Those of you who have visited this page
before will note a little change to the format. The list was getting
a bit big so it has been loosely organized into different sections to make
it easier to view. There are many more to add to the list,
but this will have to do for today! (February 15, 1999)
School
...you graduated from a high school you only attended
for a year.
...you can call up actual memories of a country while
you're in Geography class.
...you went on week-long field trips to England, France
and Italy.
...you graduate from 12th grade and it's your 13th
school .
...everywhere you go, you think you see someone you
went to school with.
...you left school frequently for bomb scares.
...you start school in French, then go to an
English school (because you moved to a place without French schools), then
to a French school, then to an English school, etc.
...you never went a full year of school with
the same kids.
Language
...you have forgotten how to speak more languages than
most people ever learn
...talk to someone with an accent and pick it up yourself.
...you can ask for a beer in most European languages.
...you are asked "where did you learn to speak English
so well".
...you are amazed at people who think Frankfurt is
a some kind of hotdog.
...you keep referring to parking lots as parade
squares.
...you don't ground your kids you "CB" them (Confine
to Barracks).
...out of bounds meant if you went there you
could get run over by a half track.
PMQs & Bases
...you .actually like the clothes at the CANEX and
don't mind that 100 other people are wearing the same thing.
...every room you've ever had was stark white and you
couldn't put nail holes in the walls.
...thought that the Quartermaster was the real Santa
Claus.
...every house looks the same as the one you just moved
out of.
...the street you lived on also told your father's
rank.
...airshows make you feel at home.
...the sound of gunshots makes you nostalgic (if you
used to live near an artillery range)
Moving
...you
move back to Canada and you think the toilet is plugged and flooded.
...you go into culture shock upon returning to Canada
...you have to explain that being born in Germany does
not make you German.
...the oldest friend you have is from your senior year
of high school.
...all your former very best friends are as long gone
as your last move.
...you always wish you were back at the last place
you were stationed even 20 years later.
...you are amazed at people who have lived somewhere
more than three years.
...you don't believe it when someone tells you they
never left their hometown.
...you are amazed at people who have who have never
seen foreign currency.
...you are asked is it hard always moving around when
you don't know anything different.
...you didn't save things so you wouldn't go over the
weight allowance of the next move.
...you get frustrated when other talk about going to
their hometown to see old friends, teachers, etc.
...everyone complains about your name being the most
scratched out in their address book.
...you feel like you should be visiting Canada rather
than living there
...you know posting meant pack your toys and say see
ya later.
...returning to a place where you lived 5 years
ago, you don't expect to see anyone you know.
...you change your life, job, car,
relationships & furniture every 3 years, just because it's
been... well, ...three years!
...you figure out how old you were at some time
in your past by first remembering the place you lived in when it happened.
Pure Bratness (uncategorized)
...you ask what they mean when someone asks where you
are from.
...don't really know how to answer the question "what
is your home town".
...tell everyone you are from a town that you haven't
lived in since you were 4
years old.
...people you meet ask you where you're from and you're
stuck for an answer.
...you want to go home, and you're not sure where
that is.
...you can talk to anyone and everyone from anywhere
and everywhere.
...got dressed up and played pranks at Fasching.
...you didn’t see a TV till you were almost a teenager.
...when you come to Canada and turn on the T.V. and
notice that the shows are in english.
...you don't feel quite right seeing military personnel
younger than you.
..you were in your late teens before you realized flashlight
batteries came in any colour but OD.
...you ever got sick eating chocolate field rations.
...you're at the theatre and when the lights
go down you get ready to stand up for O'Canada.
...someone says that they know you and the first
thing you ask is what province they are from.
...people hear you say "been there, done that,
got the T-shirt" and can prove it.
...someone says to you, "Ah, your mother wears
army boots," and you answer with, "Yeah, so?"
...being called a brat makes you feel connected.
...you feel more connected to other military
brats than to the culture of your parents.
...you know your Dad's SIN number by heart.
