How do you Americans like Canada? :P

[CMLR]

I have been here a year now, still just as a visitor so I am not in the work force yet. I do know a number of people fairly well since I walk with a group 3 times a week and attend a church. I can say that yes, Canadians seem to be much more patriotic than the Americans I know personally. A few are very political. The things that get them agitated seem different than those things that agitated people I knew in the US. It is hard though at times as we sit and talk at a Tim Hortons (because yes it is the national pastime, lol) to hear even those who know me pretty well and of course know I am an American, speak in negative terms about Americans in general. Maybe they forget I am one or something but it happens frequently sometimes. I know my young adult step sons Hate Americans as a rule but do put up with me. My husband says part of that is for good reason and part of that is because there is so much negative talk in the Media against Americans. We don't have TV so I can't see he is right or wrong about that.

Sometimes I really miss "home" to just hear about things happening in the US, or shop American stores. To know that there will not be a negative comment made by a friend. But I guess if my husband had come to the US he would have had some of the same feelings, although honestly I never hear much negative from Americans about Canadians.

 

[keesio]

You wrote this in May and I only saw it now, but if you wan fried chicken and biscuits, go to Popeyes. That comes with a biscuit.

Oh yeah, been going to Popeye's for a long time!

 

[keesio]

I have been here a year now, still just as a visitor so I am not in the work force yet. I do know a number of people fairly well since I walk with a group 3 times a week and attend a church. I can say that yes, Canadians seem to be much more patriotic than the Americans I know personally. A few are very political. The things that get them agitated seem different than those things that agitated people I knew in the US. It is hard though at times as we sit and talk at a Tim Hortons (because yes it is the national pastime, lol) to hear even those who know me pretty well and of course know I am an American, speak in negative terms about Americans in general. Maybe they forget I am one or something but it happens frequently sometimes. I know my young adult step sons Hate Americans as a rule but do put up with me. My husband says part of that is for good reason and part of that is because there is so much negative talk in the Media against Americans. We don't have TV so I can't see he is right or wrong about that.

Sometimes I really miss "home" to just hear about things happening in the US, or shop American stores. To know that there will not be a negative comment made by a friend. But I guess if my husband had come to the US he would have had some of the same feelings, although honestly I never hear much negative from Americans about Canadians.

I used to get tired of the US bashing but I got used to it and learned not to take it personally. Also, I understood where it came from. The reason why you don't really hear too much negative talk from Americans about Canadians is that Americans usually don't pay attention to us up here. It really is the "little brother" complex. Eventually most Canadians will admit that they feel overshadowed by the US and feel threatened by the sheer influence the US has over Canada. Also the most negative sentiment is usually in the major urban areas. I'm in downtown Toronto and it is strong here (with The Annex and Kensington Market being the epicenter of it). But it is similar to the US where the major US cities are usually left-wing and same goes here. They are usually anti-Conservative (as in the CPC) and anti-US (because they stereotype the US a one giant conservative "red" state). It is more mild in the more rural areas. There is still some competitive attitude towards the US but it is more mild in nature.

 

[scylla]

Americans usually don't pay attention to us up here.

Except when Rob Ford is pulling his most recent stunt...

 

[Gumper]

I have been here a year now, still just as a visitor so I am not in the work force yet. I do know a number of people fairly well since I walk with a group 3 times a week and attend a church. I can say that yes, Canadians seem to be much more patriotic than the Americans I know personally. A few are very political. The things that get them agitated seem different than those things that agitated people I knew in the US. It is hard though at times as we sit and talk at a Tim Hortons (because yes it is the national pastime, lol) to hear even those who know me pretty well and of course know I am an American, speak in negative terms about Americans in general. Maybe they forget I am one or something but it happens frequently sometimes. I know my young adult step sons Hate Americans as a rule but do put up with me. My husband says part of that is for good reason and part of that is because there is so much negative talk in the Media against Americans. We don't have TV so I can't see he is right or wrong about that.

Sometimes I really miss "home" to just hear about things happening in the US, or shop American stores. To know that there will not be a negative comment made by a friend. But I guess if my husband had come to the US he would have had some of the same feelings, although honestly I never hear much negative from Americans about Canadians.

Knee-jerk anti-Americanism is sadly part of many a Canadian ' s makeup. Former Canadian PM Trudeau once likened it to a mouse (Canada) living beside an elephant (US). No matter how loud the mouse squeaks "look at me" it just goes unheard by the indifferent elephant. So classic inferiority complex. Quebec doesn't have one because they're far more secure in their own linguistic & cultural traditions whereas Anglo Canada is constantly groping for a distinct identity vis-a-vis the grown-up cousins next door.

 

[keesio]

Quebec doesn't have one because they're far more secure in their own linguistic & cultural traditions

I think Quebec feels overall threatened by the dominance of Anglo culture and feel their language/culture fading away - hence their very protectionist attitudes towards them. But this is directed more at Anglo Canada than the US.

 

[Gumper]

I think Quebec feels overall threatened by the dominance of Anglo culture and feel their language/culture fading away - hence their very protectionist attitudes towards them. But this is directed more at Anglo Canada than the US.

You're right Keesio but I would qualify that by saying it's more of the separatist 'dinosaur' types who get most agitated. I think more of the younger population is more accepting of living in an anglo dominant world and unafraid to embrace it while being secure in their own franco identity. Probably more astute too to realize protections of French are actually better served in the current federal structure than in a scenario of 'going it alone' (ie just how long would those rights be respected as an island of 5 million in a sea of close too 400 million?)

