Oh Canada!

Ever since we moved to Perth we've been wanting to connect with other Canadians in the area.  We've wanted to do this for several reasons, some of which are entirely selfish.  For instance, we want to be able to ask former canucks aboot specific issues about life in Perth.  We want to be able to pick their brains aboot neighbourhoods, schools, shopping, holidays, etc.  And, of course, we'd like to make some friends while we're here.  We don't mind most Australians but people in Perth tend to be a little closed-off to strangers.  Nevermind, that half the time we can't understand what they're talking aboot.  Personally, I actually get excited whenever I meet someone here with a Canadian accent.  You can usually tell that they're not American because most of the Americans here come from Texas and they bring their drawl with them.  So, whenever I've met a Canadian out in Perth it's a cause for a little bit of enjoyment.  Unfortunatley, upon realizing I've met a Canadian I turn a little clingy and needy and scare them off in short order. C'est la vie...

So, finally, we got around to doing a little searching on the internet and discovered the Canadian Club of Western Australia.  This is actually a club for Canadians living in Western Australia, primarily Perth.  This is not a group of Western Australian whiskey connoisseurs.


http://canadianclubofwa.com/

"The Canadian Club of Western Australia (CCWA) is a not-for-profit social club that meets regularly to celebrate and socialise with fellow Canadians, their partners, children, and families in Western Australia."


Last night we went to the Canadian Clubs second annual family barbecue.  The event entailed a large fire pit, many hot dogs, smores, beer (didn't spot any Molsons though), lawnchairs and conversation.  Unfortunately, because the boys had hockey last night we arrived late and couldn't meet as many people as we wanted to, eh.  Nonetheless, we did manage to meet some hosers.  Most of the people we met were either from Calgary or at one point in their lives had lived and/or worked in Calgary.  So, not only were we being asked questions like "where are you from" but also "what neighbourhood did you live in".  There were some people in the group that have lived in WA for over 30 years or over half their lives but still consider themselves to be Canadian.  Ironically, one of the people that we talked to the longest was actually born and raised in Perth and then went to Canada to visit friends for a while.  The boys were very bored because:

a) they're teenagers;
b) there weren't any kids there that were their age;
c) they're teenagers.

Keva was at work so she missed the whole thing.  However, when we told her that they had hot dogs and smores she got a little worked up.  All in all, it was a good experience.  We did stand out a little as just aboot everyone there had some sort of Canadian paraphernalia on them including one hose-head wearing a red t-shirt with while lettering that read "HUNG LIKE A MOOSE".  There was also at least one Calgary Flames jersey (and a Leafs jersey).

The next event is a Canada day party at an Irish pub in Northbridge (where we lived for the first month here).  It's also the event of the club's AGM.  Unfortunately, Canada Day falls on a Sunday this year so the club is actually doing it on Friday, June 29.  Seems fitting, eh?  Hopefully, we'll be able to meet some good friends at some point along the way.  We could use a little companionship at the moment.  We could also use a Boston Cream, a double-double, some maple syrup, a Slurpee, NHL playoffs, skiing, the mountains, decent TV shows, Sunday shopping, daylight savings, safety from spiders, central heating, fish that we eat rather than them eating us, proper use of the English language, affordable prices, reasonable housing market...