Loving Winnipeg from Afar

One of my great sources of delight on this Chicago adventure is talking about Winnipeg.

First, my t-shirts were a springboard for conversation.  I brought every shirt I own that has any kind of reference to Winnipeg or Canada on it, and I wear them all the time.

Second, there is my music.  Winnipeg has an astonishing amount of musical talent within it, and I proudly play my Winnipeg tunes for my new American friends.  It pleases me immensely to have people from Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Iowa writing down names of some of my favourite local artists, so that they can look them up online and get access to their music.  Some of the popular ones have been Cat Jahnke, House of Doc, and Flying Fox and the Hunter Gatherers.  Another Canadian artist gaining some popularity in the Radical Journey group is David Myles.  It makes my heart smile to know that, when we all get back from our adventures abroad, these Radical Journeyers will go home to their friends and spread the knowledge of awesome Canadian artists from Winnipeg.

Third, I pull out my photographs all the time.  Many of my housemates could easily identify Jonathan, Marcus, Jenn, Johanna, Sophia, my mom, my brother, and my sister, because they have been made to look at my pictures so many times.  :)  I do miss my Winnipeg people.  I talk about my favourite places in Winnipeg too.

Fourth and most recent, now that the Canadian federal election date draws closer, I have begun researching the candidates in my riding in earnest.  That is pretty exciting stuff!!!

Don't get me wrong: talking about the American election is fun, because it engenders some entertaining comments.  "If McCain gets elected, I am moving to Canada."  This comment has been made in my presence by everyone from Radical Journeyers, to a hip-hop artist performing on the "El" (train), to random people on the sidewalk.  However, interested though I may be, at the moment the American presidential election is more a source of entertainment for me than anything else.

However, talking about the Canadian election is different.  It MATTERS for me!  I get to have some say!!  And exercising my right to vote is something I feel strongly about.  I think that everyone who can vote, should.  At the very least, they should spend an hour or two thinking through what issues matter to their community, and figuring out which candidate/party will speak most clearly to those needs in Ottawa.

So, thanks to politics, I am talking about Winnipeg yet again...

James Krabill says that when people leave their home context, they either seek to dissociate themselves from their home place entirely, or else become more patriotic than ever.  You can see which side of the line I am falling on.