A low down of the adventures of Oxfam on tour in Canada and America

Posted by Rachel Edwards on 09 May 2012

I’m sat back in my London flat after a three week whirl wind tour of Canada and the USA. There are so many things I could write a blog about. But I thought you guys should have pictures and I could fill you in, in a top 5 things kind of way. The top 5 things I have done, eaten, heard, worn and learnt. For more insights you’ll just have to read the other blogs and follow the @oxfamontour twitter account.

Okay so to start:

Top 5 things I did:

Met Chris Martin in LA

Went to the Butterfly Palace in Seattle

Went thrift shopping in Hollywood, I still can’t decide who wins, American vintage or Oxfam shops….I think it depends if my American friends or Oxfam boss are reading this.

Visited the biggest mall in the world in Edmonton, complete with a theme park, ice skating rink, cinema, restaurants, the list goes on.

Met volunteers who make wearing a banana suit cool!

Top 5 things I ate:

Piersy pie (cottage pie made by our Coldplay caterers)

Sticky cinnamon bun in Vancouver

Bubblegum doughnut from Voodoo Doughnuts in Portland

Official American burger from Johnny Rockets

Coldplay cookies (a soft cookie made by our very own Oxfam volunteer and huge Coldplay fan Heidi, stay tuned for the recipe).

Top 5 quotes:

“Have you met Princess Kate? Do you guys get to hang out?” Oxfam Volunteer, Calgary.

“When I started coming to the US, people didn’t know who Oxfam were. Now you guys are everywhere”, Coldplay security.

“I’ve been donating for years to various causes. But when volunteering with Oxfam I feel like Im taking a more active role and can actually see the results and help raise awareness rather than just money”. Dianne, Oxfam volunteer LA.

“Hey girls do you want to sign up to join Oxfam and I’ll dress as a corn for you?” Oxfam volunteer, LA

“Have you heard how many British are back stage? Are the band British?” Backstage helper.

5 most worn items:

My worn converse for the long walks around the venue.

My Oxfam t-shirt

Neon wristbands, for the gig

My blue hoody, for nights in the car parks waiting for the buses to load out and leave the venues

My trusty blue jeans, for running around the venues and jumping on my tour case to close it

5 most important things I learnt:

Chips are not a thing you have with a burger they are food you get in a bag (the English call them crisps)

Bigger is better, when talking about the size of a doughnut

Pop tarts aren’t a breakfast food! More for a sugar burst before you hit the gym. No wonder I wasn’t allowed them as a kid

People across the pond in Canada and America are amazing at talking, especially to strangers about changing the food system!

I must not speak in my North English accent and English slang when briefing volunteers, to ensure they don’t look at me in a confused way when I tell them to ‘take a pew’ (it means sit down)

So that’s it, my pit stop low down of the first leg of the Coldplay tour. I must say a huge thank you to Coldplay. Over 6500 people joined Oxfam in Canada and America over 11 dates and it’s thanks to Coldplay because they gave us the opportunity to speak to so many people at their gigs. I must also say thank you to all the Coldplay fans for joining us in our fight against hunger and poverty.

I really can’t wait for the European leg to start again so I can experience volunteering  in an European way, the gorgeous food of France and Spain and the Italian style. Note to self – I must pack my sunglasses. See you on the continent, Rachel.