The Canadian Way - part 1

I have met along the way some people who have helped me shape my perspective of how Canada is to merge myself into this diversity of the community that Vancouver holds. Since I arrived in Canada, I have met many people who shared their stories. Every once in a while, I try to ask people who they are. I feel curious to understand someone else point of view, and I notice people reply happily. They often shared their story with an astonishing face when explaining who they are; the origin of their name, who their parents are or even if they have children and the lessons they have taught them.

When I decided I would move to Vancouver, I felt the urge to understand how life flows. I am Mexican, and my way of life, since I can recall, can be describe with the following sentences:

-       Your best option is to laugh in a bad situation; this is how we cope and manage stress.

-       Be smart, open your eyes and be aware of your surroundings. Think first before others will.

So I used to live in a sarcastic and nervous-aware mood most of the time. So how do Canada works? Is my joke okay? Is saying good morning to strangers in the morning part of the culture here? So after questioning myself for a while, I proposed to myself on New Years' Eve to become the best listener I could ever be. Be a listener, not a talker, I remind myself. That meant dealing with more analysis and less talking. I am still in the process.

Cherry Blossoms in Vancouver. 2022

My journey began with listening to people's stories along the way, until it changed to define the Canadian culture or the most famous The Canadian Way. I started hearing this catchphrase in different scenarios once living here. But what does that even mean? I heard it while doing respectful things and thinking of others first. Let people from the bus get out first, and then it will be your turn. That is the Canadian Way. Okay, sounds good; it is not as in Mexico that you need to fight space on the bus. Also, while saying please and thank you, you are very polite; you will be able to accommodate here wellthat is the Canadian Way.

But other times it did not mean being polite or showing good manners. One time in my apartment just working on my laptop, the fire alarm went off. So I did the apparent, get downstairs to the lobby to wait until further instructions; my roommate also got down fast from his room since he is from Mexico City (the city has a history of dangerous earthquakes). We did maybe at many 60 seconds, and we were in the lobby, and no one was there. It is essential to clarify we were located on the sixth floor like people from the second floor should be there already. The firefighters came in, and the building manager was calling and running from one place to another. As newcomers; we were just mesmerized by the experienced but especially because NO ONE WAS THERE, just the two of us, the building manager and the two handsome firefighters.

The manager approached us and let us know it was a false alarm since they were still constructing at the bottom of the building, and some dust turned on the fire alarm. We got in the elevator, got back to our apartment, and pretended that it was okay that no one would get out of their normal activities or leave their apartments. Is that the Canadian Way as well?

This constant phrase has been present from day one while boarding the plane to arrive in Vancouver when I was in LAX waiting to take my last plane and finally arriving here.

Before getting into the last plane to arrive to Vancouver. My sister and I were FaceTiming and a girl was trying to get herself frame no matter were I move the phone, we were laughing out loud.

#myuwc #week9