Behaviors, manners and overall attitude

[sj5 4]

A couple things I have noticed different. Where I come from in Canada it's proper to hold a door open for the person coming behind you and to also hold the door and let ladies enter first. I have noticed on many occasions here in the US some people don't care whether anybody is coming behind they just enter and let the doors go

Also have noticed on occasion where men don't hold the door for women and let em enter or exit ahead of them

Several times I've seen people struggling to get something into thier vehicle and people just walk by looking at them. I have helped people several times and they seem amazed to have somebody do that. In Canada it's no big deal

In the US I find the people working the cashier stands are far more friendly and talkative than home. Also here they cater more to the customers in the stores. Most times if you ask where something is they'll take you to it not tell you a route how to find it and they always ask if you found everything you were looking for.

I'm so lucky then? My hubby is always openning the door for me .. I hope he don't change..instead he will let me do it????.

[Reba 2]

after a couple of years here in the US, I've gotten used to leaving my shoes on when I go somewhere, but in my own house, they're off pretty much as soon as I'm in. But as others have mentioned, for some odd reason, American homes are not built with anywhere close to the door to put shoes, so I have to walk down the hall, and thru the kitchen to get to the coat closet, which is in the freakin' living room We don't use the front door, its too easy for the dogs to bolt thru it. We need a new screen door on it.

The first time I visited my in-laws and I removed my shoes at the door, my mother-in-law commented "don't do that your socks will get all dirty" I replied "well they wouldn't if y'all wouldn't walk thru the house with your shoes on all the time " Seriously. She didn't like me for some reason.

Anyhoo....now I'm genralising of course, because I do know some fairly ignorant Canadians, but generally speaking, I've met far more Americans who know absolutely Nothing about the rest of the world, and some who don't even know anything about neighbouring cities, let alone neighbouring countries! I'm still boggled by some of the really stupid questions I get about Canada. Even from "educated" people! I've had so many stupid questions about Canada, lately I've been surprised by people I've met who can actually identify it on a map (I've met more than a few who can't).

Again, generally speaking, Americans (and this may just be where I'm living, not all over the States) are more suspicious of people who are not "from here". Whether you move from a different state, or a foreign country, you are under suspicion of all manner of things. Until proven otherwise, one who is "not from here" cannot be trusted. And they probably eat weird foreign food, so don't bother accepting that invitation to their backyard cook-out.

Religion in quite literally *everything* is a lot more prevalent in the US than in Canada. In Canada religion generally doesn't come up in conversation except while in church, or on the way to church, or temple, or ritual space or or or....Here (at least in the Bible Belt) people will tell you which church is the best in town before they'll even give you their name. If, Gods forbid, you do not attend church....see above comment about "not from here" and add whispers about dang heathens...

well, its time for Heroes...gotta go!

[neiks 19]

-My take on the shoe thing - living in Canada we have 11.5 months of winter therefore our shoes are always wet and sloppy

-I'm the rude one in the relationship. My American hubby says I never say please or thank-you. We never did in our family.

-As for the holding the door I've found the further South in the US the more they hold the door open. In Florida it seemed the door was always getting held open for me. Here in ND not so much.

-And about being American's being Naive. What about Torontoarians (or whatever they want to be called)? I was appalled by the guy there that wasn't sure where Manitoba was - and yes - he was Canadian. It's the same with people from Winnipeg - we call it "perimeter vision" - they don't have a clue about the rest of Manitoba. In general Americans aren't the only ones stuck in their own world. But with that said, working at the border I have heard some real "doozies" from our southern neighbours.

[kimmbo 0]

I still have trouble with taking off my shoes. For the most part, it's just not done here in the United States. That doesn't mean it's never done, but with very few exceptions (i.e. the shoes in question are visibly dirty, covered in mud, soaking wet, etc.), people keep their shoes on.

I could possibly see removing your shoes in your own home, but in the U.S., it's pretty rude to automatically remove your shoes in someone else's home. Basically, you are exposing a part (most likely a smelly and somewhat unattractive part) of yourself that should remain covered to individuals who probably don't want to see it. I know I don't want to see someone else's feet -- sock-covered or not.

