Biggest culture shocks I had at my first Calgary Stampede 🤠🇨🇦

Biggest culture shocks I had at my first Calgary Stampede 🤠🇨🇦 1. The whole city commits I've never seen anything like it. Restaurants, office workers, even people grabbing coffee on a Friday morning were wearing cowboy hats 2. It's "Yahoo" not "Yeehaw" Before coming to Calgary I thought everyone shouted yeehaw because that's what I'd always heard in films. Then someone explained that Stampede's official greeting is actually yahoo 3. Cowboy hats aren't just for tourists I thought everyone would be buying hats for one weekend. Instead, I realized most people already owned one. It didn't feel like people were dressing up. It felt like they were celebrating part of who they are. 4. Canadians really wanted me to experience it properly Every local had advice. "You have to see the rodeo" or "you have to stay for the chuckwagons" Islay and her dad showed me the city from the tallest building in Calgary! It never felt like people were showing off. It felt like they genuinely wanted a newcomer to understand why this event means so much. 5. The rodeo wasn't what I expected Before coming, I thought the concerts would be the highlight. Instead the one thing every local told me not to miss was the rodeo. After seeing it for myself, I completely understood why. 6. It felt more like a tradition than a festival What I actually found were generations of families coming together every year, celebrating traditions they've grown up with. It felt like a celebration of Alberta more than just an event. 7. People were proud One thing Canadians do so well is share their traditions. I think that's one of my favouite things about this country. 8. I finally understood why people travel across Canada for it Now I get it. Stampede isn't just somewhere you go. It's something you become PART of. I never once felt like I was just another tourist. People shared recommendations, explained traditions and answered every question I had. 9. Everyone made us feel welcome That's one of the things I've grown to love most about Canadians ❤️🇨🇦 I expected cowboy hats, rodeos and country music. I didn't expect thousands of Canadians to be so excited to share one of their biggest traditions with someone who'd never experienced it before! 10. It wasn't what surprised me it was who 11. It made me realize how different Canadian traditions are Back home, our biggest celebrations are often centred around history. Stampede felt different. It was a celebration of community, agriculture, western heritage and Alberta. If we haven't met before my name is Jamie. I moved to Canada to start over Now I'm on a mission to experience every corner of this country one province, one town and one Canadian tradition at a time 🇨🇦 I have a feeling Prince Edward Island might be next. Follow for more ❤️