It’s performance review season right, so recently I was asked what my personal achievements of the year are. Naturally, my immediate reaction was: nothing work-related! Fair to say it’s been a momentous year, with the big four being:
- 🍼 Became a father - I cannot even put into words the experience becoming a father has been. Words will come eventually, maybe I’ll even share them.
- 🇨🇦 Became a Canadian Citizen - 7 years in the making, and the achievement I take the most pride in beyond my family.
- 🛠️ Promoted to Principal Engineer - A very exciting new challenge at a company I’ve been with for 6 years now. It continues to be a very interesting and enjoyable business area.
- 🚗 (Finally) got my drivers license - This may or may not have been related to item #1. After years of putting it off, I accepted my fate and shed some of my European pedestrian nature.
One thing I always planned on sharing when becoming a Canadian Citizen was this wonderful little piece from a Molson Canadian beer commercial from 2000. A cultural touchstone that I’ve been waiting years to share:
Hey, I’m not a lumberjack, or a fur trader,
I don’t live in an igloo or eat blubber, or own a dogsled,
and I don’t know Jimmy, Sally or Suzy from Canada,
although I’m certain they’re really really nice.I have a Prime Minister, not a president.
I speak English and French, not American.
And I pronounce it ‘about’, not ‘a boot’.I can proudly sew my country’s flag on my backpack.
I believe in peace keeping, not policing,
diversity, not assimilation,
and that the beaver is a truly proud and noble animal.
A toque is a hat, a chesterfield is a couch,
and it is pronounced ‘zed’ not ‘zee’, ‘zed’!Canada is the second-largest landmass!
The first nation of hockey!
and the best part of North AmericaMy name is James!
And I am Canadian!!!
N.B - When the time is right I’ll go Canadian rye over Canada Dry… no pressure…