I have lived in Canada for 5 years and I still hate going to other peoples houses because I know I will have to take my shoes off.. It sounds dumb but it really grosses me out to walk around someone elses house barefoot ...and even worse *for me* is when they have just a big basket by the door and everyone is expected to throw their shoes in together...nasty!..LOL..

whenever my husbands kids come to visit Im always telling them to leave their shoes on, and they look at me like Im crazy. 9 times out of 10 they take them off anyway..LOL

its funny when were in the US and visiting my family and friends and we walk through the door and my husbands natural reaction is to start taking off his shoes and I will give him a smack and say "dont you dare take your shoes off!"...LOL

and I will admit that Im one of those Americans that doesnt say "your welcome"..I say uh-huh (but its a "friendly uh-huh", theres many different uh-huh's...LOL)...or I will even sometimes say "you betcha" that one really makes my husband crazy...LOL , my grandpa always said it...and it just comes out sometimes..

[Caladan 19]

I don't think there is significant enough cultural differences between the U.S. and Canada for the broad stereotype to show up consistently individually.

[neiks 19]

and I will admit that Im one of those Americans that doesnt say "your welcome"..I say uh-huh (but its a "friendly uh-huh", theres many different uh-huh's...LOL).....

I just noticed that my MIL does this and was wondering about it too. I have never noticed my husband do it though.

[susan+mike 0]

You know.. we went looking for boot trays here in CT.. NO WHERE could we find them.. strange I thought, but now it's all making sense!!

DeadpoolX - thanks for the explanation.. It makes sense.. Although we go to a small group in New Haven with a bunch of Yale grad students and they ALL take off their shoes and they are from all over the place. I dunno.. i'm still trying to make sense of it all!

I brought 2 boot trays with me....... when we came upon them unloading the moving truck..... my hubby asked me what they were?.. .... he now knows what they are and uses it too .........and just out of curiosity....... I checked in Walmart and Target and never saw a boot tray anywhere.

[homesick_american 1]

after a couple of years here in the US, I've gotten used to leaving my shoes on when I go somewhere, but in my own house, they're off pretty much as soon as I'm in. But as others have mentioned, for some odd reason, American homes are not built with anywhere close to the door to put shoes, so I have to walk down the hall, and thru the kitchen to get to the coat closet, which is in the freakin' living room We don't use the front door, its too easy for the dogs to bolt thru it. We need a new screen door on it.

That's a huge generalization. My parents' house has a closet right off the foyer where the shoes go, so there goes that assumption right there.

The first time I visited my in-laws and I removed my shoes at the door, my mother-in-law commented "don't do that your socks will get all dirty" I replied "well they wouldn't if y'all wouldn't walk thru the house with your shoes on all the time " Seriously. She didn't like me for some reason.

I don't wear shoes in my house (I'm the American), and growing up my mother and brother always went barefoot or wore slippers; dad usually wore slippers or shoes. Most of my American relatives do not wear shoes in the house because they wanted to keep the carpets clean. My British in-laws all wear shoes in the house, and when my mother-in-law visits she tracks dirt all over my floors.

Anyhoo....now I'm genralising of course, because I do know some fairly ignorant Canadians, but generally speaking, I've met far more Americans who know absolutely Nothing about the rest of the world, and some who don't even know anything about neighbouring cities, let alone neighbouring countries! I'm still boggled by some of the really stupid questions I get about Canada. Even from "educated" people! I've had so many stupid questions about Canada, lately I've been surprised by people I've met who can actually identify it on a map (I've met more than a few who can't).

I love it when people who don't spell-check their own posts call us stupid. I am American (as previously stated) and I have never...ever...EVER met an American who could not identify Canada or other neighboring countries on a map. Ever.

Again, generally speaking, Americans (and this may just be where I'm living, not all over the States) are more suspicious of people who are not "from here". Whether you move from a different state, or a foreign country, you are under suspicion of all manner of things. Until proven otherwise, one who is "not from here" cannot be trusted. And they probably eat weird foreign food, so don't bother accepting that invitation to their backyard cook-out.

