The other day I met my 40-something neighbour who lives in the suite below me as he sat outside smoking and talking to his lady-friend. He talked at me for quite some time about the company he owns, and although it was all very dull I feigned interest in my most friendly manner. Eventually, they asked where I was from. "Saskatchewan," I said cheerfully. "Oh!" said the lady, "Saskatchewan! So this is..." She paused, and I thought she might comment on how it wasn't so cold (as people in Victoria tend to do) "...much prettier, then."
That wiped the smile right off my face. Much prettier? Is this something you even say? Can you ever expect it will be well-received? Boy, am I glad I grew out of my punching phase.
But it's not an uncommon thought. In fact, I hear this opinion so often that I actually feel ashamed of not feeling derisive thoughts about Saskatchewan. It's tough being a prairie patriot.
A few years ago I was on a bus tour with singers from every province in Canada, and we toured into Saskatchewan for a few days. One of the Newfoundlanders said "Wow, Saskatchewan is really... nothing." For cripe's sake, get off the bloody highway and delve into the back roads. I went down an unaccustomed road one time and discovered hills not far from where I grew up that my family had never even known about. I mean come on, I don't go to Newfoundland and observe "Wow, Newfoundland is really... a big glass of useless, smelly water." Or, in the case of Victoria, a big glass of useless, smelly water, with lots of intimidating homeless people loitering around. Give me rippling fields of wheat and golden aspen groves any day.
What really makes me irate is that when you belittle Saskatchewan to my face, what you really are doing is belittling me. It's who I am, and (this is actually true of most things I like) any attack on it is a personal attack on me.
It's all subjective, really. But I'm struck by the utter tactlessness of people who bombard me with their opinions on Saskatchewan's total lack of merit.
"So this is... much prettier, then." "Actually, I think Saskatchewan is the most beautiful place in the world," I replied.
yay, Saskatchewan!
As a gardener, my favourite flowers and landscapes are all prairie grown. People here assume that Saskatchewan is ugly, too, but Edmonton is a prairie town and I think they've forgotten that. The countryside here is very similar, just hillier with a few more trees.
I met a guy in a bar, maybe 13-14 years ago. He was heading east with his company working in various towns along the way. He expected Saskatchewn to be, well, nothing. He found himself quite enamoured with the place. At first, he couldn't figure out how there could so much to look at without rolling hills or mountains. He said that he realised eventually that mountains get in the way of the view.
respond
How did they respond to that? Did you befuddle them? =)
(I had to get that word in there)
I have to say as someone who has grown up in Saskatchewan and now seen (and lived in) some pretty different landscapes across Canada... Saskatchewan is beautiful. So is Ontario. So is Alberta. So is BC. They all are... incredibly so. And they're all really so different.
Personally... I think I like Alberta better. It's got more flat than Saskatchewan (it mystifies me how people from here seem not to realise that) the most beautiful mountains in the world, great deserts, seemingly endless rolling hills, and vast boreal forest. Only thing missing is lakes and ocean.
But even though I like Alberta more, I really have to agree with you... it pisses me off when I hear SK referred to as The Gap. SK has a lot for many people and people seem to have a complete and utter lack of respect for that opinion.
I completely agree with you!
I completely agree with you! That happens so often here! It's upsetting to me, because I also think the prairies are beautiful.
Another positive thing about Saskatchewan (and I think this goes for a lot of places that aren't so...'big city') is I've found it's way easier to make friends in Regina, than it is in Vancouver.