Differences between the US and Canada

This week we thought we'd tell you about some of the things that are different about living here in Canada from living in the United States.

First of all, we are much nearer the North Pole so we get a lot more daylight during the summer months.  That's nice except all the stores close at 9 pm.  I can't tell you how many times we've roared over to a store from work just as it was closing.  

They have a pretty good mass transit system here in Calgary [almost 2 million people] between buses, light rail, trains.  The cost of living is high;[ it costs almost $8.00 for a gallon of milk or a pound of hamburger], so a lot of people can't afford homes and live in apartments.  Apartments are fairly expensive, too comparable to Portland, OR, but since there's no outside maintenance and they can take mass transit and don't need cars, they can live pretty well.  We see lots of people walking everywhere to catch the bus etc. every morning as we drive over to the Mission Office.

For some reason we'll never understand, the streets are pretty narrow compared to the US with no real shoulders.  And to make matters worse, the sidewalks are right against the street with no median, so it is sometimes scary to drive by pedestrians who are walking almost on the edge of the road, especially if they have kids with them because you never know what they're going to do.  Another thing is that Canada gives pedestrians the right of way to the MAX!  They can literally cross any street wherever they want and all traffic has to stop for them.  It's so common, the pedestrians don't even look to make sure you're going to stop, they just walk across.  I've almost taken a few people out already!

  

Every school, park, or playground has restricted speed limits.  They have a yellow signs nearby with a picture of children or a white pedestrian sign and that's the only warning you get to reduce your speed to 20 mph.  And of course there are photo cops everywhere so you have to be constantly on the look out for those signs.  One carload of elders got 4 tickets in one hour because they kept going around the block to find a parking place and didn't notice the signs.  The fines are very hefty, too.  I think everyone [including all over the US] is trying to make up for budget short-falls by having these kinds of speed traps everywhere with hefty fines to follow. Speeds are much  lower here [not like Toronto].  Even 4-lane divided highways are only 40 mph.  Expressway speeds are 60 mph.

We have included some pictures of some of the interesting road signs we see every day.  One is for "Optimist Park"; we're not sure why.  Another sign that always makes us break up has a picture of two "really old" people walking with canes that says, caution elderly people".  They must have that one just for us!  

We discovered another unexpected surprise the first time we went to Safeway.  All the shopping carts are chained together and you have to put a quarter into a little slot to unhook your cart from the others.  When you are finished shopping, you hook your cart back up to the others and you get your quarter back.  I suppose that is intended to be an incentive to put your cart away and not leave them all over the parking lot.

Although we have found many familiar fast food places, stores, etc.  the selection is different and quite limited.  KFC only serves original chicken and their coleslaw is ground almost to a paste and has a touch of horse radish [we don't care for it much because of the consistency].  The grocery stores only carry about half of the cereals, crackers, TV entrees, etc we are used to eating.   And I still haven't found any bologna that looks, smells, or tastes like the kind I'm used to at home.

We thought you might be interested in knowing a little bit about the missionaries serving with us here in Canada.  For the most part they are a dedicated, hard-working bunch who are sincerely trying to serve the Lord with all their heart, might, mind, and strength.  We have missionaries from Taiwan, England, Ireland, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, South Korea, Hawaii, Mexico and several South American countries,  Canada, and the USA. from very diverse cultural, ethnic, and financial backgrounds  We have concert pianists,  and national champion cello and marimba players and athletes, etc.

We have been surprised to learn that at least a fourth of our missionary's parents are divorced.  Some have never known one of their parents.  More than we would have expected at such a young age have a parent who has died; one missionary lost his step-father and his mother since he came on his mission and will be returning home to no one!  One young man wrote on his application that his mother had died when he was 3 yrs old and his father had been so abusive to him and his siblings that he moved out to live on the streets when he was 12 and lived on and off with his friends until he found a family that has taken him in permanently.  He stated in his application that he thought all the challenges he had faced while he was growing up have made him stronger and would make him a better missionary.  I cried when I read that.  He IS a great missionary, too.   One set of enterprising missionaries saw a lawn mower at a garage sale for only a few dollars, bought it and keep it in the back of their truck so they can stop and mow people's lawns as a service.

Last night we had the AP's and six other missionaries over for dinner.  We served enchilada casserole and choc mint brownies with cookies n' cream ice cream. Our little apartmentg was filled to the brim [just like old times] with young people eating and chatting with enthusiasm.  It was nice.

Our work is still non-stop, we are on-call 24-7, but we are finally getting a handle on things and have a better idea of what to expect.  We have 30 more missionaries arriving on August 27th and we are gearing up for that.  Brother Bryant has been beating the bushes to find enough apartments; it is an uphill battle.  We have also been dispersing the household furnishings we gathered up and put in our storage unit. 

Last Friday morning at 7 am we helped Sister Nicholas with breakfast for 30 missionaries who had gathered for monthly Leadership Council.  Brother Bryant and I cooked piles of pancakes to go with the breakfast casseroles Sister Nichaolas made.

Well, that's about it for this week.  We are inviting people to come unto Christ and many are accepting.  Our numbers are not quite as high this month as last, but a lot of people go away on vacation in July [it's like Michigan, everyone has a cottage at the lake].   We are going to a baptism this afternoon after church. 

We love the gospel and the wonderful life changing effect it has on those who embrace it with full purpose of heart.  We love our Savior Jesus Christ who is the author of our salvation.  We love YOU!  

May the Lord Bless and Keep You,

Elder & Sister Bryant