O Canada

Location:
Canada

By Belinda Lloyd

O Canada! Our home and native land! True patriot love in all thy sons command. With glowing hearts we see thee rise, The True North strong and free! From far and wide, O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. God keep our land glorious and free! O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. And so the anthem goes.....The land of the Rockies and mountainous cities and of course the country of Hockey legends. It can also boast wildlife such as Bears, Wolves and Mountain Goats. Of course you cannot forget the national symbol of The Maple Leaf. Did I also mention that flights to the UK are only CAD$199.00....but wait that's for another story. This is a lowdown on the basics and first impressions of Canada. So, just how popular is the Hockey? Your standard travel guides will hint at how popular the Hockey is and mention under no circumstances to refer to it as ICE hockey. If you arrive during playoff season (mid to late April) then multiply that tenfold. Bars are packed with eager spectators and staff alike dressed in their teams Jersey. It is quite a phenomenon to experience. Navigating the ice has never been made to look more effortless and easy. Having briefly covered sport, lets move onto the weather! Don't be fooled into thinking you wont need warm clothes. Snow storms still occur in the middle of Spring when you would normally expect flowers to be blooming. The mountain tops are still snow covered as well. Be prepared for some laughs if you walk to a shop looking for thermal underwear because you are too cold. Now for Accommodation! Backpacking through hostels can be a fun way to meet new people if you are traveling alone. If you are in a dorm room be prepared for people coming and going at different times. Keep in mind, that if you are not the voyeuristic type try a private room or mix it up a little. That way you can stil meet people and have your own space. Keep in mind also, that the Greyhound bus stations are a little outside the heart of downtown areas and a quick taxi or (Sky Train if you are in Vancouver) may be necessary, especially if you have lots of bags to fuss over.. What are the people like I hear you ask? Well, on the whole Canadian people are pretty friendly. However homeless people seem to target the city centre for begging and this has hardened some people. It can be difficult to stop someone for help with directions because of this. You will also begin to pick up wether or not you have a strong accent. Australian pronounce the 'er' sound like 'ah' with a downward stress. For example the word 'pusher' - as in the song "the pusher" sounds like 'pusha', which can cause confusion sometimes as to what word you are saying but also let you have a laugh together. Are there other idiosyncrasies? All countries have their own slang and unique/ common phrases and sayings. Some of which may be shamelessly overused and stand out to visitors. For instance, Australia uses "No Worries" so frequently I once asked a co worker to count how many customers he served that said it and he lost count after four customers. New Zealand has the phrase "Kia Ora" which is Maori for hello. In Japan you will notice cries of "Eh? Eto/? and Nani"? frequently, all of which loosely mean "What the"? The other thing to get used to for all the coffee lovers out there is how to order these drinks. Starbucks is hugely popular and drink sizings are Tall Grande and Vende. For myself, these translate to Medium, Large and Extra Large. Once you grasp this you are ready to sit back and enjoy the view of the mountains or watch the snow falling. You may also get to sit and wrap your head around the cars driving along the opposite side of the road. So What about the Rockies? In one word, breathtaking and there's lots of cool stuff to do depending on when you go. Glacier hiking, hot springs, kyaking, rafting, trail hiking, snow boarding and skiing of course. If you go on a tour you will be lucky enough to have a guide that knows the history of the areas and wildlife you are seeing which makes it more fun and interesting. And now for the cheesy travel agent style ending: I highly recommend you pack your bags and walking boots and see Canada. Embrace the hockey loving country and all it has to offer. "Go Canucks Go"!