Funny Things we Canadians hear!

[ChisJo]

Syracuse Wolvrine, I didn't mean to offend you, and if I did, I'm sorry.
Jo

 

[totalia]

I'm sure some of us Americans believe that, I on the other hand, know better.

(I also know that Canadians have both cars and electricity, there's more to do than just watch hockey, most people do not have pet beavers (nor moose), and that the 401 is the most boring highway I've ever driven on.) (That being said, after driving the 401, I now know that Speed, Tailgating, Drunk Driving, and Fatigue can kill me, and that I'll get "1 demerit point" if I get caught going 120 in a 100 zone)

I also find it pleasant that most places that I've stopped in Canada will accept American currency, and wish that more places in America would accept Canadian currency. (I believe I still have $3 or 4 CDN in my car's change box, leftover from the last time I was in Canada)

How refreshing. It's rare to find an American who knows ANYTHING about Canada.

Oh this was funny. My fiance (who's from Louisiana and lives in New Orleans) came to Canada for a week when I had my accident so he could spend time with me.

He was staying at a hotel in the city and there were fast food joints nearby. He went in one night to get some dinner and gave the guy at the counter a tip since they often do in the States. The guy gave him this really funny look like he had just grown wings and was flying.

My darling asked me why the guy had looked at him so funny. I had to tell him that we don't customarily tip someone at a fast food joint and that tips are generally reserved only for extrordinary service. Even then they are rarely as large a tip as he gave (he gave the guy $4 when that was as much as his dinner). It made me laugh really hard.

lol. It wasn't the first time I had explained how tips work in Canada so it was very amusing.

 

[jewellmmc]

Haha that's funny totalia. I didn't really think tips were complex....hmmmm...lol just kidding.

 

[crazee4mickey]

I remember when we were kids at Disneyland in the 1980's, there had been a much publicized taking of hostages(Americans)that was in the news for quite some time before we got there.
Canada played a huge part in the hostages release--My sister and I (aged maybe 12 and 15) were in an elevator in the Disneyland Hotel when a group entered the elevator--they asked where we were from when they heard us talking. We told them Canada--I am not kidding, they were hugging us, shaking our hands and thanking us for helping to release their hostages---kind of freaked us out a little! When we got off the elevator we were laughing so hard-it was like we had gone and released them personally--made us proud to be Canadian though!
When I was in elementary school we had to learn all of the states, their capitals, etc. and in high school we also used to have to take a mandatory year of American history.
My brother-in-law is married to an American-she was raised only 30 minutes from the Canadian border and has very little knowledge about Canada---we tease her as much as she teases us!

 

[DisFan2]

When we got off the elevator we were laughing so hard-it was like we had gone and released them personally--made us proud to be Canadian though!

This falls under the rubric of "Funny things Canadians might not know about themselves" - http://www.cia.gov/csi/studies/winter99-00/art1.html

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

Syracuse Wolvrine, I didn't mean to offend you, and if I did, I'm sorry.
Jo

No offense taken. I'm enjoying this thread almost as much of some of the Canadians. (I knew a lot of my fellow Americans were clueless, I didn't realize they were THIS clueless)

I grew up close to the Windsor-Detroit border. Close enough that I was able to watch hockey on CBC rather than on US networks. (CBC provides much better coverage.) Close enough that some friends say I have a "Canadian accent" ... (I don't really, except on "ou" words ... out, about, etc). My cell phone ringtone alternates between O Canada and the Hockey Night in Canada theme song.

(I joke that I'm from one of, if not the only place in the US where you can drive due south and end up in Canada)

 

[jewellmmc]

Very cool Syracuse, but I am sorry to break then news that your some of your fellow Americans are that clueless. Maybe you should educate them lol.

 

[pumpkinboy]

...My god. How can people actually be this misinformed?...

Hey, more than 50% of them voted for George Bush didn't they? And after seeing these election results and you're really surprised at the ignorance of many of my countrymen??!! Really, some of these people make Stockwell Day sound well-informed and thoughtful (the Flintstones is not a documentary!).

But seriously, you are all correct about Canadian school children being able to name and identify US states but US school children not being able to do the same. To be fair, I am a product of US public school and I am not completely ignorant; then again, I came from Maine, where something in the vicinity of a third of the population can trace their families back to Canada (usually Québec, but quite a few Maritimers as well); so we actually had some connection or reason for knowing. Maine also has some of the top performing schools in the States on major standardised tests (pats self on back...).
Interestingly, even some of my fellow American students at McGill had not bothered to figure out Canadian geography, after four years.

People learn things that have relevance to their lives, and my countrymen have been focusing on their navels for some time now. Think of all the Easterners who have no idea how big the West really is, or the Europeans and North Americans who somehow come to believe that Africa is one smallish country. Ignorance is everywhere folks, and my countrymen do not have a monopoly on it by any stretch of the imagination.

