Differences between Calgary and the Bay Area

In light of my impending trip back to Canada over the coming New Year, I thought I'd revive a post I made about the differences between things back home and things here. People here always do end up asking me how things are different when I tell them I'm from Canada. How do you like it? Is it the same? So here was last years reply to that query:

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Originally posted on Facebook, January 9, 2008.

Being back in Calgary was an invigourating experience. In fact, I didn't want to leave. We had a great time. Such a good time in fact, that the Airport decided to close customs on us so that we would have to stay another day. Being back home also slammed me back to the different paradigms between the Bay Area and Calgary. For comparison I will use San Jose as representative. Similar in population and economic growth.

1. Public Transit/Light Rail Transit: In Calgary, I found myself uncharacteristically stuck when it came to transit fare, I had $12USD to my name in cash. I was able to exchange my 2 USD for 2 CAD to buy a ticket. On the way back, I had been clever and bought something so I'd have Canadian currency for the change machine to pay for my fare. The change machine wouldn't take my $5 (too wrinkly methinks), and the actual person to buy fare from only took exact change. Seeing my plight a citizen came to my rescue and paid for my fare.Frankly, here if you had the same situation you might get a snicker if anything. People just mind their own business and everyone else be damned.It's so much cleaner in Calgary too, less graffiti, it smells nicer, it's better lit, everyone uses the train. In San Jose you only take the train if you can't afford to drive or are willing to get mugged.

2. Driving: One of the first times I visited the Bay Area, I did a very Canadian thing. I slowed down so someone could merge in front of me. Unfortunately, that person had expected me to cut them off and gradually slowed to a stop, dumbfounded at being let in.On the very same trip I witnessed the norm, two lanes becoming one, a truck smoked it's tires to cut someone off. In the exact same spot that I'd slowed to allow merging traffic in.Back in Calgary I realised I was in the wrong lane and expected the car next to me to go by and I would have to go behind to get to the right turn. And that car slowed to a stop to allow me to get over... I suppose it really is a Canadian politeness thing.

Don't expect to be able to cross the street anywhere other than at an intersection with lights either. It's full speed ahead and damn the torpedoes here. And almost EVERYONE runs the red. Sometimes 3 or 4 cars per lane at the same intersection. It's insane.Might I also add that when I got back and had to figure out how to use my exemption ticket for the parking lot at the airport in an automated system the moron behind me decided honking at me when I hit the help button would make things go faster. I'm pretty sure that back home someone would have realised the problem and shown me how to do it. "WELCOME TO CALIFORNIA! HONNNNNNNNNNNK!!!! Home of the 'ME! ME! ME!' Attitude!"

3. Doctors:

Calgary: You can get sick any time you want and see someone for free.

San Jose: You can only get sick from 9-5 monday to friday but not between 11 and 2 or on holidays. If you choose to be sick during anytime outside of normal business hours you have to go to the emergency room and pay upwards of $100 or more just to be seen. At least my chiropractor only charges 40 bucks, it'd be 30 but he's not in my network.

The pace of life is simply slower back home. We work hard, but we also find time to relax. Down by the Bay everything is always go go go.

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We do very much miss Calgary and are looking forward to going back. The wife and kids love it there and it would have been a shame had I not decided to go back this year. We look forward to 9 days of relaxation and recuperation before heading home to California for the drudgery that promises to be 2009.

Ta ta for now.