On Canadian Time

For the first time in a long time, I am wearing a watch again.  It feels weird on my wrist, sort of like a gnawing reminder that now I must always know what time it is and have no excuses for running late, but while in Canada, I must be punctual!

Everything is just easy in Canada - banking, the post office, anything to do with government, everything is so organized.  If you have ever lived in Mexico, you may have noticed that everything is such a mess, er well to put it nicely ~ a real challenge for people to help you out at banks, customer service counters, etc.  I still haven't been able to get my new bank card from the city I used to live in, even after I authorized them to give the card to a family member who was travelling there and could bring it for me, they denied it because I didn't send the original letter, only the copy.  They have been holding my money and I have no access to it.  I must still be in Mexico because I enjoy a challenge!  

Customer service is something to be reveled at in Canada - the people genuinely really care about you and that you have a good experience in their store or restaurant.  I think that they might actually lose sleep over it if you are not happy and satisfied!  My sister and I were at our favourite restaurant and we had to wait a bit longer than normal for our food, but it was a full house and we were busy chatting, so we didn't mind.  We didn't even complain but after our meal, the manager came over and said, "We put a lot of pressure on ourselves to perform well for you and we're so sorry we didn't achieve that today for you, lunch is on us" - this would NEVER happen in Mexico!  You will get bad service and bad food and still have to pay for it.  I once ordered a tea at a cafe that I frequently visit in Mexico and it came very weak and with hardly any flavour, when I complained to the waitress that this was not how it normally was prepared she simply said, "Well, that's the way we serve it, take it or leave it!", turned her heels and didn't come back to the table.

But there is just one thing that is disconcerting….there is no 10% tip option in Canada on the debit machines at restaurants, only 15, 20 and 25%!!!  I’m like, “Where the heck is the 10% button?”  I quickly realized that my pesitos do not go very far in Canada!  Do people really tip as much as 25% to service workers in Canada for simply doing their jobs? This makes me grateful to be in Mexico!

We also got pulled over by a policeman and after a bit of scolding he empathetically said, "I'm not a traffic cop, so I'm going to let you off with a warning only, but just so you know, you could have been fined $400 dollars today, have a nice day now!"  In Mexico, they would never let you off with a warning.  Although they won't normally stop you for speeding in Mexico, as there are no real speed limits there, but for silly things like a headlight missing or for carrying extra-large boxes in the back of your car, you will have to give them some pesitos to let you go.

And while in Canada I have these silly "lost in translation days" where I will think in Spanish but speak in English and say, "We are going to the house of Ana" and my sister will say, "Why do you speak like that?"

I had a good chuckle when I eavesdropped one day on a random stranger's conversation about getting the Moctezuma's Revenge in Mexico:  "One minute I'm on the malecon sipping a corona and trying to learn silly Spanish and the next minute I'm in the hospital - it just shows you how quickly your life can change”.  I sure can relate to that!

My favourite thing to do in Canada is take long walks down the isles of the grocery stores...I just sigh and am in awe at how crisp and fresh everything is.  I bought these yams that were so lovely, no wrinkled skin, no moldy holes, not wilty, and of course fresh lettuces and homemade breads, oh my I'm in heaven!  The grocery stores in Mexico will sell really old, brown and wilted produce, you get used to it and accept the fact that all the good stuff gets exported to the 1st world countries and the crappy stuff stays there.

Canada

Mexico

Canada

Mexico

But would I give it all up and move home?  Nah, I like the adventure of being in a Mexicoma.  Although, I would like to get one of these signs:

I was at my niece's school the other day and they have signs up everywhere that say "Nut-free Zone", "No Nuts Allowed" with a big cross through them, I was tempted to ask the lady in the office cutting up those little signs if I could have one for my apartment door, if only we had that rule in the City of Broken Hearts my life would be a lot easier!