Oh Canada! It’s another country, another government and a foreign place. But it doesn’t always feel like it. For those of you looking to take that first exciting trip out of the USA this summer and get that nonexistent stamp in your passport- I was sad to find they don’t do that when driving over the border- here are some helpful hints that may not be discussed in your average travel guide, but still important tidbits to commit to memory:

The Full Service Gas Stations: I have never in my life been to a full service gas station, maybe you haven’t either. If you are anything like me and my husband, we had no idea what to do when the attendant came along and started pumping our gas or when the sign said “Do NOT touch the pump.” We had no idea if we were expected to pay extra when the attendant asked if we wanted our windshield cleaned. We didn’t know if we should stay in the car or watch what they were doing or mind our own business. It was awkward. These full service gas stations are littered along the route to Winnipeg and after a few confusing interactions, I finally reached out to my Canadian friend for some explanations.

She laughed out loud (I imagine, it was on messenger) when I expressed my confusion. She also thought it quite hilarious when I explained that I had my 10-year old son give the attendant $3 in American money as a tip because we didn’t have any Canadian cash on hand and didn’t want to be viewed as the “rude Americans.” She politely explained to me that tips are not expected and full service pumps or stations may just cost a little bit more than self-serve, but that’s it. Additionally, most of the places we stopped in Canada for gas had us pump and then pay, unlike the usual US pre-pay method, so that’s another thing that may save you some confusion.

The Bathroom Situation: As we all can imagine, nature still calls in another country and when it does, it’s important to make sure to know what to do. This may be a no-brainer for some, but this is a shout out to those other Southerners out there who have never heard the term “washroom” before. Heads up: that means bathroom. I prepared my kids for this difference because years ago when we were stationed at Malmstrom AFB in Great Falls, Montana, I worked retail. We often had Canadians come down and shop and on more than one occasion when someone would ask where the “washroom” was I legitimately had no idea what they were talking about. My young 20-something self assumed it was a laundromat and just gave them a shrug for an answer. Ya, I didn’t find out what customers were talking about until a co-worker later explained it to me. Well, to spare you the same embarrassment, now you know. Washroom=Bathroom in Canada.

Driving Changes: There seem to be quite a few routes into Canada and places to cross the border when driving up to Winnipeg from Minot. All of them seem the same in terms of length, distance and -the big one- road conditions. Once driving over that Canadian line, the roads seem to change drastically, and it’s noticeable- especially when pulling a camper- how bumpy, and pothole filled they suddenly become. Now, I get it, Canada is northern like Minot, and faces rough winters, which decay the roads, not to mention that Canada is a HUGE country but very sparsely populated considering its size. So there are A LOT of small town roads that are hard to keep maintained. Plus, we were informed on our trip only two weeks ago that the snow had just melted a few days prior, so it is understandable… just brace yourselves.

Along with the roads, something to know is that the second your cross over, kilometers is the name of the game when driving. While this is obvious, I didn’t expect my GPS to change to kilometers either. It allowed our brains to work a bit harder constantly figuring out how many miles it was when it said kilometers both on the speedometer and distance to a location. But it was a good head workout for us and the kids to enjoy when deciding when to stop and get gas. I wondered how long it takes for our brains to start thinking in another measurement and not keep converting to miles?

On our family’s first trip to Winnipeg recently we found ourselves frequently commenting about how it looks just like the US, but then we’d see something “off” and we take back our comments. In terms of what to expect about US and Canadian differences, there aren’t too many, but just enough to make it feel like a slightly exotic place. Living in North Dakota allows us all the closeness to Manitoba, Canada, and the chance to explore a new country. So grab the passports and take this opportunity to explore another country in just a few hours. Be prepared to find the subtle differences hidden where you least expect it, and have a great time!