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The Eternal Canadian Question

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The Eternal Canadian Question

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Old Nov 11th 2003, 4:10 am
  #1  
Damson Rhee
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Default The Eternal Canadian Question

Okay, let's get some feedback from Europeans once and for all. I'm a
Canadian, and I'm planning on going to England, Scotland and Ireland next
May. Canadians are under the impression they need to do stuff to make it
very clear to Europeans that they are CANADIANS, not Americans. Americans
say it isn't true. True, not true? In quiring minds want to know,
especially before they get over there for 3 weeks.
D
 
Old Nov 11th 2003, 5:08 am
  #2  
Reid
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Posts: n/a
Default Re: The Eternal Canadian Question

Following up to Damson Rhee

    >Okay, let's get some feedback from Europeans once and for all. I'm a
    >Canadian, and I'm planning on going to England, Scotland and Ireland next
    >May. Canadians are under the impression they need to do stuff to make it
    >very clear to Europeans that they are CANADIANS, not Americans. Americans
    >say it isn't true. True, not true? In quiring minds want to know,
    >especially before they get over there for 3 weeks.
    >D

Not true. Bush would get a punch in the mouth, but you are not
Bush.:-)
--
Mike Reid
"Art is the lie that reveals the truth" P.Picasso
UK walking & photos "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk" <-- you can email us@ this site
Spain,cuisines and walking "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk" <-- dontuse@ all, it's a spamtrap
 
Old Nov 11th 2003, 5:14 am
  #3  
B Vaughan
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Posts: n/a
Default Re: The Eternal Canadian Question

On Tue, 11 Nov 2003 12:10:54 -0500, "Damson Rhee"
<[email protected]> wrote:

    >Okay, let's get some feedback from Europeans once and for all. I'm a
    >Canadian, and I'm planning on going to England, Scotland and Ireland next
    >May. Canadians are under the impression they need to do stuff to make it
    >very clear to Europeans that they are CANADIANS, not Americans. Americans
    >say it isn't true. True, not true? In quiring minds want to know,
    >especially before they get over there for 3 weeks.

I'm an American who lives in Europe. I've never felt any need to
pretend to be Canadian, nor to apologize for being American.

Why don't you do a little experiment and then let us know? Start off
by making no effort to reveal your nationality. If somebody asks where
you're from, just give the name of your city, say, "Hamilton". Make
sure to always be polite and pleasant, however. If in spite of your
good manners, you feel as though you're getting shabby treatment and
that it's not just bad manners on the other person's part, then pull
out those little Canadian flags and stick them all over your clothing
and luggage and see if it makes a difference.

We'll expect a report from you when you get back.


-----------
Barbara Vaughan
My email address is my first initial followed by my surname at libero dot it
I answer travel questions only in the newsgroup
 
Old Nov 11th 2003, 5:22 am
  #4  
Johnt
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Posts: n/a
Default Re: The Eternal Canadian Question

"Damson Rhee" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Okay, let's get some feedback from Europeans once and for all. I'm a
    > Canadian, and I'm planning on going to England, Scotland and Ireland next
    > May. Canadians are under the impression they need to do stuff to make it
    > very clear to Europeans that they are CANADIANS, not Americans. Americans
    > say it isn't true. True, not true? In quiring minds want to know,
    > especially before they get over there for 3 weeks.
    > D
I have an American friend who visits me regularly in England. She doesn't
wear a badge saying "I am an American" and she doesn't expect Europe just to
be exactly the same as the USA. It would never occur to her to impersonate
a Canadian and I can see no reason at all why a Canadian visiting Europe
should ever draw attention to his or her own nationality.

JohnT
 
Old Nov 11th 2003, 5:23 am
  #5  
barney
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Posts: n/a
Default Re: The Eternal Canadian Question

In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] (Damson Rhee) wrote:

    > Okay, let's get some feedback from Europeans once and for all. I'm a
    > Canadian, and I'm planning on going to England, Scotland and Ireland
    > next
    > May. Canadians are under the impression they need to do stuff to make
    > it
    > very clear to Europeans that they are CANADIANS, not Americans.
    > Americans
    > say it isn't true. True, not true?

Not true, really. There might be the *very* occasional circumstance where
a Canadian is more welcome than an American -- where every other bed in
your hostel is occupied by members of the Anarchist Federation on their
annual outing to the theatre, for example.

But for every Brit who thinks that all Americans are gun-totin',
Iraq-invadin', electric-chair-switch-pullin' cowboys, there's probably one
believing all Canadians are off-duty Mounties or straw-sucking farm boys.

And there aren't many of either kind. People don't have a problem
distinguishing citizens from their governments. In the case of Canada, of
course, they won't have the faintest idea about your government anyway.
 
