Fast Food Trays

As I struggle to understand Thomas Aquinas - I'm convinced he would be a shark of a criminal defense attorney today. How can you read this guy and NOT have 'reasonable doubt'???? I swear he made up words just to be confusing. Anyway, I wanted to ramble on something even less profound than whether or not the soul is 'subsistent'. That subject of even less profundity than usual is: the fast food tray.

Question: What do you do with your fast food tray and garbage when you're done eating in a restaurant?

Well, I hear you - how silly! But I will contend there's a major cultural difference here. Now, I'm not always sure if it's a difference between American and Canadian cultures and/or between East and West coast culture, but here it is: Most people around here get up and leave all their garbage and trays on the table, bypassing the garbage can. I remember when living in the Philadelphia area that it was expected - via 'unwritten rule' - that if the garbage cans said 'Thank You' that meant you were expected to throw out the garbage and stack your tray. Doesn't that make sense - shouldn't you throw it away?

There's is where (as I contemplate writing a paper about free will in philosophy) I just can't control myself. I can't give in: I throw my stuff away - it's just too ingrained in me. Hmmm....maybe I should go back to Aquinas and see what he thinks about trash.

Having a Voice

I've had two letters published in the local papers so far, with apologies to Ruth. I've gone through the phase of sitting back and letting others settle issues. After all, I think, I can't vote being an immigrant and all. I'm still an American citizen only. I haven't become a dual citizen. Why not? I have this issue with saying I'm a citizen of two countries at the same time. It just seems....well...impossible. However, I've come to the point where I really do care about what happens here as much as anyone else. Therefore, I am writing letters to the editor because I can't think of anything else at the moment.

I'm very concerned: not about the projects but in the contradictions in numbers that seem to be happening. Right now, everything about Plan A seems to be very murky and confusing. City hall refuses to give out number about how the tax payers' money was used to fund the "Vote yes on Plan A" campaign. City hall did not allow an official 'no' campaign at all. City hall has suddenly come out and said the tax increase is only 7.5% when the 'pro-Plan A' media has said that it will be 16% that's a huge difference.

I may be a landed immigrant, but I am a taxpayer, too. Just like a Canadian. I hate dishonesty and deception. Build the projects, but be honest about the costs. I, unlike many immigrants, have the skill and command of the English language to write letters that demand honesty from those who are spending our tax money. It's the least I can do for my family's hometown.

Best Burger in Abbotsford

The thing is burgers are a matter of taste. If you're really into lots of goop and sauces on your burger or you like a good, meaty patty. Now the tricky part of being an American in Canada is that Canadians have an intense love-affair with mayonnaise. This is probably a youtube clip somewhere, but in the movie The Whole Nine Yards, Bruce Willis has this great scene in a Montreal restaurant ordering a burger. He goes to extreme lengths to describe that he does NOT want mayo on the burger. He threatens, etc. Then the burger comes back later with mayo.

Another movie, the classic A vs C movie, Canadian Bacon (by Michael Moore - who would do well to think about making more funny movies like this to make his point rather than ridiculous ones like Farenheit 9/11). In CB, there is a scene of a news anchor describing the results of a Canadian takeover and one of his points is 'there would be mayo on everything'. My father-in-law likes to put mayo on his hot dogs. Can you handle that, Americans????

Now back to the best burger, which is what this is supposed to be about. What does that ridiculous newspaper vote as best burger every flippin' year? White Spot!!! Now these are good burgers. If you like tons of mayo that you MIGHT be able to convince them to leave off. I gotta admit, if you ask for no mayo, it's about a 50-50 chance it will come WITH mayo. So the goop lovers rejoice at White Spot, but the meat lovers, like yours truly, go good, but not BEST!

What's best? In terms of a good, satisfying burger with lots of styles of burgers to choose from. Not just goopy, but blue cheese, Hawaiian, avocado, etc. or a fantastic cheeseburger, then the hands down winner is Red Robin's!!! They are by far the best here in Abbotsford. So go down to South Fraser Way and order yourself a Blue Ribbon Burger!

Food, Glorious Food! (Part I)

Having slept just a few hours last night and feeling grumpy, my mind turns naturally to food. It just occured to me - and I was just saying this to someone at work - that of the things I miss about a place, besides the people, of course. (I think...) Is the food. So I thought I would venture into a review of some of my favorite foods from Philadelphia first. Hopefully, I'll find yummy looking links to go with this. Anyway, here are the foods I miss from Philly (in no particular order)

1)The Italian Hoagie! The thing about this sub-style sandwich is you just can't get the taste outside of South Eastern PA. I mean, they can't even make good ones in Lancaster - the last time I bothered to try. The hoagie must be thoroughly drenched with vegetable oil to be the best. Don't you dare try puttin' mayo on it you Canucks! I also like my hoagie with a mix of both hot and sweet peppers.