Funny thread tho.

 

[totalia]

Hey, more than 50% of them voted for George Bush didn't they? And after seeing these election results and you're really surprised at the ignorance of many of my countrymen??!! Really, some of these people make Stockwell Day sound well-informed and thoughtful (the Flintstones is not a documentary!).

Funny thread tho.

Lol. Very good point.

 

[DisFan2]

Hey, more than 50% of them voted for George Bush didn't they? And after seeing these election results and you're really surprised at the ignorance of many of my countrymen??!!

Let's see.... my parents, university educated, living in Canada as landed immigrants, voted for Bush. Which I guess makes them "ignorant" Americans. Yet living here, as they have for more than 30 years, they know more about Canada than most Americans. Which makes them less ignorant Americans, yet still ign.... never mind. Ironically, I believe it was a Canadian - Premier Brian Peckford, who when asked about election results stated "there was WISDOM in the masses". Small consolation when your man doesn't win, I guess.

Ignorance is everywhere folks, and my countrymen do not have a monopoly on it by any stretch of the imagination.

With this point I can agree. While the thread was well intentioned, I think that pumpkinboy has detected the decided note of hubris that has more than crept in here.

 

[merfsko]

I once went to a Wendy's in Florida, and when our server guy foudn out we were Canadian. He completely didn't understand that our first language was English- he thought Canadian's were all French-speaking! Sure, we learn French, but it's not like I speak fluent French or anything. He just didn't get the concept that we spoke English AND French.

Let's just say I was glad when we got out meal!

**I agree with jewllmmc, the message below mine. We know that not all Americans are like this- I also acknowledge that some Canadian are like that too.**

 

[jewellmmc]

Another Note: This thread is not meant to insult Americans. We are just talking about funny reactions. Obviously they are about Americans but the posts aren't poking fun at the entire population of the United States.

Thank you,
Jewel

 

[jersey shark]

As am American frequent business traveler to Canada, I can't disagree with the ignorance of many Americans re: all things Canadian; but it does work both ways, though (especially at the level of the fast food employee...of course...this should not be surprising!!!).

I find Canadians (generally speaking) don't know too much about US geography (can you name the 3 largest cities in New Mexico) history (Who were the "Minutemen"?), or even cultural items that aren't necessarily truly American (Cinqo de Mayo, for example...what is this??).

My theory is as follows (articulated somewhat in an earlier post)...we know/care about the things, people, places that matter to us,,,so what's going on may not be a reflection of things related to Canada so much as the degree to which there is an interest or concern about Canada. Example: Here in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area...many of us here have pretty much concluded that we're the center of the universe and have everything here etc..., therefore, we don't have much of an appetite to learn of things going on in Kansas City, Billings Montana, or
yes, Canada. My experience in Canada is somewhat similiar INSIDE Canada...for example, Toronto people are generally pretty out-of-touch with people in fishing villages in Newfoundland or on the farms of Saskatchewan because like New Yorkers to the rest of the US, "it's not their scene".

P.S. I can always identify when I've reached a Canadian call center when calling for hotel reservations....he's the guy apologizing for no reason with a funny accent (SOAR-ee!) and often starting each sentence with an apology!!! (Oddest thing!!) Also, the
Cdn pronunciation of pasta (PAST-a, not PAW-sta) should be illegal...enough to make my Italian grandma turn over in her grave!!!

Happy New Year!

JS

Happy New Year!

 

[blusk]

I did not have any experiences like this on our first trip to WDW, but on our last.....oh boy. One night at Illuminations I got talking to this guy from PA somewhere and he asked if the Canadian Pavillion was what Canada really looked like, I said no not really, then he asked if we spoke french because he heard somewhere that everyone is Canada is french. That one is not so bad, I just explained to him about his misconceptions and he was pretty cool about it. He just kind of laughed after that. They were pretty nice.

We met a couple at MGM during a parade, they were from Washington. When they found out we were from Canada, they asked if we had ever been in heat like this before. It was like 22 degrees out. hahahahahahaha....she had no idea we had a summer at all.......she really did think that the whole country was like a frozen tundra.

 

[Sandyincanada]

(especially at the level of the fast food employee...of course...this should not be surprising!!!).

I find Canadians (generally speaking) don't know too much about US geography (can you name the 3 largest cities in New Mexico) history (Who were the "Minutemen"?), or even cultural items that aren't necessarily truly American (Cinqo de Mayo, for example...what is this??). QUOTE]

As to your first comment - OUCH! Glad I don't work for one.

You are talking about very specific things. I know Cinqo de Mayo is a holiday in Mexico, its to do with wnning a war victory - but I know that from being in Mexico. Minutemen? again heard of it, again a war question - it was a group of soldiers. Do I really need to know more about them? I don't think so.