Old Nov 11th 2003, 5:34 am
  #6  
Padraig Breathnach
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: The Eternal Canadian Question

"JohnT" <[email protected]> wrote:

    >...I can see no reason at all why a Canadian visiting Europe
    >should ever draw attention to his or her own nationality.
A little bit of national pride, perhaps, and being fed up with being
mistaken for an American. I have met Canadians visiting Europe who
seemed almost pathetically grateful to be recognised as Canadians.

I agree with those who responded that there is no real disadvantage in
being an American rather than a Canadian visitor.

--
PB
The return address has been MUNGED
 
Old Nov 11th 2003, 6:52 am
  #7  
Www.Amforbes.Com - Professional Photography
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: The Eternal Canadian Question

No Problem -we have nothing against Americans or Canadians.



--
www.amforbes.com
Landscape and Travel Photography
"Damson Rhee" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Okay, let's get some feedback from Europeans once and for all. I'm a
    > Canadian, and I'm planning on going to England, Scotland and Ireland next
    > May. Canadians are under the impression they need to do stuff to make it
    > very clear to Europeans that they are CANADIANS, not Americans. Americans
    > say it isn't true. True, not true? In quiring minds want to know,
    > especially before they get over there for 3 weeks.
    > D
 
Old Nov 11th 2003, 8:48 am
  #8  
Damson Rhee
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: The Eternal Canadian Question

"www.amforbes.com - professional photography" <[email protected]> wrote
in message news:[email protected]...
    > No Problem -we have nothing against Americans or Canadians.

Well that's good to know. This is my first overseas trip. My sister in law
is Irish and she says that you want to wear something making sure they know
you're Canadian. Canadians say you need to wear something. My friend I met
in Boston was British and she said the same. Given some of the bad feeling
between the US and France, Germany and such, I just wondered if now might be
a good time to find out what's true, what isn't.
D
    > --
    > www.amforbes.com
    > Landscape and Travel Photography
    > "Damson Rhee" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    > > Okay, let's get some feedback from Europeans once and for all. I'm a
    > > Canadian, and I'm planning on going to England, Scotland and Ireland
next
    > > May. Canadians are under the impression they need to do stuff to make
it
    > > very clear to Europeans that they are CANADIANS, not Americans.
Americans
    > > say it isn't true. True, not true? In quiring minds want to know,
    > > especially before they get over there for 3 weeks.
    > > D
    > >
    > >
 
Old Nov 11th 2003, 8:50 am
  #9  
Damson Rhee
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: The Eternal Canadian Question

"Reid" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Following up to Damson Rhee
    > >Okay, let's get some feedback from Europeans once and for all. I'm a
    > >Canadian, and I'm planning on going to England, Scotland and Ireland next
    > >May. Canadians are under the impression they need to do stuff to make it
    > >very clear to Europeans that they are CANADIANS, not Americans.
Americans
    > >say it isn't true. True, not true? In quiring minds want to know,
    > >especially before they get over there for 3 weeks.
    > >D
    > Not true. Bush would get a punch in the mouth, but you are not
    > Bush.:-)

And thank goodness for that. LOL
D
    > --
    > Mike Reid
    > "Art is the lie that reveals the truth" P.Picasso
    > UK walking & photos "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk" <-- you can email us@ this
site
    > Spain,cuisines and walking "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk" <-- dontuse@
all, it's a spamtrap
 
Old Nov 11th 2003, 8:54 am
  #10  
Damson Rhee
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: The Eternal Canadian Question

"B Vaughan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > On Tue, 11 Nov 2003 12:10:54 -0500, "Damson Rhee"
    > <[email protected]> wrote:
    > >Okay, let's get some feedback from Europeans once and for all. I'm a
    > >Canadian, and I'm planning on going to England, Scotland and Ireland next
    > >May. Canadians are under the impression they need to do stuff to make it
    > >very clear to Europeans that they are CANADIANS, not Americans.
Americans
    > >say it isn't true. True, not true? In quiring minds want to know,
    > >especially before they get over there for 3 weeks.
    > I'm an American who lives in Europe. I've never felt any need to
    > pretend to be Canadian, nor to apologize for being American.
Therein lay my question. I'd always heard it and then heard it wasn't true.
I didn't much care one way or another until I decided on this trip. then it
just seemed practical to know. Y'know.
    > Why don't you do a little experiment and then let us know? Start off
    > by making no effort to reveal your nationality. If somebody asks where
    > you're from, just give the name of your city, say, "Hamilton".

Actually, I wanted to know because I didn't want to make any effort to
demonstrate my nationality at all. People like me or they don't, whatever
natioanlity I am. It's just what, practical to know what I might have been
in for.
Make
    > sure to always be polite and pleasant, however. If in spite of your
    > good manners, you feel as though you're getting shabby treatment and
    > that it's not just bad manners on the other person's part, then pull
    > out those little Canadian flags and stick them all over your clothing
    > and luggage and see if it makes a difference.

