I came home to Toronto after living abroad and these 7 things suddenly felt so jarring

After spending most of a year living in France, I recently made my way back to Toronto for a visit, and wow.

I really wasn't expecting the culture shock I'd experienced abroad to throw an Uno reverse at me when I got back home.

I mean, I've spent most of my life in Toronto .

I figured I knew enough about how things work here.

But apparently, spending enough time away can make even the most familiar things feel like silly little surprises.

From pleasant moments to strange realizations that had me questioning my decision to move abroad in the first place, coming home has been an interesting experience.

Here are some of the most jarring things.

Tipping culture Few things reminded me that I was back in Toronto quite as quickly as being presented with a payment terminal suggesting an 18%, 20% or 25% tip.

In France, tipping is generally optional, and restaurant prices include service.

I might leave a little extra for particularly fab service, but there's zero expectation to calculate an additional percentage every time I order something.

I'd nearly forgotten the peculiar social pressure of standing at a counter, being watched by a barista while deciding whether ordering a coffee TO GO warrants a 20% bonus.

And after getting used to paying the advertised price, I'd also forgotten how irritating it is to remember that most displayed prices in Ontario don't include sales tax.

Sigh.

Don't get me wrong, I understand that tipping is an important part of many service workers' incomes in Canada.