How Canadian are You, eh?

[Hopeful One]

So I have been taking the pre-tests to challenge myself before I get the letter to come take the test.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/games/how/index.asp?utm_source=slash-canadian2&utm_medium=short-url&utm_campaign=articles

I have asked a few of my born and raised in Canada relatives to also take the test. They didn't do so well, so I commend my immigrant "brothers and sisters" who study the guide and learn all about the great things about Canada.

 

[keesio]

No surprise since the information is "fresh" in our minds vs someone who hasn't gone over such information since school days. I can honestly say that I am currently more knowledgeable than most of my Canadian born friends.

On the flip side, I'd probably fail a US citizenship test

 

[on-hold]

For an American, the Canadian citizenship test is kind of weird -- we don't really have to 'adjust' that much, it's more like memorizing a bunch of trivia.

 

[keesio]

I've never seen the US one so I can't comment. But I thought most tests were just a bunch of trivia...

 

[on-hold]

I meant more that for my wife (SE Asian), becoming a citizen involves a long process of learning how Canadians live and how the place works (informally, I guess she could ignore all that stuff); there's professional registration, English lessons, learning about expectations, how to talk to neighbours, what you can and can't do when you drive, etc.

For myself, I have to learn the stuff on the test. From the very first day, I fit in more easily than she ever will if she lives here for the rest of her life -- I stand out less than I would if I went to Alabama . . . Aside from the formal requirement (1095 days and test passed), for an American becoming Canadian basically means deciding that you're Canadian.

And vice versa, of course . . .

 

[Hopeful One]

My wife has been taking the online test just to challenge her memory of Canadian history. She said she remembers taking some Canadian history in grade 7, but that is about it.

Being from the US, like you stated On-Hold, we don't really have to adjust that much.

 

[keesio]

I meant more that for my wife (SE Asian), becoming a citizen involves a long process of learning how Canadians live and how the place works (informally, I guess she could ignore all that stuff); there's professional registration, English lessons, learning about expectations, how to talk to neighbours, what you can and can't do when you drive, etc.

For myself, I have to learn the stuff on the test. From the very first day, I fit in more easily than she ever will if she lives here for the rest of her life -- I stand out less than I would if I went to Alabama . . . Aside from the formal requirement (1095 days and test passed), for an American becoming Canadian basically means deciding that you're Canadian.

And vice versa, of course . . .

oh yeah... i agree. The whole "culture shock" thing was non-existent for me. Especially because I went from NYC to Toronto and spent a lot of time in Buffalo. You can get CBC in Buffalo and I used to watch HNIC when I lived there. I feel more culture shock when I make business trips down south to Texas.

The test was interesting in one particular aspect... how the war of 1812 is spun when reading US history and Canadian history. Just goes to show that everything usually has some spin on it...