Wednesday, July 06, 2005
Canada vs. USA
Just back from the land up over.
Vancouver actually. Great place to visit. Wouldn't mind living there either. Great ethnic food in variety. Beautiful with mountains and waterways and parks. In many ways like the USA, as is much of Canada, but there are some differences. Now most of my time was in the downtown area, so appropriate comparisons are with urban America.
We both speak English. But French the second language there. Like Spanish is here. But here I will discuss the important differences observed.
The place is clean in comparison. Pride in the city? Better services by the city? People just more polite and responsible rather than selfish pigs?
Plenty of parkland. Most of the coast in fact. Miles of trails to hike, stroll, bike and skate. The lack of freeways too. Seems the interest in more in quality of life than everything a sell-out for money. Perhaps the politicians are less of the lobby bought gravy-sucking pigs.
More polite too. Really didn't encounter much rude behavior. Less cell-phone rudeness. Only a few boombox cars compared to here. Pleasant service people.
Not very many Mexicans. Few in fact. It was a bit weird to see white guys doing the landscape work and there is plenty of foliage there. Reminded me of my childhood. The hotel maids were Asian. And by that I mean Chinese, not Philipino.
Not too many Blacks either. None really ghetto. Just didn't see the segregation.
Many Asians, mostly Chinese. And mostly Mandarin speaking. Seemed mostly middle and upper middle class. Like most of the people there in general.
Not many fat people. Don't think I saw anyone really obese. They are pretty active. The papers spoke of the obesity epidemic, but the story is V. is the leanest city in Canada.
So there are a few observations. Admittedly one city and really one part of it. But it sure seems we could benefit from some of their ways.
Vancouver actually. Great place to visit. Wouldn't mind living there either. Great ethnic food in variety. Beautiful with mountains and waterways and parks. In many ways like the USA, as is much of Canada, but there are some differences. Now most of my time was in the downtown area, so appropriate comparisons are with urban America.
We both speak English. But French the second language there. Like Spanish is here. But here I will discuss the important differences observed.
The place is clean in comparison. Pride in the city? Better services by the city? People just more polite and responsible rather than selfish pigs?
Plenty of parkland. Most of the coast in fact. Miles of trails to hike, stroll, bike and skate. The lack of freeways too. Seems the interest in more in quality of life than everything a sell-out for money. Perhaps the politicians are less of the lobby bought gravy-sucking pigs.
More polite too. Really didn't encounter much rude behavior. Less cell-phone rudeness. Only a few boombox cars compared to here. Pleasant service people.
Not very many Mexicans. Few in fact. It was a bit weird to see white guys doing the landscape work and there is plenty of foliage there. Reminded me of my childhood. The hotel maids were Asian. And by that I mean Chinese, not Philipino.
Not too many Blacks either. None really ghetto. Just didn't see the segregation.
Many Asians, mostly Chinese. And mostly Mandarin speaking. Seemed mostly middle and upper middle class. Like most of the people there in general.
Not many fat people. Don't think I saw anyone really obese. They are pretty active. The papers spoke of the obesity epidemic, but the story is V. is the leanest city in Canada.
So there are a few observations. Admittedly one city and really one part of it. But it sure seems we could benefit from some of their ways.
