Thinking Canadian in the USA

[CdnMN 0]

I find, in many conversations, that I seem to be exactly opposite of many good friends here in the US.

For example, the latest furor over health care seems to be a non-issue to me. So many of my friends rail at the idea of publicly funded medical assistance, yet I take it for granted because of my Canadian background.

Just curious what other people find themselves at odds with as a result of the culture we are used to in Canada.

I don't want to start a pro/con fight or any sort of political arguement. I'm just curious about the cultural differences and how they shape our view as opposed to others.

Do any of you find yourself feeling like you're at the extreme oposite in your views?

CdnMn

[decocker 7,198]

haha. i feel at odds with my own culture. i'm usc!

i think it probably has to do with your location in the us..more rural, more "backwards"

[Udella&Wiz 325]

I find, in many conversations, that I seem to be exactly opposite of many good friends here in the US.

For example, the latest furor over health care seems to be a non-issue to me. So many of my friends rail at the idea of publicly funded medical assistance, yet I take it for granted because of my Canadian background.

Just curious what other people find themselves at odds with as a result of the culture we are used to in Canada.

I don't want to start a pro/con fight or any sort of political arguement. I'm just curious about the cultural differences and how they shape our view as opposed to others.

Do any of you find yourself feeling like you're at the extreme oposite in your views?

CdnMn

Sure - the cultural differences are quite definitely there and when you first move here, for a certain period they standout like a sore thumb.

Healthcare is a non issue for me too, as is a black president. I find myself wondering why so much energy is spent on what I consider a non-issue....I mean aren't there better things to worry about? But I understand things are just different and people are comign from a different place.

We have a unique opportunity to be USC evebtually...but to have the perspective of an outsider looking in as well.

[ValerieA 350]

Maternity leave. The people I know in the US who are having children have to go back to work pretty much right away. I guess I got used to the 1-year paid leave in Canada. They don't appreciate hearing about that, for some reason

[Kathryn41 3,205]

The whole attitude to health - not just the health care issue. I am used to seeking medical attention when I need it; here, most people resist going to the doctor until it is absolutely the last option, so instead of focusing on preventing an issue from getting bad, they are trying to deal with an issue that has gone from bad to worse due to lack of timely medical treatment. There is almost no focus at all on preventative health care.

Courtesy - the common 'please', 'thank you' and 'you're welcome' are not generally part of the daily conversation. I say 'thank you' to someone and I get an 'uh unh' . In the stores I hear people say 'gimme so and so' and when they get what they want they don't bother to say 'thanks'. It is either nothing or something like a 'grunt'.

The general American focus on 'me first' or 'my needs are more important than yours' or 'what I want is more important than what you want'. I really miss the Canadian 'we are in this together so we can work on this together' give and take. If someone is having a hard time here, well the general attitude is that they deserve it and no one is going to do anything to help them out. I much prefer the attitude that if I can do something to help someone going through a rough time then I will and I have no problem if we collectively help out as a society. This US attitude is at the heart of the healthcare objection, the education problem, racisim and many more situations in the US. No one wants to work together to bring about a situation that is for the collective good because they don't want to 'share' what they believe is their right to have it all for themselves. (That is not to tar all Americans with this brush but it is much more of a prevalent attitude in the US than otherwise)

Edited April 14, 2010 by Kathryn41

[Sam and Ben 2]

The general American focus on 'me first' or 'my needs are more important than yours' or 'what I want is more important than what you want'. I really miss the Canadian 'we are in this together so we can work on this together' give and take. If someone is having a hard time here, well the general attitude is that they deserve it and no one is going to do anything to help them out. I much prefer the attitude that if I can do something to help someone going through a rough time then I will and I have no problem if we collectively help out as a society. This US attitude is at the heart of the healthcare objection, the education problem, racisim and many more situations in the US. No one wants to work together to bring about a situation that is for the collective good because they don't want to 'share' what they believe is their right to have it all for themselves. (That is not to tar all Americans with this brush but it is much more of a prevalent attitude in the US than otherwise)

I met with two immigrant friends - one Canadian, one British - yesterday for lunch, and this is exactly what we were discussing. All of our husbands are up in arms over the health care debate - "It's not MY responsibility to pay for someone else to visit a doctor!" - meanwhile the three of us feel it as being almost a civic duty to provide basic diagnostic care for anyone who needs it. We all obviously come from backgrounds where this is a common thing.

[TimandJoyce 1]

Courtesy - the common 'please', 'thank you' and 'you're welcome' are not generally part of the daily conversation. I say 'thank you' to someone and I get an 'uh unh' . In the stores I hear people say 'gimme so and so' and when they get what they want they don't bother to say 'thanks'. It is either nothing or something like a 'grunt'.

Here where I live, I actually have found a lot of USC's very polite. I may once in a while see someone not say "thank-you" or something. Even wait staff here are wonderful. Never had a bad experience yet.

That's not to say I won't see it when I get away from here. (hmmmm trying to think of some real major time with rude Americans...hmmmmm...nope....)

The two issues with me that I found, (and it may only be within this area), is that fact that restaurants do not have to pay minimum wage, because servers receive tips; and the other was that Tim mentioned an employer that never gave him a pay stub in all the years (23 or so) that he worked there. He looked into it, and was told it was not required!

