In July I travelled to Canada. It was an
enthralling experience. I was in Calgary, Alberta, touring the area and
carrying on with my research on Margaret Atwood. I had contacts with the
University of Calgary but could not access their resources as I did not have a
student visa. Nevertheless, I found interesting books at the New Central
Library, an ideal place to work, study and relax. I visited Calgary and the
region from top to bottom with the help of some friends, fellow poets I was in
contact with through Freefall
magazine, which
published one of my reviews about a year ago. Before leaving I emailed the
editor, Crystal, who introduced me to a fellow writer, Pam. We had an evening
out together in a dancing venue and Pam invited me to several poetry events
where I met the poets of the area. I attended a poetry workshop at C-Space
cultural centre and three poetry readings where I read my poetry at open mics.
I also attended a poetry performance with the incredible Miranda Krogstad at Arts Commons.
It was a fantastic show focused on her life experience as a daughter and a poet
seen from the multi-faceted and multi-cultural Canadian angle. Three languages
featured in the show: English, French and American Sign Language. The videos
projected on the background were superb. Here are some links to her work: 
Pam
took me around Alberta. I saw Banff and Head-Smashed-In-Buffalo-Jump World
Heritage site with her. She was very friendly and I felt incredibly lucky to
have such fantastic opportunities in a country I was visiting for the first
time. In my mind everything coalesced in a more complete vision of Canadian
culture that entails ancient Indian traditions and rituals, art and today’s
multi-ethnical and multi-cultural aspects as well as cowboy culture. It was an enriching experience both
at an academic and personal level. I had a unique opportunity to ‘live’ the
country, meet people, see places I had only read about till then, as well as
having a direct experience of the people, the weather and the terrain. It was
thrilling and I loved it from the first to the last day. Here are some links to my Canadian
friends’ works and performances:
Pam:
Crystal:
Laurie:
On 1st
July I took part in Canada Day when everybody dresses in red and you get free
hugs, free music and free entries to museums and cultural venues. Calgary
Stampede was an awesome experience too. Two weeks of Jazz, Rock and Country
music in a huge Funfair park set up for the occasion. Rodeo, Chuckwagon races,
bareback riding and tie-down roping went on for days. I attended some of the
events and the final Grand Stand show, Trailblazer, which ended with astounding
fireworks. 
Museums, Malls and cultural sites were
extremely fun though I also worked hard on my PhD thesis. Shopping was my happy
time. There were so many new things to buy for me, for my family and for
Italian and English friends. I bought everywhere I went and eventually I had to
add a third suitcase to my luggage. Though I didn’t exaggerate in my shopping
as I used all the things I brought back from Canada, mainly as presents which
were very much appreciated.
Nature is paramount in Canada. In Alberta it
expresses itself in the weather which is warm and sunny most of the time in
summer but can also be unpredictable with sudden gusts of wind and storms occasionally.
They also told me that in winter it can be very cold but suddenly the Chinook
winds blow and melt snow and ice. The changeable sky and wandering clouds
reflect this natural course typical of the region, which is a challenging and
appealing characteristic.
It
was great fun, a real holiday that inspired my writing, my studies, opened my mind to new
horizons and contributed to my knowledge of Canadian culture. It was relaxing
too, though I worked hard on my thesis on Margaret Atwood as well. I found interesting
resources at the New Central Library in Calgary where people meet not only to
read, study and borrow books, but also to play, chat, attend sessions of
storytelling, music and Indigenous language. They have meetings at the Café
decorated with cactus plants where you can have delicious cappuccinos and
milkshakes. Wi-Fi is free, plenty of computers are available and the staff is
very helpful. Studying at the Central Library was a treat. I spent a lot of
time taking notes at the Café with the background noise of children.
It was a fantastic experience. I wrote about
it, of course, in travel journals published by London grip. Here are the links:
