I'm a foodie, and by being a foodie, I mean that my main goal is to always eat. Every country around the world has their own distinct foods, and we should explore these cultural dishes and how they’re prepared. When it comes to trying different foods around the world, it's best to have some optimism, take in the aromas, and widen your taste buds. I'm here to discuss several foods you absolutely must try if you plan on visiting Canada. From salt to sweet, I have you covered... leaving your stomachs full and a satisfied smile on your face.

Nothing wrong with trying new things!

• If you ever had a delicious Greek gyro, I would consider the donair to be its twin brother! Donair is a rich meat that is served over pita or poutine. Halifax, Nova Scotia named donair their official food! To be named the official food of a city must mean something great, so give it a try.
  
  
• Poutine, the mecca of Canadian dishes, is the quintessential staple of all things Canada in terms of food. This dish is loaded with a plethora of different tastes. We have a mountain of rich cut fries loaded with a thick and creamy gravy. This is then topped with cheese curds. I prefer my cheese extra melted, so you get gravy and cheese on every bite! Poutine has been upgraded, involving adding meats, spices, or vegetables to the mix.
  
  
• Surprisingly enough the Hawaiian pizza concoction originated in Canada in 1962. In all honesty, Hawaiian pizza is my favorite topping, and it never disappoints. You have the pizza crust, tomato sauce, fresh pineapple, and smoked ham. What you get is not only a delicious rendition of pizza, but also something you'll be ordering on a weekly basis from now on.
  
  
• America and Canada sure do love bacon, especially for breakfast. Canadian bacon, also called back bacon, is much leaner than American bacon. It is circular cut slice of cured pork loin and belly that goes excellent with eggs or hash browns.
  
  
• Beaver Tail (I can assure you) is not a meal where you'll be eating beaver. This is a delicious sweet dessert made famous in Canada for those needing an after-dinner snack. Beaver Tail is a fried dough pastry shaped to resemble a beaver tail. The tail is coated with fixings such as fudge, marshmallow, graham crackers, cinnamon, and whipped cream. If you have a sweet tooth, Beaver Tail will satisfy your needs.

Bilingual boom?

If you are currently living in Canada, it may be worth your while to pick up a second language! According the CBC, Canada is becoming more and more bilingual and linguistically diverse. French-English bilingualism has never been higher, and more people are speaking languages other than French and English at a higher rate than ever before.

Non-French-English bilingualism?

The amount of people who speak a language other than the non-official languages of Canada is up by 14.5% to 7.6 million while the amount of people who speak a language at home other than French and English is up to 23%. However, English and French are still the dominant languages spoken in the home with 2% of the population speaking only languages other than French and English in the home.

What are the most popular languages?

Canada has a diverse population in general, so the amount of languages spoken are vast. The most popular is Mandarin with well over 600,000 people. The second is Cantonese with roughly 590,000 speakers, and the third highest is Punjabi with roughly 560,000. Comparing this to the languages that have decreased in popularity in Canada shows the way immigration has turned. German, Italian, and Polish decreased in popularity while Tagalog, Arab, Hindi and Farsi have all increased.

So, open up those language textbooks, and get learning to keep up with the high demand for polyglots!

You're on the last leg of summer, and you're patiently awaiting that final day when you set out for a much deserved vacation. With all the excitement and anticipation of leaving for a lengthy amount of time, you must get a few priorities in order first. When it comes to leaving your house with your family -- whether you have an animal that needs attention, plants that need watering, or even just a daily checkup of your house -- consider these options and solutions to the situation. Should you worry about leaving your home alone to potential threats? Absolutely, but this is a normalcy in society. I'm here ensure once you get back home, it'll seem like you never left in the first place.

Make your own checklist

When it comes to leaving, you may want to be up-to-date with your security systems. It's best to give your house a walk through to check all alarms in case an intruder breaks into your home. If you do not have security in your home, take the proper steps. Make sure your neighbors know you will be on vacation. If they notice anything, they should call the authorities right away. If you own a dog, and you installed an adequate doggy door, make sure to lock it. It's the little things that can cause a serious problem if gone unnoticed. Let's talk about animals. It's common to have an animal living in your home. However, if you're leaving on vacation, it's upsetting to see your furry loved one left inside an empty home without attention. If you have a family member, or neighbor that you trust, give them the key to your house. They can feed and give your pet some much-needed attention. If you have the finances, you can have the animal sent to an animal hotel for the week. Animal hotels feed your animal daily, take them for walks, and give them a proper grooming. These run a high bill, so be prepared!

Be proactive for a better outcome

If you have plants in the house, properly place them in the right areas for sunlight. Again, if you have loved ones or neighbors who you can trust, leave them necessary directions for taking care of your plants. Many plants only need watering once or twice a week. Water them before you leave, and have a caretaker water them mid-week. Before you leave, make sure all electrical appliances are turned off, as well as your oven or stove. Believe me when I say this, many people do leave the house with appliances still plugged in! Even though appliances are inspected and certified, bad things can happen. It's better to be safe than sorry. I would suggest making sure all your garbage bags are thrown out to prevent coming home to a lovely smell throughout your living space. Same goes for any old food or snacks in your fridge that are way past their expiration date. When it comes to the outside, if you have a pool, keep the pump running to avoid any unnecessary buildup. I would also take a trip up to your roof, and see if the gutters are clear, or even if the roof may need some urgent attention. Checking for these things may result in a better outcome once you come home from vacation.