Culture shock for Canadians in the US

[KarenCee 3]

the only things I pay by check or rent and car insurance....

I could phone in the payment for the car insurance but they charge an extra 5 bucks if you do that and there is no option to pay it online....

Yeah, I forgot the car insurance. They only take cash or check. Bleh...I just wish I could do without checks altogether. Rent we do money orders...the lady we rent from sometimes takes up to six weeks to cash a check!

[Marilyn. 340]

the only things I pay by check or rent and car insurance....

I could phone in the payment for the car insurance but they charge an extra 5 bucks if you do that and there is no option to pay it online....

Yeah, I forgot the car insurance. They only take cash or check. Bleh...I just wish I could do without checks altogether. Rent we do money orders...the lady we rent from sometimes takes up to six weeks to cash a check!

we could do money orders for rent too but it is too much of a hassle

[warlord 72]

Yep the only check I have to write is for the rent and that's it. I do all the other bills (car insurances, phone, utilities etc) online or by phone. Now the only thing I've had a problems with my debit/visa checking account card is I can't use it in Canada (or at least I couldn't). They're machines don't accept it even if it has the visa logo on it. That has really pissed me off trying to buy my beer up there and finding out I have to get to an ATM and come back to give them cash.

They've tried to explain that it only accepts the real credit cards and not the bank visa type cards. Still don't know why it wouldn't do it as a regular ATM and I can pay with the debit, but it just doesn't take the card at all.

Oh and going back, what in living hell is Easy Cheese? I have never heard it before. Is it like a cheese spread or something like that Cheese Wizz stuff? If so, that's something my wife would be begging me for as she likes those types of snacks. I'll have to look into that for her. I take it it's a Canadian product or something correct?

[Emancipation 2]

Now the only thing I've had a problems with my debit/visa checking account card is I can't use it in Canada (or at least I couldn't). They're machines don't accept it even if it has the visa logo on it. That has really pissed me off trying to buy my beer up there and finding out I have to get to an ATM and come back to give them cash.

Hubby has used his check card just like a Visa card in the maritimes many many times. It wasn't rejected anyplace. Strange!

[jg_am 0]

Oh and going back, what in living hell is Easy Cheese?

Easy Cheese is a canned processed cheese, similar to Cheeze Whiz. It looks like and dispenses like a can of moose. And it's very good on Triscuits, as someone said earlier. It's all over in the States.

[misa 2]

They've tried to explain that it only accepts the real credit cards and not the bank visa type cards. Still don't know why it wouldn't do it as a regular ATM and I can pay with the debit, but it just doesn't take the card at all.

That happened with a friend of mine who was up visiting me from Detroit. The restaurant we were at didn't accept her "check card" as a debit transaction or a credit card transaction. It was an older debit card machine so maybe that's why?

[CutienPurg 0]

One of the primary reasons my husband is moving to the US is his discovery of Easy Cheese on Fritos Scoops

thats funny!...my husband (Canadian), LOVES Easy Cheese!.. I grew up on it so I love it too, especially on Chicken in a Biscuit! (its the name of a cracker by Nabisco in case anyone was wondering..LOL)

OMG Kimmbo are u kidding me!!!! Chicken in a bisquit are the BOMB and thats exactly how I eat it and how I introduced it to him.......then came Frito's <sigh>

[kimmbo 0]

OMG Kimmbo are u kidding me!!!! Chicken in a bisquit are the BOMB and thats exactly how I eat it and how I introduced it to him.......then came Frito's <sigh>

....I LOVE Chicken in a Biscuit, always have! I know that the people at customs think were crazy, whenever we visit the US we always take 2 suitcases full of food (ketchup chips, Fries and Gravy Chips) Passion flakies, Smarties, Wunderbars...etc) my nieces and nephews LOVE all the "crazy Canadian" food...LOL and when we come back again we have 2 suitcases full of food..LOL (Chicken in a Biscuit, Easy Cheese, Nips, Cinnamon Jolly Ranchers, Hidden Valley Ranch dry packets, Chik-o Stik, Dum Dum's for our grandaughter...I could go on and on....my husband isnt a big Frito fan, so hes NEVER had Frito Pie isnt that sad?!..LOL

[warlord 72]

What in tarnation is a Frito Pie? When I come back generally the only Canadianesque type thing I bring across is a few bags of the Ketchup chips and some Winegums. Those are usually pretty small. One time the immigration officer asked me if I was bringing anything back, I told him a few bags of chips. He looked at me and just said, "let me guess ketchup?". I thought that was funny. It's like Canada's biggest exported good I think...