2) The Philly Cheesesteak sandwich. Now this is incredible if done right. And, I have had some good ones outside of Philly. There is even a site that lists where you can get cheesesteaks in each state. I like my sandwich with lots of grilled onions, mushrooms and grilled bell pepper. If you wanna get yourself sick, then have an order of cheese fries with it.

3) I miss the pizza that was so greasy it soaked through the box by the time you get it home. They're just too healthy here.

4) Italian water ice is just incredible. This is NOT chips of ice with syrup poured over it! (Yuck!) This is incredible stuff. Rita'sis just about the best! I love the mango.

5) I just can't find a good cannoli anywhere. Another fantastic dessert that I miss!

6) I grew up near one of the best bakeries for Philadelphia Sticky Buns I must say, as I hang my head in shame, I liked to butter these things and eat them.

7) The Soft Pretzel with Gulden's brown mustard!!

8) And 'Nobody Bakes a Cake as Tasty as a Tastykake!' Butterscotch Krimpets were one of my big faves here!!!

OK, now I'm off to get something to eat. Next time - my favorite foods of Colombia!

Anyways...

Canadians speak English (and French, but not here in BC). Many Americans think, as I did in my early years in Pennsylvania, that Canadians actually speak the same language then....

I learned in a childhood visit to Sudbury, Ontario (most BC'ers shudder when I say the name of that city. My response always is: "Hey! Alex Trebek came from Sudbury!" ) My aunt married a retired nickel miner (How Sudbury is THAT!?!) We went up sometime in my childhood to visit them in his home town. Side note: Even MORE Canadian, they were snow birds, living in Florida half the year! I realized very quickly that "Eh?" was like the Canadian equivalent of "Aloha", which means all sorts of things.

One time my uncle was struggling to fix some mechanical monster of a thing - maybe it was a log-splitter, I kind of forget - when he told me to go across the street while he tested it. Puzzled a bit, I complied and watched as he rip-roared this thing to life in his garage. Over that loud roar, I vividly remember his broad smile and his shouting of "EH!?!" right before the thing blew up in a billow of smoke. (No injuries, other than pride..)

Another time we were at the little car race track, you know, where you actually drive the things? Whatever you call it... I went to the snack bar and in typical Philly-ish English asked for a "soda". The guy said they didn't have soda - I was stunned and asked what he had : "pop" and I had another lesson in Canadian English. Although, to be fair, most of the US calls it "pop", too. Except for the Southern US, where everything is "coke". *sigh*

Canadian English fascinates me. I even found a Canadian Spelling Dictionary on the web! Fascinating reading, btw!

Other subtle difference include: "Anyways" - I say 'anyway' - How about you? Or, in BC at least, the kids say "pencil crayons" instead of "coloured pencils" (please note the Canadian spelling in the last one!!) It took me a few years to realize that 'pencil crayon' is the English speaking way of saying the French side of the box!

My mother-in-law says 'serviettes' instead of napkins. She's unsuccessfully tried to convert me to saying that. I'm proud to say my kids are hanging in there with 'napkins'!! I have nothing against Canadian English - I just can't stand 'serviettes' for some reason.

Oh, wait, I can't stand the way 'pasta', 'drama' and 'Mazda' are pronounced. Canadians tend to say the first 'a' as a strong short 'a' sound. In the states, the first 'a' is pronounced as a 'schwa' sound. Don't know what a 'schwa' is? Check your local dictionary!! It is for this reason that I will never own a 'Mazda' in Canada. I like Hondas better, anyways.... Oops...

History - A New 'Hobby'

"Perserverance and spirit have done wonders in all ages."

~ General George Washington



I've just finished reading 1776 and it got me to thinking about how moving to Canada has really made me more interested in history. I think what really got me started was when I had to take two courses in order to get my permanent teaching certificate here in BC. The two courses were basic, 100 level courses in Candian geography and in Canadian history. Now, there were other teachers in the courses who were from other provinces here in Canada and they were bored out of their gourds because they had heard most of this stuff before. Me, I loved it. I didn't know any of this stuff and I really enjoyed learning about the history of Canada. I especially was interested in how Canadian and American history intertwine with each other. You can't really have one without the other and, you really couldn't ask for better neighbors. (Despite that softwood thing. For the record, though, cough up the money US - you owe Canada a bundle.....but I digress)

I really enjoyed reading A Short History Of Canada by Desmond Morton. Then I couldn't resist Canadian History for Dummies by Will Ferguson. I loved that the US tried to invade Canada at least 4 times in the early years. Lincoln actually contemplated fighting the Civil War on two fronts - and Canada's birth year, 1867 is not coincidentally located closely to the end of the Civil War....

