When you tell people you are from Canada

[BH45 0]

You should try explaining where Cochrane ON is to folks. I've got to the point I tell them "just south of Hudson Bay"...they kinda get the idea then.

[ChloroPhil 0]

When my fiancee first met one of my former roommate's #$&^#$@#*&^@# friends and found out she was visiting from Canada the first words out of his mouth were "Say house!" and "So are you going to try to get pregnant so you can stay here?". What a di%k

[Peggy 1]

People think all Canadians say "EH". I rarely ever say that word.

People from home are telling me I am speaking like a Southerner now

I do catch myself sometimes using some of their words that dont make sense....

[Krikit 1,165]

People think all Canadians say "EH". I rarely ever say that word.

People from home are telling me I am speaking like a Southerner now

I do catch myself sometimes using some of their words that dont make sense....

OMG, I was out for dinner with my Canadian friends last week when I used the term "Y'all" without even thinking. They all turned on me at the same time and pointed and laughed and called me out on it.

Edited October 1, 2008 by Krikit

[Emancipation 2]

Oh that's one of the irritating things about my friends back home.. they say "how's the American" when I walk in the room, or they say "you have completely changed to the dark side" in reference to my accent. *sigh.. I can't help that I pick up accents easily.. it happened with my mum when she moved to Canada and I'm afraid I sound completely like a new englander now

[Galateia 1]

People think all Canadians say "EH". I rarely ever say that word.

People from home are telling me I am speaking like a Southerner now

I do catch myself sometimes using some of their words that dont make sense....

OMG, I was out for dinner with my Canadian friends last week when I used the term "Y'all" without even thinking. They all turned on me at the same time and pointed and laughed and called me out on it.

I used "y'all" before I moved down here, and have no issue with pointing out that English edited out the second person singular by adopting "you" as second person singular and plural, so we effectively no longer have a second person plural save for "y'all" and thus I choose to use it for clarity's sake.

That shuts them up speedily.

Actually, my closest friends wouldn't bat an eyelash as we're all devoted grammar nerds and tend to use whatever terms are most accurate. (Where is that "L" on the forehead emoticon when you need it?)

[antda 13]

Hi Everyone,

In answer to this poll, when I tell other people I'm from Canada, the short answer is:

-"Oh" with a look of

As posted in another similar message topic, again, here is more information regarding that "Oh" and ...

"For me, when I say that I'm "Canadian", they don't usually believe me. Maybe it's because I don't look like a "typical" Canadian and I am a Canadian Citizen through naturalization. But yes, I do run into funny situations about being Canadian or lack of being a Canadian. For example, I remember the following situations:

Situation 1:

American: "Where are you from?"

Me: "Canada"

American: Give a look on their face...like this... .

American: "Where are your parents from?"

Me: "Canada"

American: Again, another look... and walks away....

Situation 2:

American: "Where are you from? Where were you born?"

Me: "Canada. That's my country of citizenship. Then I mention another birth country."

American: "So what do I type in here then?" (they were filling out some information on the computer)

Me: "Canada, I guess. Or you can type in both. Whatever you want."

American: (Types on the computer ) and says "It looks like you've travelled around quite a bit"

American: And a look of... ...

Situation 3:

Canadian (Border guard, crossing the border): "Country of Citizenship?"

Me: "Canada"

Canadian: Looks at my Green Card and my Canadian Passport, looks at me. And has a face...

Canadian: "How long have you been out of the country? (thinking that I overstayed in the USA)"

Me: "I live in the USA as a permanent resident. But I'm visiting Canada as a Canadian Citizen"

Situation 4:

American: "Aren't you a US Citizen now, since you got married here?"

Me: "Not yet. There's something called 'immigration' that I have to go through"

American: "I thought people who became married here were automatically US Citizens. My relative became a US Citizen when they got married."

Me: "Maybe 40-50 years ago or so. Times have changed...."

Situation 5:

American: "Tell me a bit about your culture, as I'd like to learn more about it"

Me: I tell them a bit of information about Canada and where I grew in there

American: Has a look on their face...

