How many of you celebrate Canada Day? Do you even get out of the house? Exactly. I’m the same. The government grants us this statutory holiday to allow us to celebrate our great country and take a moment to reflect on how fortunate it is for us to be Canadians and what do we do? Nothing. I’ve never really felt guilty about spending the day lounging about in my pajamas and watching trashy television because I knew everyone else was probably doing the same, or using the day to move, or clean, or golf. But boy, did the Norwegians put me to shame. I decided to visit their country during the month of May because I’d often heard what a big to-do their national holiday is. Everyone (and I do mean everyone) comes into town in their finest or in their traditional garb and spends the day watching the parade, celebrating with friends and family, and enjoying the time-honoured custom of eating barbecued hot dogs and ice cream. I was in downtown Oslo on May 17th, Norway’s Constitution Day and it was packed beyond belief. Masses made their way into the city before 10 AM, picked a spot behind the barricades and awaited the parade of children. Read the rest of this entry »

Do you remember your grad night? I prefer not to be reminded of mine, but it’s that time of the year again and very soon, tuxedos and prom dresses will be a common sight about town as the graduating classes of 2007 commemorate their release from high school life. Parents may be nervous about the big night, hoping their babies will opt for the chaperoned dry after-grad cruise. But they really don’t have much to worry about. If they think North American kids can get out of control when left to their own devices, their nerves will be alleviated when they learn about the Russ. Read the rest of this entry »

Appendix to the Article: “RUSStle Up the Gang. It’s Time to Graduate!”

For an object to be allowed to adorn your Russ hat, the achievement that is represented by the object must be witnessed by any one of the following:

1 member of the Russ board
2 other Russ
3 Parents

If you have 50 or more achievements, your tail is dipped in silver paint.
If you have 70 or more achievements, your tail is dipped in gold paint.
If you cheat with your knots, your tail will be cut off.
If you wash your pants between the 1st and the 17th of May, one of its legs will be cut off.

Some Highlights From the List of Achievements: Read the rest of this entry »

Have you ever thought about what it means to be Canadian? It doesn’t take too long to realize how tough it is to define the Canadian culture, does it? Most of us will say it’s too diverse to round up a simple set of characteristics. But that’s ok. It doesn’t bother us really…until we travel to another country where culture and history is melded into everything – even their bread. Read the rest of this entry »

If you’re travelling internationally via Air Canada, the following will be the most important tip in your entire trip and you’ll thank me for it. A hint: Airline rules and airport rules don’t necessarily match. A lesson learned by many travelers the hard way.

Everyone is getting into the habit of checking airline websites or calling hotlines to make sure that what they wish to pack in their luggage will be allowed through security and customs. Even the size, weight and number of pieces is rigidly controlled nowadays. I did all of that. The measuring tape was my best friend and for once, the scale wasn’t my enemy. I thought my eyes were betraying me when I read Air Canada’s regulations and saw that each passanger was allowed TWO carry-on bags. I double and tripple checked and even phoned the 1.800 number to be sure. This was great! I had my laptop bag with me so I really needed a second bag to carry all my essentials anyway so I was relieved…until London. Read the rest of this entry »

Has anyone travelled via British Airways lately? I wouldn’t be surprised if there has been a significant decline in ticket sales as a result of some recent hikes in prices. I fly out to Norway every year and a half or so and BA has always been my airline of choice. I don’t know why that is. Maybe the flight attendants’ British accents provide the illusion of class. I’d like to think that they simply offer a high quality of service. Whatever the reasons may be, I had to do without them this time around. I’ve paid as much as $1,700 Cdn for a round-trip flight and to me that was absurd. I wasn’t about to cough up more than two grand for the same flight. Read the rest of this entry »