Oh Those

The word hovered in the study abroad coordinator’s office, caused a startled look on my mother’s face when I announced my travel plans, and the sign in the airport that welcomed me to it was written in French as well as in English. Cool.

So maybe I didn’t have much background on my great white neighbor to the North (trust me, I’m not proud of that). So maybe all I really knew about Canada was that you had maple leafs, hockey, and colorful money. So maybe I grew up wanting to be Anne of Green Gables (so maybe despite the groan from locals at the mention of that myth- ic islander, I still do...).

But before I hurt any interna- tional relations here, let me make one disclaimer: I know a lot more now (by the way, I did realize prior to my arrival here that Tim Horton wasn’t your prime minister), and I happen to like what I see. I like PEI. I like the old woman from Charlottetown who had me go buy her a candy bar at the airport. I like the maintenance man in my building who always asks me about the Pittsburgh Penguins. I like the friendliness of the students and trivia at the - Wave. Surprise, surprise, I even like the snow. I love the vendors at the farmer’s mar- ket and the little kids so bundled up in snowsuits that waddle more than they walk. I like that this is a real place, with

Yankees

its faults and fineries and with real peo- ple, rich and warm and interesting.

So I’m _ learning about Canada...and one thing I’m learning is that you don’t like Americans. I know you have legitimate reasons for some of this, but please! Give us a chance. You learn the state capitals in high school and about how our government works, but did you know that the majority of Americans under thirty don’t like the Bush administration either? That we do care about the environment and don’t like shopping at Wal-mart? That we aren’t all tourists out to exploit -your homes? That we don’t all feel the need to revenge 9-Il? That we see our coun- try’s faults, but still love it and want to do something improve it?

I’m not trying to sound whiny and I wouldn’t expect you to respect me if I did. So before anyone tars and feathers me (I’m told the Canadian equivalent is syrup and maple leafs), let me speak on behalf of my countryfolk in saying that we’re not all so bad. And I promise that when I go back to Pennsylvania, I’ll tell them who Paul Martin is. I’Il laud the virtues of Timbits and Alexander Keith. [ll lend out my copy of Alistair McCleod. I’ll even tell them magnificent stories about my adventures in a land flowing with beer and run off from melting snow...

Now if I could just learn the words to Oh Canada...

Thursday, March 11. Dazed & Confused Midnight . Showing @ Empire Studios $8adv/

Senior Recital -- Celeste Brink, $10door

alto saxophone, in collaboration with Frances McBurnie, piano 8:00 pm

Sat Mar 20 Danu @ Confederation CentreTickets are $12, $15, $18, and $20, with a 10 per cent discount for students, chil- dren, and seniors, and can be pur- chased at the Confederation Centre’s box office

Fri, Mar 12

Matt Mays & El Torpedo @ the

Wave Thu, Mar 25 Fat Jeb Baba’ Nes debs Gehan Default @ The Wave Shyne Factory @ Melon’s Fri, Mar 26 Nero @ the Wave Mon, Mar 15 Fri, Mar 26 MONEEN!!! THE FULLBLAST . ; Dreams Among Stars & LifeXTen Matt Manan acne ae @ the Arts Guild 7PM | Tue Apr 6 $10adv./$12door : DJ Jazzy Jeff @ the Wave. Don’t Thu, Mar 18 miss this!! World Class DJ!! Two Hours Traffic & Dreams Thu, Apr 8 Among Stars @ Baba’s : Grand Theft Bus @ the Wave Fri, Mar 19

Negative J’s CD release at Melons with guests Give & Acorn Rangers

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