We are not surprise that someone hasn't hear of, for example, The Royal Winnipeg Ballet (which is renowned world wide) but the fact that they have never heard of the PROVINCE of Manitoba! Some people don't even realize we have provinces and not states. Simple things like the Provinces (we learn all the States here), that our Christmas lands on Dec 25, that our clock has 24 hours (lol, sorry but I love that one), the fact that Canada does have a summer season ( a very hot one in some provinces), that we have a Prime minister and not a president. That we DO NOT live in igloos, lol. We are not talking about specific cities or historical events just perceptions in regards to Canada period.

Alot of this is in fun only but think about it, if everytime (ok, many times not everytime) you spoke to a Canadian, they asked you what New Jersey is and what province is it in and was surprised that you weren't all farmers with Jersey cows, would it not get to you? lol, you may be rolling your eyes but those are the type of questions we hear all the time.

So I'll make you a deal, we'll stop saying pasta, if you stop saying "ya'll",

 

[TnTsParty]

I had to post to this thread because I have found some of the same ignorance you have been talking about but its not about Canada. My DH is from New Mexico and like Jersey Shark mentioned alot of people don't even realize this IS a state in the US - I was born and raised in South Florida so I have come across alot of people from different states and countries so I feel I am pretty knowledgable about things (though I won't say I know everything about Canada or Mexico or other countries but I do know enough not to ask stupid questions) the comments I have heard about my DH have been "wasn't he scared to live outside of the US" "does he have a passport" and another funny one he has heard is "you don't look like a Mexican" well duh that's because he's not - he's a 1/2 Irish - 1/2 German American. I guess he was so used to people being ignorant about New Mexico that when I first met him he said "I'm from New Mexico and no I am not Mexican" he didn't realize I had paid attention in my Geography classes!! Also on Christmas I was talking with my cousin who was visiting from Alaska and he has had the same ignorant comments asked to him - like does he need a passport to come to the US or why the galcier is dirty and not clean, or do they live in igloo's - guess ignorance is not only aimed at the Canadians!!

Also I do not appreciate Pumpkinboy implying that if you voted for George W Bush you are ignorant - sorry but it makes you the ignorant person for making that comment.

 

[Mickey&JoshNut]

I think the funniest thing I heard was on our last trip to WDW at the beginning of December. When we visit EPCOT I always wear my Roots Canada t-shirt. This time I had on my Roots Canada T-shirt (with the Canada flag), my socks had small Canada flags and I had a Roots Canada backpack and a CM asked if I was from Canada or just advertising for them!!!

Also, when we were talking to a family from a Southern State (not mentioning where) and when they found out we had driven from Canada she couldn't believe it and asked how long it took to drive. When I replied that we took a leisurely drive and were here in 3 days the mom was dumb founded. I guess she thought Canada was further away!!!!

 

[merfsko]

So I'll make you a deal, we'll stop saying pasta, if you stop saying "ya'll"

Hey! I'm Canadian and "y'all" is part of my everyday vocabulary!
but really, about the 'past-a' thing, people pronounce things differently, sometimes a whole nation sometimes just a single person (I always pronounced 'plain,' play-in , and my family/friends makes fun of me )
So the 'past-a' is just another of saying it.

 

[crazee4mickey]

When we were in Animal Kingdom a couple of weeks ago, my husband went to buy some smoothies for us. The cast member asked where he was from--when he said "Canada" her reply was "Yeah I thought so, have you seen the movie "Brother Bear" because you sound just like the two moose in the movie, all Canadians do!"
My husband kind of stood there with his mouth open -really not knowing what to say-he came back over to us and said "she thinks all Canadians sound just like Bob and Doug MacKenzie!" He was so insulted and even asked us what we thought-"do I say eh all the time? You guys never do, do I?"-we never do--"do I say take off?" --he was insulted but paranoid at the same time that we spoke like that! I think he wouldn't have taken it so badly if she had even indicated that she was teasing a bit but she was so serious!
I laughed so hard --he was so "ticked off"--I'm still LMAO, EH!

 

[Sandyincanada]

Hey! I'm Canadian and "y'all" is part of my everyday vocabulary!
but really, about the 'past-a' thing, people pronounce things differently, sometimes a whole nation sometimes just a single person (I always pronounced 'plain' play-in , and my family/friends makes fun of me )
So the 'past-a' is just another of saying it.

LOL...I've never heard a Canadian say "Y'all" before, thought it was a good example .... my Aunt who moved to the States quite a few years ago says it alot and I always tease her about it.

But I agree with you, I never understood the "aboot" thing. I've never heard anyone say aboot for about. Hmmm, my DD just moved to NS and they have pretty strong accents there, maybe its from there?? lol, will have to listen to her SO better.

To crazee, ok, I'll admit that I do use "eh" once in awhile but I can't recall the last time I said "Take off, you hoser" lol. Those moose in Brother Bear were pretty funny, they were my favorite part of the movie