It might be your neighbors, it might be your attitude. That's not how things are down in Texas...at least it wouldn't be that way for most Canadians. Most Americans don't see Canadians as 100% foreign anyway, since you guys are so similar to us. You ARE similar to us, whether you like it or not; it's just a simple fact. Canadians are so much like us that when speaking to a Canadian I don't know that they're Canadian until they tell me...unless they're one of those fancy schmanzy French-speaking Canadians. Then I know right away (since I speak French). OMGWTF, a multilingual American...I'm just destroying your stereotypes left right and center here!

Personally I think it's probably a lot to do with you; I definitely wouldn't want someone at my BBQ who thinks we're a bunch of stupid jesus freaks, so I can sort of see why your diary isn't as full as you'd like it to be. Why would I invite someone who thinks I'm an idiot to my home?

Religion in quite literally *everything* is a lot more prevalent in the US than in Canada. In Canada religion generally doesn't come up in conversation except while in church, or on the way to church, or temple, or ritual space or or or....Here (at least in the Bible Belt) people will tell you which church is the best in town before they'll even give you their name. If, Gods forbid, you do not attend church....see above comment about "not from here" and add whispers about dang heathens...

well, its time for Heroes...gotta go!

Where the hell do you live? I grew up in the bible belt and it was unusual for god or jesus to come up in conversation. People there are generally polite about religious beliefs; they don't tend to browbeat you or try to convert you, and usually they won't talk about it unless you ask them specifically. If someone is telling you what the best church in town is, it's because they're trying to help you out. If you tell them you don't attend church and they are rude in return, it's either because they're very VERY weird or because you offended them. People don't like having their religious beliefs mocked, and if you talk about it in a sarcastic or rude way you may find yourself with few friends. You can't graduate to mocking someone's religion until you know them pretty well...and some people will never accept that sort of teasing, not even from friends/family.

If you don't like it, might I suggest relocating to a slightly more godless location like Boston or San Francisco? I'm an atheist and I never felt excluded or put down because of my (lack of) religious beliefs. People just accepted it and moved on. I had friends from all sorts of religious backgrounds, including Muslims, Mormons, evangelical Christians, and fellow atheists.

[Melyssa 0]

You know.. we went looking for boot trays here in CT.. NO WHERE could we find them.. strange I thought, but now it's all making sense!!

DeadpoolX - thanks for the explanation.. It makes sense.. Although we go to a small group in New Haven with a bunch of Yale grad students and they ALL take off their shoes and they are from all over the place. I dunno.. i'm still trying to make sense of it all!

I brought 2 boot trays with me....... when we came upon them unloading the moving truck..... my hubby asked me what they were?.. .... he now knows what they are and uses it too .........and just out of curiosity....... I checked in Walmart and Target and never saw a boot tray anywhere.

I've seen boot/shoe shelves in the States...one in New York State and the other in Ohio. Both were in the houses of big families though.

Edited May 2, 2007 by melytha

[Carlawarla 1]

after a couple of years here in the US, I've gotten used to leaving my shoes on when I go somewhere, but in my own house, they're off pretty much as soon as I'm in. But as others have mentioned, for some odd reason, American homes are not built with anywhere close to the door to put shoes, so I have to walk down the hall, and thru the kitchen to get to the coat closet, which is in the freakin' living room We don't use the front door, its too easy for the dogs to bolt thru it. We need a new screen door on it.

That's a huge generalization. My parents' house has a closet right off the foyer where the shoes go, so there goes that assumption right there.

The first time I visited my in-laws and I removed my shoes at the door, my mother-in-law commented "don't do that your socks will get all dirty" I replied "well they wouldn't if y'all wouldn't walk thru the house with your shoes on all the time " Seriously. She didn't like me for some reason.

I don't wear shoes in my house (I'm the American), and growing up my mother and brother always went barefoot or wore slippers; dad usually wore slippers or shoes. Most of my American relatives do not wear shoes in the house because they wanted to keep the carpets clean. My British in-laws all wear shoes in the house, and when my mother-in-law visits she tracks dirt all over my floors.

