Having lived in "smaller"city Saskatchewan for nine years I confess that I spent many years fantasizing how improved certain aspects of my life could be in the big city. After four months in the Winnipeg I can finally admit some of my dreams were way off.
1) "I can go shopping at lots of different stores like Target, superstore, toys r us, old navy!"
Truth - yes I now have access to target and Costco, but 9 times out of 10 I just shop at the closest stores, Sobeys and Walmart, which are exactly the same stores I shopped at in Estevan.
2) "Stores in the big city are always fully stocked- the grocery store shelves will be full."
Truth- the aforementioned Walmart is as badly stocked as the Estevan one.
3) "It will be much easier to find a GP as doctors prefer to work in the big city."
Truth- they are just as short of doctors here as they are in rural SK. We drive half an hour to see a GP
4) "We will have a choice between movies!"
Truth- yes there is more than one screen, but they are more expensive here and it's not the same when you don't know half the people in the movie theatre......
5) "Things will be cheaper in the big city"
I keep detailed notes of grocery prices (I'm nerdy like that) and the prices between stores in Estevan and Winnipeg are actually the same- in fact some prices have gone up since we've been here! The PST is at a higher rate and we get way more taken off Chris' paycheque for taxes.
In the spirit of thanksgiving here are some things that I love about living in the big city
1) The airport! It may not have direct flights to the UK (though I haven't lost hope) but it was still a huge blessing to not have to start and end our long strenuous journey across the pond with a two hour drive. It will also save us on parking fees when we fly out as a family.
2) Hospitals and specialists! GP's may still be rare but when we got Jack's EEG done at 8am in the morning I was very thankful the hospital was only 30 minutes away. Had we still been in Estevan I presume it would have been a 4 hour round trip.
3) Costco. nuff said
4) Swimming lessons. I laughed when the guy at the Y told me the lessons were pretty full and proceeded to tell me I could choose the 4:30, 5 or 5:30 slot. Obviously he has never tried to register his kids for swimming in Estevan.
5) New friends. Words cannot express how much I miss my Estevan family but I know that I am cared for by my new Winnipeg family and meeting new friends is always an adventure. I will never find exact replacements for my Estevan friends but in case anyone in Winnipeg is wondering I am still looking for someone who can teach me to fold fitted sheets, go on evening walks (not in winter!) and declare "no pinchy, no" every time we see a lobster.