Which makes me think of 1776, which prompted a question from my wife: "What's that about?"
I looked at her blankly: "Well, 1776...." I'm thinking it should be obvious. She basically replied with "Fine, don't tell me then..." I did very nicely explain the significance of the year.

Now, 1776 was not a year of triumph. It was a year of hardship and defeat for the American forces. It's amazing (and this is what intrigues me most about reading history) how just a little more effort from one of the sides in a different direction could have changed the course of history. How close the battle was. As an American, I tend to associate 1776 with the year (singular) of the Revolutionary War, but it was just the beginning. The Treaty of Paris ending the war was signed in 1783 - a little more than 6 years later.

That quote above is significant, McCullough indicates, because that was kind of George Washington's theme throughout the war:

"Again and again, in letters to Congress and to his officers, and in his general orders, he had called for perserverance - for 'perserverance and spirit,' for 'patience and perserverance' for 'unremitting courage and perserverance.' " (p. 293)

I have read elsewhere, perhaps in McCullough's book, John Adams, that somewhere along the way Washington realized he did not actually have to win battles to win the war. He had to keep fighting until they couldn't afford to fight any more. He knew that eventually, the British had to realize it wasn't worth it. So perhaps it was perserverance, and not brilliance strategies that one this war. There's a lesson in there somewhere...

Immigration

I was watching "Face the Nation" yesterday. They had two US senators on arguing about the latest immigration bill that either passed or didn't pass. There has been so much heated debate about illegal immigrants and the implications of allowing them to live and work in the US. It all comes down to money, though, whole businesses would shut down if they had to hire only legal immigrants - they couldn't afford all workers. It is a complicated issue, but I was sitting there realizing that it's not such an issue with Canadians, only Mexican or Latin Americans mostly. Why? Canada's lifestyle is so close to the US lifestyle - economically speaking.

These people are desparate to feed and care for their families - they'll do anything. The low pay they get seems like a fortune to them. It occured to me that the only real way to solve the problem is to improve living conditions in Latin America and Mexico. Hey! You think that's expensive - I find it hard to believe that the huge wall or fence that some are proposing would be at least as expensive, if not more. I wonder how much it would cost to make the majority of Mexicans lifestyles better. That way they won't be so desparate for jobs in the US. Lets create jobs in Mexico...put the billions of dollars we want to spend on keeping "them" out and improve their lives instead. $5 billion to improve the Mexican lifestyle will be a better idea than $5 billion on a fence!

Oh, wait...we don't want to interfere in their country's affairs....like we haven't interfered in Iraq, Afganistan, etc......

That is something that I would love to hear debated by politicians of a country one day. How can we make the other countries better? Yup, that would be neat to see!!

Look What I Found!!

I changed my profile picture to go with my title...I think it's more interesting than a personal photo. While I was googling for the photo, I came across more photos that I thought would just be fun to share here. It's amazing what an image search comes up with!!







And that's just some of them....Now I'm thinking I should change my profile picture every other day...lol!!!

Living in Canada - An American Perspective

Since I have traveled a bit, I have become fascinated by how different cultures work. I enjoy reading about cultures and I have become more interested in history over the years.

The running joke is that Canadians are just 'misplaced' Americans or that they are just an offshoot of the US, embracing the same culture. I would argue that they are a unique culture, and that this culture that is now in place is very needed in this world that can be dominated by images, ideas, etc. from the US. Canada is in a unique position to be a 'check and balance' to the US. Hopefully, Canada will begin to embrace that concept of being a Berean-like thinker to the US. There are some hopeful signs in the latest Canadian government, led by Stephen Harper.

Anyway, what are the key ideas that float around that make up the Canadian identity. I have found that a lot of it boils down to this quote:

"A Canadian is someone who is always asking, 'What is a Canadian?'"...(will add info about where I got quote when I find it...)

The Canadian identity seems to be wrapped up in the idea of questioning, probing, wondering. Sometimes this does look a bit neurotic, but it really isn't. Canadian culture is more open to other ideas and cultures. They don't usually just 'settle' for an answer...they want reasons.

