It’s day 291 in this strange, foreign land.
I’m kidding.
Airdrie’s never felt strange to me. In fact, from the moment I moved in the city has felt like home. Of course, I miss my real home from time to time and yes, it is possible to miss Saskatchewan. Even I was surprised to find that out.
The last eight months have been quite a groovy experience and even more of a learning curve. Most of that learning has involved how much being an adult costs. At first, it was fun having real bills to pay. That novelty wore off really fast.
Though, some of the lessons living and working in Airdrie have taught me have helped me adjust and adapt to being a Saskatchewanite transplant in Alberta.
The first is that I’m among kinfolk in this great province.
When I lived in Saskatchewan and I told my fellow Saskatchewanites I was from Yorkton, the question I got most often was “where is that?” Apparently provincial geography wasn’t a necessity in school. In Alberta, it seems everyone knows someone who’s from or lived in Yorkton, whether it’s a parent, aunt, cousin’s friend or second step-niece once removed.
I’ve also learned that as a sports fan, Calgary can be hostile territory. Thankfully, I am not an Oilers fan, but as a Riders fan, green is the colour. In any other city, I’d be ostracized and berated, but Calgary is a safe place, seeing as the city’s pretty much split 50/50 between Riders and Stampeders fans.
Driving in Alberta should be a sport and not the kind where you drive in a circle for five hours. No, I picture it more like a cross between Amazing Race and Survivor moving with the speed of NASCAR. People in a rush to get to where they need to go, but the ruthless and the brave ultimately rule the island (or the road). As far as motor travel goes, I have learned that 140 kilometres is the new 110, trucks trump cars and patience is a virtue that some drivers have yet to find.
I have also come to realize that my pocketbook is no match for the entertainment opportunities here. Since moving here in May, I’ve cut down my concert bucket list by nearly half. As much as I hated the NHL lockout, it saved me money. Now that it’s back, I can hear my wallet crying and creaking under the strain of ticket prices and the growing number of games I’m trying to get to.
Not to mention CrossIron Mills mall is practically in my backyard, Edmonton’s a three-hour drive and Banff is a stone’s throw down the highway. You don’t get that kind of shopping or scenery in Saskatchewan.
Two words: Chinook weather. It’s to the point where I want to name my first pet Chinook just to celebrate the glory that is the Calgary area’s bipolar weather systems. I have yet to plug my car in this winter all thanks to a wind. It baffles me.
January is usually marked by the winter blues and while we’ve had some frigid temperatures, they haven’t had the same depressing effect on me as other years because I know that within three days, the sun will be shining and it’ll be +5°C. It makes my inner beach bum, who justifies wearing capris and flip-flops the moment the thermostat hits +10°C, absolutely giddy. If only the Chinooks could stop messing with my allergies, I’d be in heaven.
Now for the miscellaneous ‘what I’ve learned’ category: I’m just as directionally challenged here as I was back home no matter how many times I drive the same route, Alberta gas prices > Saskatchewan gas prices, I pronounce ‘Calgary’ wrong (CAL-gary instead of cal-GRY), the highways are better and wearing cowboy boots year round is acceptable (yes!).
I think I’m going to like it here.
