Watching the weather channel today has made me realize a few things. what we as a "civilized Country" take for granted. I for one can't even begin to tell you how grateful I am to be writing this post from a lounge chair poolside in Tampa Florida with 80 degree temperatures. thank you, thank you, thank you!! I do feel for all of you back home experiencing the deep freeze and i would never dream of rubbing it in as I do know for a fact that I will at some point this winter experience the same weather.
I have been a little slow in getting this post out because for the first time on this trip I have actually been getting out and doing some things around the places I was visiting. I have been talking to as many people as I can and I am quite surprised at what I have discovered thus far. For instance, on average; Americans love Canadians. They still don't understand how we can consider hockey a sport....Note to Gary Bettman...Move a team back to Canada where it can be appreciated and enjoyed. I would like to take this time to make a shout out to Tim, a great guy from North Carolina who sees hockey as "a bunch of guys smacking around circular cow patties with sticks after punching each other in the face." He did say the one game he watched was enjoyable and would watch more if he had to lol Anyway, to you time...thanks for your input. I still laugh about you descriptions to this day.
I must say, I am in love with the southern accent. Whichever county it may be from. I am also in love with the southern way of life, the cool relaxed style and the ever famous southern hospitality. So friendly, so courteous and so extremely helpful. I met another gentleman named Tim...It's really easy to remember names out this way lol He went as far as to point out which areas of the country may or may not be safe for someone like me :-) He was a great guy from Savannah Georgia other than trying to get me to drink his homemade moonshine...(about 90 proof) I had such a great time getting to know him. Sorry Tim #2 not my cup of tea, I am a beer girl. But I do know a few people who would jump on that train in a second.
I am now as I mentioned before, sitting pool side in Tampa Florida and missing Georgia big time. I felt so comfortable there and i do hope at some point that the US Government will let me back in so I can return to Georgia and spend a lot more time exploring the area.
I have been polling a lot of people here about what they think about when think of Canada. I was quite surprised to find out the answers.
1. Free Healthcare
2. Cold Weather
3. Peaceful people who stick mostly to themselves and never lock their doors
4. No guns
5. (this one surprised me the most) I have heard repeatedly that Americans think about how frustrated they are that the US Government P.Oed the Canadian Government. They agree that we are two separate countries with similar people and similar values being separated and segregated by our own governing bodies.
I for one have not seen nor experienced any American hostility, Arrogance or Ignorance in the time I have been down here. From the people that is. i was given the cold shoulder by a deer and squirrel but I guess I can forgive them for that.
I for one have been so pleasantly surprised at the genuine kindness here. I myself would even consider packing up my stuff, applying for a visa ;-) and moving to the south. Yes, becoming an american. I know, I know, some of you just dropped your jaws and spit (beer, coffee, strongbow or Rickards Red) through your nose but I can assure you, you did read my words correctly. I would be proud to call myself a Southerner. The bad Reputation they have is strictly a media based issue and if i am accepted into film school I will be sure to come back and prove to the rest of the world; that to think like a southerner, to act like a southerner and to truly be a southerner is something we could all be proud to admit. They really are the kindest people I have met so far. A close second of course being good ol Nova Scotia but the southern accent really puts em over the top LOL just kidding. But they really do blow my mind with their kindness!
I hope to spend as much time as i can here in Florida. i don't think I really need to go into too much detail on that one. Of course they do have these weather Network segments called..."It could Happen Tomorrow" talking about huge Hurricanes and other Natural Disasters that sort of makes me rethink moving out here on a permanent basis lol. But I guess if you think about it, anywhere you go a Natural Disaster or an Act of God is an all to real possibility. I am just going to be happy where I am right now in this very moment.
So, I guess to wrap this up I would like to say thank you to everyone I have met along the way and thank you for all your input and advice. To all the Tims I have met...You guys rock and I have not laughed that hard in a long time so thank you as well for that. To the Gentleman from Delaware, Sorry I didn't get your name but if you manage to come across this blog...WRITE THAT BOOK!!! Margo said so ;-)
Ok so just a few more things I have picked up along the way in the last couple weeks.
1. Sleep may be overrated, but if I don't get any of it I tend to not like stuff.
2. If you feel like having (buying) an alcoholic beverage on a sunday in the great state of Georgia...you can't. Unless you are a member of the US forces.
3. Heated pool does not always translate into...WARM pool
4. I feel surprisingly guilty for sitting in 30+ weather when my friends are sitting in a deep freeze at -20
5. They call tuques ...Toboggans
6. They think walking around in shorts, T-shits and sandals in 65 degree weather is crazy
7. they think swimming in that weather is even crazier
8. 12 Coronas are $13.00
9. 2L of Rum are about $13.00 (no not an alcoholic ...yet lol) just an observation
10. filling your car with fuel here is a painful process because I don't have a zip code and I have yet to find a gas station where I can wash my car on my own and clean my windows with a squeegee longer than 4 inches. Wow, that is something you need to do when you have a day off :-)
chat with ya'll soon ;-)
Margo