American: "I meant your other culture"

Me: That is my former culture. That where I grew up in, lived in, and have citizenship of.

American: "Oh. And another . And then asks me questions about my birth country culture."

Me: I have a look of on my face, not knowing any more information. And then say, "Umm...I think you should talk to my grandparents about this. I have no idea what you're talking about"

Situation 6:

Me (filling out forms): "Country of Birth"

Me: Writes: "Former Citizenship: Canada, Country of Birth: (Lists Birth Country Here)"

American: "Can I have a copy of your American birth certificate"

Me: Gives them the following information: "My Canadian Passport, Canadian Citizenship Card, Birth Certificate, US Green Card"

American: Has a look on their face. "I might as well photocopy all of this, as I don't know what else to do"

American: Photocopies all the information I gave them for their records...

Lol....I'm sure I can think of many other situations here....

But yeah, it's hard to be Canadian (or perceived lack of) at times and not be stereotyped because of it..."

Ant (Canadian, caught in an American world...)

Edited October 1, 2008 by AntandD

[Reba 2]

I usually get "OH" or "that's far" or "where's that?" or "you must love the weather down here then, so much warmer isn't it?" bleah...It gets rather tiring it does. Especially when someone yet again tells me at work that I shouldn't be wearing a sweater in the office because I should just looooooooove the cold, when they've got the a/c turned up so freakin high that I can see my breath while sitting in my office ugh...

Edited October 1, 2008 by Reba

[Krikit 1,165]

I usually get "OH" or "that's far" or "where's that?" or "you must love the weather down here then, so much warmer isn't it?" bleah...It gets rather tiring it does. Especially when someone yet again tells me at work that I shouldn't be wearing a sweater in the office because I should just looooooooove the cold, when they've got the a/c turned up so freakin high that I can see my breath while sitting in my office ugh...

Ugh. I hate that.

[Cassie 8]

I usually get "OH" or "that's far" or "where's that?" or "you must love the weather down here then, so much warmer isn't it?" bleah...It gets rather tiring it does. Especially when someone yet again tells me at work that I shouldn't be wearing a sweater in the office because I should just looooooooove the cold, when they've got the a/c turned up so freakin high that I can see my breath while sitting in my office ugh...

Ugh. I hate that.

Seriously. People say to me "oh you must love the warmer weather here" to which I reply "um no, 100+ degrees fahrenheit plus humidity does not enjoyment make"

[Reba 2]

The heat here in WNC in summer is about the same as back home in TO really, only it lasts longer. I hate summer, period, no matter which part of the continent I'm on. I much prefer autumn, which thankfully we actually seem to be getting here for a change. The past few years we've had summer weather right up until end of November- early December. Then we have 3 or 4 weeks of winter-ish weather, and then back to summer again.

I may need a coat today, its cold out there this morning!

[ChloroPhil 0]

heh heh heh.

If it makes y'all (second person plural again!) feel any better I got a lot of similar reactions when I moved from New Hampshire to North Carolina. It wasn't always the and at least my country of birth/citizenship was the same but come on(!) we dont' all LOVE the cold just because we lived where it got cold.

"Ooooo! Ooooo! Ooooo! Say caR!"

[Krikit 1,165]

"Ooooo! Ooooo! Ooooo! Say caR!"

[melusine 5]

where is that......i don't want to believe it (even if i do)

On my side i have the French accent

but i get the eh sometime !!

[Peggy 1]

Yeh, people like to hear me say Car. They say I call it a krrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, not car. I tell them I am saying car and you have a problem with your ears if you here krrrrrrrrrrrrrr......lol

Same with the word about. They tell me I am saying a boat or aboot. Nah I dont think so people. I guess being in the South they never hear Canadians talk.

I do have to repeat myself alot of the times at work. I think I talk to fast for them down here and they just can not make me out.

Well sometimes I can not make them out either.

Like come errrrrrrr, instead of here.

Its like issssssss, not this.

Winner instead of Winter.

I could go on for awhile with the words they dont complete in the South.