Before the Vancouver Winter Olympics began — has it really only been four days? — I had an ‘acquaintance’ relationship with Canada.
I traveled to Nova Scotia on vacation more than a decade ago and loved it. I have been to Montreal and Toronto on business and have found both cities beautiful. But I’ve never spent any real time learning about the different provinces of Canada or their culture.
Well, NBC’s Olympic coverage has taken care of that.
And I have to say, I’m really starting to bond with Canada. When they won their first Olympic gold medal in their history as a host country, I cried along side all the natives of the Great White North.
Plus, they have these charming little identifiers that tell the world they’re Canadians no matter where they are — “aye” and “about” (pronounced “aboot”), to name two.
Which made me wonder: what tells the world that I’m an American when I travel abroad? Or any American, for that matter? Do we say or do anything that says to the world “American”?
(And if so, is it something positive?)
‘Cause I’m loving the Canadians!
Way hay
Happy Canada Day!
Royals William and Catherine are now touring the Great White North, but I first journeyed there more than a decade ago.
I certainly knew a lot more when I left.
For instance, I knew why the women there all looked like LL Bean models, in fisherman sweaters and makeup-free, windblown faces. That’s because the wind blew really hard every day. Even if you put makeup on, it was gone in a matter of hours.
It’s pretty cool.
What do you do with a drunken sailor,
What do you do with a drunken sailor,
What do you do with a drunken sailor,
Earl-eye in the morning!
Chorus:
Way hay hang the bastard
Way hay hang the bastard
Way hay hang the bastard
Earl-eye in the morning!
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