tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-112600642024-03-14T13:48:47.426-05:00Canadian Expatriates: The Expat BlogA collection of articles and observations written by Canadian Expatriates from around the globe.Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03832526336064829250noreply@blogger.comBlogger483125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11260064.post-5525996318949791132010-02-12T18:45:00.001-06:002010-02-12T20:09:44.666-06:00Crushing on CanadaMy heart skips a beat. A chill runs down my spine. I am reminded of my high school days when the boy that I was crushing on would be waiting at my locker to speak to me. That is the feeling that I get every time that I see that familiar maple leaf flag.Seven years of living in the United States has made me a giddy school girl when it comes to seeing the symbols of my Home and Native Land. It Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03832526336064829250noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11260064.post-78587517898754436062009-11-29T15:31:00.002-06:002009-11-29T15:44:08.852-06:00Watermelon HelmetsGet ready Rider Nation, wherever ye be stationed!If you still have not carved your watermelon helmet for today's game, here is an easy to follow step by step guide, How to Make a Watermelon Hat. Thanks to Safeway, a watermelon shortage was averted when 3,000 watermelons were diverted to Calgary in preparation for the festivities.Hattip to Norm Peel.Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03832526336064829250noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11260064.post-51279754586125565482009-11-28T14:30:00.005-06:002009-11-29T16:00:01.019-06:00Green is the ColourExpats can catch tomorrow's Grey Cup action live on ESPN 360 at 6:30 EST. CFL.ca will also be broadcasting the game, but there is a bit of a catch. It will be broadcast live outside of North America and then archived for later viewing for those in North America, excluding Canada.Go Riders!Edit: Don't forget that the pregame excitement can be heard online! For Riders fans, listen live at CJME.Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03832526336064829250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11260064.post-20549972634152470692009-06-29T13:50:00.005-05:002009-06-29T14:50:15.458-05:00Quirky Canadians...Another message from the home front.As we approach Canada Day, thought I'd open up the conversation to odd, strange, quirky things that you might remember about your youth in Canada. Got the idea after picking up a case of Pop Shoppe pop the other day - at Costco of all places...This is something that takes me way back. My parents used to take us to Ernies Vaccuum's (not a word of a lie!) and mare ad marehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12715200498236081080noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11260064.post-19292831310681505472009-04-08T09:46:00.009-05:002009-04-08T10:31:49.885-05:00Tried any new languages?"It's like wiping your ass with silk, I love it!" is the famous quote from The Matrix movie, about how French is the best language and that he loves to swear in French.Tabern...Now like any good canadian - I swear like a sailor. BUT - it's not exactly business language or generally accepted... So I found a way around it. I learned how to swear in multiple languages!I went to school in French mare ad marehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12715200498236081080noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11260064.post-37611349597132500092009-03-24T08:32:00.006-05:002009-03-24T15:03:56.753-05:00Isn't it COLD there?!?!Hi all, as Expat mentioned in her intro for me - I'm a recovering expat, lived in Richmond, VA - U.S for almost 5 years and then Dresden, Germany for 2 years. During those years, I had also spent a significant amount of time in China, Portugal, Austria and Malaysia (and a few other places too...). In all that time, in all those places and all the people I met - once I told them that I was mare ad marehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12715200498236081080noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11260064.post-85752098065596082822009-03-18T21:30:00.000-05:002009-03-18T22:08:53.757-05:00Welcome AboardThe Canadian Expatriates blogging team would like to extend a warm welcome to our newest contributor, mare ad mare.After eight years of globetrotting, first residing in the United States and then in Germany, the mare ad mare clan has returned to Canada prepared for their next adventure - rediscovering the Motherland. Below is an excerpt from the family's blog.I was feeling guilty for taking my Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03832526336064829250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11260064.post-7698151778517302792009-03-16T12:00:00.002-05:002009-03-16T12:26:53.573-05:00Spring - A Time for ResurrectionIn the immortal