Canada

Canada was one of my first trips out of the US, back in 2000, and at that age it felt like America with the volume turned down. Vancouver had mountains right behind the skyscrapers and ocean in front, which seemed unfair for one city. Toronto felt bigger and busier, with the CN Tower poking out of everything and neighborhoods that each had their own food and language.

What stuck with me was how normal it all felt. People waited for the crosswalk, apologized when you bumped into them, and talked about hockey like it was the weather. It wasn't the trip that made me want to travel the world, but it was the first time I noticed that crossing a border changes small things in ways you can feel. I'd like to go back now and see the parts I missed, like the Rockies and Montreal.