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| Our dog, Spice Girl Loves sticks - perhaps this is more than she can chew |
Recently we had young house guests from overseas, drama queens as I like to call them. They are acting students. They mimic accents. Their observations amused us greatly.
Then as I unloaded the groceries she giggled hysterically at the milk. Three One Litre plastic bags of milk.
Other unusual items, cigarettes in packages of 25
Daily they walked through the streets of Toronto and did their share of listening to Canadians speak. They commented on the use of the work "like"in every third word, commonly used by the under 30 age group. The use of the words "absolutely" "totally" "and I go like" and "I get it". They also observed that Canadians apologize a lot and most have good manners. Eh? If they bump into you accidentally they say: "oops I am sorry". If they sneeze they also say "Excuse me".
Each evening brought new observations which amused us. Now they are off to the USA and no doubt the observations and imitating will continue.
Very cute, Spice Girl - you have big ideas!
ReplyDeleteYellow school buses look like something from TV and movies to me too - whenever we go to North America I smile when I see my first one. They look like something from a picture book compared to the dull buses of Australia.
Hello Patricia
DeleteSo true about Spice Girl. The yellow school buses are cheerful. Hope you have a great weekend
Helen xx
You have a lovely dog! Funny observations... We had milk in plastic bags here in Finland when I was a child. My granny knitted plastic carpets of those plastic bags.
ReplyDeleteHow clever to use the plastic to knit floor mats. You were re-cycling before it was trendy.
DeleteThanks for visiting
Helenx
Re: Spice Girl - perhaps that is where the term 'bitten off more than you can chew' comes from. Regarding terms of speech - young people generally seem to use language totally at odds with the older generation. I suspect it is all to do with TV, films, and the internet.
ReplyDeleteHi Rosemary
DeleteI believe you are right in your observation about language and how TV is having an impact.
Helen xx
Blast from the past, these plastic bags of milk. I discovered them when I went to spend a year in Canada; I found everything there so practical and convenient. Loved Toronto too !
ReplyDeleteHello Silver Bunny
DeleteThe plastic bags of milk are economical and a big saving from the carton and plastic bottles which are offered.
That is a good observation on Toronto "practical and convenient"
Helen xx
I'm very impressed by the novelty of bags of milk as well, and the Cup Song in Irish is delightful - a good example of how the Gaeltacht Irish courses do their best to give the language a trendy image.
ReplyDeleteHello Mise
DeleteGood marketing by an Gaeltacht. The song is delightful when sung in Gaelic (perhaps I am biased)
The bags are practical and can be re-cycled.
Helen xx
While yellow school buses are most common place here in the Pacific Northwest, I have to admit that I've not seen bagged milk.
ReplyDeleteHello Jackie
DeletePerhaps the bagged milk is only in Canada. It is more economical.
Helen x
Bags of milk? I've not seen these! As for yellow school buses, I'm seeing them all over town again. School has started, and sadly, summer is almost over. Send your young friends to DC! They will be in for a treat :)
ReplyDeleteHello Loi
DeleteI am unsure if the Drama Queens will make it to DC. It is a joy to see them enjoying life and they love people too.
We miss them and the laughter
Helen xx
Wow, I am quite surprised to see milk in plastic bags. It does strike me as massively inconvenient, but presumably there is a good reason?
ReplyDeleteOh, what a lovely picture at the top of your post... I think dogs are just so funny when they get over enthusiastic. I wish I could still do that myself (get over enthusiastic, not carry long sticks in my mouth) :D
Hello Jenny
DeleteThe milk in plastic bags is sold much cheaper and it is quite practical, the bags fits in a jug. Make a snip on the corner and voila. Spice Girl gives us lots of laughs - one time she would not part with the stick and I walked home on a city street as she ambled along with her wide load. Cars and pedestrians get a big chuckle from her.
Helen xx
Milk in plastic bags...that's a new one! When I was a little girl, my mother took me to Berlin where I was in awe of the milk coming in small paper boxes like we now get our chicken broth in, the boxes were smaller though and not very sturdy. Also, they has striped toothpaste, I was extremely amazed at that...and a bit jealous that we didn't have it in the states, thank heavens we finally acquired some later on!
ReplyDeleteIt's so fun to see the world through the eyes of the young...especially when they're experiencing a world new to them.
Spice girl is adorable with her big sticks!
xo J~
Hello Jessica
DeleteIt is indeed wonderful seeing the world through the eyes of the young. What we take for granted!!
Your memory is poignant of your time in Berlin with your mother. Travel is wonderful
Helen xx
Hi Helen,
ReplyDeleteI can imagine their reaction! My daughters would have probably reacted the same. We don't have buses like that in Holland and milk comes in cartons or bottles, but not sacks :-)
Happy to hear you had a good time!
Enjoy your weekend!
Madelief x
Hello Madelief
DeleteWe had so much fun listening to their tales and adventures as they roamed the streets in Toronto. They met some marvelous people too.
Helenxx
.......... and this is why we all love to travel Helen. Everywhere is different { even when the language is the same } and we can always learn something new ..... and, I don't think that the UK has succumbed to milk in plastic bags ..... YET !! { it's only a matter of time !! }
ReplyDeleteHope that you are well Helen and many thanks for your continued support over at mine. Much love. XXXX
Hello Jacqueline
DeleteTravel is wonderful. The Drama Queens have a wonderful attitude and funny things just happen to them. They seem to invite joy and those with a sense of humour.
It is always a joy to visit you
Helen xx
Helen, I must admit I have never seen milk in plastic bags either. Sweet Spice Girl's sticks look like a load....I'm impressed. Oh I can only imagine the would astound your visitors here in my southland. I hope you are having a grand weekend. Hugs! Bonnie
ReplyDeleteHello Bonnie
DeleteThe Drama Queens are at large in the USA, collecting stories and acts. Spice Girl is sound asleep, she is like an inner tube around my waist as I write.