I have a Canadian flag luggage tag, but I got that when I went to Boston, so
that wasn't why I got it. That's the only Canadian anything I got. I just
wanted to know the experiences of others. You get what you put out I always
say, so you're right, be polite and pleasant. (That what I guess they'll
know you're Canadian-LOL) We're always supposed to be so polite you know.
Not always true, but there you have it.
D
    > We'll expect a report from you when you get back.
    > -----------
    > Barbara Vaughan
    > My email address is my first initial followed by my surname at libero dot
it
    > I answer travel questions only in the newsgroup
 
Old Nov 11th 2003, 8:59 am
  #11  
Damson Rhee
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: The Eternal Canadian Question

"Padraig Breathnach" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > "JohnT" <[email protected]> wrote:
    > >...I can see no reason at all why a Canadian visiting Europe
    > >should ever draw attention to his or her own nationality.
    > >
    > A little bit of national pride, perhaps, and being fed up with being
    > mistaken for an American. I have met Canadians visiting Europe who
    > seemed almost pathetically grateful to be recognised as Canadians.

I can see that making sense. A Canadian Prime Minister that I wasn't too
fond of once said that living next to the Americans is like sleeping with an
elephant. Everytime it moves, you feel it. They are so many and we so few
and all that. LOL
But, we're making our own identity these days, though not everyone likes it.
Our views on same sex marriage, decriminalizing pot and such.
    > I agree with those who responded that there is no real disadvantage in
    > being an American rather than a Canadian visitor.
I'm glad I've asked, it dispelled that particular myth.
D
    > --
    > PB
    > The return address has been MUNGED
 
Old Nov 11th 2003, 9:03 am
  #12  
Jesper Lauridsen
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: The Eternal Canadian Question

On Tue, 11 Nov 2003 12:10:54 -0500, "Damson Rhee" <[email protected]> wrote:

    >Canadians are under the impression they need to do stuff to make it
    >very clear to Europeans that they are CANADIANS, not Americans.

What's the difference anyway?
 
Old Nov 11th 2003, 11:10 am
  #13  
Deep Freud Moors
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: The Eternal Canadian Question

On Tue, 11 Nov 2003 12:10:54 -0500, "Damson Rhee"
<[email protected]> wrote:

    >Okay, let's get some feedback from Europeans once and for all. I'm a
    >Canadian, and I'm planning on going to England, Scotland and Ireland next
    >May. Canadians are under the impression they need to do stuff to make it
    >very clear to Europeans that they are CANADIANS, not Americans. Americans
    >say it isn't true. True, not true? In quiring minds want to know,
    >especially before they get over there for 3 weeks.

How much do you mind being mistaken for a Yank?

It can be difficult to distinguish folks from the north of the USA and
Canada. People may assume one or the other. If this is a problem to
you, wear the maple leaf - many others do, even a few paranoid
Americans!

You won't have too many probs in the UK and Ireland I shouldn't think.
---
DFM
 
Old Nov 11th 2003, 11:15 am
  #14  
Derek McBryde
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: The Eternal Canadian Question

On Tue, 11 Nov 2003 12:10:54 -0500, "Damson Rhee"
<[email protected]> wrote:

    >Okay, let's get some feedback from Europeans once and for all. I'm a
    >Canadian, and I'm planning on going to England, Scotland and Ireland next
    >May. Canadians are under the impression they need to do stuff to make it
    >very clear to Europeans that they are CANADIANS, not Americans. Americans
    >say it isn't true. True, not true? In quiring minds want to know,
    >especially before they get over there for 3 weeks.
    >D

You could always do what other posters here do and make an intensive
study of current fashion so that you blend in as a local. However,
I should warn you that in UK we have all seen the movie South Park and
know what Canadians look like!!! )

Seriously though, I would expect most people in Europe to welcome
Canadians and Americans alike. I'm Irish but I am regularly mistaken
for American in Europe. Dunno why. It never stopped me getting a warm
welcome.

If not being thought of as American is something that is personally
dear to you, then I guess carefully chosen printed T-shirts, or
strategically placed Canadian flags, or a cap that says "I am a
Canadian" or a big sign round your neck should do the trick.

Half of my family live around the Toronto area and I find the locals
there have a way of saying "about" which sounds more like "a-boat"
which strikes me as being very Canadian. Other than that I wouldn't
have a clue.

However, if you bring me a big jar of light Maple syrup, I promise I
won't think of you as American. )

Derek
 
Old Nov 11th 2003, 11:53 am
  #15  
Ra
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: The Eternal Canadian Question

    >
    > Seriously though, I would expect most people in Europe to welcome
    > Canadians and Americans alike. I'm Irish but I am regularly mistaken
    > for American in Europe. Dunno why. It never stopped me getting a warm
    > welcome.
    >

On my last trip to Europe, people kept asking me if I was from England.
In Eastern Europe, when I told them I was from the United States,
they would ask where that was. I would then say "America." They all
knew where that was and were always happy to talk to me.
 


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