The Fetal Diaries #35: On being stuck in Canada for too long.
I haven’t been out of Canada since I got here.
That means three years and three months of good ol’ Canadian living, eh?* and yes, I’m saying it the Canadian way.
[*There are many ways you can say eh. The Canadian way, or aka the annoying way. Somehow, Canadians can always find a place to put ‘eh’ in a sentence. The stereotype holds true, actually.
There’s the British way. Meaning the most common way of saying it. I don’t think I need to explain. And there’s the Asian way. Which sounds more like ‘heh’ than ‘eh’. Or maybe it’s ‘ehh’ I’m thinking about..]
That, in itself is a huge problem. Although Canada boasts of its multicultural background, it lacks that strong iconic culture say, the French might have (that, for no apparent reason, popped out first). In other words, Canada cannot entertain a person like me. I’ve been to some places where culture is very strong and defined, like the UAE. Sure, the expat population there very easily outnumbers the local population, but even so, the authentic arab life is there, if you knew where to look (I recommend Al Ain, somewhere in the desert. Good place to start a bonfire with some crazy arabs and dance around. Arabs know how to get a party started, in their way, of course). The Philippines, although has a long history of invasions from multiple foreign countries, has a very defined culture. Although it is a very diverse culture, it’s there, and people know it. What filipino does not know what Baguio is? I rest my case.
Anyways.. Being a TCK, I know what a defined culture is. Take Thailand and the amazing Golden and Reclining Buddhas (and Pad Thai). Canada does not have that. What’s authentic Canadian food? Poutine, I guess.. But not a lot of people know it even came from Canada. But it’s just fries.. With gravy and cheese. Compared to a Korean kimchi or Japanese sushi, a Canadian poutine hardly seems distinct enough.
Now I’m not saying Canada is horrible. But like I’ve said in numerous previous posts, it’s just too.. Plain. If maybe there were more Aboriginal influence, then maybe Canada would be more exciting. Well there’s the Calgary Stampede.. But fairs are just fairs.. And rodeo eventually gets boring. Besides, rodeo itself isn’t very Canadian either. See what I mean?
Now that is driving me crazy. It’s so Canadian, yet it’s not. I’m not sure it’s making sense to you right now, but it does to me. Somehow, Canadian culture fails to get to me and amaze me. There’s something horribly missing. I’m really not kidding.
So yeah, poor Foetus is stuck in here, but not for long. In just 8 days, I’m out of here. Temporarily, and it’s just the US. But it’s something. Anything that gets me out of Canada. And besides, Little Tokyo and Filipinotown in California should get me some of my embarrassing asian-ness back (some may argue I’m already too embarrassingly asian, but friends, you haven’t seen nothing yet). And maybe shopping will get me my sanity back. Just maybe.
Really, I’m stoked. This is my first time into the US. To many TCKs, the US is, well, just the US. But hey, I’ve never been there. This only adds to my list of countries and cities visited. The US would be.. My 7th country to set foot on.
My dad says I’m lucky, compared to many kids out there (I know he specifically means my cousins). I know I am. Compare me to my cousins and you’ll hardly figure out how we’re related. We’re so different. While they’re either too Filipino or too Canadian. I’m neither. So maybe I’m the human Canada? Just like how Canada is a country, but a country that lacks a distinct culture, I’m a human being, but I lack that feeling of patriotism towards one (and only one) country. *Gasp* I am a human Canada!
So I just realized I’m a human Canada. Maybe all TCKs are. That’s… Sad. See how Canada affects my brain and trail of thoughts? I really need Mickey Mouse’s help on my road to recovery. Let’s hope by the end of this summer, I’ll be myself again.
Alright. Tired of txting. I’m outta here. Night (or morning). Rant over. Pc’n.
Kristine aka Fetus.
Born in the Philippines, then lived in Abu Dhabi, UAE for almost 4 years. Immigrated to Calgary, Canada (one of the most, if not THE most diverse city in Canada), but lives even farther north now (where it seems to be the opposite of Calgary).
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13 Comments to “The Fetal Diaries #35: On being stuck in Canada for too long.”
June 26th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
lol, you’re right. I remember a Canadian jokingly saying:
“Culture? I have no culture!”
You said it’s boring and doesn’t excite you. Are you looking for is something that excites you? Like a cause? *WINK WINK*
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June 26th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
Careful how ya answer Brice! He sounds like a recruiter!!!
Great post!
We’ve noticed a similar thing here in New Zealand. There is a bit of a perception out there that kiwis are a “really relaxed” bunch. (or so blogs we’ve read would have us believe) We come from Montana, where I’d dare say is at least as relaxed as here, if not more.
