts scene, theatre scene, as well as lots and lots of old buildings and museums. 

I love Istanbul. As a youngster, it gave me an abiding love of history, art, and weirdness that I maintain to this day.]]> 2023-04-01 15:05:49 UTC https://padlet.com/davidnield/t90p1hsrfv8w9u1g/wish/2540681018 Boo Toronto boo https://padlet.com/davidnield/t90p1hsrfv8w9u1g/wish/2540681098 Toronto is located in southern Ontario close to Niagara Falls. Unlike the famous Niagara Falls, Toronto lacks the raw majestic beauty and opts instead for a cyberpunk dystopian aesthetic. 

The people here are nightmarishly divided into the propertied and unpropertied classes. This divide has created an inflated market with houses being sold on average at over a million dollars. 

The culture of Toronto is indeed diverse, and there are many awesome things about it. But a high cost of living has made Toronto harder and harder to enjoy.

Toronto is too expensive and too hard to get around for me. I feel like seeing more of the world.]]> 2023-04-01 15:06:01 UTC https://padlet.com/davidnield/t90p1hsrfv8w9u1g/wish/2540681098 Torooono https://padlet.com/davidnield/t90p1hsrfv8w9u1g/wish/2540681440 Toronto is one of the largest cities in Canada. It's popular attractions include Nathan Phillip Square and the Rogers Centre.

The people are generally from different places around the world. We have a diverse group of people living in the city.

There is a lot of culture in the city. The dining out scene is big in Toronto. People love to explore the different restaurants.

I'm glad I got to grow up in Toronto. I've learned about different cultures, food, and met amazing people.

]]> 2023-04-01 15:06:49 UTC https://padlet.com/davidnield/t90p1hsrfv8w9u1g/wish/2540681440 Toronto https://padlet.com/davidnield/t90p1hsrfv8w9u1g/wish/2540681850 I was born and raised in Toronto. Toronto is a large city in southern Ontario. It is about 150km north of Buffalo, NY.

Toronto is Canada's largest city by population. It is home to roughly 3 million people. It is one of the most multicultural cities in North America, with a very high percentage of the population being born outside of Canada.

Being Canada's largest city, you'll always be able to keep occupied here. There are many wonderful museums, art galleries, restaurants, parks and cafes to explore.

Though Toronto has faced setbacks and obstacles quite often throughout its long history, I feel lucky to have been raised here.]]> 2023-04-01 15:07:44 UTC https://padlet.com/davidnield/t90p1hsrfv8w9u1g/wish/2540681850