Being outside of the US for so long, I have noticed that Americans (including me) have a tendency to be more sure. Don't bother me with more questions, I've already figured it out. President Bush's idea of "with us or against us" is, to me, something that is taking the American mindset to the extreme. (Don't get me wrong, either, I love my home country, but all cultures have their failings.)

I am fascinated by the interplay between the two countries over time. How Canada's very existence is due to the USA. How the idea that "Canadians are Americans that rejected the Revolution." (Nothrup Frye said that) is true. I think it is fascinating how the birth year of Canada, 1867, is right on the heels of the end of the US Civil War (1865).

I am fascinated by Prime Minister's and Presidents and how they get along. There's LBJ grabbing Pearson by the collar and telling him to 'stop pissing on my carpet!' (PM Pearson was not a big fan of the Vietnam War and actually talked out loud about it). There's Trudeau's famous 'sleeping elephant' reference.


Essential reading for Americans in Canada:

Coupland, Douglas Souvenir of Canada (Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre) 2002

Ferguson, Will Canadian History for Dummies (Toronto: CDG Books Canada) 2000

Ferguson, Will Why I Hate Canadians (Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre) 1997

Ferguson, Will & Ian Ferguson How To Be A Canadian (Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre) 2001


Essential TV viewing for Americans in Canada:

CBC

Spend a week or a month, if you dare, and watch CBC. If you do, let me know...you should be rewarded, or something...

In my opinion, the best, funniest and most informative show about Canada is The Rick Mercer Report

And a word to my Canadian friends: Yes, Rick did "Talking to Americans". Yes, it was funny. However, Rick's moved on. So should you. End of comment :-)



Essential website for all Americans to have under "Favorites" while living in Canada (believe me, you'll need it!):

THE Canadian Spelling Dictionary!!

It wouldn't hurt to get the Canadian Oxford Dictionary, either!!

How did I get here??

Good question.

I was born and raised in Delaware County, PA. I attended the local public schools until 8th grade, when I switched to Delaware County Christian School. While at DC I attended a high school job fair. I was very interested in being a scientist (l think it was an astronomer at the time), but there weren't workshops for scientists in every single block. I then chose one that looked at least semi-interesting and it was led by an elementary teacher. In fact, he was the 2nd grade teacher at the time. I listened and was fascinated. After the workshop, I spoke with him about volunteering in his classroom during some of my study halls.

Well, after that - I was hooked!! I could still communicate my love for science to someone and I could also talk about so much more!

After high school, I bumped around - mostly due to finances - to different universities. I ended up graduating with a B.S. Ed. in Early Childhood Education from West Chester University in December of 1987.

After that, I subbed in and around the Delaware County area in various school districts. I also worked at the local YMCA in an after school program as well as in the summer and holiday day camps. After a year of this, I was very discouraged by substitute teaching.

I attended a College and Careers Bible study through my home church in Pennsylvania, Aldan Union Church. One very cold night, a missionary from Youth For Christ spoke at our Bible study. This missionary was, at the time, the Director of Youth for Christ in Bogota, Colombia. He spoke on the calling of Phillip to preach to the Ethiopian Eunuch Acts 8:26-40 - this convicted me. I felt God calling me to do SOMETHING - but what???

Now this was the winter of 1989 ( I think) and there were ice storms. You could park your car and get a jug of milk at the local convenience store and go back out and your car would be frozen shut.

This missionary, it turns out, could not get his car open after the Bible Study. I offered him a ride home and we began to talk more about the school that his son attended in Bogota. It was a day school for missionary kids - quite small at the time - and about 10 years old. The school was desperate for new teachers and was only running half time because they could only get parents to fill in the gaps. It was then I realized that God wanted me to go to South America!

Off I went - after all the pre-trip fundraising and stuff - on Good Friday, 1989 and began my teaching carreer with a 3-4 combination class at El Camino Academy . I taught there for 4 1/2 years. I taught 3rd grade most of the time. I will probably do another post about my fond memories of Bogota....

Anyway, while there, I met a very interesting woman teaching a 1st grade class. She grew up in a place called Abbotsford in British Columbia, Canada. We were friends for most of that time. When it came time to leave Bogota, I realized that I couldn't just leave her and say good-bye. And, after the prompting of a friend (Hi, Jackie!!), I proposed. She, of course, made me wait two weeks or so for an answer, but on Canadian Thanksgiving Day in 1992, she finally said, "Yes!!!".

All of our friends reactions in Colombia: "Finally!!"

The long and the short of it after the engagement? The job opportunities were much better, at the time, in BC, Canada and we decided to make Abbotsford our home.

That's how this American ended up, not only in Canada, but on an opposite coast!