So, where’s the culture? We’re still looking here too. There are little bits, like you mention…some mangling of the English language here and there. The closest they come, near as we can tell, is the pieces and parts of the Maori culture that they try and recognize at a national level. We haven’t ran across any uniquely NZ foods…those are all largely imports.
The issue could be that the culture you see isn’t differentiating itself at the border as much as you’d like. I think it’s easy to reach a point where we assume “different country, different culture”, but in the case of the US, Canada, Australia, NZ, and possibly others, there is a common “ancestry” to the cultural bits, and the differences are small as a result. The language is largely shared, the customs are largely shared, and you really have to seek out the differences, cause they aren’t necessarily obvious.
Maybe if they spoke Canadese up there it’d be more interesting! (that’s a combination of Canadian, and Geese…so “Honk, eh!”)
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June 27th, 2008 at 7:33 am
You know, I think there’s more to culture than just… costume, dates, music and language. That’s surface culture.
What people do, and the roots of why they do it which is relatively unique from their neighbors… that is the deeper aspect of culture.
There’s a joke about Singapore which goes:
What’s the difference between Singapore and a plate of milk?
After 2 weeks, the milk grows a culture.
Singapore, like many colonial creations, has no apparently consistent culture. It has a unique mix of cultures from its past, but not much that they can say “This is SINGAPOREAN and no one else’s!” and they try so, so, so hard to create it, through music, TV shows, and everything… that this sense of “we have no culture, let’s go get one” feels like it *becomes* their culture.
I’m not sure about Canada, but I suppose they have less of that, with the US just next door with the same issues of a cultural inferiority complex.
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June 27th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
Brice: we actually talked about that in social class. Canada doesn’t have much of an icon, or culture.. There was even a newscast on how canadians don’t have those ‘iconic pictures’ that the us have.. I’ll look for them later and post them..
Jer, that’s true, what you said, it’s hard to find, the culture, and LOL at the canadese. Maybe we should let the loons talk hey?
And dan, i know what you’re getting at, but even the way canada does things is still like that. Nothing very distinct.. Maybe except for the ‘we’re canadians, not americans. HUGE difference.’ right.. Tired years into living here and i’m still not convinced.
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June 27th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Hockey! The mighty moose! The honest beaver! (our Canadian friends get a particular kick out of the idea of the “honest” beaver…apparently the Canadian squirrel population is involved in organized crime)
There are LOADS of Canadian icons!
Kinda like New Zealand…we have rugby, sailing, and a sizeable number of nearly-extinct species! (Yay team!)
Hang in there Kristine. Soak up all the excitement ya can on the big trip to Cali!!!
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June 27th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
man u noe why I love reading the fetal diaries? BECAUSE it writes every problem I have with Canada for me!
I dunt even need to write my own post anymore. LOL I understand EVERYTHING UR TALKING ABOUT.
and honestly to think tat I might have to go to university here too i am just like…ARGH SHUDDERS!
i wud go to montreal if only they had a goddamn decent theatre program in mcgill, at least i wud get sum french culture going instead of…i dunno? toronto culture? the difference wont be as great as like…omg mayan temples! but it will prob keep me a live a bit longer… lol
and at least the only authentic poutine is from quebec, and at least quebec is not like… “omg we r so multicultural (except dunt reli noe anything about others)” like Toronto. I wud get to be with ppl who probably are more monoculture but AT LEAST NOT “i am canadian therefore I am so multicultural and understanding”.
and at least they speak french, which wud make me feel a lot more exotic and TCK than english. LOL
man staying in canada for way too long is just not pretty eh? im desperate enough to believe that quebec is reli france.
P.S. Canadian culture is hack. and just makes me miserable… but it’s not their fault… but i guess i have to give it credit for its reasonably middle winged government and the fact tat it doesnt have internal wars or conflicts?
maybe tat’s why the kids here jump out of their seat and and get scared the hell out of when they see a movie about war… because they r living way too comfortably. It almost make me feel indignant.
wow i sure sound bitter.
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June 28th, 2008 at 9:34 am
Great post, I know exactly what you mean. I’m also a TCK and am currently stuck in Canada. Not for as long as you though. I’ve been here nearly 2 years now. Compared to the countries I’ve been to, there really is no culture here. I laughed at the poutine part, by the way. So true. Thankfully, I am probably moving to Berlin this summer.
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June 28th, 2008 at 9:55 am
hey what about Quebec? They try sooo hard to be their own unique nation… I can actually give them culture credit for decades after decades of attempts at independence…
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June 28th, 2008 at 11:15 am
yes quebec is awesome, tat’s why it’s the only place in canada I can seriously see sum interest in.
