Americans and Canadians culture Q&A Thread.

[Buzz Rules]

My top 2 are New York City as I am a huge musical theatre fan and Sedona Arizona as it looks so beautiful there.

 

[goofyernmost]

The U.S. burned Toronto’s parliament to the ground. The White House was burned out of revenge.

Sorry, I misunderstood!

 

[Buzz Rules]

There are many places but right now I just want to get back to WDW. Vermont and Hew Hampshire through the mountains would be nice as well.

 

[goofyernmost]

It's much easier to get by in English while visiting Montreal rather than Quebec City but you don't need to speak French to visit either. Personally, I would highly recommend a visit to Old Quebec. Spending time inside the old city walls is very cool.

It depends on moods. During the end of the succession push, Montreal was harder to tour then Quebec City. It was an anger stance. We coming up from the states mostly didn't speak French but we knew that just about everyone that resided in Montreal did speak English because, at the time, all commerce was done in English. Hence one of the talking points on separation. Quebec City, on the other had was primarily French speaking but we found that everyone went out of their way to help and work with English speakers, maybe just Americans, that I don't know. It has been almost 50 years since I was in Quebec City so I am not sure of the situation there today, but Montreal is still an international city and both English and French is spoken with no seeming animosity at all. The succession situation back then was not a pretty sight. Politicians were kidnapped and killed, bombs were planted in Mail Boxes, etc. It was not a pleasant place to be if you spoke English.

 

[goofyernmost]

It's much easier to get by in English while visiting Montreal rather than Quebec City but you don't need to speak French to visit either. Personally, I would highly recommend a visit to Old Quebec. Spending time inside the old city walls is very cool.

Not complete without a stay at the Chateau Frontenac.

 

[E&Cmom]

It depends on moods. During the end of the succession push, Montreal was harder to tour then Quebec City. It was an anger stance. We coming up from the states mostly didn't speak French but we knew that just about everyone that resided in Montreal did speak English because, at the time, all commerce was done in English. Hence one of the talking points on separation. Quebec City, on the other had was primarily French speaking but we found that everyone went out of their way to help and work with English speakers, maybe just Americans, that I don't know. It has been almost 50 years since I was in Quebec City so I am not sure of the situation there today, but Montreal is still an international city and both English and French is spoken with no seeming animosity at all. The succession situation back then was not a pretty sight. Politicians were kidnapped and killed, bombs were planted in Mail Boxes, etc. It was not a pleasant place to be if you spoke English.

1970 October Crisis. I grew up in Montreal but was only an infant at time so all I know of that is what I learned at school or saw in old articles and new stories. I grew up with 2 referendum and the Language Bill but it was never as bad as it at that time.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_Crisis

Grewing up in a non Francophone home, having attended English school all my education my French is passable but I would not consider myself fluent. I managed to get by fine in Montreal and my predominately French hometown.

 

[Buzz Rules]

1970 October Crisis. I grew up in Montreal but was only an infant at time so all I know of that is what I learned at school or saw in old articles and new stories. I grew up with 2 referendum and the Language Bill but it was never as bad as it at that time.

Grewing up in a non Francophone home, having attended English school all my education my French is passable but I would not consider myself fluent. I managed to get fine in Montreal and my predominately French hometown.

Canadian French is different than European French from what I’ve heard. Is that true?

 

[E&Cmom]

Canadian French is different than European French from what I’ve heard. Is that true?

There are differences in some of the pronunciation, vocabulary and expressions.

 

[goofyernmost]

1970 October Crisis. I grew up in Montreal but was only an infant at time so all I know of that is what I learned at school or saw in old articles and new stories. I grew up with 2 referendum and the Language Bill but it was never as bad as it at that time.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_Crisis

Grewing up in a non Francophone home, having attended English school all my education my French is passable but I would not consider myself fluent. I managed to get fine in Montreal and my predominately French hometown.

My wife was born and raised in Dorval. She got a job in Vermont around the end of 1969. I had traveled to Montreal many times with my parents and by myself over the years including many, many trips up there to go to Expo 67. It was there that I acquired my love for Worlds Fairs. I have an overhead picture of the Fair Grounds hanging on my den wall right behind me as I type this. In 1972 my wife and I split our honeymoon between the Queen Elizabeth in Montreal and the Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City. While in Montreal we were ignored while the stores and restaurants took French speaking people first while we tried everything to get people attention. My wife could speak a little French but being the stubborn Irishwoman she was refused too do so. The only way we could get any service at all was for me to basically yell out "If you don't want my money, I'll take it elsewhere" than and only then did we get served. Quebec City was such a contrast that it would have been noticeable from the surface of the moon. Fortunately, not to long after, that the attitude calmed down and things started to return to normal. On the plus side it was during that honeymoon trip that I was introduced to Dunn's Montreal Smoked Meat Sandwiches. I was so green about it that I ordered two because I used to routinely eat two sandwiches. Those of you that are familiar with the MSMS, knows what a mistake that was. When you get two sandwiches that are both 3.5 to 4 inches thick with smoked meat one is more than enough.

