I’ve travelled far and wide over the past 5 years and there’s no where in this world that can replace some of these awesome things I miss about Canada. Funny, isn’t it? Canadian cravings.
Don’t get me wrong, there are many other things I crave from the places I’ve been, like the fresh bread in Germany or the freshly chopped fruit by the roadside in Thailand, but Canada is, and will always be, home sweet home.
I could write a 5,000 word post about everything I miss, but instead I’ve decided to focus on my recent trip back home last month. I spent two weeks catching up with family, spending time at the cottage and embracing the things I miss most, my Canadian cravings.
Humble Canadians
It is such a warm feeling to come home to people waving across the street who don’t even know you. In Canada, you can ask for directions and expect a thorough response with a friendly smile. You can expect to make best friends with the other dog walkers in town as you go for your 8:00am stroll between the parks. You can expect people to hold the door for you as you’re walking out of the supermarket with a big smile on their face. Canadians are some of the most humble and warm-hearted people I have ever met (though Ireland and Nepal take close seconds)!
Cottage Country
There’s tons of cottages all over the world, but there’s nothing like Canadian cottage country. Whether it’s because the house is on a beach and not on the lake, or it’s a short walk away from the water’s edge, cottage life in Canada (or at least for me growing up) meant waking up in my cozy cottage filled with mismatched furniture and the smell of french toast as I threw on my bathing suit for a quick morning jump in the lake. That’s the cottage country I miss.
Canadian Campfires
Living in Germany has definitely provided me the opportunity to have many camp fires… some which are legal, some slightly illegal, but nonetheless, it was a camp fire. The only difference between a campfire in Germany and a Canadian campfire is that in Germany we roast meat and bread, in Canada we roast anything we can find that fits on a stick and then sit around the fire until the last spark goes out. Marshmallows in orange peel, bananas covered in chocolate wrapped in tin foil, this stuff just doesn’t exist in Germany.
Kawartha Dairy Ice Cream
If you haven’t had the opportunity to spend a little time around the Kawartha region in Ontario, then you might not know what you’re missing out on. Kawartha Dairies is an ice cream (among other things) manufacturer that sells their ice cream at just about every marina and corner store around the region. Delicious ice cream might I add.
Cold Pickles
Strange, right? I recently developed a serious love for pickles and can’t seem to hit the spot with the pickles around Europe. That cold, crunchy, dill and garlic flavored pickle that I know and love from Canada doesn’t exist here. Needless to say, I went on a pickle craze for two weeks while I was home.
Poutine
There’s a few poutine shops popping up around Europe and the USA nowadays, but nothing ever compares to the chip truck stops along the back country roads in Canada that pile on the cheese curds and heart attack gravy! Some of the best poutine I’ve ever had was in Gananoque, Ontario right before entering Quebec. This time, after a beautiful hike around the Elora Gorge, I stopped at a chip truck to kill my poutine craving!
Canadian Fresh Air
After returning from New York City for a few days of fun, it was absolutely amazing to be able to breathe in some fresh Canadian air. Okay, it’s probably the same anywhere else you go in the nature, but when you’re cooped up in a massive city breathing in nothing but sewage fumes and car exhaust… you can image how nice it would be to get right back into the Canadian nature.
Are there any Canadians reading this post right now living abroad? Do you feel me on any of these Canadian cravings? What would you add to the list?
Interested in hearing more about my experiences in Canada and less about my Canadian cravings? Check out my previous posts: Calling Canada’s Arctic My Home This Winter and It’s Graduation Time Back in Canada.