 

[CMLR]

I would agree that in bigger cities on either side of the boarder you will find much more negative talk. However in my case we live in a small community. the whole valley has maybe 80,000 people and most of those live in a city about a half hour drive from where we are. Anyway it does get old sometimes. I truly think the group forgets where I am from. I guess that is a good thing in some ways as it means I fit in for the most part. I am sure I will get use to it in time.

 

[keesio]

I truly think the group forgets where I am from. I guess that is a good thing in some ways as it means I fit in for the most part. I am sure I will get use to it in time.

Yeah the thing is to not take it personally. My friends used to go on about Americans and sometimes forget I am one also. One way I like to tease some of my friends is tell them that there is not much difference between Anglo Canada and the USA (and I really do believe this). That gets them all riled up because they think they are soooo different from Americans and much more culturally superior. Cracks me up. But they have a hard time arguing me because I have actually spent large amounts of time living in both countries while they just go to the US for occasional trips.

 

[missmatalini]

There is no Chik-fil-a here I miss Chik-fil-a

I'm from Southern Virginia, and so it was quite the culture shock moving to B.C

U.S bashing drives me nuts, I try really hard not to take it personally but it's almost like at this point people do it on purpose. I dealt with someone a few days ago that was telling me how stupid Americans are because they don't know their own states, funny enough my dense sister in law thought Alberta was in B.C *facepalm*
Being from the south I constantly get the incest jokes, asking if my teeth are real and if I know Phil from Duck Dynasty. The Stereotypes are intense and usually way off.

It's hard to find big quantities of cornmeal. The only place I can find it is in health food stores and it's a very very small amount for a big price. No cornbread for me

Gas prices = ridiculous! Back home it's just under 3 dollars a gallon and we're almost up to 5 dollars a gallon here.

ALSO I noticed that people aren't embarrassed to work at Walmart up here. Back home, if you worked at Walmart you were made fun of and called slow. I feel like "People of Walmart" is a U.S only thing.

 

[CMLR]

Missmatalini, Do you live near a "Bulk Barn" those stars are amazing so much all in bulk. I think I have seen cornmeal there so if you live by one it might be worth a try.

I don't take the US bashing personally but I do get tired of hearing it. Funny how so many Canadian Citizens think US Citizens consider themselves superior, at least that is how they talk. I don't know any Americans who talks down Canadians and definitely I don't know anyone who talks negative about Canada as a whole where I use to live, but here I hear so much negative about Americans. I was only from Washington State and am now on Vancouver Island so not that far apart why such a big difference......

One thing I have tried hard to do is learn to talk like a Canadian such as the words process, again, been, Expire (y).... Anyone else find it funny to hear these words and other said differently?

 

[missmatalini]

Missmatalini, Do you live near a "Bulk Barn" those stars are amazing so much all in bulk. I think I have seen cornmeal there so if you live by one it might be worth a try.

I don't take the US bashing personally but I do get tired of hearing it. Funny how so many Canadian Citizens think US Citizens consider themselves superior, at least that is how they talk. I don't know any Americans who talks down Canadians and definitely I don't know anyone who talks negative about Canada as a whole where I use to live, but here I hear so much negative about Americans. I was only from Washington State and am now on Vancouver Island so not that far apart why such a big difference......

One thing I have tried hard to do is learn to talk like a Canadian such as the words process, again, been, Expire (y).... Anyone else find it funny to hear these words and other said differently?

We JUST had a bulk barn open actually, I'll have to check it out! Thanks!

My husband says "pasta" like "past-ah" which always makes me laugh. Canadian's all say "Oh For Sure" after everything as well.

 

[Christoph100]

We JUST had a bulk barn open actually, I'll have to check it out! Thanks!

My husband says "pasta" like "past-ah" which always makes me laugh. Canadian's all say "Oh For Sure" after everything as well.

Being born here all I can say with most of the comments on here is location location location has everything to do with it. "Oh for sure " is not a term heard here.

As for U.S bashing not if your in a border city and I don't mean 45min drive from one. I'm talking around 5min, the border is located in the city.

Our attitudes,customs political views price of goods, and yes even our languages are dependent on where we were born and where we are living. Canada is very diverse and very large. The way of life is different from East to West and from North to South.

Its very nice to see as a whole you all like living here.

 

[Yaak]

Being born here all I can say with most of the comments on here is location location location has everything to do with it. ...

Yes, location has a LOT to do with it. I am an American planning to move to small town coastal BC within the next several months with my Canadian partner. Because I have spent most of my life in the northern tier of states (primarily Minnesota but also Montana) I feel less culture shock visiting Thunder Bay than I do going south to Texas or Florida. Beyond the obvious changes due to that imaginary line (currency, metric system, jurisdictional changes) I expect the biggest change may be the move from a large city to a small town of 10,000 or so (no traffic lights, no fast food chains, limited shopping options). On the other hand, I'm really looking forward to the mild Canadian winters. After decades in Minnesota, coastal BC looks like paradise, albeit a bit damp

 

[Matt the Aussie]

We JUST had a bulk barn open actually, I'll have to check it out! Thanks!

My husband says "pasta" like "past-ah" which always makes me laugh. Canadian's all say "Oh For Sure" after everything as well.

"Oh For Sure" and also "You Betcha" are definitely more specific to Western Canada. I used to work in a Canada-wide call centre and that was my own observation at least.

I'm struggling to think of how else you would pronounce "past-ah" though? lol