[kimmbo 0]

What in tarnation is a Frito Pie?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frito_pie

Frito pie (also known as "Frito Chili Pie," "Frito Boat" or, in the Midwest, a "Walking Taco") is a corn chip and chili con carne dish of disputed origin, popular in the South Western United States.

A basic Frito pie typically consists of a small single-serving bag of Fritos corn chips, with a cup of chili poured over the top, usually finished up with grated cheese or onions. Because there are so many Fritos compared to the amount of chili, only part of the Fritos will get saturated by the chili, and most will stay at least partly crunchy.

[MissStacey 1]

What in tarnation is a Frito Pie?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frito_pie

Frito pie (also known as "Frito Chili Pie," "Frito Boat" or, in the Midwest, a "Walking Taco") is a corn chip and chili con carne dish of disputed origin, popular in the South Western United States.

A basic Frito pie typically consists of a small single-serving bag of Fritos corn chips, with a cup of chili poured over the top, usually finished up with grated cheese or onions. Because there are so many Fritos compared to the amount of chili, only part of the Fritos will get saturated by the chili, and most will stay at least partly crunchy.

That sounds good!

Throw in a margarita and a roll of tums and I'm all over it.

Edited May 3, 2007 by Stacey33

[warlord 72]

What in tarnation is a Frito Pie?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frito_pie

Frito pie (also known as "Frito Chili Pie," "Frito Boat" or, in the Midwest, a "Walking Taco") is a corn chip and chili con carne dish of disputed origin, popular in the South Western United States.

A basic Frito pie typically consists of a small single-serving bag of Fritos corn chips, with a cup of chili poured over the top, usually finished up with grated cheese or onions. Because there are so many Fritos compared to the amount of chili, only part of the Fritos will get saturated by the chili, and most will stay at least partly crunchy.

That sounds good!

Throw in a margarita and a roll of tums and I'm all over it.

Just in time for Cinco De Mayo too. There's something to make if anyone is having their Cinco de Mayo party this weekend...

[Chiroman 0]

i moved from the GTA to small town Louisiana. biggest thing i notice is the racism. i was shocked one day after chatting with a neighbour (who happens to be black) about dogs and afterwards the fellow one door over (who is white) asked me what business i had talking with 'her'. i must have looked like an idiot with my mouth hanging open. what does one say to that sort of stuff?! i was warned that it's not like at home, but i guess until i experienced it, i didn't realize.

the other thing i miss is having things close enough to walk to, but that's a big city, small city thing. of course, i'm still getting some things imported from home (timmy's coffee, smarties, shreddies & red river to name but a few)

can't wait to go home at the start of next month for a visit! i can finally get my hair done!

k

I agree- I can't get over the whole race thing....in NC this is a huge issue and it irritates me -we as canadians are too polite and politically correct I guess, that's why I just don't get it. I've had neighbours tell me the same thing, not to let my childeren play with "those" people, bugs the ###### out of me, I say you know where I come from we are so multi cultural i have a problem with that comment, they look at me and actually say" you'll learn" YIKES! No I won't learn and I will not teach my kids any diffrent, I am the same inside as everyone else and hope that my kids know it does not matter what colour you are EVERY one has feelings....I need to find a good come back when someone says this stuff any advice to help me along?

[Emancipation 2]

I can't help you there.. Was told once as a youth pastor in South Carolina that I wasn't allowed to invite kids of "other colors" to our YG. They said "they have their churches and we have ours.. leave it at that".. I was stunned.. Could not believe it. WHAAAAT?

[jg_am 0]

I can't help you there.. Was told once as a youth pastor in South Carolina that I wasn't allowed to invite kids of "other colors" to our YG. They said "they have their churches and we have ours.. leave it at that".. I was stunned.. Could not believe it. WHAAAAT?

Racism is wrong in any circle, but it's things like that that give Christians a bad name.

Read Col 3:11. I did last night.

Sorry for going OT there.

Edited May 4, 2007 by jg_am