Maybe it’s because the NHL cancelled its season, but curling led the sports news just about every night I was in Canada.
The major news story was, of course, the murder of the 4 “Mounties” in Alberta.
Even so, American programs dominated the TV, even on the local channels, and except for a French-speaking station, most of the music on the radio is US pop. And even the French station played US jazz.
Being the Pacific Northwest, it feels like home here. In fact, the prospect of going back to the US feels like foreign travel. Here means escape from the constant stress of there being “not enough” of everything – not enough money, certainly not enough civility, and too many people, especially in traffic.
Vancouver, of course, is a huge city, and it feels like any big city in the US – hurried, crowded, lots of cars.
Vancouver Island – even Victoria – seems to be on a different schedule. Even so, I noticed right away that where I was staying, about 2 hours away from Victoria, people drive fast, consistently exceeding the speed limit.
They probably get away with it because there are, literally, no speed traps. The only times I saw the police on the roadways, they were either adjudicating accidents or directing traffic because of construction.
Tills, Lamps and Loonies
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I was comfortable on the island, but quickly found the minor differences in terminology did raise consciousness that I was out of familiar territory – a cash register is a “till”, a light (as on a school bus) is a “lamp”, people talk about “out East”, and the letter “z” is “Zed”. Someone referred to their electric service as “Hydro”. Deli and fish are sold by the “100” and seemed exhorbitantly expensive compared to the US: halibut, on sale, was over $8.00/pound.
I struggled trying to explain the concept of a “townie” to an aquaintance, stumbling over the word “native”, which to locals means “First Nation”. Part of the confusion probably stems from the fact that so many people here are transplants, from all over Canada: I’ve met a several people originally from Quebec and Ontario, and my owner/neighbor told me there are a number of Alberta and Saskatchewan farmers who winter here.
Busman’s Holiday
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In spite of the Canadian gallantry, one unfortunate remnant of male chauvinism seems to remain: the lack of women in IT.
Before leaving the US, I’d signed up for a couple of Microsoft events, a seminar which turned out to be held at a movie theater in Victoria (what a good idea), and a User Group meeting at UVic.
Got some decent swag, but I was disappointed that there weren’t many women at the seminar, and NONE at the User Group meeting. Where were they, home minding the kids?