A Few Random Observations

July 11, 2011

One of those days where I have a few random things that don't quite make up a full blog post, so I thought I'd just throw oot a few random things.

Yes, the cliche/stereotype is true:  Canadians really DO say "oot" "hoose" "aboot" and "eh".  It certainly makes watching CTV news interesting.

There is an aboriginal station here called APNTV.  The news anchors have braided pigtails, wear bolo ties, and sound like Ed Chigliak from 'Northern Exposure'.

Unlike in the US, the hooses in our neighborhood are all different.  There is no sign of a cookie-cutter template used, where there are only 5 different hoose styles, differentiated only by paint color.  No, every hoose in our neighborhood is unique. The hooses are also built like hooses should be - like they used to be:  solidly and with care. Unlike our hoose in Oregon, if I lean against the wall with all my weight (yes, even that small amount of weight), the wall will not crumple or collapse.  The floors do not creak with every step (and our hoose in Oregon was only 2 years old when we moved in).  There are no settlement cracks in the wall or ceiling.  No cracks in the driveway of any hoose in the neighborhood.  It appears that builders here actually take pride in their work, use quality materials, and try to make every hoose a castle.  There's a comfort in knowing your hoose is solid, well built, and durable.

And every single hoose has immaculate landscaping.  Landscaping is a big deal around here, even in the more economically depressed neighborhoods.  Canadians take pride in how their hooses look.  Some people have even taken to putting barrels of flowers oot on the side of the street across the street from their hoose. 

Canadians like to put their decks and balconies on the front of their hooses, instead of the back, like Americans are wont to do.  Most hooses have large outdoor spaces on the second floor overlooking the driveway and the surrounding neighborhood.  And you will almost always see someone sitting outside at their patio table as you drive by, or in decorative wrought-iron chairs near the front door in the driveway.  I'm not sure what Canadians do in their backyards, but they seem to love spending time in their front yards (our hoose might be an exception to the rule given our extensive backyard and that both upstairs and downstairs patios are in the back).

Cable companies in Canada are just as crappy as their American counterparts.  The customer service is just as horrid.  Canadians are notoriously polite and friendly to your face, but on the phone or via email, they are just as curt and rude as someone from New Jersey.

Canadian TV has contributed to the reality TV craze.  2 shows I have caught and have laughed my ass off at are "Canada's Worst Drivers" (Albertans, if you ask Kelowna locals) and "Canada's Worst Handymen".  The latter is a great show.  They take a group of people who think they are good at general contracting (landlords, freelance handymen) and put them through a series of tests to show them just how inept they really are, starting with a great challenge:  they have to use their skills to get through a locked door to get into their project room - it took one fella over an hour and a half.  Brilliant.  There are also Canadian versions of popular reality shows, too:  Canada's Next Top Model, Top Chef Canada, So You Think You Can Dance Canada, and coming soon, the next season of Canadian Idol.

Apparently  I will have to build my own flag pole.  I want a flag pole for the side of my hoose (not the big tall in-ground type) so I can display a Canadian flag - like people who put out an American flag on the 4th.  I have been to every single home improvement store in Kelowna, an not one store sells flag kits.  I can get a clamp-on flag for my car, but not anything for the hoose.  So if you are looking for ideas for hoose-warming gifts, please send a flag kit.

Lisa just picked up a bag of bacon-flavoured potato chips.  I'll let you know how they are, but considering they are bacon flavoured, I'm sure they are going to be just wonderful.