Canada (Part II) - July - August, 2010
It was an amazing summer in Northern British Columbia! It seemed like it was Spring when I headed up in June and saw all the wildflowers in full bloom. As I left, it seemed like Fall was just around the corner with all the yellow and orange leaves I saw on the aspens.
I actually got to explore the area a bit this time. The weather was quite hot, though. By the end of my visit, forest fires had filled the air with smoke. It made for spectacular sunsets and sunrises!
Here are some of the things I learned while in Canada:
- Canadians know a tremendous amount about trees and wood and are eager to share that knowledge at every opportunity. I realized that when you live in a forest and have a tree leaf on your nation's flag (and when your local economy is largely driven by forestry), you'd better know a bit about trees.
- Everyone celebrates hot sunny days in Canada -- even the mosquitoes.
- How to paddle a canoe down a river without hitting any hidden obstacles. I even had a canoe strapped to the top of my car for the first time!
- Not to be confused when I hear people spell words with "zed".
- I'm less likely to have my car searched at the border crossing if I don't have a towel wrapped around my wet hair.
- Canadians consider river/lake water to be warm if it doesn't have ice floating in it.
- Canadians aren't used to hearing "y'all".
- Toques are fashionable and useful any time of year.
- Why I never saw all the skunks that I smelled during my previous visits.
- Canadians coins can be separated from U.S. coins with a magnet.
- The high temperatures in Northern British Columbia can be 20 degrees Fahrenheit (~10 degrees Canadian) hotter than those in Southern California -- 2,000 miles to the south -- for weeks on end.
- Not to be confused when I hear Canadians talking about taking "gravel" for motion sickness. GRAVOL is used for motion sickness; GRAVEL is used on driveways.
- Most First Nations people don't have a word for "goodbye" since it's too final.
Following that, I wish all my Canadian friends well until next time. Y'all rock!
I actually got to explore the area a bit this time. The weather was quite hot, though. By the end of my visit, forest fires had filled the air with smoke. It made for spectacular sunsets and sunrises!
Here are some of the things I learned while in Canada:
- Canadians know a tremendous amount about trees and wood and are eager to share that knowledge at every opportunity. I realized that when you live in a forest and have a tree leaf on your nation's flag (and when your local economy is largely driven by forestry), you'd better know a bit about trees.
- Everyone celebrates hot sunny days in Canada -- even the mosquitoes.
- How to paddle a canoe down a river without hitting any hidden obstacles. I even had a canoe strapped to the top of my car for the first time!
- Not to be confused when I hear people spell words with "zed".
- I'm less likely to have my car searched at the border crossing if I don't have a towel wrapped around my wet hair.
- Canadians consider river/lake water to be warm if it doesn't have ice floating in it.
- Canadians aren't used to hearing "y'all".
- Toques are fashionable and useful any time of year.
- Why I never saw all the skunks that I smelled during my previous visits.
- Canadians coins can be separated from U.S. coins with a magnet.
- The high temperatures in Northern British Columbia can be 20 degrees Fahrenheit (~10 degrees Canadian) hotter than those in Southern California -- 2,000 miles to the south -- for weeks on end.
- Not to be confused when I hear Canadians talking about taking "gravel" for motion sickness. GRAVOL is used for motion sickness; GRAVEL is used on driveways.
- Most First Nations people don't have a word for "goodbye" since it's too final.
Following that, I wish all my Canadian friends well until next time. Y'all rock!
