As the Olympics are being held in my home town it's been an unbelievable experience meeting people from all over the world. Yes, there exist competitiveness amongst us when our athletes are going against yours. If ours aren't in the competition then we cheer for yours. We also cheer loudly for other nations as well. We really are a friendly bunch.

My face still hurts from smiling after visiting Olympic events this afternoon.

Tom Brokaw says it so well in this newscast in which he explains Canada to the US. Promise me you'll watch it to the end and remember after we whoop ya in the hockey games..we'll still be friends in the end.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYoTJItSPt0

Chrystal

I saw that video the other day, and thought it was quite informative.

I saw another one, in which Canadian CTV network news anchor Brian Williams meets American NBC network news anchor Brian Williams. It's available here, at least for some (it might be region blocked for some others):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TwtRIffeVU

The brokaw piece literally brought a tear to my eye...

Proud to be Canadian!

Cool thanks.

I like Canadians. I often pretend to be one when traveling to other countries in Europe. It saves a lot of hassle sometimes. They just say, "that's nice" instead of launching into a rant against X or Y or especially even Z. In fact, no one has ever complained about a single thing whatsoever upon hearing I'm a Canadian.

Of course, neither do they say something like, "I've always wanted to see the Grand Canyon!"

But I do recommend they go to Banf. I've never been there but I've heard it's wonderful.

Congratulations to your Womens team Chrystal!

Its "Banff", though you probably just made a small typo. Anyway, it IS nice although the town itself is a little bit touristy in recent years. But the Banff National Park and the surrounding area is fabulous. Except, you know, there are bears in the area so be careful should you ever visit.

The Canada-U.S. hockey today was great. But I found last night's women's Bobsled to be even more exhilarating (which ended Canada Gold and Silver, U.S. Bronze). Especially when that one bobsled tipped over on the way down, and the one woman bailed from the sled. Apparently you can get a bad case of ice burn, when you slide down so much of the course on your back and side like she did.

Like Switzerland, for instance.

Not big on sports stuff, but I always enjoy my trips to the U.S. Best wishes to all athletes competing for whatever they are competing for.
Coming soon the Oscars, the Superbowl of movie fans.

Canadians : good sports with a sense of humour....

http://imgur.com/HX8On.jpg

Congratulations to your Mens team Chrystal!

I can't pull up he vid on my phone, but if it was about the city of gander, it was an incredible story.

Thanks for the congrats! Both teams played their hearts out and the talk of the town this morning was how it could have gone either way. Congrats to the US team as well - it was a fantastic game.

My most memorable moment of the games was the amazing Slovenian Cross Country skier who was able to win the bronze medal - the first for her country. She had fallen earlier and had suffered 4 broken ribs and a punctured lung. Petra Majdic and Joannie Rochette whose mom passed after her arrival in Vancouver were to me what the Olympics are all about. I love sappy stories about rising to challenges. These two were both co-recipients of the Terry Fox award given those who overcome adversity and show courage.

The games were fun and I'm glad that the closing ceremonies showed us poking fun at ourselves. It was also nice to see many Canadians finally singing their national anthem loudly for the first time in history. Our Prime Minister had to go on television to tell us it's okay to show national pride and it won't be considered rude. I think we've always been jealous of Americans who show their national pride and love for their country, same for other countries as well. It's why the news is all abuzz as previously we stood and removed our hats but except for when we're in elementary school we never sing the song). That changed over the course of a few days and it swept the country.
Although I didn't visit the other countries "houses" as lineups were as long as 5 hrs I heard all were special and everyone attending had a fantastic time. The Heinekein house supposedly was crazy fun as well as the Russian Sochi house which left everyone feeling they made lifelong friends.

I love watching YouTube vids of Flash mobs held all over the world and was thrilled when one was done on one of our city streets. Check out Vancouver Flash mob on Youtube.

Lastly, I think the comaraderie and friendships that develop between athletes is very much like magicians who meet at different competitions all over the world. In the end it doesn't matter who wins it's the friends you make along the way.

Joker I searched for the vid you spoke of and would appreciate if you post the link soon. Thx

Chrystal

[quote]On 2010-02-25 23:55, balducci wrote:


No, I didn't make a typo. I didn't know about the second "f".

And THAT, my friends, is indicative of the nature of Canada: a beautiful, wonderful, friendly place that assumes the best of people.

May Canada live forever.