They See Afternoon When We See Sunrise: The Time-Traveling Tales of Vancouver and London
Ever wondered why your cousin in London seems to be living in the future? It's not because they secretly invented a time machine (although, have you seen their scones? Maybe they're onto something...). The culprit behind this temporal confusion is none other than the wonderful world of time zones!
But First, A Geography Refresher (Don't worry, it'll be painless... mostly)
Imagine Earth is a giant apple (because, yum!). Vancouver, a beautiful city nestled on the west coast of Canada, is like a cute little worm taking a bite out of the bottom. London, on the other hand, is chilling on the other side of the apple, enjoying a spot of tea across the Atlantic Ocean.
The Great Time Zone Divide
Because Earth is round (and not flat, like some conspiracy theorists might have you believe), different parts of the world experience sunlight at different times. That's where time zones come in – they're like handy markers that keep track of which part of the world is currently basking in the sun's glorious rays (and which parts are hiding under the covers).
Here's the kicker: Vancouver and London are in different time zones. Vancouver is in Pacific Standard Time (PST), while London is in British Summer Time (BST), which is 8 hours ahead of PST.
So, What Time is it Actually?
Let's say it's a glorious Sunday morning in Vancouver, with seagulls squawking and people sipping lattes on patios. In London, it would be a whopping 8 hours later! They'd be enjoying their afternoon tea and planning their pub crawls for the evening.
Translation: If you're calling your bestie in London for a chat at 9 am PST, they'll probably be just rolling out of bed at 5 pm BST. So, maybe a quick text is a better option unless you want to be the reason they spill their tea all over themselves (and nobody wants that!).
Fun Facts That Will Make You Sound Super Smart at Parties (or at Least on Trivia Night)
- Vancouver can be dark and dreary when London is bathed in sunshine.
- If you ever want to celebrate New Year's Eve twice in one day, fly from Vancouver to London! (Just make sure you pack enough sleep masks for the plane ride).
- Thanks to the time difference, you could technically be watching a movie premiere in London while simultaneously arguing about spoilers with your friends in Vancouver (don't be that person though).
Burning Time Zone Blues? Here are some FAQs to soothe your soul:
How to call someone in London from Vancouver without waking them up?
Check the time difference! Aim for calling them during their waking hours (usually between 8 am and 8 pm BST).
How to avoid jet lag when traveling between Vancouver and London?
Adjust your sleep schedule gradually before your trip. Hydrate like a champ and try to adjust to the local time as soon as you arrive.
How to convince your friends in London that it's not actually the future in Vancouver?
Send them pictures of your sunrise and tell them to enjoy their afternoon tea. The photographic evidence should be enough.
How to celebrate a birthday with someone in a different time zone?
Get creative! Have a virtual video call or plan activities you can both do at your respective times (like watching a movie online together).
How to use the time difference to your advantage?
Be a night owl in Vancouver and get an early start on work for London! (Just kidding... kind of.)