 

[Buzz Rules]

1970 October Crisis. I grew up in Montreal but was only an infant at time so all I know of that is what I learned at school or saw in old articles and new stories. I grew up with 2 referendum and the Language Bill but it was never as bad as it at that time.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_Crisis

Grewing up in a non Francophone home, having attended English school all my education my French is passable but I would not consider myself fluent. I managed to get fine in Montreal and my predominately French hometown.

Most Americans would probably consider their Spanish passable as well. Or at least a Spanglish version.

 

[goofyernmost]

Most Americans would probably consider their Spanish passable as well. Or at least a Spanglish version.

Why would I be able to speak Spanish when I was just a few miles from a French speaking Provence. I have been thinking of taking a computer language course, but at my age it doesn't seem worth it anymore. This country is made up of many population based areas. Some speak only English, some Spanish, some Italian, some Arabic and so one. It really depends on where you live what your primary or secondary language is.

 

[Aladora]

Thanks for the advice. I’m thinking of going maybe in 2024 (when the pandemic is done hopefully). Where in the USA do you want to visit where you haven’t before?

New Orleans is on my list for sure!

There are differences in some of the pronunciation, vocabulary and expressions.

excusez-moi où est un depanneur?

 

[Buzz Rules]

New Orleans is on my list for sure!



excusez-moi où est un depanneur?

Je ne sais pas. Demandez à google maps.

La Nouvelle-Orléans est un endroit merveilleux à visiter. Boubon Street est cool, tout comme la bouffe et les équipes sportives.

 

[Frozen Canuck]

Canadian French is different than European French from what I’ve heard. Is that true?

@Buzz Rules is asking a LOT of probing questions about Canadian culture AND has openly made threats of our country's take over. Methinks he is conducting research for an alien invasion under the guise of pinning it on the Americans.

 

[EastCoastCdn]

Canadians celebrate Boxing Day (December 26th). It’s a pubic holiday and most businesses are closed. As I understand it, Americans do not observe Boxing Day.

 

[declansdad]

It depends on moods. During the end of the succession push, Montreal was harder to tour then Quebec City. It was an anger stance. We coming up from the states mostly didn't speak French but we knew that just about everyone that resided in Montreal did speak English because, at the time, all commerce was done in English. Hence one of the talking points on separation. Quebec City, on the other had was primarily French speaking but we found that everyone went out of their way to help and work with English speakers, maybe just Americans, that I don't know. It has been almost 50 years since I was in Quebec City so I am not sure of the situation there today, but Montreal is still an international city and both English and French is spoken with no seeming animosity at all. The succession situation back then was not a pretty sight. Politicians were kidnapped and killed, bombs were planted in Mail Boxes, etc. It was not a pleasant place to be if you spoke English.

The FLQ crisis happened in 1970 and Montreal hasn't been like that for decades.

Not complete without a stay at the Chateau Frontenac.

View attachment 613727

That is an amazing spot but not cheap. If nothing else, a drink in one of their beautiful lounges. There are many other great hotels the city walls and some of the bigger chains just outside the walls.

 

[Miffy]

Dear Canada,
Thank you, thank you, thank you so so so much for Letterkenny! We appreciates it a lot. It's wondrous.

 

[declansdad]

Dear Canada,
Thank you, thank you, thank you so so so much for Letterkenny! We appreciates it a lot. It's wondrous.

Great show, always good for a laugh. How about Schitt's Creek or The Trailer Park Boys?

 

[mommasita]

Canadians celebrate Boxing Day (December 26th). It’s a pubic holiday and most businesses are closed. As I understand it, Americans do not observe Boxing Day.

This year I find abnormally strange . In Quebec we normally have it.

26 Dec

Sun

Boxing Day

NB, NT, NU, ON & PEI

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Canadians celebrate Boxing Day (December 26th). It’s a pubic holiday and most businesses are closed. As I understand it, Americans do not observe Boxing Day.

Boxing Day sorta seems similar to our Black Friday. Traditionally Black Friday was the day after Thanksgiving with big shopping deals and businesses may be closed depending on what they are (retail def. not closed). Over the years it crept up until many deals occurred on Thanksgiving. Then again over time "Black Friday" deals started occurring earlier and earlier to the point where Black Friday these days is really more of a shopping season rather than 1 day you now see Black Friday deals in October and November. Plus there's been a push for retailers to be closed on Thanksgiving (which has pushed Black Friday deals to not be as big of a deal too).

The day after Christmas though is historically more seen as the return day but there's also sales that go on especially holiday-oriented items.