words of Miss Muriel Stacey in the musical, Anne of Green Gables, "Open the windows! Sweep out the cobwebs! Open your mind to what is going on all around."Yes, it is time for some spring cleaning. The dashboard of this old blog has become laden with dust and bits and pieces that once worked, are nowExpathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03832526336064829250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11260064.post-79326463569005287632007-11-25T12:37:00.000-06:002007-11-25T18:17:19.417-06:00Watch the Grey Cup Abroad!Expats don't despair! The Grey Cup is available online!Canucks abroad can watch the bloodshed live as the Riders pummel the Bombers into oblivion!CFL.ca offers a choice of watching the game on TSN for $9.95 USD or CBC for $15.95 USD.Now go and paint your game face green and white and prove your Rider Pride!Edit:Listen to the game for FREE at CKRM's website. Just click "Listen Live" on the Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03832526336064829250noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11260064.post-39543604302094665642007-04-22T22:15:00.000-05:002007-04-22T22:38:05.352-05:00Hey, Hoser!I was recently approached by a co-worker who asked me what constituted a "hoser".Fortunately, the above video provided a brief etymology of the term.Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03832526336064829250noreply@blogger.com46tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11260064.post-1161193921602362212006-10-18T12:45:00.000-05:002006-10-18T12:53:21.293-05:00DiversionsCBC.ca has recently launched a new, fully interactive crossword puzzle that is perfect for those Crossword Maniacs stuck at the office. Give it a try at Canadiana Crossword, but be wary that you don't boggle your brain in the process!Egotism, n: Doing the New York Times crossword puzzle with a pen.-- Ambrose BierceExpathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03832526336064829250noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11260064.post-1160675763633197392006-10-12T12:45:00.000-05:002006-10-13T23:25:38.090-05:00Canadian IdiotWeird Al never disappoints...And neither does You Tube for that matter!Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03832526336064829250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11260064.post-1160404212573771142006-10-09T09:15:00.000-05:002006-10-09T09:30:12.883-05:00Happy Thanksgiving!Happy Thanksgiving to all Canadians - both at home and abroad! "Forever on Thanksgiving Day The heart will find the pathway home." ~Wilbur D. NesbitYou are invited to click here for a special message!Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03832526336064829250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11260064.post-1159900103398550332006-10-03T13:45:00.000-05:002006-10-03T13:56:09.786-05:00We WonAn ancient Chinese proverb states, "If you want happiness for a lifetime - help the next generation".As such, a league of pioneering Canadian expatriates and Canadian sympathizers have done exactly that. Through their iron will, chocolate bar discrimination has come to an end, thus ensuring gastronomic happiness for generations of Americans to come. That is right! Coffee Crisp can now be Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03832526336064829250noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11260064.post-1153959841182688522006-07-26T19:15:00.000-05:002006-07-26T19:26:13.050-05:00Canadian OutcastMy apologies for the recent influx of spam and the length of time between posts. I have found myself in the process of rather larger move (to a state that boasts a *gasp* Boston Pizza!) and time has been passing all too quickly.Today, my husband and I went to the local Wal-Mart to pick up a few things that we needed to get the house in order to be sold. While we were waiting in line, my husbandExpathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03832526336064829250noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11260064.post-1151762289979007642006-07-01T09:00:00.000-05:002006-07-01T09:16:44.233-05:00Happy Birthday Canada!Freedom, Tolerance, Peace, Compassion, and Beauty:Celebrating Canada Today and Always!Click here for a special message!For FunJoin the festivies via the Parliament Hill webcam!Gather up the kids and make some Canada Day crafts!Celebrate with some Canada Day recipes!Light up the night with some virtual fireworks!Reflect on Canada's 139 years with CBC Archives!Read 139 Reasons to Love Canada!Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03832526336064829250noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11260064.post-1151358818948625682006-06-26T16:45:00.000-05:002006-06-26T16:53:52.866-05:00You Chicken?The 2005 - 2006 NHL season may be over and the Oilers may have lost the Cup, but Canucks abroad can regain a little of the hockey spirit with this hilarious Canadian Hockey Association public service announcement.Fight, fight, fight!For Fun:Download the "Hockey Night in Canada" ringtone from the Canadians In Sweden website!Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03832526336064829250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11260064.post-1151071075448101312006-06-23T08:45:00.000-05:002006-06-23T09:04:28.190-05:00UnnervingRrrrring!It was the phone."Hello?"It was my Dad."Are you asleep," he asked.I looked over at the clock, it said 9pm."Yeah. We have to be up at 2am to be in Chicago in time for my immigration interview.""Oh. Sorry for calling.""Nah. It is alright. I am glad that you did. Now somebody will know we are at the federal building."My Dad did not miss a beat."Ohhh. Ammonium nitrate.""If anything Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03832526336064829250noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11260064.post-1150925427640523732006-06-21T17:15:00.000-05:002006-06-21T17:22:17.950-05:00Unbelievably "Unique"First, the CBC announced the cancellation of the most quintessential example of Canadian children's programming, Mr.Dressup.Now, the announcement has come that Peter Mansbridge's The National has been bumped from its 10pm timeslot on Tuesday nights to make way for a new American reality program entitled, The One: Making a Music Star.CBC spokesman Jeff Keay explains the move:"We have a mandate to Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03832526336064829250noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11260064.post-1150837783428184382006-06-20T16:15:00.000-05:002006-06-20T16:20:55.066-05:00Souvenir of CanadaAfter watching this:And this:It is pretty obvious that we all must find a way to see this.Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03832526336064829250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11260064.post-1150294774612755632006-06-14T17:15:00.000-05:002006-06-14T17:33:01.820-05:00The End of an EraAlthough Ernie Coombs left a nation in mourning upon his passing in 2001, his alter-ego, the patient Mr.Dressup, lived on entertaining Canada's preschoolers with reruns. However, it will not be for much longer, says CBC management.Beginning in July, Mr.Dressup will be relegated to Sunday mornings before it is completely pulled off the air in September. According to the CBC, the series can no Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03832526336064829250noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11260064.post-1148597698669459712006-05-25T18:00:00.000-05:002006-05-25T17:57:03.746-05:00Look Waaaaay Up!From September of 1958 until March of 1985, Bob Homme touched generations of Canadian children in his role as "The Friendly Giant". Friendly, along with Jerome the Giraffe; Rusty the sarcastic rooster; and Jazz Cats, Angie and Fiddle, became an integral part of childhood in Canada. It is somewhat ironic then, that this Canadian cultural icon was actually an American who began his career in Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03832526336064829250noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11260064.post-1148053808003219512006-05-19T10:35:00.000-05:002006-05-19T11:05:46.410-05:00Gourmet Faux PasGrilled chicken breast, spinach linguine served al dente, and peppercorn white sauce; coupled with a side salad of spring greens, roasted almonds, and a light raspberry vinaigrette. "What do you think of supper?" I asked."Um. It is good," came the somewhat hesitant reply.I could tell that my husband was holding something back."Seriously, what do you think? You can be honest. I won't be hurt,"Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03832526336064829250noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11260064.post-1147815762146089522006-05-16T16:15:00.000-05:002006-05-16T16:44:53.000-05:00Canuck Phone HomePhone calls to the Motherland just became free for Stateside Canucks!Skype, a division of eBay in Northern California, announced that its SkypeOut service would be free in the United States and Canada through the end of the year as a promotion intended to lure new users.Skype calls from computer-to-computer have been free since the service was launched slightly more than two years ago, but Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03832526336064829250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11260064.post-1147535375652701142006-05-13T11:30:00.000-05:002006-05-13T11:34:12.826-05:00Hinterland Who's WhoThe Coalition for the Preservation of Memories of the Motherland ™ proudly presents Canada's longest running series of public service announcements - Hinterland Who's Who!Once again, you can be lulled into a frenzy for nature by the distinctive flute refrain and deadpan narration of John Livingston in these clips from the Hinterland Who's Who video and sound clip library.In 2003, Environment Expathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03832526336064829250noreply@blogger.com0