I don't know how you people do it?

[drag n' fly]

Ok so I am standing in line in Costco the other day...and it was packed! Well this nicely somewhat overly dressed for Costco couple pulls in behind me with their cart and begin to argue over a lifetime size jar of olives. She was concerned his sodium intake over the lifetime of the jar of olives would jeoporadize his health. Well the discussion continued and I noticed "their accent".....and well how um..... loud they were.(Disclaimer inserted) In my mind I was thinking "if I didn't know any better I would swear they were from the U.S". So the lady behind me very loudly announces WHAT A GREAT PRICE THOSE PIZZAS ARE! The ones in a tray for 10 bucks! I said yah the kids are out of school and they feed everyone! She then says "I DONT KNOW HOW YOU PEOPLE DO IT".. and I reply..."do what"? The lady reples..."I swear I dont know how you people survive up h"ere" I smiled and said "Are you in town for the Stampede"? and she says YES WERE HERE FROM L.A AND I SWEAR BEING UP HERE IS JUST AS BAD AS TRAVELLING IN EUROPE"! Everything is just as expensive as being in Europe. So we had a nice...but um loud talk about Canadian incomes and how we manage up here. I told her with our dollar being so high it is expensive for them to travel up here and that is why she is noticing it more now....now they know how we felt for years with our low dollar.

 

[dancin Disney style]

None of that comes as a surprise to me. They think that Canada is nothing but igloos and trees and we all know each other.


About 2 years ago we went to the Toronto Santa Claus parade and the streets were closed down and very, very crowded. This couple came up behind us and asked if something important was going on. We told them about the parade and they were truely surprised. We then asked them where they were from and they said Michigan. We then asked them how long they had been in the city and they said "over a week" then they told us they were staying at the Sheraton.

How they had been staying in the city that long and at a very large hotel that is smack along the parade route and still didn't know what was happening is totally beyond me.

 

[DisFan2]

None of that comes as a surprise to me. They think that Canada is nothing but igloos and trees and we all know each other.

How they had been staying in the city that long and at a very large hotel that is smack along the parade route and still didn't know what was happening is totally beyond me.

Not to worry - there's fewer and fewer of them to deal with. And interestingly:

"Other findings included:


Forty per cent of Americans do not associate Canada as a travel destination for skiing, snowboarding and boating."

 

[dancin Disney style]

Not to worry - there's fewer and fewer of them to deal with. And interestingly:

"Other findings included:


Forty per cent of Americans do not associate Canada as a travel destination for skiing, snowboarding and boating."

Well lets just keep our recreational activities a secret then!

 

[DisFan2]

Well lets just keep our recreational activities a secret then!

Brilliant plan!!!

 

[NikP]

She then says "I DONT KNOW HOW YOU PEOPLE DO IT".. and I reply..."do what"? The lady reples..."I swear I dont know how you people survive up h"ere" I smiled and said "Are you in town for the Stampede"? and she says YES WERE HERE FROM L.A AND I SWEAR BEING UP HERE IS JUST AS BAD AS TRAVELLING IN EUROPE"! Everything is just as expensive as being in Europe.

I guess it just depends on what you are looking to buy,and where you are in Canada and in the U.S. I cross border shop for a variety of reasons, selections, sizes etc. I do seem to notice that food costs seem to be really high compared to southern Ontario. Beer is cheap there and so are tobacco products. When I was in Michigan in June we saw discounted cigarettes $2.00 a package. I am thankful for our high taxes here when I see that. What kid can't come up with $2.00 in spare change. Sorry.... When talking to some people at the local grocery in Michigan, one man replied all the sinful things are affordable, but everything else is expensive, fruit veggies etc. But I didn't assume that he meant everywhere I will ever encounted in the U.S. has expensive food. I took it as being a gage on the economy of the area I was visiting. Am I wrong to assume this? I did assume the booze and ciggs would be like this across their country though.

I guess it comes down to education. People have to understand how big both of our countries are and how diverse our economy across Canada can be.

Not all Americans pitty us Canadians. If it was all that bad would so many of us live here and legally immigrate to our Country?

drag n fly; great job educating the narrow minded tourist!! Got to go shovel all that snow so my husband can bring in the dog sled.