FA+
Shop
No Subject
18 years ago
Well, I'm back at home here in the US of A, just in time for Thanksgiving... I was in Victoria, BC for a few days as a kind of get away. Had a great time, took a lot of pictures, walked about 3 bazillion miles around town and spent a ton of money on chachki for Christmas gifts. Victoria is a beautiful place, but I learned a few things while there...
1. The exchange rate from USD to CD is terrible! One USD bought .95 CD. Add on 13% tax on everything and you quickly find out that you're hemorrhaging money...
2. Canadian and US Customs officers have no sense of humor. I think they have it surgically removed. Here's a little vignette that took place going into Canada...
Canadian Douanier (Customs dude): "Where is home?"
Cap: "Ohio."
Douainer: "When did you leave Ohio?"
Cap: "1977."
Douanier: "What?"
Cap: "I left Ohio in 1977 when I joined the Army..."
Douanier: "Well you really can't call Ohio home then, can you?"
Cap: "Yes I can. I live in Oregon, but Ohio is my home. You didn't ask me where I lived..."
Douanier: "Grrrrrrr... Get out of here." I think I was half a step away at this point from the strip search/rectal exam, so I beat feet.
3. There seems that there is still a wide chasm between English-speaking Canadians and French-speaking Canadians... (For all you Canadian furs out there, don't kill me... Just an observation!) Okay, I'm pretty much bilingual in French and English. Canada is officially supposed to be bilingual, French and English, right? In order to practice my French (which I don't get to do very often here in the People's Republic of Oregon), I tried using it on a few of the shopkeepers and hoteliers... In one case, I asked very politely (in French) for a tour brochure for a local point of interest. From the look I got, you would have thought that I had asked to boff the individual's sister. After a number of instances where I got nothing but funny looks or downright indignant reactions, I gave up and had to content myself with watching the French language channels on the TV in my room... Yeah, maybe I was naive and should have reserved my practice for the next time I got to Quebec, but I wanted to give it a shot...
That all said, I really enjoyed my brief stay in Canada. It had been many years since I was last north of the border and it was every bit as beautiful and hospitable as I remembered. I'll be going back again soon (albeit with more money, less French and with less lip for the Customs agents!).
In other news, thanx to MadPlumber for my new av!!! As I stated to him, I don't know how he got my picture, but the likeness is remarkable! Thanx MP!
Cap
1. The exchange rate from USD to CD is terrible! One USD bought .95 CD. Add on 13% tax on everything and you quickly find out that you're hemorrhaging money...
2. Canadian and US Customs officers have no sense of humor. I think they have it surgically removed. Here's a little vignette that took place going into Canada...
Canadian Douanier (Customs dude): "Where is home?"
Cap: "Ohio."
Douainer: "When did you leave Ohio?"
Cap: "1977."
Douanier: "What?"
Cap: "I left Ohio in 1977 when I joined the Army..."
Douanier: "Well you really can't call Ohio home then, can you?"
Cap: "Yes I can. I live in Oregon, but Ohio is my home. You didn't ask me where I lived..."
Douanier: "Grrrrrrr... Get out of here." I think I was half a step away at this point from the strip search/rectal exam, so I beat feet.
3. There seems that there is still a wide chasm between English-speaking Canadians and French-speaking Canadians... (For all you Canadian furs out there, don't kill me... Just an observation!) Okay, I'm pretty much bilingual in French and English. Canada is officially supposed to be bilingual, French and English, right? In order to practice my French (which I don't get to do very often here in the People's Republic of Oregon), I tried using it on a few of the shopkeepers and hoteliers... In one case, I asked very politely (in French) for a tour brochure for a local point of interest. From the look I got, you would have thought that I had asked to boff the individual's sister. After a number of instances where I got nothing but funny looks or downright indignant reactions, I gave up and had to content myself with watching the French language channels on the TV in my room... Yeah, maybe I was naive and should have reserved my practice for the next time I got to Quebec, but I wanted to give it a shot...
That all said, I really enjoyed my brief stay in Canada. It had been many years since I was last north of the border and it was every bit as beautiful and hospitable as I remembered. I'll be going back again soon (albeit with more money, less French and with less lip for the Customs agents!).
In other news, thanx to MadPlumber for my new av!!! As I stated to him, I don't know how he got my picture, but the likeness is remarkable! Thanx MP!
Cap
Thanks for the comment and the follow-up! :)
Cap
:)
Cap
That's like the triforce of stonerism right there.
Never really looked at it like that before though! Thanx!
Cap
Glad you made it!
Cap
Yup and when the ADAC guy (Germany's version of AAA) got to me, all he said was "Ihr Auto ist kaput." and called for the tow truck. I was a poor GI at the time and had to take a loan to get my car fixed! So much for German engineering!
Cap
Thanks again and have a great Holiday weekend!
Cap
Cap