Traveling you realize that different regions and localities have distinct cultures and norms. It is a trap to overly stereotype certain places, but at the same time it is one of the fundamental reasons to travel, to experience different ways of living and relating to one another.
An encounter in Pictou, Nova Scotia, this week – small in the grand scheme of things – seemed so unusual in the current U.S. climate that it deserves a note.
Looking for a place to stay we reached out to a camping spot we ordinarily would not consider, an RV park catering to seasonal guests. On the phone we were told to just come, no need for names, credit cards, vehicle information, and the usual registration hassle.
Upon arrival we met the manager, a true character, who could not have been nicer. He gave Betsy a couple of ice cream bars and told us to follow him in his truck to a site he had available. When we arrived at our site we asked about paying? He refused any payment, saying he liked us and there was no need. Since he was clearly mischievous, we probed for what was the trick? Pushing for him to accept something, he firmly refused and indicated he was just glad to have us visit.
The RV and trailer community we dropped into is a fourth generation family enterprise. It is located on a beautiful oceanside setting with meticulously maintained sites (including many with gorgeous small garden plots) and very friendly neighbors. It was obviously its own vibrant community.
On our way out the next morning we had another nice conversation with the manager about the Pictou area and its recent history. He was curious about us: he correctly identified Betsy as a former teacher and both of us as parents, etc. When I asked him how he knew Betsy had been a teacher, he said that he liked talking to people and had intuition about these things.
Perhaps none of this should be unusual: a welcoming and free nice place to stay, interesting and curious conversations with strangers, and a desire to openly share the local experience. It would be too simple to attribute this experience and many others so far to differences in Canadian versus U.S. mores – although we have to admit that in comparison to Canada there is something real about the pervasive U.S. contentiousness, distrust, and divide that is evident in daily interactions out on the road. Put less negatively, it is energizing to experience the “niceness” and friendliness on display in Canada. (We had wondered how we might be received in Canada. Some fellow van travelers from Pennsylvania we met have a preemptive bumper sticker that says Are We Great Yet? Cause I Only Feel Embarassed.)
If only generosity and curiosity were the daily norm, not something so exceptional.
Betsy and Eddie's Van Life 
Eddie and Betsy,
What a lovely post! You’ve described a lot of what makes folks from Nova Scotia — and the Maritimes in general — such warm and welcoming people.
There definitely are cultural differences between the U.S. and Canada that are striking. We felt some of those differences almost as soon as we crossed the border (we probably passed you going in the opposite direction during our recent road trip to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia).
On our trip, the high-speed driving on rural roads in easternmost Maine gave way almost immediately to much more relaxed driving along well designed roads lined with lupines for miles at a time in New Brunswick.
We soon were reminded that so many people in that part of the world are genuinely happy. They tend not to be focused as much on constantly competing and getting ahead — especially on the road. Instead, they take genuine pleasure in sharing simple pleasures, telling stories, and welcoming strangers as if they were long lost relatives.
It’s so refreshing and inspiring to be in that part of the world. Thanks again for sharing!
David and Sandi
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