When you tell people you are from Canada

[trailmix 77]

weeeeee a poll! - note this poll is multiple choice, so you can choose as many as you like!

Edited October 1, 2008 by trailmix

[raymaga 25]

I only live 3 1/2 hours from the Canadian border (near Seattle), so they're used to Canadians being here for shopping, baseball or football games, etc. and it usually isn't a very big deal. But, I do get comments a lot about having an "accent".

And people usually think we ALL speak French!!! NOT!!!!!

[SpiritAlight 1]

What I find amusing most is my name becomes (with some people):

Canada.

It's weird and comforting...hee, hee.

[Krikit 1,165]

I get a lot of people telling me how much they like Canada and the Canadians.

While I was on the road to Canada all the hurricanes were in the news. My cellphone had stopped being able to send and receive text messages so I called the customer service line. The lady said she had corrected something and was sending me a text message.... could I please check to see if I had received it? I said I would have to hang up the phone before I could do that so she said "When will you be at a land line?" I told her I was on the road to Canada so it would be quite a while before I got to a phone. She goes "Well, I've heard of people from Florida fleeing the hurricanes but don't you think that's a little extreme?"

[Cassie 8]

I get the "Canadian, eh" ALL THE TIME. And the weather thing too.

[Marilyn. 340]

usually I get asked, what part of Canada or something about the weather...

[Emancipation 2]

yep.. should have included - "oh do you speak french?".. get that probably 40% of the time. or the other close second "but you don't have an accent?" (meaning I don't sound french)

Edited October 1, 2008 by Emancipation

[thetreble 19]

I get either "from where" or "wow..weather must be different for you here.."

When I explain the weather is very similar, except that we get much more snow and much colder winters than here in NJ they act as if it's all year round. I've told people here that in the summer in the GTA it breaks 100+ degrees and they do not believe me.

[trailmix 77]

Only two people have asked me 'where' in Canada - a British guy I was talking to on the phone about an apartment and a Canadian guy we met.

I got the 'are your documents in English' one from my Husband, he went to register our car yesterday and they asked him at the County tax office and they asked him today when he called the place where he has to take the car to be 'inspected' ie: they check to make sure the odometer hasn't been changed and that the VIN number hasn't been changed.

[Galateia 1]

I get the "Eh" comment, and then a nice dose of "Aboot!" I-AM-CANADIAN-Commerical-style.

I usually use that as a segue to re-enact that commercial for the amusement of all present, which successfully puts the donkey-behind in their place and cracks everyone else up.

If I'm feeling really annoyed, I explain that trotting out "Eh" within seconds of meeting a Canadian is a sure way to earn their enmity and that they've just written you off as a socially gauche philistine but are too polite to respond with anything but a pained smile. I also go on to explain how they've essentially just implied that the Canadian is an uneducated yokel from the 'back country', and that we Canadians don't tend to assume that every American we meet is from a trailer park, and therefore refrain from making similar faux pas when meeting strangers.

My husband rolls his eyes and tries not to laugh as the hapless American tries to process being politely and courteously insulted within an inch of their life.

[T.O_2_FL 0]

In addition to the 'EH' comment people have also asked me regarding the word 'ABOUT'...they say that Canadians say it differently....pfffft

[Flames9_RN 358]

Ya,they ask what part9sask.)--as if they know, THEN, they ask is that close to Toronto?? lol

[thetreble 19]

Flames, I've actually just changed where I'm from TO toronto. If I say Kitchener-Waterloo I know no one knows where that is (even if they all have black berries in their hands) so I just say Toronto.

[Krikit 1,165]

I have to laugh at the British, who seem to think that the Rockies are about an hour's drive from Toronto.

[Galateia 1]

Flames, I've actually just changed where I'm from TO toronto. If I say Kitchener-Waterloo I know no one knows where that is (even if they all have black berries in their hands) so I just say Toronto.

Whassup, KW buddy?

I've been pining for all-you-can-eat sushi ever since I got here; I used to eat it about once a week, and have been cold turkey since I transplanted to TX. There are sushi places down here, but are heinously expensive and of very questionable quality.

Without medical insurance I'm not willing to risk food poisoning.

I usually tell 'em KW is about 1.5hrs away from Toronto, in the clump that contains most of the population. That makes sense to them.

Edited October 1, 2008 by Galateia