As I've written about on a few occasions, I'm all about numbers
and dates. I was recently thinking about how long I'd lived in the U.S., and
realized that it had to be about half my life now. So I figured out exactly
when that "half my life" date was, and it was January 4, 2018. Frankly, I'm a little surprised that I didn't
recognize this sooner!
Even though I thought a lot about what it really means to me to be "from" two places in a post a few years ago, the idea that I
have now lived in the U.S. longer than I lived in Canada is pretty significant
to me. I've been a citizen here for almost 14 years, something I never take for
granted. My American passport is one of my most prized possessions. I was in
love with the idea of America long before I relocated. And now here I am,
having spent more than half my life in this country! Chances are, for the rest
of my life, the percentage of time lived in the U.S. will continue to grow,
while the percentage of time lived in Canada will continue to shrink. That is
both a happy and a sad thought.
One thing I've learned is that many of the stereotypes about
people from both countries are absurd. Canadians don't live in igloos. They don't say "eh" at the end of
every sentence. They don't keep beavers as pets. I mean, maybe some Canadians
do some of these things, but most don't! Likewise, not all Americans eat hot
dogs, watch football, drive pickup trucks, or say "y'all." Again,
some do, but not all! There are awesome, kind, smart people in both countries.
While these two places have their fair share of challenges,
I love being able to say I am from both countries. Even if that makes me a
weirdo! It's pretty great to be able to adore the beauty and brilliance of
America's National Park System while still cheering for Team Canada in any
international hockey events!
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| My favorite place in America... Crater Lake National Park |
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| I love everything about this photo! |
Happy Tails to you!
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