[charleso]

As another former Canada / U.S. transplant I agree there is a difference, but it's less extreme. It's almost intra-national, really.

The 'culture shock' between Toronto, Ontario -> Montgomery, Alabama won't be much different than if you were moving from Los Angeles instead. In contrast, the culture difference between Toronto, Canada -> Cairo, Egypt or Bangkok, Thailand will be pretty danged huge.

[theycallmemorty]

But doesn't language isolation have a significant impact on culture?

It would be more apt to compare the Toronto-Montgomery difference to the difference between Toronto and Glasgow or Toronto and Canberra.