In this day and age of families sprawling around the country as children complete their education and begin their careers, it becomes increasingly more significant to know your neighbors. But in this case, I’m talking a bit more globally.
For those who have travelled afar, you probably got the feeling from your international hosts that U. S. Citizens, in general are not that global. We USA residents are generally less versed in international affairs and language skills than many other countries. That doesn’t make us bad people, but it may limit our perspective on what is possible when thinking about a brighter and better future for the generations.
For this particular story, I am talking about our global neighbors to the North, Canada. Only a short drive from Boston, Canada has many valid comparisons to the USA, but also very different, especially if you get beyond the provinces just over the border.
Last week we had the honor of seeing the most western extremities of Canada, namely Vancouver, The Yukon and Banff. Wow is the best way to describe it.
Growing up in NY, you think that NY is the center of the universe and that nothing compares. After my first few years at Bentley, that myth was quickly debunked for me. But seeing these great spots in Canada once again got me thinking about how great other places are. From the awe of Lake Louise in Banff National Park to the vastness of the Yukon and the very hip, international vibe of Vancouver, I once again had to ask myself why it took me so long to experience these places.
Vancouver was so cool, clean and modern that I left wondering when I could return. But the rest of the trip had opened up my mind to all the other possibilities in this world, and specially on our continent that could also open my eyes as these visits did.
Perhaps the clincher was our driver who took us from The Juniper Bistro in Banff back to the Banff Springs Hotel who really opened up my eyes. A young mate from Western Australia who left his homeland only four months ago and started his cross Canadian tour in Nova Scotia to Vancouver, with a back track to Banff to settle in for as long as his two-year work visa would allow. It blew me away that he could travel that far, and not even have a second thought about not doing this trip in the USA. He did indicate that he may visit the US in his two year tour but was quite thrilled with his destination as our neighbor to the North.
