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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, May 24, 2013 | 14 Learning what makes Canada unique and special by Riccarda Eickenberg Grade 11, T.A. Blakelock H.S. C anada -- the white, snowy and cold nation in the far north. The country where it is always winter and where everybody gets to school with a dogsled. That is where I moved -- or rather, that is where I thought I would be moving. The real- ity is of course slightly different. Stereotypes always spread at a higher speed and so it is really interesting to prove or disprove them with the one's first impressions. I think it is very exciting to move to another country. There are so many things which bother you at first, like the language, the different culture, leaving many things behind and so on, but even if it takes a while, I think that it is an awesome experience, especially when you are moving to such a great country like Canada. My impression is that it is a very open and accepting country. The people are really friendly and welcoming. I do not feel like I am seen or treated as a `foreigner' but rather as a part of the community and just after the three and a half months I have been here by now. I do not think that it is something you can take for granted. In Germany, where I am from, for example, it probably would not be so easy to catch up, which does not mean that Germans are unfriendly; it is more the culture that is different. Canada is a real mix of all cultures, which makes it more forthright. Canadians are always considered to be extremely friendly and polite, a point I have experienced firsthand. I never met so many friendly people at once. One of the most common facts about this country is also how big it is -- another of my first impressions was Canada is huge. Spending a whole day driving and not even leaving the province is something that impresses me and also something that is nothing special for Canadians. Amongst other things, I also think that everything is more relaxed over here. Not just the traffic and school, for example, but also the people themselves. Canadians seem not to rush through the day and they have no problem in remaining calm and patient when it comes to waiting, which is new to me but as soon as you are used to it, it is very pleasant. Another first impression is that I probably have to learn how to include properly the word that seems to be the most favourite of all Canadians -- I am talking about the famous "eh." It seems not to matter if you add it to the end of a word or if you say it at the end of a sentence, it is just important to use it, if you want to be a `real Canadian'. All in all my first impressions of Canada are very good and I enjoy living here. I am looking forward to finding out more about this beautiful country and the people who live here. If you are a teacher or student interested in participating in an upcoming Kids Speak Out - School News column featured in the Beaver, please e-mail Tom Dykes at ellergreen58@ gmail.com. .COM GRAND OPENING INTRODUCTION 1ST TIME TO PUBLIC LOWEST PRICES IN CANADA ON FLOORING/DECKING/TRIMS PLYWOOD STARTING $15.99/SQFT JATOBA BRAZILIAN CHERRY STARTING $3.49/SQFT IPE DECKING STARTING $2.98/LNFT 1274 Eglinton Ave., East, Mississauga, ON Telephone: 905-629-2926 Hours: Saturday 9am - 8pm, Sunday 9am - 8pm EGLINTON AVE. E. BURGOYNE ST. EASTGATE PKWY BUY NOW AT CRAZY PRICES!!! WE WILL IMPORT FOR YOU! CASH AND CARRY TOMKEN RD. DIXIE RD.