MONEY:
Paper money is colourful -- hundreds are brown, fifties are red, twenties are green, tens are purple, fives are blue (for now -- supposedly in 2002 we'll get a $5 coin!), twos were red and ones were green (a different green than the twenties -- but they're coins now).  It's so much easier to tell how much you have in your wallet with colours!	Paper money is all one color.  You have to really be paying attention to what you're handing the cashier to make sure you don't give a dollar for a $20 purchase.  Since the redesign of the 20, 10, and five the denomination is indicated by a bigger number, so it's a little easier, but not as good as different colors.  I actually had an American tourist in Victoria tell me to give all her change to the waitress, he was going back to the states and didn't need "that Monopoly money" anymore!
Two Dollar bills/coins:  We use them!  And they're handy too -- much easier than carrying twice as many one dollars!  (Note: $2 are not popular in Alberta, but are used everywhere else in Canada, and this may have changed since the adoption of the "twoonie")	Two Dollar Bills: Nobody uses them.  I hear some casinos use them for the novelty, and we occasionally get some for filling out surveys online, but you almost never see them in circulation.  There is no two dollar coin.
One Dollar Coin: Introduced in 1987, the one dollar is: eleven sided, 7.0 grams, 1.95 mm thick and 26.72 mm in diameter and golden in colour.  The coin quickly became known as the "loonie" because of the loon on the reverse.   The loonie was adopted quickly because the Canadian government stopped producing dollar bills.	One dollar coin: Introduced in Jan. 2000, the one dollar: is: 8.1 grams, 2 mm thick, and 26.5 mm in diameter and golden in color.  Sound familiar?? The "golden dollar" as it was dubbed by the mint is still a novelty, but will likely not be adopted into wide use as the US government refuses to stop producing the dollar bill.
In 1992 the Royal Canadian Mint produced a different quarter every month with a scene for each province and territory (this was before the addition of Nunavut in 1999) to celebrate Canada's 125th birthday.  They were very popular and many people collected them. DRIVING: Cars get into "accidents". Cars get into "wrecks". Traffic lights are oriented up&down (Red is at the top). Traffic lights are oriented left&right (Red is on the left). Drivers are rude, dangerous and speed.  Speed limit on most streets is 50 km/h (30 mph).  Drivers are even ruder than in Vancouver.  Signal use seems to disappear once you cross the Texas state line. No one gives you "the wave" after you let them in/they cut you off.  Leaving a space in front of your car is an invitation to squeak in.  Speed limit on most streets (near us) is 45 mph (70 km/h). And still drivers speed! No freeways or toll roads.  Much prettier.  But no corresponding emphasis on transit.  Thus a pretty traffic nightmare a lot of the time. Freeways and Toll Roads (sometimes up to eight lanes in either direction!) criss-cross the city.  Allows travel between distant areas in a short time.  But very ugly. Signals are used but not all the time.  Could be better. Signals?!?!  What are they?  If you see someone with their signal on it's probably been on since the car left the factory. Red light runners are getting bad -- especially those waiting to turn left at an intersection. Red light running is REALLY bad!  You wonder if you'll be clobbered by the guy behind you if you don't run the yellow and if you'll be t-boned if you just start into an intersection when the light turns green.  You've really got to be careful and sure that the speeders are actually going to stop. In the summer as you cruise down the road, the windows are cool.  Actually usually they are down, since you don't need air-conditioning, except for maybe a couple of days a year. In the summer when you have your windows wound up tight so that you can blast the air-conditioning, if you have your arm against the window, you'll notice that it's HOT!  Definitely a weird sensation! Roads are streets or highways.  RR stands for Rural Route and is mainly used in postal address. Many more kinds of road types -- could this be a reflection of the driving culture here?  There are the usual streets and highways, but RR here means Ranch Road, CR means County Road, and FM means Farm to Market Road. Before you get a paved road, you have a gravel road or dirt road. Before you get a paved road, you have a shell road.  Yup, shell as in made from crushed seashells.  I've actually met a fellow who remembers when FM 1960 was a shell road -- it's the main thoroughfare around here now, 3 lanes in either direction and a two way left turn lane down the middle -- and the speed limit is 45 mph! Cars come to 4-way stops. Cars come to "All-way" stops.  Even if there's four of them! Two major daily local newspapers.  The Toronto Star  is the main paper The Toronto Sun.    No paper on holidays.  The Globe and Mail is found everywhere, touted as "Canada's National Newspaper", but emphasizes Ontario.  The New National Post is giving them a run for the money, though. Only one major daily local newspaper.  Surprising in a city of this size, but the Houston Chronicle tries to cover everything.  Publishes papers every day of the week and holidays as well.  