American Manners vs. Canadian Manners

[TayL 0]

This kind of stems from the whole shoes debate in the rant, which I've been following. My fiancé is officially coming up to meet my parents in February. Which is awesome and also scary. But I get him for my birthday, so it's mostly awesome. My parents are a bit judgemental about my friends' manners and they have been very rude to my exes before due to manners. Which is rude unto itself, but a whole other story.

So I'm wondering if it's just the shoes (ie: the majority of Americans seem to not remove their shoes upon entering the house), or if there are other things to warn him about that seem so normal to me as a Canadian that I would never even consider telling him. I know he was seriously weirded out by the shoes thing.

Have you noticed things that are different that Americans do than Canadians that are not considered impolite in the US, but would be in Canada? Yes, I know manners can be *very* regional, so feel free to say if you've noticed something even in a region as opposed to the whole country. (My fiancé's from Texas) He wants to set a good impression with my parents and I want him to as well, so any help would be appreciated and you guys seem like the best folks to ask (I've toyed with the idea of asking every forum I'm on, but in all but here the Canadians stay in Canada and the Americans stay in America!

Help?

[JillA 2]

Besides the shoes thing, HATS off at the dinner table!! It's common at home to take your hat off at dinner and/or in a restaurant, but here it seems different, people where their baseball caps at the dinner table or in restaurants which I find to be a bit rude!

Edited December 10, 2008 by JillA

[trailmix 77]

This could be regional or just bad manners - but when someone says 'Thank you' - say 'you're welcome' - not 'uh-huh'.

[The_Dude 1,142]

From my travels back and forth, I haven't noticed much difference, apart from the shoes thing. I was raised to always say please and thank you, and sir and ma'am. To be honest, I didn't think the shoes thing was a regional thing. I just figured it was my fiance's family. It was a bit odd for me at first, but I got used to it. Nobody wants to get their carpets dirty I suppose. It was just a bit odd because growing up, the only people that I knew that had the shoe requirement were my Asian and Middle Eastern friends.

[TayL 0]

Ooooh... there's another one I noticed (Trailmix reminded me).

For some reason, Americans don't seem to know the meaning of the word "pardon." As in, you say something and the person you're speaking to misses part of it. They look at you and go "HUH???" or "What?" I was brought up to understand that the correct response meaning "I'm sorry, I didn't catch that" was "Pardon." Kori laughs at me because he's never heard anyone use it before. (I'm mildly hearing impaired, so I say that a lot.)

[SapphireDreams 71]

Ooooh... there's another one I noticed (Trailmix reminded me).

For some reason, Americans don't seem to know the meaning of the word "pardon." As in, you say something and the person you're speaking to misses part of it. They look at you and go "HUH???" or "What?" I was brought up to understand that the correct response meaning "I'm sorry, I didn't catch that" was "Pardon." Kori laughs at me because he's never heard anyone use it before. (I'm mildly hearing impaired, so I say that a lot.)

I noticed pardon is a Canadian thing too, my fiance makes fun of when when I say that. I've reverted to saying, "sorry?" or "sorry what was that?" instead.

I also think the 'uh huh' thing is annoying, but I don't necessarily find it rude.

Those were the only two differences that I've found.

[reeses16 8]

"Pardon" is regional in the US. Go down south and no one would look twice if you said it.

Might be worth a reminder to day "sir and ma'am". I feel like those are kinda generational.

[TheATeam 0]

Apart from the shoe thing, my USC husband is much more polite than my Canadian family! I know that sounds funny, but it's very true. When he met my parents, and then my grandparents, both times he refused to go to the house until he had picked up gifts for them each individually. I was very surprised! (Pleasantly though!)

[Cin&Anil 0]

This kind of stems from the whole shoes debate in the rant, which I've been following. My fiancé is officially coming up to meet my parents in February. Which is awesome and also scary. But I get him for my birthday, so it's mostly awesome. My parents are a bit judgemental about my friends' manners and they have been very rude to my exes before due to manners. Which is rude unto itself, but a whole other story.

