Damn the Groundhog

I made the fatal error earlier this week as I was was walking into work with a friend.  It was a balmy plus 4, sun shining and a slight amount of snow on the ground so I without thinking say "Well, looks like we might get an early spring."  and .......   You guessed it a 4 days later we have a couple feet of fresh snow and the temperature has dropped to minus 21.

Despite the weather everything else says spring is coming as the boys wrap up their indoor soccer and basketball this weekend, taxes are waiting to be filed, soccer tryouts are on the horizon and my thoughts have increasingly turned to spring break. This year for the first time in 6 years we are not going to Mexico as we have decided to head to Mesa.  I am really looking forward to heading to Mesa, not having ever been to our new place, and with the Martins joining us, a weather forecast for the low 30s and a full slate of sports on the agenda I know it is going to be a fantastic time.  However, I must admit I am going to miss Mexico and not wearing shows and rarely a shirt for two weeks while enjoying great food that costs 15 pesos and comes from a cart, hmmm pork taco and shrimp on a stick.  Oh ya, the 70 cent beer is pretty good as well.  Of course, with NCAA Regional finals, Phoenix Suns and coyotes and spring training games every night I am sure we will get our fill of vendor food and beer.  Oh ya, spring break bring it on!  Now to bundle up and go and shovel my driveway.

Carnaval

This week my oldest son has gone to La Bie Quebec with his class as the first part of a cultural exchange. From the limited report we get from him it looks like he is having a great time and getting a real feel for why, even living in Central BC, learning French is still relevant in Canada.

La Baie is on the shore of the Saguenay river, close to Chicoutimi.  Apparently it is a real separatist stronghold and most of the people speak little if any English.  To quote a friend of mine who is on the trip "you won't find a lot of Canadian flags around here".  This has been a real eye-opener for my son as even when we travel to non English speaking countries it seems  you can be lazy with the local language as there is always someone who speaks enough English to bail you out.  So to find a place in Canada that really wants little to do with English has sure put his French to the test and given him a new respect for being multilingual.

I was hoping my son would get to experience and different "Canada" than what he is used to but I think after the memories of museums, ice-fishing and friendships fade coming to an appreciation of the importance of Canada being a bi-lingual nation has and will continue to be the most valuable part of the exchange.

Of course now we have a couple months to plan for the French kids return trip and show them why they want and need to be part of Canada and I won't be taking down my Canadian flag at the cabin!