Post by Valvilis on Nov 3, 2004 17:39:12 GMT -5
Looking for a new place to live? Look no further. A friend of mine just got back from a two month hitchhiking tour of the New England area and eastern Canada. His findings? Canadians are the nicest, most sincere people on the face of the planet. A bit skeptical from things he had heard about the country, he wondered what was ahead as he (think about the department of homeland security when you read this) walked across the unmarked border to Canada on a popular hiking trail, without ever even knowing exactly when he had left the US.
Hitchhiking can be pretty dull in the US, a lot of waiting, a lot of rejection, and the chance that whoever picks you up is insane.
In Canada, everyone stops, there's a better than 50% chance of them either buying you food or asking if it's okay if they go a bit out of the way to go home, cook you dinner, ask if you'd like to use their shower, and then take you wherever you were headed, even if they weren't going that way. He said the first time he thought it was a fluke. The second was amazing coincidence. But by the third time (in only 4 or 5 pickups - the others of which were perfectly nice as well), he was in a different province... there's something to this. He said if Canada is the niceness capitol of the world, Prince Edward Island should be their Washington DC. On PE hegot the above treatment, plus a guest bedroom to stay in for the night, a hot breakfast, and the guy took him on the scenic route when they finally took off, pointing out local landmarks and sharing some Prince Edward Island history and lore. It's like a country full of Mr. Rogerses, without the creepy pedophicular undertones. One guy who gave him a ride said, "You should have caught me yesterday, my sons and I went out to the ocean to go fishing, you would have loved it." Seriously, Canada, what's your plan?
Anyone who's seen Farenheit 9/11 know some of the other "bizarre" (meaning should be normal, but we're the weird ones) things that Candians do. Like not locking their doors, like talking to strangers, or like not fearing black people. They have almost no serious crime (and its often US citizens who cross the border where there is) and the universal health care system that we'll never have. Oh yeah, and they don't kill several thousand Iraqi civilians for... hmmm, why'd we do that again?
You don't have to decide now, but learning the words to "O Canada" couldn't hurt while you're thinking, right?
Jason "let's put the 'north' back in North America" Munford
Hitchhiking can be pretty dull in the US, a lot of waiting, a lot of rejection, and the chance that whoever picks you up is insane.
In Canada, everyone stops, there's a better than 50% chance of them either buying you food or asking if it's okay if they go a bit out of the way to go home, cook you dinner, ask if you'd like to use their shower, and then take you wherever you were headed, even if they weren't going that way. He said the first time he thought it was a fluke. The second was amazing coincidence. But by the third time (in only 4 or 5 pickups - the others of which were perfectly nice as well), he was in a different province... there's something to this. He said if Canada is the niceness capitol of the world, Prince Edward Island should be their Washington DC. On PE hegot the above treatment, plus a guest bedroom to stay in for the night, a hot breakfast, and the guy took him on the scenic route when they finally took off, pointing out local landmarks and sharing some Prince Edward Island history and lore. It's like a country full of Mr. Rogerses, without the creepy pedophicular undertones. One guy who gave him a ride said, "You should have caught me yesterday, my sons and I went out to the ocean to go fishing, you would have loved it." Seriously, Canada, what's your plan?
Anyone who's seen Farenheit 9/11 know some of the other "bizarre" (meaning should be normal, but we're the weird ones) things that Candians do. Like not locking their doors, like talking to strangers, or like not fearing black people. They have almost no serious crime (and its often US citizens who cross the border where there is) and the universal health care system that we'll never have. Oh yeah, and they don't kill several thousand Iraqi civilians for... hmmm, why'd we do that again?
You don't have to decide now, but learning the words to "O Canada" couldn't hurt while you're thinking, right?
Jason "let's put the 'north' back in North America" Munford