Anyhoo....now I'm genralising of course, because I do know some fairly ignorant Canadians, but generally speaking, I've met far more Americans who know absolutely Nothing about the rest of the world, and some who don't even know anything about neighbouring cities, let alone neighbouring countries! I'm still boggled by some of the really stupid questions I get about Canada. Even from "educated" people! I've had so many stupid questions about Canada, lately I've been surprised by people I've met who can actually identify it on a map (I've met more than a few who can't).

I love it when people who don't spell-check their own posts call us stupid. I am American (as previously stated) and I have never...ever...EVER met an American who could not identify Canada or other neighboring countries on a map. Ever.

Again, generally speaking, Americans (and this may just be where I'm living, not all over the States) are more suspicious of people who are not "from here". Whether you move from a different state, or a foreign country, you are under suspicion of all manner of things. Until proven otherwise, one who is "not from here" cannot be trusted. And they probably eat weird foreign food, so don't bother accepting that invitation to their backyard cook-out.

It might be your neighbors, it might be your attitude. That's not how things are down in Texas...at least it wouldn't be that way for most Canadians. Most Americans don't see Canadians as 100% foreign anyway, since you guys are so similar to us. You ARE similar to us, whether you like it or not; it's just a simple fact. Canadians are so much like us that when speaking to a Canadian I don't know that they're Canadian until they tell me...unless they're one of those fancy schmanzy French-speaking Canadians. Then I know right away (since I speak French). OMGWTF, a multilingual American...I'm just destroying your stereotypes left right and center here!

Personally I think it's probably a lot to do with you; I definitely wouldn't want someone at my BBQ who thinks we're a bunch of stupid jesus freaks, so I can sort of see why your diary isn't as full as you'd like it to be. Why would I invite someone who thinks I'm an idiot to my home?

Religion in quite literally *everything* is a lot more prevalent in the US than in Canada. In Canada religion generally doesn't come up in conversation except while in church, or on the way to church, or temple, or ritual space or or or....Here (at least in the Bible Belt) people will tell you which church is the best in town before they'll even give you their name. If, Gods forbid, you do not attend church....see above comment about "not from here" and add whispers about dang heathens...

well, its time for Heroes...gotta go!

Where the hell do you live? I grew up in the bible belt and it was unusual for god or jesus to come up in conversation. People there are generally polite about religious beliefs; they don't tend to browbeat you or try to convert you, and usually they won't talk about it unless you ask them specifically. If someone is telling you what the best church in town is, it's because they're trying to help you out. If you tell them you don't attend church and they are rude in return, it's either because they're very VERY weird or because you offended them. People don't like having their religious beliefs mocked, and if you talk about it in a sarcastic or rude way you may find yourself with few friends. You can't graduate to mocking someone's religion until you know them pretty well...and some people will never accept that sort of teasing, not even from friends/family.

If you don't like it, might I suggest relocating to a slightly more godless location like Boston or San Francisco? I'm an atheist and I never felt excluded or put down because of my (lack of) religious beliefs. People just accepted it and moved on. I had friends from all sorts of religious backgrounds, including Muslims, Mormons, evangelical Christians, and fellow atheists.

Wow, I was giggling through most of this topic until I came to this posting. Very mean spirited.

Carla

Edited May 2, 2007 by cartoboy123

[homesick_american 1]

Wow, I was giggling through most of this topic until I came to this posting. Very mean spirited.

Carla

I thought Reba's generalizations, which included her opinion that Americans are idiots, were also mean-spirited. Can't take, don't dish.

[warlord 73]

Wow, I was giggling through most of this topic until I came to this posting. Very mean spirited.

Carla

I think they got tired of the insults. In my many years here, I've never even had any religion put upon me or anyone ever asking me what mine is. I live in Colorado though. And with the geography thing, most Americans I know actually know more about Canada then I do.

