California – What’s Taken For Granted

By: Jonas Wilkison

I have lived in this state for officially 10 years just a couple days ago and I have had time to reflect on what my life has been like here compared to Canada. For a quick summary, you guys take so much for granted. Throughout my years in the Golden State I have heard people complain of how cold it is outside during the winter, or how brutal the rain is. I’d like to clarify that 40 degrees is not cold, it’s chilly at best, and the rain is good because of how dry the state is. Now despite my poking and laughing, California is amazing. From the food, to the people, the weather, the nature, and the cities, this place is really like nowhere else I have been.

Before California I lived in Alberta Calgary, which for everyone that doesn’t know Canadian maps, it’s right above Montana and Idaho. In short it was the most stereotypical Canadian childhood anyone could imagine; I grew up in the suburbs with the main city not far away; I had a local man-made lake that would become an ice rink in the winter; I played hockey; and I had a snow fort outside my house. Not sure you could say a more stereotypical Canadian if you could think of. Then I came to California in the dead of winter, and I was in shock and awe. It was warm, there were palm trees like in the movies, and there weren’t just white people everywhere.

My first couple years here were built off of sunburns and major culture shocks. The first major thing I noticed was (of course) there no snow, anywhere, that meant no more shoveling driveways or salting the sidewalks which was a dream. Then in school, it was all outside, no closed off hallways or anything like that. The food was also so much better, like from a land-locked province to the golden coast’s food was a dream. Soon I would settle into the culture and become somewhat more tan and then really started to see the beauty of this palace. There was the ocean not even one hour away, massive state parks, amazing weather almost all year around, pools and so much more culture.

I also don’t think people here see how amazing the culture of California is, it’s spectacular. Not saying where I came from wasn’t also culture packed, but California and moreover the Bay has almost everything I could think of. I have met people here that I have only read history books on, I have learned so many cultures I never knew about, so much food, so many traditions, and a lot more acceptance. In Canada it is very accepting but the people there are majority white so a lot of ignorance shines through, but here the massive multiculturalism is just shock and awe. For example I had never met a person from Mexico before, and in the 4th grade I was invited to a quinceañera for my friend’s sister. I had never tasted so many good foods at once, or been accepted into something I never knew. I was getting taught Spanish in between trying to dance and helping the moms chop food. That would have almost never occurred in Canada, but it did here in California.

Now 10 years later I look back and I honestly couldn’t think of who I’d be without California and what it has given me. I thank the luck of the draw that I am here.