Seems to follow the tradition of US papers with a HUGE Sunday section!  USA Today is found everywhere in stores. Newspapers are sold in stores and boxes.  Almost every bus stop and major intersection will have a coin operated newspaper box for each daily paper.  Often there is one for the Globe and Mail at major intersections. Ivory soap has rounded edges and corners.  The multi pack is of small "personal" bars.  Does this mean that Canadians are more likely to hurt themselves with big soap with pointy  edges?  Ivory soap has squared edges. And the multi pack is of large "bath" bars. You can purchase Aspirin or Tylenol from the pharmacist with caffeine and codeine added. They keep it behind the counter. The pharmacist thinks you are crazy when you ask for Tylenol or Aspirin with Codeine.  This is only available by prescription. TOP SERVICES & BANKING: You need a driver's license or some ID for almost all transactions. You need a Social Security card for EVERYTHING!  Opening a bank account to going to the doctor.  Five major Banks in Canada and a smattering of Credit Unions.  Because there is little choice the banks make huge profits while nickel and diming you to death on the service fees.  Seems like every guy with two nickels to rub together has his own bank.  Over 130 different banks in the Greater Houston Area.  Not many Credit Unions though.  Lots of choice -- but they still get their service fees. Creates a problem when traveling since you will be away from your home branch and this may cause you trouble with ATMs (see below).  Lots of branches (since there are few banks) makes it easy to find a machine from yours and avoid the fee for using another bank's machine.  All major banks have branches right across the country so you can do your banking anywhere with your bank card without paying extra (depending on your plan). Expect to pay twice for the privilege of using someone else's ATM -- since there are many banks but relatively few branches, you get dinged by your bank for using a "foreign" machine BUT that machine will tack on $1.25 - $3.00 for letting you use it as well.  Interac is everywhere.  You can pay with your bank card almost everywhere -- you don't need to carry a chequebook around!  You can use your bank card everywhere from McDonald's to Bookstores to Boutiques to Departments Stores and restaurants. Interac is almost nowhere.  You can pay by "debit" at some larger stores and grocery stores but everyone here pays by "check" if they don't want to use credit.  You can use your Visa Cheque card -- allows your purchase to be deducted directly from your account but is processed like a Visa for those stores who don't have "Debit" systems (Interac). When Using Interac, you can choose to pay from your savings or chequing account.  Sometimes it's nice to have the option. When using your Debit card (or Check card) you can only deduct purchases from your checking account, there are no other choices. If a store doesn't accept Interac, you're out of luck, you have to write a cheque (assuming you have your chequebook with you) or use your credit card.     If a store doesn't accept debit cards but takes Visa or MasterCard, you can use your Check card to make your purchase.  Because Visa And MasterCard have filled the debit card (interac) gap in the US, if a store takes their credit card, they must also take a check card.  Makes it very convenient (although there is a lawsuit in the courts about it).  The Check card is processed like a Visa or MasterCard and instead of punching in your PIN on a machine, you sign the slip as with any credit card purchase. FOOD AND BEVERAGE:  7-11 and Mac's on almost every corner to cater to your Slurpee (or Slush Cat) needs!  Yum! Why on earth there are no Slurpees to be found in this Hot Hot town is beyond my understanding!  Sonic Drive in has the only close thing -- I like their fresh Lemon-berry slush -- it's even better than a Slurpee.  Saw 7-11 for the first time in ages in Austin in July 99. Shreddies Cereal.  A Canadian Product! Cocoa Crispies Cereal -- Joe's new favorite! Special K Cereal is composed of small puffed flakes, not much larger than Rice Crispies. Special K Cereal is composed of large flakes with small puffs, similar in size to Corn Flakes.  Canadian Just Right Cereal on the left,  American version on the right. Turkey, the bird of choice for Thanksgiving and Christmas, has been the victim of protesters -- who send letters to the media and grocery stores claiming to have poisoned the frozen birds.  Turkey, the bird of choice for Thanksgiving and Christmas, is very cheap -- used as a loss leader for the stores wanting to attract your holiday dinner dollar.  Some give them away with a minimum purchase, others sell them very cheaply with a lower minimum purchase.  I bought a ten pound turkey for $1.91 with a ten dollar purchase at HEB Pantry.   Smarties and Crispy Crunch, Crunchie and Coffee Crisp.  There are lots of chocolate bars that you can only get in Canada.  M&M's and Butterfinger are similar to Smarties and Crispy Crunch, but not quite the same.  Smarties and Crispy Crunch not available in the US. Cider.... ahhhhh, cool, crisp, delicious thirst quenching alcoholic (usually about 6%) beverage.  . Cider... most people look at you like you are nuts when you ask for it. After several attempts to find cider and bad experiences with "Malt" cider (ick!) I  found Woodchuck Draft Cider in Granny Smith flavour (5% alcohol).  It approximates cider from home, but is not quite as crisp and delicious but still pretty good.  Hails from Vermont, so not a local product. Vinegar on your fries -- also Salt & Vinegar Chips. Vinegar not available unless you go to a "British Pub" and then it's offered to you as something "I heard is good -- I'm told that some people like it"!! Girl Guide Cookies -- available late May (or June?), they come in a Blue Box with two rows of cookies -- Vanilla sandwich and chocolate sandwich.  There's a mint kind that comes out in the late fall, but it's new and not what many of us consider a real Girl Guide Cookie. Girl Scout Cookies.  First of all they come out in February!!  Then there's the types of cookies -- there are SEVEN different kinds of cookies: Animal Treasures, Caramel deLites, Lemon Pastry Cremes, Shortbread, Peanut Butter Patties (the only sandwich kind), Thin Mints, Peanut Butter Sandwich, and Upside-Downs.  It's all a bit too much for a Girl Guide Cookie lover. Frisk are very popular in Vancouver -- you kind find them just about everywhere.  Altoids are very popular in Houston, and although Frisk are available, Altoids are more prevalent.   LANGUAGE: Do you know your Canadianisms? Hey -- check out this page of Southern Words! French on all products.  Even though less used in Vancouver than elsewhere in the country, french is everywhere and (for me) symbolizes the duality of our founders.  It's reassuring to see it. No French.  Often Spanish is seen but not to the extent that french is seen in Canada (because it's not an official language here).  Although I was prepared for this, it still seems strange to have only one language on cereal boxes and Toothpaste containers.  The Toronto Star...refuses to use fishermen but uses the PC "fishers" instead.  They point out that they are going back to the term used in the bible so it's not really new.  The word "Critter" seems to be a valid part of the language along with y'all and "big ol'".  Spotted in the paper recently were the words "varmint" and --in the society pages -- "swankienda" (a house) and "playcation" (a holiday).  "kitty-corner" "catty-corner" Pop -- the carbonated stuff that most of us like, you know, Coke, Root Beer, Pepsi -- that stuff. Soda -- apparently saying I'd like a "Pop" will get you one of those blank looks. Elastic -- you know, that thing that you wrap around things that you want to keep together! Rubber Band -- I hear that if you ask for an elastic you'll be told that elastics are what holds up your underwear! Laundromat. Washeteria.  Same thing, different name. The Holidays usually means that time around Christmas when the kids are out of school.  Generally about a two week period. The Holidays is an all inclusive term for the time from Thanksgiving Day to New Year's Day. Washroom. Restroom -- I don't know why it's called this, most people don't rest there, although hopefully they do wash!  In Britain, they get right to the point and call it the toilet. Postal Code -- a mixture of letters and numbers, six long alternating letters and numbers ie. A1B 2C3.  Narrows things down to just a few houses or apartment buildings. Zip Code -- a five digit number -- the "plus four" was added because the five digit number couldn't narrow things down specifically enough. Bachelor Apartment Efficiency Apartment NATURE: Not sure... Palm Trees (rare but they do grow here.  and not that many evergreens.  I'll have to find out about the trees next.  The birds (now I am not a bird watcher and know little about them) are robins and sparrows and the like and are generally quieter than in Houston. Learned my first new bird quickly!  Grackles (one below) are noisy boisterous birds and they make a lot of noise. This one is a Large Tailed Grackle (I think) -- Recently we bought a bird feeder and found that we needed to get a Field Guide to birds to identify all our new dependents -- we've had Brown-headed Cowbirds, Blue Jays, House Sparrows, House Finches, Inca Doves, Mourning Doves and most recently a pair of Northern Cardinals and some Mockingbirds.  The guests of Chez Rousseau Bird feeder have their own page here. City  wildlife consists of squirrels, raccoons, and birds mostly.  We did have a skunk living in our neighbourhood in Kits and I have heard of foxes downtown near stanley park. Very rarely will a bear or cougar wander down from the north shore mountains.  Garter snakes (harmless but stinky) can be found too. City wildlife seems more varied -- mostly because there is so much land that is undeveloped in and  around Houston. Birds and squirrels, of course, but also possums and armadillos and lizards (one seems to be living under our stairs!). Also, I am told, snakes -- and poisonous ones at that!  Yes, they could kill you. Wildlife in Toronto... coming soon... Lots of wildlife makes it onto the streets of Houston -- but unfortunately, not off.  Never have I seen as much "road kill" as I have since we got to the Southwest, and especially Houston.  Not many bugs -- ordinary ants.    And don't forget wasps -- be careful at the end of the summer when they get stupid and sting a lot.  One got me at the PNE in August.   