About Me

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Delta, British Columbia, Canada
I took very early retirement from teaching in '06 and did some traveling in Europe and the UK before settling down to do some private tutoring. As a voracious reader, I have many books waiting in line for me to read. Tell me I shouldn't read something, and I will. I'm a happy, optimistic person and I love to travel and through that believe that life can be a continuous learning experience. I'm looking forward to traveling more some day. I enjoy walking, cycling, water aerobics & and sports like tennis, volleyball, and fastpitch/baseball. I'm just getting into photography as a hobby and I'm enjoying learning all the bits and bobs of my digital camera. My family is everything to me and I'm delighted to be the mother of two girls and the Gramma of a boy and a girl. I may be a Gramma, but I'm at heart just a girl who wants to have fun.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

N is for Nationality

I AM CANADIAN!

Canada (IPA: /ˈkænədə/) is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean. It is the world's second largest country by total area[7] and shares land borders with the United States to the south and northwest. (from Wikipedia)

So just what does it mean to be Canadian? Well, I'm not a lumberjack or a fur trader and I don't live in an igloo or eat blubber, or even own a dogsled. I have a Prime Minister instead of a President and the last letter of our alphabet is pronounced "ZED." I eat beaver tails in honour of our national animal - the beaver. (beaver tails = pastries covered in cinammon and sugar) Being Canadian also means:

1. You know that Canada has the largest French population in the world that never surrendered to Germany.
2. You know that the Hudson Bay Company once owned 1/11th of the Earth's surface.
3. You know who "The Rocket" is.
4. You dismiss all beers under 6% as "for children and the elderly."
5. You can eat more than one maple sugar candy without puking.
6. You know that Mounties don't always look like that.
7. You understand the sentence, "Could you please pass me a serviette? I just spilled my poutine".
8. You can drink legally while still a teenager.
9. You know what a "toque" is.
10. You drink pop, not soda.
Canada is now very much a multicultural society so it's pretty hard to really define a "Canadian." New Canadians come from almost every country in the world, especially from the Asia Pacific area. However, most foreigners like Canadians because of our gentle, kind attitudes that echo around the globe. Canada also has magnificent scenery that we all love to brag about. Here are the top 10 places to see in Canada and why:



10. Prince Edward Island - the earth is really red there and there are stunning cliffs along the Atlantic Ocean.








9. Ottawa, Ontario - I lived here for 3 years and can vouch that it's a great place to visit. It's our capital city where you can view the changing of the guard (Mounties) at Parliament Hill and in the winter, skate on Rideau Canal - the longest skating rink in the world.




8. Kelowna, British Columbia - warm in the summer and mild in the winter, the valley produces Canada's world famous B.C. apples and wine. The Okanagan Valley has a marina for avid boaters and many golf courses. Relaxing at the beach or sitting on the porch of a lakeside cottage is everyone's idea of the perfect destination. We're hoping to retire there one day.



7. Churchill, Manitoba - the polar bear capital of the world AND the beluga whale capital of the world because it's situated on Hudson Bay along with being one of the best places to catch a glimpse of an Aurora Borealis or Northern-Lights.





6. Vancouver, British Columbia - my home and the best climate in the entire country. You can enjoy the city's night life, ski at Whistler and go whale-watching along the coast. Camping, hiking, and boating are also just a few other things to do here.






5. Niagra Falls, Ontario - a popular place to get married, you can also see the falls from the USA side of the border.






4. Quebec City, Quebec - rich in French culture. The Old-City is contained in an stone wall that once protected the city from the British Navy. The City Fortress makes Quebec City one of the last walled cities in the world.




3. Montreal, Quebec - the world's second largest French speaking city (second only to Paris) some would compare it to France.





2. Banff, Alberta - With the guaranteed wildlife sightings of bears, elk, moose, deer, and mountain goats it's best to go in off-season. It's also home to the famous Banff Springs Hotel where you can take a dip in their outdoor hotsprings.






1. Lake Louise, Alberta - Deep in the Canadian Rockies, a large turquoise lake trickles from the thousands year old glacier in the distance.



So today N is for NATIONALITY and my nationality is CANADIAN ~ and I'm proud of it!
ABC Wednesday is brought to you courtesy of Mrs. Nesbitt's Place.

37 comments:

TYRA Hallsénius Lindhe said...

Beautiful!!! I never been to Canada but I do admire your country. Love your nature and I adore your movies. They are the best, nothing like the US stuff much more 'real', down to earth.