So I'm wondering if it's just the shoes (ie: the majority of Americans seem to not remove their shoes upon entering the house), or if there are other things to warn him about that seem so normal to me as a Canadian that I would never even consider telling him. I know he was seriously weirded out by the shoes thing.

Have you noticed things that are different that Americans do than Canadians that are not considered impolite in the US, but would be in Canada? Yes, I know manners can be *very* regional, so feel free to say if you've noticed something even in a region as opposed to the whole country. (My fiancé's from Texas) He wants to set a good impression with my parents and I want him to as well, so any help would be appreciated and you guys seem like the best folks to ask (I've toyed with the idea of asking every forum I'm on, but in all but here the Canadians stay in Canada and the Americans stay in America!

Help?

Hi TAYL,

WEll, in case no one has mentioned this yet.. Americans and I am one, and do this.. talk loud.

I am from the New England area and my fiance is in Canada.. Yes, I take off my shoes now everytime I visit him.. but I do talk loud.. something to remember..

good luck

Cindy

[TayL 0]

Fortunately, my family is used to loud talkers. Mum's loud and, because of my hearing, I tend to be loud, too. They have no qualms about reminding people about voices and it's not a big deal in my family. My stepdad gets kinda grumpy, but it's normal here for everyone to be loud. My family has to be louder so I hear them properly (I don't have hearing aids because my hearing isn't *that* bad, and I'm functional without them) when they're giving me instructions, I'm louder because I don't hear things right. But that *is* good to know.

[aravis227 1]

Besides the shoes thing, HATS off at the dinner table!! It's common at home to take your hat off at dinner and/or in a restaurant, but here it seems different, people where their baseball caps at the dinner table or in restaurants which I find to be a bit rude!

I'm the USC and this drives me nuts! We were raised better than that in my family. All of my brothers take off their hat when sitting at the dinner table or when being introduced to someone.

On the shoes thing, I thought this was just my fiance's family, too! I only know one or two families who do this in the USC. Dennis has gotten me in the habit of taking my shoes off at the door now, too. At least I always know where they are!

I definitely think "pardon" is regional in the US. I say it, too and get funny looks.

One thing I noticed while I was in Winnipeg, I'm not sure I'd count it under "manners" exactly...but I got a few funny looks when I asked where the "bathroom" was. My husband gets the same funny looks here in the US when he asks for the "washroom".

I asked my husband and he said that he hasn't really noticed any distinct differences in manners.

[JillA 2]

Besides the shoes thing, HATS off at the dinner table!! It's common at home to take your hat off at dinner and/or in a restaurant, but here it seems different, people where their baseball caps at the dinner table or in restaurants which I find to be a bit rude!

I'm the USC and this drives me nuts! We were raised better than that in my family. All of my brothers take off their hat when sitting at the dinner table or when being introduced to someone.

On the shoes thing, I thought this was just my fiance's family, too! I only know one or two families who do this in the USC. Dennis has gotten me in the habit of taking my shoes off at the door now, too. At least I always know where they are!

I definitely think "pardon" is regional in the US. I say it, too and get funny looks.

One thing I noticed while I was in Winnipeg, I'm not sure I'd count it under "manners" exactly...but I got a few funny looks when I asked where the "bathroom" was. My husband gets the same funny looks here in the US when he asks for the "washroom".

I asked my husband and he said that he hasn't really noticed any distinct differences in manners.

LOL I thought I was the only one getting funny looks when I ask where the washroom is.... they say "do you mean bathroom?"

[xtinab 0]

I've also gotten funny looks for the bathroom one

[MissDinaDee 8]

LMAO!!! I totally hear you on the shoe thing... my fiance and stepson are constantly being asked to remove their shoes in the house by me... I just can't stand the dirt or wear & tear on the flooring!

[TheATeam 0]

Oh! I've also gotten strange looks at restaurants down here when I asked them to pack up leftovers. Down here I find that at most places they bring you the to go container and you do it yourself! Boy was I embarassed the first time I handed a server my plate and asked them to pack it to go. He proceeded to put my plate back down and said "I'll bring you a box."