So I think someone just got offended by all the stereotypes that aren't necessarily true or are taken from a tiny small percentage of the population and has nothing to do with Americans as a whole. The original post, I agreed, had nothing to do with the American culture I've been around or seen.

It's would be kind of like comparing all Canadians to the Bob and Doug Makenzie show and just stereotype them as that. I don't think many Canadians would appreciate that.

Hey at least the ending comment wasn't "If you don't like it then leave" ha ha. Honestly I can see how they got offended...

[DeadPoolX 9]

after a couple of years here in the US, I've gotten used to leaving my shoes on when I go somewhere, but in my own house, they're off pretty much as soon as I'm in. But as others have mentioned, for some odd reason, American homes are not built with anywhere close to the door to put shoes, so I have to walk down the hall, and thru the kitchen to get to the coat closet, which is in the freakin' living room We don't use the front door, its too easy for the dogs to bolt thru it. We need a new screen door on it.

That's a huge generalization. My parents' house has a closet right off the foyer where the shoes go, so there goes that assumption right there.

The first time I visited my in-laws and I removed my shoes at the door, my mother-in-law commented "don't do that your socks will get all dirty" I replied "well they wouldn't if y'all wouldn't walk thru the house with your shoes on all the time " Seriously. She didn't like me for some reason.

I don't wear shoes in my house (I'm the American), and growing up my mother and brother always went barefoot or wore slippers; dad usually wore slippers or shoes. Most of my American relatives do not wear shoes in the house because they wanted to keep the carpets clean. My British in-laws all wear shoes in the house, and when my mother-in-law visits she tracks dirt all over my floors.

Anyhoo....now I'm genralising of course, because I do know some fairly ignorant Canadians, but generally speaking, I've met far more Americans who know absolutely Nothing about the rest of the world, and some who don't even know anything about neighbouring cities, let alone neighbouring countries! I'm still boggled by some of the really stupid questions I get about Canada. Even from "educated" people! I've had so many stupid questions about Canada, lately I've been surprised by people I've met who can actually identify it on a map (I've met more than a few who can't).

I love it when people who don't spell-check their own posts call us stupid. I am American (as previously stated) and I have never...ever...EVER met an American who could not identify Canada or other neighboring countries on a map. Ever.

Again, generally speaking, Americans (and this may just be where I'm living, not all over the States) are more suspicious of people who are not "from here". Whether you move from a different state, or a foreign country, you are under suspicion of all manner of things. Until proven otherwise, one who is "not from here" cannot be trusted. And they probably eat weird foreign food, so don't bother accepting that invitation to their backyard cook-out.

It might be your neighbors, it might be your attitude. That's not how things are down in Texas...at least it wouldn't be that way for most Canadians. Most Americans don't see Canadians as 100% foreign anyway, since you guys are so similar to us. You ARE similar to us, whether you like it or not; it's just a simple fact. Canadians are so much like us that when speaking to a Canadian I don't know that they're Canadian until they tell me...unless they're one of those fancy schmanzy French-speaking Canadians. Then I know right away (since I speak French). OMGWTF, a multilingual American...I'm just destroying your stereotypes left right and center here!

Personally I think it's probably a lot to do with you; I definitely wouldn't want someone at my BBQ who thinks we're a bunch of stupid jesus freaks, so I can sort of see why your diary isn't as full as you'd like it to be. Why would I invite someone who thinks I'm an idiot to my home?

Religion in quite literally *everything* is a lot more prevalent in the US than in Canada. In Canada religion generally doesn't come up in conversation except while in church, or on the way to church, or temple, or ritual space or or or....Here (at least in the Bible Belt) people will tell you which church is the best in town before they'll even give you their name. If, Gods forbid, you do not attend church....see above comment about "not from here" and add whispers about dang heathens...

well, its time for Heroes...gotta go!