Helen xx
First of all Happy birthday Your birthday is like mine on the 24th isn't it. I hope you had a fantastic day. We are ahead in time here in NZ, so it is already the 25th.
ReplyDeleteLove your post Had to laugh at the remark of sesame street. You indeed get that feeling. I've seen milk in bags before. The language is also slightly similar in NZ, like apologising.
Quite fun to discover another culture
Hello Marja
DeleteI hope you are still celelbrating your birthday. I say we celebrate the entire year.
I worked in NZ for a few weeks - my office in Sydney sent me to Auckland and I have wonderful memories
Helenxx
How fun to see life and culture from another's perspective, especially the younger generation. As we get older, we try to keep up, otherwise we'll feel left behind. It's funny, I've never seen milk in plastic bags either.
ReplyDeleteSam
Hello Sam
DeleteIt is fun to see life through the eyes of the younger generation. There are some great young people who will be just fine running the world and will likely do a much better job.
Happy weekend
Helen xx
It's so fascinating to see another person's perspective on the things that you simply take for granted, isn't it Helen? Your young house guests are having their eyes opened, and thank you for opening ours too:))
ReplyDeleteHello Jane
DeleteThat is so true when we see another's perspective. It also brings to life all we take for granted. Travel is wonderful and still one of the best forms of education (I think)
Thanks for visiting
Helenxx
Same here...never seen milk in bags before!
ReplyDeleteVery cool of you to house those young ladies Helen. I hope they know how lucky they were!
Hello Terri
DeleteThe young ladies did bring us great joy and such a breath of fresh air for us. The days were just not long enough for them and they were so determined to learn as much as possible.
Thanks for visiting
Helen xx
Hi Helen,
ReplyDeleteI think Spice Girl was being a bit over ambitious there :-)
Ahhhh, the young, really annoying aren't they!
Much love
Di
xxxxx
Hello Di
DeleteSpice Girl thinks she is an Irish Wolfehound or a horse. We will not enlighten her.
Where would we be without the young, who would annoy us?
Have a great weekend
Helen xx
Charming post, Helen. Always so interesting what visitors find unusual in a country other than their own. What country were your visitors from? I dislike the use of the word "like" so prevalent among the younger crowd.
ReplyDeleteHello Sanda
DeleteBe very careful that the two Drama Queens do not visit your state!! "Like" is most annoying and I suppose is habit forming and difficult to stop using
Helen xx
Loved the song Helen...and had to laugh at all the observations. My daughter spent the summer as a camp counsellor in the USA and was so excited to travel on a yellow school bus for the first time. Her fellow counsellors thought she was crazy...I thought it was sweet. Those sort of observations really make you appreciate the little things in life. :)
ReplyDeleteHello Jeanne
DeleteOf course your children would also see big difference in living in so many countries. I recall my first visit to the USA, I arrived in San Francisco by ship and a police man flirted with me. I was shocked that he wore a gun. I had not seen a gun except in the movies. Sometimes differentiating between what we see in movies and TV and seeing actual life in the USA is eye opening
Helen xx
My dearest Helen, How kind, generous and fun loving host you must be when you are surrounded by the drama students from a different country! I wish I could be a fly on the wall in the most creative household you live in. I think they are right about the Canadians have polite manners. I've never met any disagreeable Canadians in my life. I have so many Canadian friends and I love them for their tolerance, positive outlook and politeness.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a good week.
Best wishes, ASD xxx
Dearest ASD
DeleteI think you would have been a welcome addition and might have prodded the Drama Students along. I am delighted to hear that you have had good experience with Canadians. Tolerance, politeness and a good outlook are beautiful qualities.
Helen xx
Hi Helen, I have been looking around your beautiful blog. I am so glad you came by so I could meet you! Have fun with your 'drama queens' :)
ReplyDeleteHello June
DeleteA warm welcome and thank you for stopping by. Looking forward to knowing you and your blog
Helenxx
How funny. They probably wouldn't be able to understand a word I say! I have such a deep drawl that a lot of people here in Florida have trouble! lol And this is the South! haha!
ReplyDeleteHello Diane
DeleteI am sure the Drama Queens would love to meet you and to hear you speak in your beautiful accent.
Hope y'all have a real fine weekend
helen xx
The main bags of milk we see around here are cow's udders and they come with bells on.... what a wonderful world, so many differences and fresh eyes to see them with. Thanks for visiting and great to meet you and Spice Girl.
ReplyDeleteciao lisa x
Hello Lisa and welcome to my blog. You made me smile with your description of the cows in your fields. It is a wonderful world.
DeleteHave a wonderful weekend
Helenxx
Now that is one serious stick Spice Girl has there....like, totally serious!:)
ReplyDeleteHello Paul
DeleteYou have me giggling like.. totally.. I get it ..EH
Helenxx
Helen where I have been? Loving the cupan song and the little slices of your life, especially the over ambitious dog!!
ReplyDeleteHello Catherine
DeleteThanks for visiting. Spice Girl brings us lots of joy.
Hope your weekend is special
Helen x
Dearest Helen,
ReplyDeleteHow did I miss this post about my beautiful and innovative hometown! Who would have thought that bags of milk were such a mystery to so many people when I grew up with them!;). And yes, Canadians are very polite, tolerant and generally, just a great culture of wonderful attitudes AND accents, for they are a people from all corners of the world! Mind you, don't know where that 'under 30 lingo' crept in from!
Enjoyed this little peek into the new stage the drama queens were on and how they 'improvised' as they went along!
xo
Poppy