I guess, also, you have to tell employers to take tax off your paycheque, or else they won't and you'll pay IRS at tax time. A friend just called because she thinks the place she works at didn't take it off and she has to pay! Again, not sure if that's the norm all over, but it was good to find out that before I start working! Back home, I think I could have asked to have more taken off, but I always had to pay tax, CPP, and EI off my cheque!

OH!!! Another one ... ....the fact that it's open liquor season at football games, etc! I'm pretty sure the rules are a little stricter back in BC.

Edited April 14, 2010 by TimandJoyce

[CdnMN 0]

I met with two immigrant friends - one Canadian, one British - yesterday for lunch, and this is exactly what we were discussing. All of our husbands are up in arms over the health care debate - "It's not MY responsibility to pay for someone else to visit a doctor!" - meanwhile the three of us feel it as being almost a civic duty to provide basic diagnostic care for anyone who needs it. We all obviously come from backgrounds where this is a common thing.

One of the things that amazes me is the vitrolic statements that people post. When I read an online news story and then read the comments people submit, it almost scares me that people think the way they do.

And the love of "conspiracy theories" is unbelievable. Pres Obama isn't an American? I can't imagine the Supreme Court, the Senate, Congress or the Republican Party would allow him to serve as President if there was any possibility that he was not American, yet so many people seem hung up on this idea.

And yesterday I read that Oklahoma could institue an armed militia to protect the State from the Federal Gov't?

[Udella&Wiz 325]

One of the things that amazes me is the vitrolic statements that people post. When I read an online news story and then read the comments people submit, it almost scares me that people think the way they do.

And the love of "conspiracy theories" is unbelievable. Pres Obama isn't an American? I can't imagine the Supreme Court, the Senate, Congress or the Republican Party would allow him to serve as President if there was any possibility that he was not American, yet so many people seem hung up on this idea.

And yesterday I read that Oklahoma could institue an armed militia to protect the State from the Federal Gov't?

Good one...it may be more a sign of the times vs specifically American....but yes...we have a president who's been in power 1.5 yrs and they're still talking about whether he's a US citizen or not. I don't get this one...he was born to a USC mother...so it's a done deal, right? Whether she had him on US soil or registered him as a birth abroad, I just don't care. People are trying to think up excuses.

[Peachey 10]

And yesterday I read that Oklahoma could institue an armed militia to protect the State from the Federal Gov't?

This is actually in the constitution. "The right to bear arms" was originally intended that the people could overthrow the fed gov if they were unhappy.

That's what I've been told anyway.

[Bern. 3]

Well, I just know that people here love their guns. I got a giant rant about them the other day. I'm still like huh D:

This is actually in the constitution. "The right to bear arms" was originally intended that the people could overthrow the fed gov if they were unhappy.

That's what I've been told anyway.

Or they have the right to a pair of bear arms. As made fun of via family guy.

[trailmix 77]

Two things that I found very strange, when we were in Florida. The first job my Husband had was with the Elections department, setting up voting machines etc. His 'fellow workers' openly made racist remarks about their African American co-workers, well not to their face, just to each other as a group - like that is acceptable?

The second was the complete lack of any employment standards. It's a no fault employment state (Florida) - so if your employer doesn't like you today, he can fire you, no warnings, no notice. Since pretty much you are depending on your employer for health insurance I can see where that could be really unsettling for people - scary even. I suppose an atmosphere of fear keeps employees at their jobs and on their toes...hmm.

[The_Dude 1,142]

This is actually in the constitution. "The right to bear arms" was originally intended that the people could overthrow the fed gov if they were unhappy.

That's what I've been told anyway.

No disrepect intended, but whoever told you that has no idea what they are talking about. The 2nd ammendment was written at the time because the U.S. did not have a standing, professional army. The British had previously tried to ban the ownership of guns to prevent any rebellion. This was to combat that. Today, a lot of conservative and gun enthusiasts mistakenly interpret that to mean that the founding fathers of this nation wrote it in there to support rebellion against an overbearing government.

[blahblah1000 0]

I'm going to be moving from a very liberal Toronto, to Dallas, Texas. I must say the idea of moving to a Red state has me a little worried. On my first visit there I found everyone very friendly and polite where ever I went (gotta love that southern charm). But on meeting my fiance's step father for the first time he (step-dad) started going on about how they have a horrible president who is trying to make the USA into a communist country with this "health care fiasco" blah, blah, blah and how he is just going to trust in GOD to fix his country. I had to just smile and nod, smile and nod. My fiance never votes and finds it funny that I want to eventually become a US citzen so I can.

Jerry had told me that Toronto was more diverse that Dallas, but I found it surprising how segregated it seems like the people of different races keep themselves in Dallas. This of course is just based on a 5 day visit, so my first impression may be not completely true. There is definately an undertone of racism that I don't enjoy.

Edited April 14, 2010 by jerrysgirl

[Peachey 10]

No disrepect intended, but whoever told you that has no idea what they are talking about. The 2nd ammendment was written at the time because the U.S. did not have a standing, professional army. The British had previously tried to ban the ownership of guns to prevent any rebellion. This was to combat that. Today, a lot of conservative and gun enthusiasts mistakenly interpret that to mean that the founding fathers of this nation wrote it in there to support rebellion against an overbearing government.

no disrespect taken! But the conservatives is probably where I heard it from. I feel like I'm surrounded by them sometimes.