A friendly rivalry

[Krikit 1,165]

The only place I've seen bring you Canadian bacon when you order Canadian bacon is Buffalo. But they also know how to make Bloody Caesars too. I Buffalo.

I love the interpreter thing.

[The_Dude 1,142]

I'm planning my first three month visit to Minnesota (where my partner is originally from) and we've been joking back and forth about my teaching the natives the enormous health benefits of poutine, wearing head to toe 'Canada' themed clothing and speaking French as often as possible..

It has become a bit of a competition to find new outrageously Canadian ways to irritate Americans.

Any suggestions?

(Obv 'The war of 1812' and ' "free" healthcare' are tossed around liberally. )

My wifes uncle always brings up the war of 1812. I find the best comeback to that jab is to remind him that it was the british army that actually did the damage. If he continues on, i'll ask him why they had to run to mummy for protection. If all fails, I'll say "Yeah, well the Leafs suck.... AGAIN!!"

I would suggest not using "aboot" or "hoser". All that does is validate to all of us Americans who have seen the movie Strange Brew too many times that that film was indeed a documentary

[Wyatt's Torch 45]

The only place I've seen bring you Canadian bacon when you order Canadian bacon is Buffalo. But they also know how to make Bloody Caesars too. I Buffalo.

I love the interpreter thing.

Buffalo gets a bad rep in a lot of "city ranking" reviews etc., and it has had a decreasing population percentage for awhile now...but I DO like the city quite a bit. My wife was born and raised there and we were married there (at The Mansion) in July.

One of the best things about Buffalo is all the unique restaurants. There aren't a lot of big chains there -- more local franchises and one-offs.

I can't wait to visit for Thanksgiving next week.

Edited to add: YES to the Caesars! It's funny -- when we had a big family dinner just before our wedding in Buffalo, my father, sister and sister's fiancee ALL ordered Caesars. How Canadian, eh? But after the briefest hesitation, the waitress figured out that they wanted the drink, and NOT Caesar salads.

Edited November 18, 2009 by Wyatt's Torch

[bogartnoir 1]

my boy used to say things like "aboat" and "eh" but now he sounds like a valley girl from being around me for too long! haha oops... :|

[Krikit 1,165]

Buffalo gets a bad rep in a lot of "city ranking" reviews etc., and it has had a decreasing population percentage for awhile now...but I DO like the city quite a bit. My wife was born and raised there and we were married there (at The Mansion) in July.

Oh nice! That's a beautiful place. That's not you in the slideshow is it? lol

Buffalo is an awesome city. The people are so nice and are exceptional at customer service. I remember, years ago, when they had this massive move to customer-oriented service because it was really a problem area for them for a while. A lot of places in the US (and Canada for that matter) could really learn something from that city.

Edited to add: YES to the Caesars! It's funny -- when we had a big family dinner just before our wedding in Buffalo, my father, sister and sister's fiancee ALL ordered Caesars. How Canadian, eh? But after the briefest hesitation, the waitress figured out that they wanted the drink, and NOT Caesar salads.

I've learned to specify that I want the drink and not the salad. lol

[Arabella 4]

my boy used to say things like "aboat" and "eh" but now he sounds like a valley girl from being around me for too long! haha oops... :|

Awww that's sweet. Sean's Canadian accent is too weak IMHO. I bearly hear it every now and then (and I love it!).

My next door neighbors are from Alberta, and they have a much stronger accent. So when they are down (they only live in Florida for vacations and the summer) I am enjoying their accents.

[Bern. 3]

my boy used to say things like "aboat" and "eh" but now he sounds like a valley girl from being around me for too long! haha oops... :|

Awww that's sweet. Sean's Canadian accent is too weak IMHO. I bearly hear it every now and then (and I love it!).

My next door neighbors are from Alberta, and they have a much stronger accent. So when they are down (they only live in Florida for vacations and the summer) I am enjoying their accents.

Albertan's have accents? o_O Could I have an example please? I've only heard of East Coasters with accents. Like my father is from Newfoundland and it's like another language. Oh, and people in eastern canada talk a LOT faster compared to western canada in my experience.

[Wyatt's Torch 45]

Albertan's have accents? o_O Could I have an example please? I've only heard of East Coasters with accents. Like my father is from Newfoundland and it's like another language. Oh, and people in eastern canada talk a LOT faster compared to western canada in my experience.

I think folks from Toronto / Urban Ontario sound more "American" than folks from Vancouver / Calgary do. So it would stand to reason that to an American, us Western Canadians would have a stronger "accent". It's all relative.

[kizza 1]

Oh I LOVE this game! MOntreal Habs sweatshirt, red Vancouver 2010 mittens, toques, lots and lots of toques, wool socks, saying ABOOT or oot and aboot any chance I get.

the dollarstore next to my house sells these AWESOME quebec & canadian flag plastic ponchos!!

Ive bought some as gag gifts... hehehe Can't wait to give them.

May I also suggest driving around with those silly Habs flags sticking out your car window?