Great and NNNNice choice

Captain Tyra

Navigare Necesse Est

Miss_Yves said...

Wonderful landscapes !
I'd like to visit your country !
French people have many links with your country.
I have many canadian pen friends (mailartists)And I enjoy many famous canadian singers !
Thanks for your kind words on my blog.

naturglede/Randi Lind said...

Beautiful post! Have a fun abc:)

spacedlaw said...

Good thing you clarified what a beaver's tail was, I was getting worried...

EG CameraGirl said...

Yay, Canada! Yes, we live in a beautiful country!

EG, imagiing that she's wearing a touque and tucking her serviette under her chin before enjoying a plate full of poutine

Leslie: said...

EG - yes, and a beaver tail for dessert! lol

Anne in Oxfordshire said...

Wonderful photos Leslie, I have never been to Canada, have lots of close relatives there..Aunty, Uncle 5 cousins and their wives and children..!

Joy said...

The poutine looks like a good beer blotter and at 6 percent plus you would need something to soak the alcohol up.
Beautiful country.

Karyn said...

Great post! What we are and what we are not, eh.

Jane Hards Photography said...

Such a comprehensive post. Canada always seems so appealing, I can see why now.

photowannabe said...

Wonderful post Leslie. I love all the things about you country. Great pix and choice for the letter N.

Jo said...

Leslie, when you eat your poutine and beaver tails, do you sit on your chesterfield? I do. ;-)

Maggie May said...

I really loved that post.
England loves Canadians and I am so glad that you pronounce the last letter of the alphabet as ZED! (The proper way!)
You live in a beautiful part of the world.Your climate sounds the best!

Rose said...

A great post, Leslie! Enjoyed the list, though I'm still wondering about eating beaver tails:) I've only visited Canada a few times, and then only the southernmost areas closest to the US border; I think it's time I take a real trip to Canada!

antigoni said...

What places are these!!!!!!!
I want to visit them all. I'm speechless. Awesome, fantastic, amazing places.

Leslie: said...

Jo - Yes, I sit on my chesterfield to eat my poutine and beaver tails and if it's cold, I'll wear my toque, too! lol

sally in norfolk said...

Niagra Falls look fantastic :-)

Mary Ellen said...

Hi Leslie!

Well, I'm glad you explained the Beaver Tails thing because at first I was grossed out. Glad to hear it's a pastry, I can get on board with that. ;-)

Also..please explain "Could you please pass me a serviette? I just spilled my poutine". I'm not Canadian and can only guess. A serviette is a napkin, perhaps? I have no idea what "poutine" is.

Also..in Chicago, we drink "pop", too. Soda is carbonated water.

Miss seeing you around, I lost touch with so many people when I closed down Divine Democrat and I forgot to copy my blogroll. I'm still at Bad Habit if you feel like popping by. ;-) I'll blogroll you over there now that I found you again.

Mary Ellen said...

Ooops, I forgot to give you my web address for Bad Habit, in case you would like to visit.

Here ya go...

http://me414.wordpress.com/

Tumblewords: said...

A great N! Gorgeous photos and Narrative!

Jay said...

I'm not Canadian, but I have been to your beautiful country twice. I understood all of the ten statements, but nos. 2, 3 and 4 escaped me. LOL!

I'd like to come back some day.

nancygrayce said...

What a beautiful country! I hope to visit someday and maybe I can visit you! That would be so much fun....

Also, I can't wait to see the results of you bathroom redo....I'm guessing ensuite means master bath??? Like in your room? Oh, I'm so American! :)

nonizamboni said...

Congratulations! Wonderful post full of many things I didn't know. I know first hand how beautiful B.C. is and am the proud owner of teacups from the Empress Hotel.
Thanks for sharing a bit of your world. Hope you're doing well!

Dragonstar said...

Pride in Nationality is so important. I enjoyed your post - so much enjoyable information about Canada. I'm absolutely sure I'd enjoy beaver tails!

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Very informative post, Leslie. I'd never thought about no 1 on your list. I've always wanted to visit Montreal.

Jeannie Hanson said...

Hi. Great and thoughtful and entertaining post. I went to B.C. two times...once on a cruise ship and later to visit my daughter who was living there. It's a beautiful city. Jeannie in Sacramento

Powell River Books said...

And I'm proud to have become a Canadian, even if late in life. Two more years and I can become a citizen. YEA! But I'm still not so sure about the poutine part. I think it is an acquired taste. - Margy

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