Youth Are Awesome, commonly referred to as YAA, is a blog written by youth for youth.
YAA provides the youth of Calgary a place to amplify their voices and perspectives on what is happening around them.
Youth Are Awesome is a program of Youth Central.
Any views or opinions expressed on this blog belong solely to the author and do not represent those of people or organizations that the blog may be associated with, unless explicitly stated. All content is for informational purposes only.
Shopping in Chester: walking from store to store on sheltered walkways to avoid the rain. Photo credit: Vicky Price
Despite past trips to various parts of America and the Caribbean, I was happy to finally visit a country with some cultural difference. Don’t get me wrong; Montana is a beautiful tax-free haven for campers and fans of Wrangler jeans, and only in the Bahamas would you expect to yield to “Island Time,” which means that everyone and everything moves ten times slower than it really should.
However, I must say, my recent trip to the UK took my breath away. The last time I visited I was four years old, so naturally I remember almost nothing. I took in everything about my trip with wide eyes, eager to see a world beyond my own.
Having lived in Calgary my entire life, it was impossible for me not to make comparisons between the places I visited in Britain and my hometown. First of all, the roads are tiny. Countless drives down country roads in Wales which were barely the width of one lane back home were obviously nerve-wracking. Apparently locals develop a “sixth sense” for when a car is coming in the opposite direction; unfortunately, I lacked this skill severely. What’s worse is that if you thought cities were exempt from this undoubtedly dangerous system, think again. People have tendencies to park randomly on the side of the road, completely blocking the lane. Oh, and let’s not forget that all of this is done on the “wrong” side of the road.
I’ll admit, driving in the UK is not something that I ever wish to do, even if roundabouts do look insanely fun. Nevertheless, I easily appreciated the history behind every single building we passed. In a city that is barely 100 years old, seeing castles from the 13th century was incredibly humbling. Just thinking about what went on behind those walls hundreds of years ago is mindblowing when you consider that Calgary’s history is largely captured by Heritage Park.
The inner courtyard of Caernarfon Castle, Caernarfon, Wales. (Photo credit: Vicky Price)
"Bedyddwyr, 1860". This building would be considered "moderately aged". (Photo credit: Vicky Price)
Some of my favourite Mr Kipling cakes, French Fancies.
Apart from my fascination with the lasting evidence of centuries past, my favourite thing about the United Kingdom must be the treats.
Everything sugary just seems tastier with that English touch. The good thing is, these “sweets” are available right here at home. Local stores include The British Pantry (4820 Northland Drive NW) and Good Taste of Britain (Eau Claire Market and Market Mall).
England and Wales are indeed very different from Canada, and I fell madly in love with both countries during my last visit. However, experiencing a foreign place makes me feel grateful for all the things I love about Canada, including our wide, forgiving roads.
