“O Canada” Offers a Change of Scenery

Student Takes a Summer Trip to Visit America’s Northern Neighbors

By HEATHER GUSTAFSON

Chill Hock, business student, recently spent his summer vacation discovering more about America’s neighbor to the north, Canada.  Hock was in Vancouver, British Columbia, studying both academics as well as culture.

“I had been there when I was younger with my family and I had always really wanted to go back,” said Hock. “I wanted to learn about the culture and also to experience it as an adult.”

During his visit, Hock explored several aspects of Canadian life. He attended class and hit the books, while also enjoying all Vancouver had to offer. Hock went sailing and fishing along the western cost, skiing in July and even “climbed a mountain on Canada day” while singing the national anthem “O Canada.”

“The only thing I missed about Florida was the weather,” he said. “British Columbia is right above Washington State, which has rain about 80% of the year. You can only imagine all that rain mixed with the freezing cold climate.”

Hock’s favorite place to visit was Whistler’s Black Cone Glaciers. “The ski village in Whistler was amazing,” he said. “They offer skiing year round.”

If planning on hitting the slopes, Hock recommends renting a car.

“Cabs,” said Hock, as to what surprised him most upon visiting the country. “The cabs are a hassle. It works in a line system and whoever gets there first. You can’t just run on the street and hail a cab; you have to wait for 20 people in front of you to go first. I thought that was pretty crazy.”

Even though the public transportation was less than perfect, Hock had no less fun traveling the countryside. When asked if he would like to return to the great white north again someday, his immediate answer was simply, “yes!”