So as I sit here eating a bowl of Ben and Jerry's Boston Cream Pie ice cream (which is unavailable in Canada) makes me think about how I got to this point. I am so uniquely Canadian and American, and because of this I tend to notice the differences between the countries which are so vast yet so small and unassuming.
Here are just a few of my observations:
- selection, selection, selection - whether it's clothing, food choices, personal care items, the list goes on. For example Suave personal care items in Canada are limited to shampoo and conditioner - but I use the body wash which is not available in Canada for whatever reason. Same with Canada only carrying 4 flavours of Ben and Jerry's ice cream in the grocery stores.
- Canadian healthcare - Canada has universal care, but what does that mean? It means you, no matter what your condition have access to affordable healthcare BUT finding doctors who are compatible with yourself and your situation is difficult as well as wait times for getting to see the doctors or to have procedures and tests done.
- American healthcare - American healthcare is privatized, I for one have had difficulty obtaining and retaining a healthcare plan. BUT the care I have received in St. Louis was fantastic. Easy to get in to see a doctor, quicker turnaround times for tests, surgery follow ups etc.
- language, dialect and accents - I will say it now - Canadians say EH....how did I miss that when I was young? I for 14 years straight told Americans that NO, Canadians so not say EH....the joke is clearly on me. But then again I still catch myself asking "where did you go to high school?" when clearly I am new to the area and have no idea where the high schools are or what their names are. Such a St. Louis thing, but it will live on! And I am determined to keep my Missourian twang!
How did I get to this point?
Apparently I have a hard time living in one place, whether it's my own decision or not. My story began in Ft. McMurray, Alberta Canada, home of the oil sands. I've moved a good handful of time between my birthplace and Calgary, then once to New Brunswick, once to New Jersey of all places and then to Missouri where I basically grew up. I've only recently moved back to Canada. Yes I hold dual citizenship, which I cherish with every fiber of my being. I never realized how "Americanized" I became over the years but I guess moving to the USA at 14 yrs old and really only just growing up. Between high school, college/university and most of my work experiences have been there. 18 months ago I made the scary decision move back to Canada. The big reason was healthcare, but that's another story. I have no idea how long I will live in the greater Vancouver BC area or how long I will live in Canada, but I am certain that I will forever be pulled in both the American and Canadian direction no matter where I live.