Bugs, bugs and more bugs!   Big cockroaches to be found here -- and they'll get inside if there's no food to be found outside!  Ugh! Cicadas in the trees make quite the loud hum in the evenings and fire ants are here too, Joe got bitten once -- you have to keep moving to keep them off you . The trees are filled with the very loud buzzing of locusts in July and August! Ordinary Mosquitos -- they come around a little in the summer, but far fewer of them than in most places in Canada Mosquitos!!!!  Hungry little devils too!  And more than one variety.  This summer we were in the midst of a mosquito outbreak that was the worst in years when Tropical Storm Frances dumped so much water on the ground.  And some of them carry the St. Louis encephalitis virus.  Yep, that could kill you. Soft mountain water from the north shore mountains.  Cool and delicious right out of the faucet. Well water with lots of lime to get stuck to the shower walls.  Takes some serious scrubbing to get it off. Not very tasty and very chlorinated. We buy our water (Ozarka) here. Lots and lots of land.  Flat land. But at least there are lots of trees where we are! Cool ocean breezes (sigh).  I enjoyed being at home with my parents in August 98 and having the doors and windows open and cool breezes moving through the house. Hot breezes (which as far as I am concerned don't count as wind -- if they ain't cool, they ain't cooling!) in the summer.  Summer lasts a long time and the windows were closed and the air conditioning on from late April to Mid October of 98.  But once the heat broke, it was fresh and cool. No comparisons for Marvin! Although, if you venture farther afield -- Don Cherry might give Marvin a  run for his money -- just as interesting in the clothing department -- only Don's forte is Hockey and you can catch him on Hockey Night in Canada.  Definitely a man of opinions -- and as outrageous as they get! MAR-VIN Zindler, EYE-WIT-ness News!  There is nothing on the planet like this guy.  With his Blue glasses and white suits he crusades Houston to right consumer wrongs for the down-trodden and those taken advantage of.  Must be seen to be believed!  Be sure not to miss the Restaurant report on Fridays! Police officers on horse-back, wearing red shirts and stetson-like hats are the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Police-type officers on horseback wearing red shirts or jackets and stetson-like hats are the mall police at the Woodlands mall! Mall security guards have radios. Mall security guards have GUNS!  It really freaked me out the first time I saw that! No comparison for Homecoming.  We Canadians (and other non-americans) will just never "get" this.  It's a big weekend event that usually occurs in the fall -- when depends on when the "big game" is.  The graduates of a school or college come back to watch a football game (usually between old rivals), play in the band (if they were in it before) and participate in other assorted festivities.  I guess it's a nostalgia thing...?   These are some of the ribbons that you can purchase for the (poor!) women to wear to  homecoming events.  They are in the school's colours and often reach to the knee! Hockey Night in Canada!  As my shirt says: "Canada is Hockey.  Hockey is Canada. Period."  Hockey scores on the front of the Sports Section. Monday Night Football.  We got a four section supplement to the paper on football at the start of the season!  In Houston, no-one seems to care about Hockey.  Hockey scores (during the playoffs) found after amateur golf! "To Serve and Protect" a "Cops"-like show done by KVOS TV in Bellingham which follows the RCMP around while they perform their duty.  An hour long show which is controversial because Surrey Council feels it places an inordinate emphasis on policing problems in Surrey.  This is because Surrey has the largest RCMP detachment in the area.  "MOUNTIES: True Stories Of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police" which is "To Serve and Protect" repackaged for the US audience with Mounties in Red Serge introducing the segments!  Pretty funny actually -- especially the emphasis on the drug related stories. A half-hour show Space Center Houston is  a great place to learn about  NASA and actually see  capsules and Rockets and tour Mission Control!   Now here's an example of some serious fogging of windows -- since it's Houston in the photo ALL that condensation is on the  OUTSIDE of the windows -- caused by the air-conditioning inside and the humidity outside!   These people did a comparison of "Vancouver vs. Houston" and well I changed it a little to see Houston vs. Toronto. To see their full site go to: http://users2.ev1.net/~bearz/Compare/Compare.htm#money   I thought it was interesting :) Newspapers are sold by vendors who stand in traffic at the intersection of major roads hawking the paper.  Also found outside of major grocery stores on Saturday afternoons  selling the Sunday paper!  Very strange to those of us not from a car culture to see a car drive up and buy a paper out the window!  No newspaper boxes.	In 1999 the US Mint started production of State Quarters (sound familiar??) to be issued over the next ten years (five per year, coming out approximately every 10 weeks).  They are very popular and many people are collecting them.