This is how I feel. An excellent article, and bang on IMO...
By: Philippe Erhard
My last trip to Paris was rather strange. At the airport, as I got into a taxi, the driver asked me where I was from.
"Canada," I said. I usually don't mention Winnipeg as I have learned that the French geography usually stops at the Quebec border.
"Ah, Canada, a beautiful county. I have a cousin who lives there. Let's see, I think it's in a place called Winterpeg or something like that," he said.
"Winnipeg," I corrected him. "That is where I come from."
"Yes, Winnipeg, I remember now. A beautiful place! I was there once and really enjoyed it. I remember the trees and the peace in the city. But what are you doing here? How can you leave such a peaceful and beautiful place and come to this. Look around! It's crazy here! It's so busy and crowded. Everybody is rushing, mad, running wild. There is no peace here.
"Being a taxi driver in Paris is bad for my health. And if I survive this, I will retire in Winnipeg. No more of this crazy life."
At the hotel, I was questioned like a criminal.
"Winnipeg? Why are you here? How can you leave Winnipeg and come here? Look around. Look at those old buildings. They are dirty, dark, musty, overflowing with rats. Smell the pollution.
"Listen. The noise never stops. Go back to Winnipeg!"
At the restaurant, people were surprised when they learned I was from Winnipeg.
"Why would you leave such a sunny place and come here? It's grey and raining here, all the time. And when it's not raining it is too hot and humid. We don't even have air conditioning. This place is not made for people.
"We are so sorry that the weather is bad. Please excuse us for this cloudy and rainy day."
What is going on? Has Paris changed so much? Is Winnipeg suddenly becoming a famous city?
Reality is not exactly like that.
If you go to Paris, people are proud of their city. They don't focus on the negatives. But imagine if the Parisians had a negative attitude toward their city. Do you think that Paris would be one of the most visited cities in the world? Do you think that Paris would have such a glorious history?
It is such a contrast to what we see in Winnipeg. What do you think happens when someone comes to visit Winnipeg for the first time?
People are proud to say that there is nothing to do in Winnipeg. People are eager to brag about Winnipeg's two seasons: the mosquito season and the season when it is -40, a season where you could die in less than a minute, depending on the windchill factor.
And if you move here from another country, you are looked at with suspicion: What kind of crime have you committed in your own country to come here?
It is very common to hear people apologizing for the weather or the mosquitoes as if they are the cause of it.
Any new idea for the city's development is met with criticism.
"It will never work here. It's too expensive. It's a stupid project. Who do those planners think they are? We're not in New York or Paris! I am sure the Eiffel Tower would have never been built in Winnipeg."
And when you hear all that you really wonder. "Why am I here? How stupid of me to come to a mosquito-infested place that is in the middle of nowhere." And when you think that way, you know you have been assimilated. You are a true Winnipegger!
But this is not reality either.
One multinational company, with jobs all over Canada, said getting people to transfer to Winnipeg was like pulling teeth. Nobody wanted to come. But once they moved to Winnipeg, nobody wanted to leave. In fact, Winnipeg was the only city in the country, for several years in a row, where people refused transfers.
You see people coming from all over the world and are very happy and satisfied to be in Winnipeg. If you talk to an ex-Winnipegger living somewhere else, most of them express the desire to return to Winnipeg and are nostalgic about prairie life.
What is going on then? Where is the truth?
The first truth is that there is no perfect place in the world. Every place has good and bad points. Whatever you focus on will amplify in your mind.
And that brings me to my second and most important truth. Happiness and life satisfaction are really a reflection of oneself. They are a reflection of how our mind functions, a reflection of who we are, a reflection of our own attitude in life and have nothing to do with where we live.
Another important truth is that Winnipeg and Manitoba are great places to live. Too often, we realize the treasures and beauty of a place when we move away.
And what do we have here?
Look around and see. I will not be able to mention it all, but this is what I love the most about Winnipeg and Manitoba: the peace of the city life, the endless sun in all seasons, the bright and infinite sky, the city trees. Winter.
Yes! One of the best seasons of the year. Go for a walk on a sunny, crisp winter day. Go cross- county skiing. Go skating on the longest rink in the world. Feel the heat of the sun on your face mixed with cold, fresh air. You will never forget this feeling.
And really, it is cold for just a few minutes. If you are well-dressed, if you move, you will realize that the cold is very pleasant and invigorating. Winters are luminous, night and day, under a background of dark-blue sky or sparkling stars. And for a few months, we have the chance to live in the Arctic
And then Winnipeg decides to have the life of the rich and famous and move to tropical country.
Ah, those long and lazy summer days. Those endless swims in lakes. Those canoe trips in the infinite wilderness. You may visit the Atlantic Coast in Grand Beach, Morocco in Spruce Wood Provincial Park, Iceland on Hecla Island.
And you go back to the city with its restaurants, its vibrant cultural life and multiple festivals: the Fringe Festival, the Jazz Festival, and the Folk Festival. You can travel all over the world, experience multiple cultures, by going to Folklorama. You can travel in time and experience French culture by going to the Festival du Voyageur.
And when you go back to the city, you even wonder if you are in a city -- it feels more like a forest. Winnipeg is like living in the country with all the advantages of a big city. It is easy to connect with people. People are friendly, open and easygoing. Life is still slower and more peaceful than in any other big city.
And Winnipeg quickly becomes more than just a place to be; it becomes home. Come to think of it, coming to Winnipeg was a great move.
Philippe Erhard is a sports medicine physician in Winnipeg, originally from France and author of the book Being: A Hiking Guide through Life.
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition January 22, 2011 H11
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