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June 28th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Canada not only has one culture, but several. This is the second largest country in the world. British Colombians and Newfoundlanders used to have about as much in common as an Irishman and a Kurd. Unfortunately, the wonders of modern communications and corporate interests has managed to turn the world into one large superficial theme park, where the Jay-Zee’s become some sort of transnational folk hero. Seriously depressing stuff.
Nevertheless, differences between Canada’s regions still remain, mainly due to the countries enormous size and linguistic divisions. Montrealers, for the most part, do not feel the need to indulge in nauseating political-correctness to the same extent a British Colombian does. This is not necessarily the result of a conscious choice. In fact, in Montreal’s case, it has more to do with the fact that most of the tremendous amount of immigrants are completely ignorant as to what constitutes a Canadian “norm”, a dying species in Quebec in general, since Canada is the “enemy”.
What’s the problem with Canada? The problem is that people can get away with not assimilating, and opportunistic, short-sighted federal politicians kiss Quebecers a**, instead of reminding them that not only did the french lose the battle of Quebec on the plains of Abraham, they lost because their own country couldn’t give a sh*t about them, refusing to send supplies and reinforcements to defend a “worthless” colony.
No my friend, Canada does not suffer from no culture, Canadians suffer from a short North-American attention span, which makes twenty years ago seem like the dawn of the universe. Canada has plenty history, plenty drama, but short-sighted political and economic interests has made cultural preservation a luxury as opposed to necessity.
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July 6th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Man, I’d do anything for Canada. How do you feel about a switch in TCK countries? I’ll move to Canada and you move to NYC? If only it were that easy…I still have to decide if I am ready and willing to give up my US passport forever to go to Canada. Hmmm…this place is pretty crazy! LOL
P.S Where in Canada are you? That might be the only problem…I grew up in Africa so amn’t to cool about mountains of snow…maybe I should rethink this plan…sigh!
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July 6th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
Am I the only person on TCKID.com who had an incredible experience in Canada (a place I lived in for 3 years)?
Canada and Los Angeles share something in common - they are places you can “travelling without travelling”. The diversity of people, perspectives, cultures was right at my doorstep!
A typical day in Canada for me was…
1). Waking up in my gorgeous apartment on the third floor of a heritage home on Parker Street, Vancouver. The entire west wall was all windows where I would enjoy a bird’s eye view of the mountains, water, trees, fireworks on public holidays. Damn, one winter I watched a meteor shower snuggled up in my comfy bed.
2). I would sit down and cook a phenominal breakfast with the freshest, most delicious ingredients possible.
3). If it was the weekend I would cruise down to the “10th House” - a hippy commune. A hodge-podge of characters whether lesbian burlesque-dancers, Jewish-death-metal lovers, Swhite-girl Shiatsu healers would coral and flolick creating pandemonium by climbing the house with mountain-climbing ropes. One would be chanting Tantra mantras, one would be spinning Hip-Hop. Someone else would be having a political discussion. I would be out front with the passion flowers enjoying the sun.
4). What to eat for lunch? Vegan, Italian, Mongolian, Thai, Indian, Jamaican, Ethiopian, Yucatan Mexican? Hmm…why not some stewed octopus in tomato sauce with fresh lime and herbs with warm tortillas. How about a coconut-macaroon organic cookie for a treat? Organic juice as Sweet Cherebums? Or how about a falafel at either the Israeli or Halal spot? I know, a Nanaimo bar
5). Hmmm…I need some craziness. Let me go peop my Jamaican people from Toronto down on Hastings. Argue over the best Jamaican beats, eat some dumplin’ & curry goat?
My 3 years in Canada were the best of my life. Whether in Vancouver (which has done a 180 and is very different from when I lived there back in 199-2002) or Toronto I love it! T.Dot with Caribbeam/African/Asian/ Indian/Portuguese populations?
Travelling without travelling indeed
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July 6th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
Wow Christine,
I don’t know what it is about Canada, but it seems to be a place where expats get really “stuck.” Hard to move out of Canada for some reason.
I live in Canada when I was a little kid, way back in the late 60’s. I went to Catholic school, and in the winter, they would ice over the playground so that the kids could ice skate on it. My one memory of Ottawa was of the nuns ice skating with the kids during recess. They had these huge habits, and therefore, you could not see their legs moving as they skated, and they usually had their hands stuck inside a muff. Their nun veils would be sticking out at 90 degree angles, and you would see them just gliding over the ice in their habits, like they were some kind of smooth mechanical wind up dolls.
Oh, and my one other memory of Canada was the frequent tea parties my mom would throw for the nuns in hopes of persuading them not to jettison of one my 6 rowdy brothers and sisters out of school for some crime or another. Lots, and lots of petit fours!
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