As a born-in-Hong-Kong-but-grew-up-in-South-Africa boy, I have experienced two totally different nations, two cultures, and two perspectives. Just when I think I know the whole world, Canada, and particularly Toronto, alters me again. I am opened to a new world, and bombarded with differences in lifestyles, cultures, and climates. Of all changes, I will depict the most interesting that I have encountered. Although many of them can be found elsewhere in the world, I first encountered them here in Canada.

For those of you who have been living in China, HK, or anywhere else for most of your lives, you can probably relate to some of these "super-unnatural" phenomena that I have encountered when I first came to Canada! So read on, and refresh those memories! And for the patriotic Canadians, here is a look at Canada from a new angle!

Drive on the "Right" Side of the Road
On countless occasions people asked me why Chinese books are read backwards. I objected, "They are not written backwards!" It is just the way the language is presented! With the same analogy, just because people drive on the left side of the road in HK, it does not mean it is the wrong side of the road! That is because in Canada and many countries, drivers do, in fact, drive on the right side.

Although I do not have a driver's license, it does not mean I do not know the rules of the road! I just learnt them differently. I ran into this problem when I was walking with a shopping cart at a "Wal-Mart (a supermarket/department store). I was making my way through a narrow passage between two long rows of shelves full of hygiene products. While browsing through the shelves, I pushed my cart forward slowly. Bang! I hit another cart, approaching in the opposite direction. The woman "behind-the-wheel" of the other cart, roughly in her forties, was enraged. In a not-so-friendly voice, she protested, "Kid, keep to the right side of the road!" A silly accident it was, but unforgettable!

The Bagel Experience
"Can I have one of those donut-shaped buns please?"
"Bagel, you mean?"
"Ah... yes", with my finger pointing on the display cabinet.
"With cream cheese?"
"Umm... ok."

This was the first time I had a bagel. I was drawn away from it many times because of its rock-hard appearance, and its unusual shape. However, with its semi-toasted hue and the cream cheese, a bagel is one of the best delicacy I have ever tasted.

"White Light" Crossing

    

My kindergarten teacher in HK taught us not to cross the road when the light is red; but when we see the green man lights up, we can cross. Where is the "green man" here in Canada? Well, it is replaced with the "white man". Obviously, 99.99% of the foreigners won't even notice this small difference in the color of the traffic lights. Yet it is the "WALK" and "DON'T WALK" signal in the United States, which is terribly difficult particularly for people who don't read English!

Snow Down
For anyone who sees snow for the first time, I can bet you that it is one of the most exciting and unforgettable experience! Before I came to Canada, the closest thing to snow that I have seen is frost. Why? I always found it in the fridge! Anyways, I observed my first snow experience while I was at a bus stop waiting for a bus. Tiny flakes, smaller than raindrops, zigzagged through the air like falling leaves. I was white, and I noticed that it floated. It was nothing like I have encountered before! It was not rain nor hail, but it was snow. I was frozen in amazement! Although the snow lasted less than five minutes, my excitement and fascination continued for the next two weeks. Eventually my excitement died because my hatred towards snow emerged. During the course of winter, I have slipped on icy walks several times; and by the end of the winter, all the sidewalks are covered with hills of dirty, and sometimes slushy snow. I even remember a bus ride that normally takes 20 minutes, took over 3 hours due to a heavy snow storm!

...Plus Tax
With five dollars, I can get five items from the dollar store, right? Well in Canada, I only get "four and a half" because of tax. When I pay for items, it seems that my elementary school math is not applicable in real life, or at least, not in Canada because I do immediate take tax into account when I make purchases. Yet, as if the PST and GST themselves are not confusing enough, the two taxes are applied differently on different items: no tax on some groceries, PST only on fast food below a few dollars, and both taxes on others, etc. The complicated tax distributions may be due to the short existence of GST, which became effective at the beginning of 1990. Of course, tax is essential; however, wouldn't it be easier for consumers if the tax-included amount for an item is on the price tag, as oppose to seeing one price on the tag, and "guessing" the actual payment?

Truly Multicultural
In 1492, Columbus officially landed in the "New World" (North America). Since then, the land which was once belonged to the Aboriginal people went through complete revolutions. English and French started to settle permanently in the 17th century; The Fraser River Gold Rush attracted Chinese immigration in British Columbia; The Canadian involvement in Korean War during the mid-1900 also welcomed new Korean settlement in Canada. These events are only the tip of an iceberg that contributed to the diversity of Canadians. Furthermore, Canada was the first country to adopt an Official Multiculturalism Policy, in 1971.

No wonder why Toronto is so special! Among London and New York, Toronto is one of the most multicultural cities in the world! For me, the diversity came to me as a shock, when I notice more Asians than non-Asians in a perceptibly Caucasian country. However, it was also a comfort. As a foreigner, there is nothing more comfortable than having a person who shares the same culture, speaks the same language as you do. In Canada, almost everybody can find a person of the same culture. From this perspective, I truly enjoyed living in "a global village within one country"!

Now it is your turn! Tell us what your most extraordinary Canadian experience! From Alberta to Yukon, from maple leaves to Maple Leafs, from "Boxing Week" to "Trick or Treat", we would love to hear from you! Send your story to comments@palmag.com and we will post it up! In your email, let us know where you are from, and how long you have been in Canada, and of course, your interesting experience in Canada!