[lgg 2]

yes Kizza, you may!

I'd be thrilled with a habs sticker but I'll raise you one of those awesome Quebec ponchos???

Oh I LOVE this game! MOntreal Habs sweatshirt, red Vancouver 2010 mittens, toques, lots and lots of toques, wool socks, saying ABOOT or oot and aboot any chance I get.

the dollarstore next to my house sells these AWESOME quebec & canadian flag plastic ponchos!!

Ive bought some as gag gifts... hehehe Can't wait to give them.

May I also suggest driving around with those silly Habs flags sticking out your car window?

[SomberCat 0]

Albertan's have accents? o_O Could I have an example please? I've only heard of East Coasters with accents. Like my father is from Newfoundland and it's like another language. Oh, and people in eastern canada talk a LOT faster compared to western canada in my experience.

I think folks from Toronto / Urban Ontario sound more "American" than folks from Vancouver / Calgary do. So it would stand to reason that to an American, us Western Canadians would have a stronger "accent". It's all relative.

My husband moved to Ontario from Nova Scotia when he was 20, but he has the Nova Scotia accent through and through. However, all of his friends in Ontario sound nothing like him. The faster talk wouldn't be a problem for us slow hearing USCs ( ) if there wasn't mumbling. Every east coast Canadian that I know does this mumbling thing that's just brutal. After three years, I'm starting to get it, but some days, I have to ask, "What?!" at least 3 or 4 times.

[kizza 1]

yes Kizza, you may!

I'd be thrilled with a habs sticker but I'll raise you one of those awesome Quebec ponchos???

Oh I LOVE this game! MOntreal Habs sweatshirt, red Vancouver 2010 mittens, toques, lots and lots of toques, wool socks, saying ABOOT or oot and aboot any chance I get.

the dollarstore next to my house sells these AWESOME quebec & canadian flag plastic ponchos!!

Ive bought some as gag gifts... hehehe Can't wait to give them.

May I also suggest driving around with those silly Habs flags sticking out your car window?

well... plastic ponchos are always winner, but you know you can't go wrong when they are plastered with your flag!

[kristy_sea 0]

Albertan's have accents? o_O Could I have an example please? I've only heard of East Coasters with accents. Like my father is from Newfoundland and it's like another language. Oh, and people in eastern canada talk a LOT faster compared to western canada in my experience.

I think folks from Toronto / Urban Ontario sound more "American" than folks from Vancouver / Calgary do. So it would stand to reason that to an American, us Western Canadians would have a stronger "accent". It's all relative.

I'm from Kitchener (near Toronto) and my partner is from Northern Minnesota... this year when we made a bunch of friends from Europe they REFUSED to believe that HE was the American and I was The Canadian...

Thanks for the awesome suggestions so far, I'm really looking forward to the trip!

[warlord 73]

I'm planning my first three month visit to Minnesota (where my partner is originally from) and we've been joking back and forth about my teaching the natives the enormous health benefits of poutine, wearing head to toe 'Canada' themed clothing and speaking French as often as possible..

It has become a bit of a competition to find new outrageously Canadian ways to irritate Americans.

Any suggestions?

(Obv 'The war of 1812' and ' "free" healthcare' are tossed around liberally. )

My wifes uncle always brings up the war of 1812. I find the best comeback to that jab is to remind him that it was the british army that actually did the damage. If he continues on, i'll ask him why they had to run to mummy for protection. If all fails, I'll say "Yeah, well the Leafs suck.... AGAIN!!"

Plus not only was it against the British, the US nor the British ended up succeeding in either of their goals, so no one lost the damn war in the first place. It was a stalemate and the war dissolved. The only claim the British army had was they landed in the bay and were able to get to DC where they managed to set fire to one of the rooms in the White House and causing a fire (no they did not burn it down). But the US captured Lake Erie which then cut off the ties the British had meaning they accomplished one of their main objectives.

I think Canadians think it was them because the British forces occupying the territory that was going to become Canada were able to repel the US troops in only one little battle. People think that was what the war was about.

Since the war pretty much started out with British telling the US they couldn't trade with France and the US rebelled, when the France/English war ended in 1814, the war of 1812 pretty much was null and void and both the US and British called in a truce.

So there never was any winner or loser, since neither side was able to 100% fully get their objectives met...

[SapphireDreams 71]

Albertan's have accents? o_O Could I have an example please? I've only heard of East Coasters with accents. Like my father is from Newfoundland and it's like another language. Oh, and people in eastern canada talk a LOT faster compared to western canada in my experience.

I think folks from Toronto / Urban Ontario sound more "American" than folks from Vancouver / Calgary do. So it would stand to reason that to an American, us Western Canadians would have a stronger "accent". It's all relative.

I totally agree! I can totally hear an accent on Western Canadians.

Most people here say that I don't have an accent, but sometimes it slips out when I say "house" "about" and "out" but overall i think I'm pretty neutral when I want to be. Now when i call home and talk to my family and friends, they do sound a bit Canadian...ha.