Canadians and different ways of thinking in the US

[Canada-David 1]

My brother just moved from Canada to Austin. He's a somewhat left-liberal Canadian, and he says it's great. He described Austin as not so much a part of Texas but "a piece of Seattle that broke off and, kind of like a blood clot, floated around until it lodged in the center of Texas." In a good way, mind you.

I have been to Austin many many times and I will 100% agree with this. Austin is a gorgeous city that almost doesn't belong in the Texas mindset. Really, in my opinion, its the jewel of the state. I understand that its all just a state of mind, and of opinion. But not only is the culture in general very tolerant and relaxed, the weather (if still too hot) is fairly nice and it has some gorgeous geography.

Really. A great city.

[BH45 0]

I"ve been in Chicago for over a year now..and to this day i keep annoying my husband at times with "its not like that in Canada, or we dont do that in Canada, and I like the way Canada does it better".

He's learned that i'm still adjusting to alot of differnet things. And hes also learned ther are some things i wont compromise on espeically when it comes to shopping. As for the mentality, i live in an area where there are alot of different ethnic groups, and ironically i'm the minority ( tiny white english girl). Trying to adjust to living in a complex with this many mid easterners mexicans and asians is hard for me. I get constant annoying looks, i've bene yelled at for many things, I've seen people sneer at me and say stuff in other languages. It has brought me to tears many times. To be honest, i'd have to say and my husband commented on it as well, there is so much rudeness here that i have been angry alot, and in some cases i'd say i've become racist in a way. Although he tells me the rudeness is a chicago thing. Also the drivers here are all nutbergers. lol. But the way women seem to be treated here annoys the ** out of me. Like the old adage stay home barefoot and pregnant? yeah that gets thrown at me in many ways...and on more than one occasion my husband has had to stop me from almost punching ppl. So much for being the nice Canadian eh? LOL.

I would imagine any other part of the usa is different in ways too, just like montreal quebec is differnet than Hawekesbury ontario, and i've lived in both places. I grew up in Montreal, but i hated the people and politics there, and being english i hated the french naturally . When i moved to Hawkesbury Ontario, (halfway between montreal and ottawa) it was a whole new world. i absolutely adored the area, the peple and hte places. Friendliness and smiling people were everywhere even if you had no idea who they were. In montreal if i said hello to a random person they would give me alook like i was crazy. lol.

By the sounds of things, I've been lucky living here. I'm almost next door to you in Palatine. I went from living in a town of 5,000 to 65,000. I owned my own home in Canada and now live in a complex of about 18 buildings. Our building has 40 units but I have never experienced anything like you have gone through. My neighbours are diverse but friendly. I've been here 3 years tomorrow and am still doing some adjusting. Hope things begin to look up for you Kim....