Last Friday, Tim Hortons opened its very first location in the United Kingdom. This was amazing news since I’m Canadian. I had just finished my second year of the LLB (Scots & English) (Graduate Entry) program and this was something I had been looking forward to all year. Ever since first year, I would always bring up Timmy’s and how much I’d miss it from time to time. When the news broke that Timmy’s would be opening its first UK store in Glasgow, you could just imagine how happy I was that this was actually happening. I decided then that I would attend the store’s grand opening. I was further motivated to be in attendance after it was announced that the first 11 customers would receive prizes. Being first in line was the ultimate goal since the very first UK customer would win free coffee for a full year.

Unfortunately, I missed being the first person in line by about 20 minutes. Nevertheless, since I was the second customer, I received a card that allows me to claim 50 free timbits per month for an entire year. There were also other memorable moments during the grand opening.

I got to meet the President of Tim Hortons.

I was stopped by Mounties.

I even did an interview describing my first Tim Hortons experience in the UK.

In short, my advice to anyone studying at the University of Strathclyde as an international student is to never forget your roots. For most Canadians, Timmy’s is not just another coffee shop. In my experience, it has played a huge part in my Canadian identity and gives me a little reminder of life back home.