Dragoneye view of Vancouver

After a week in Vancouver, I finally figured out why I feel slightly unreal. As I walked around the town centre of Vancouver today, It really felt like I was walking in a movie set or a setting of a cyberpunk novel; sky-scrapers and wooden houses are scattered across the city in a merry mess, the majestic mountains are straight out of a fantasy novel and the blend of different cultures and nationalities is simply staggering.

From the industrious Chinese to the Japanese visitors who keep themselves to themselves, from Indians to the friendly and easy-going Canadians, the blend of exotic and familiar, old and new, technology and tradition is bewildering at first. Even simply choosing a restaurant amongst the seemingly limitless choice is daunting at first: how can you tell what Mongolian food is like, or which type of sushi to eat? The overload of different tastes, sights and smells from across the globe is something I appreciate, but it isn’t what I am used to. Finland is still relatively homogenous country, and England, while multicultural, feels old, worn and slightly insular compared to Canada with its love with technology, dynamism, openness and optimism is perhaps the most modern place I’ve seen. Don’t get me wrong: I love Helsinki like no other city on earth, but Vancouver is truly different.

My guide to Vancouver said that Vancouver is like no other place on earth. Originally I thought this was somewhat romantic view, but once I’ve been here for a while I have understood that it is true. And I need to find my place in the order of things here.

I shall think on this.