Monday 26 October 2009

letters from north america

Ok, well first of all a hya to everyone back home that reads this thing. As most of you know I am out in canada for the first term of uni this year. If yopu didnt know that well yeah sorry I may have forgot to tell you.

Well I have been out here nearly 2 months now and have decided to put pen to paper, (or the electronicy equilivilant) Describing things happening and just the randomness of a Brit in the colonies.

First a message stating the obvious. It is bloody cold out here I swear to the gods we had SNOW not piddly little uk snow but full on crisp thick white snow like in crimbo films at the start of October.

I mean how the hell am I expected to survive in a country where mnus ten is shorts weather. Oh and smokers just just don't its cold and drops so far below freezing that if you throw a cup of water out side off the dorm first floor balcony by november it will freeze before it hits the ground.

Everyone I have met out here has been really friendly everyone is really open and well nice iI suppose. Although I can only speak for the province of Saskatchewan as my visit to Toronto was 45 minutes high speed through airport security and immigration. Woot I didnt get cavity searched and the border people were polite and friendly. Heathrow take note.

Some general things I have learned:

1. thermals are a must.
2. visa debit cards do not work in most atms but work in credit card readers.
3. booze is expensive, seriously the liquor stores are government run or private off licenses open late with huge markups. I mean 12 coke can cans of bud light lime was £11.50.
4. as Kevin wilson says. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8sxk4xNnxw Seriously don't. I was singing along to a Lilly allen song and said that line and everyone was horrified.
5. french jokes are very popular.
6. canadian football is like a religion out here.
7. you need walking boots to get round the cities here. I swear to god you need to rent a car or make a friend with a car.
8. and even if you have a tame accent at home you will have to translate the slang we use.
9. Monty python is huge over here, which makes it fun to be British.
10. yes they do end every sentence with eh eh!

Its great out here and well worth the trip even doing stuff same as at home like gaming and watching telly is so different in some ways but the same in others.
Oh and before i forget yes mounties do wear that uniform all the time.

If you follow me out here remeber one thing above all else, Drink Canada Dry is a marketing slogan not a challenge.