Things I like about Canada so far

It's been almost 4 months since we moved to Canada. I thought it was about time to make a new list, so here are some of the things I really like about Canada.

1)  The people! Amazingly warm and friendly. Plus, if you're not talking about taxes, Canadians are really happy people. (C'mon, none of us is happy talking about taxes.)

2)  The calmness! Okay, using an exclamation point there is inappropriate. The pace, and the people, here are not easily excited (except about hockey) or agitated. It's so refreshing. Canadians take everything in stride, and I find myself enjoying the day - even the ones with lists - a lot more.

3) French! Thankfully, it's a lot like Spanish, so I'm not completely lost. I have, thus far, resisited taking French, because I still haven't mastered Spanish. First things first... Here's a good example:

In Spanish, chicken is pollo, and, well, we have to give them credit, because bouillon is a French word we already know. Some packages have English on one side and French on the other. I panicked before I realized that I simply needed to flip things over.

4) Packaging! Threw you on this one, didn't I? Stick with me... I was one of those homeschooling parents who loved "How Things Work", and these little differences are fun & challenging. Let's look back at the broth, from a different angle:

If you can get past my slightly blurry photo (still learning how to shoot macro), can you see the little tab inside the opening? No tiny foil tabs to shred! Just open, press, pour, seal. Yes, I said 'seal'... the top actually snaps closed, and I shook it to test it. (Snow waited patiently in hopes spillage would come her way, but, alas, the product closed tightly - as it should have.)

Now, on to the 'scrip I swore I wouldn't take. I gave in after looking at how horribly red the spot on my ear is... That saga will continue at Henry Ford Health this afternoon, but I digress. Segue (ooooh - another French word!) back to containers...

   Closed:

   Opened:

   Ingenious! The tab fits through the opening. Dare I say I laughed watching Michael trying to open it. His engineering mind was waaaaay over-thinking this! You press the tab with one hand, and lift the loop over it. Simple. Two-handed? I'm guessing that makes you concentrate on what you're doing and keeps you from spilling pills all over the floor. Not that any of us have ever done that, mind you...

5) Alter the name to make it Canadian! Why not, right? Visitors tend to notice what's not just like the U.S. version, but why should it be? I'm in Canada, the product is in Canada, shouldn't it show it's pride?  Check this one out:

Yes, Chipits! Hershey - yes, new name - yes! Same product - different name. C'mon... you have to love this one... They come in more flavors here, too!

And this one is a two-fer:

"Biscuits graham wafers"! You know the product... How many of you love that they show a S'more on the front? Admit it... Then you'd also love that the packaging (here's the two-fer part) has the wafers squared. Yep - cut & ready for chocolate and a marshmallow. No rectangles to challenge the Monk-like character in those of us who want everything straight. Open - eat. Ta-da!

You all asked me to blog about the Canadian experience, and this is all part of it!

(PS - Fine. I admit it. I shot all these pics on my ironing board. It's a constant in my life. I love to iron, as if you didn't know...)