Where the hell do you live? I grew up in the bible belt and it was unusual for god or jesus to come up in conversation. People there are generally polite about religious beliefs; they don't tend to browbeat you or try to convert you, and usually they won't talk about it unless you ask them specifically. If someone is telling you what the best church in town is, it's because they're trying to help you out. If you tell them you don't attend church and they are rude in return, it's either because they're very VERY weird or because you offended them. People don't like having their religious beliefs mocked, and if you talk about it in a sarcastic or rude way you may find yourself with few friends. You can't graduate to mocking someone's religion until you know them pretty well...and some people will never accept that sort of teasing, not even from friends/family.

If you don't like it, might I suggest relocating to a slightly more godless location like Boston or San Francisco? I'm an atheist and I never felt excluded or put down because of my (lack of) religious beliefs. People just accepted it and moved on. I had friends from all sorts of religious backgrounds, including Muslims, Mormons, evangelical Christians, and fellow atheists.

Wow, I was giggling through most of this topic until I came to this posting. Very mean spirited.

Carla

I don't think it was meant in a "mean spirited" way. I think Homesick_American was just a bit tired of the general ignorance here. Americans are extremely varied. There are many extremely smart people in the United States, and there are many very dumb people in the United States too. To make huge, sweeping generalizations based on your own experiences isn't the smartest thing to do.

I happen to agree with Homesick_American. I've never met anyone here who couldn't identify Canada (I am a Texan, so maybe Texas gets a bit better education in overall geography) as a country and while not every American knows where every Canadian province or city is, how many Canadians know the exact location of every U.S. state and city? Not knowing these things doesn't make you stupid. It just means that this sort of info was unimportant to your daily life. I mean, how many people in Ottawa or Toronto or Vancouver really need to know where El Paso is within Texas? Probably not too many. Does that make then stupid? Of course not! So why is an American stupid if he or she doesn't know where Winnipeg is located?

I also agree about the whole attitude thing. I've seen this sort of "Canada is great; America sucks" belief running through this forum more than once. I've been to Canada and it's no better or worse than the United States. I like Canada a lot and if I had to live in another country, Canada would be my first choice. However, this doesn't mean that Canada is superior to the United States. Many of you here were just comfortable in what you knew in Canada and therefore, anything different in the U.S. seems "bad."

I'm not saying that you can't miss your home country or think highly of it. There's nothing wrong with that. What I don't get is why does propping up Canada mean putting down the United States?

I think that both Canada and the U.S. have a lot to offer people. Each country has their pro's and con's. For the most part though, Canada and the U.S. are very similar (for foreign countries). We're all very lucky that we are so similar so the adjustment (when moving from one country to the other) isn't that great. Just imagine people who're moving from Africa or the Middle-East or even in some cases, parts of Europe! They have a great deal more adjust to in their life in the United States than a Canadian would.

So in closing, this post wasn't mean to be insulting or be harsh towards the Canadians here. I realize you've given up a lot to come here and be with your spouses. However, sometimes the overall negativity towards the U.S. is a bit much (especially when it's based on generalizations and stereotypes) and just because you love Canada, it doesn't mean you need to dislike the United States. Given half a chance, this country is a pretty nice place to be and the people are fairly friendly.

[Marilyn. 340]

people are just sharing their experiences they have had in the US and no where is anyone saying that all Americans are this or all Americans are that...

Wow, I was giggling through most of this topic until I came to this posting. Very mean spirited.

Carla

I think they got tired of the insults. In my many years here, I've never even had any religion put upon me or anyone ever asking me what mine is. I live in Colorado though. And with the geography thing, most Americans I know actually know more about Canada then I do.

So I think someone just got offended by all the stereotypes that aren't necessarily true or are taken from a tiny small percentage of the population and has nothing to do with Americans as a whole. The original post, I agreed, had nothing to do with the American culture I've been around or seen.

It's would be kind of like comparing all Canadians to the Bob and Doug Makenzie show and just stereotype them as that. I don't think many Canadians would appreciate that.

Hey at least the ending comment wasn't "If you don't like it then leave" ha ha. Honestly I can see how they got offended...

and most of us CAnadians are pretty good at laughing at ourselves....

Edited May 2, 2007 by MarilynP

[Marilyn. 340]

Edited May 2, 2007 by MarilynP