There is a thread about bad experiences running right now. But what about those times that aren't necessarily good or bad - those where you think "wow, this really is.. er.. Canadian", as if there are no other adjectives that can quite sum up the experience.

I have a few:-

- Coming out of our nearest crappy tire and seeing the snow capped golden ears on a sunny day.

- Running along the sea-wall and being told off by a cyclist for being on the bike section.

- Hearing somebody describe themselves as an (and I am not making this up) "east side ghetto poet" on one of those days when they close denman st. Though I put this as more 'vancouver' than 'canadian'.

I get that "this is Canada" feeling everytime I see a bloke with a mullet and moustache, tight jeans and some kind of jacket (usually branded with Budweiser or something).

- Waking up and seeing the mountains, water, and downtown every morning

- Stepping in bear shit

- Seeing people at the recycling centre being environmentally friendly while unloading their shit out of the back of their 5.0ltr F350 pickup.

- Stopping at a traffic light every 50 yards

- Venturing into Superstore in Pitt Meadows when we're out that way

Seeing facial tattoos. Today I saw one that said "EGGS".

Growing a beard* in November. Removing it in spring.



*of sorts

Seeing a queue of cars at a/every Tim Hortons

Having a Maple Taffy at Winterlude

Driving almost anywhere in Alberta, the roads for the most part are dead straight.

This doesn't bother me but I know it drives some expats up the wall.

country and western f###in music

Automatically taking your shoes off on entering a house.

We've done it for years, as it's also the custom in the Middle East and Asia, but going back to the UK earlier this year made us remember that most Brits just track their filthy, manky shoes all over their carpets!

People who aren't here yet might appreciate the heads up.

This one is a toss-up as to whether it is a benefit or not. I still take mine off and expect others to do the same when the enter our home.

However some peoples feet are so bad they can do more damage to the carpets than if they'd left their shoes on.

Some smell so bad you sometimes wish they had left them on.

Yeah, now-a-days it seems weird wearing your shoes into somebodies house. So I prefer the Canadian way (though I too picked this up in asia).

Hockey always playing on the TV in the background when at a bbq function.

I dont know anyone in England who trapes around their house with their shoes on..i would have got a clip round the ear from my mum had i done so..mite have something to do where i grew up couldnt afford shoes.

Heart playing on the sound system in the supermarket.

Shooting a rifle from a front porch

Horse riding in several feet of snow

Giving a damn about cheese

Having no faith at all in people driving cars

Owning summer clothes