Going down memory lane: Happy Canada Day!

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Indulge me, which ever country you live in, to boast a bit about Canada. Not only is July 1st, Canada Day...it's the only day when Canadians go out full force to celebrate their independence, and their uniqueness, and are "proud to be Canadian/fiere d'ettre Canadienne". The national bragging day for otherwise modest Canadians who can safely come out of their closets to show that they are close to being patriotic as their American cousins, but not too much eh?

I moved to Ottawa, Canada in the mid '80s. Inexperienced and, as the saying goes, green as grass. When winter arrived, I thought I was properly dressed in my Dutch winter clothes and boots. Well, waiting for the bus more than once I escaped freezing my toes off more than once until I figured out what kind of boots ()would keep me dry and warm. And then of course the head gear followed. I had to make sure that basically everything save my eyes were kept under wraps, because the inside of my nose and my lungs not to mention had to endure this cold attack like I had never experienced. Phooey! But..adjusting I did.

Even though the cultural differences were at times difficult, coming from a country where people are literally closer in distance and in visiting..I had come to love the physical and geographical space. Even after the break up of the USSR..Canada is still the second largest country in the world.

Canada's scenery is breath taking. Canadians' national identity is strong in the face of a very (appearing) confident neighbour that is more vocal in politics (hence the NAFTA got strong armed through, c'est dommage Pro-Canada Network). Canadians I think are more confident though than Americans because they in general, have a better understanding of the bigger world around them. As in, the rest of the world. During the coverage shortly after 9/11, my husband (American) and I would watch CBC news via C-Span that would cover the situation on the streets of New York just a bit better. While I went to Carleton University (in Ottawa), I heard more students going on a trip to Europe or around the world after graduation before settling down, than here in the US. It seemed to be the thing to do.

So, just so you know..here are some Canadian inventions;
Anti-gravity suit-invented by Wilbur Rounding Franks in 1941, a suit for high altitude jet pilots
Automatic Postal Sorter-1957, Maurice Levy invented a postal sorter that could handle 200,000 letters an hour
Basketball (yes!)-invented by James Naismith in 1891
Electric Light Bulb-Henry Woodward invented the electric light bulb in 1874 and sold the patent to Thomas Edison
IMAX Movie System-co-invented in 1968 by Grahame Ferguson, Roman Kroitor and Robert Kerr
JAVA- a programming language invented by James Gosling in 1994
MORE
Some Famous Canadians
Famous Canadian Actors
Famous Canadian Actresses
And what would we be without Famous Canadian Athletes
I AM CANADIAN!!click to see the Joe rant commercial claiming his identity!
If you want to see the LIVE fireworks on Parliament Hill..click on the HILL CAM!
Happy Canada Day and don't drink and drive!
love and hugs to Christy and Luc..one day I'll be back for a good long visit...sniff!