I'm an American living in Canada (and married to a Canadian) and all I have to say about that post is...
"You hate us 'cause you
ain't us!"
Actually, I've decided to elaborate on a couple of points. It's mostly light-hearted, but also a direct by-product of hearing anti-American rhetoric almost every day of the 16 months that I've lived here:
1. It is not neccessary to wear the American flag on every peice of clothing that you wear..or wear Tommy Hilfiger every day. I know you love your country but you dont have to wear a USA shirt EVERY DAY AND EVERY WHERE YOU GO.
But if you're Canadian (or even if you aren't), be sure to wear a Canadian flag all over your clothing and on your day pack so that everyone will know that you're not like those nasty Americans. It's okay to be patriotic if you're from anywhere except the United States.
2. Just because you are an American it doesnt mean you have ANY special status in Canada. yes you are an American, No you do not have to tell me every 5 mins and NO you are not going to be waited on hand and foot at every second even if you yell: I AM AN AMERICAN!!
However, if you're Canadian, you certainly get special status in the United States, especially if you're an actor or a comedian.
4. PLEASE exchange your money BEFORE YOU COME because its not by law that resorts or any other places other than the bank have to give the exchange rate. WE DO NOT GIVE EXCHANGE RATE ON PENNIES. Just because its American Money doesnt mean it gets the exchange rate.
Please refrain from complaining every five minutes about "how expensive" everything is when you come to visit your neighbo(u)rs to the south. It gets really old, really fast, and although we're terribly sorry about the state of the Canadian peso, it's really not our fault that the rest of the financial world responds with "Canada, who?" when asked about the value of the Canadian dollar.
5. Please do not throw my currency in my face and yell at me to configure out this CRAZY CANUCK MONEY! No offence but our change is very EASY to figure out. It looks EXACTLY identical to yours! WOW!
See response above. And please don't go on and on about how "boring" the colo(u)rs are on American money. Maybe that's the problem with Canadian currency; it looks like Monopoly money, so people don't take it seriously!
6. Do not expect every place to carry Budwiser Beer. We like to drink good beer-*that was a cheap shot and just a joke!* When you order a beer it is not-CanadianBlueBluelite its Canadian OR BLue. Do not constantly compare our beer to yours.
No, you'd much rather sit back on your (diminished) laurels and say how much better you are than the US while 95% of Canadians live so close to the US border it's like they're huddled there to keep warm.
7. We do not say EH at the end of every sentence so dont expect us to.
And we don't all say "you all" at the end of every sentence, and if we're Southern, we don't all sound like Jed Clampett or Elly Mae. If you're going to try to amuse us by saying "y'all", please learn this little tip: IT IS NEVER USED IN THE SINGULAR!
8. You do not have to talk to Canadians like they are 5 years old..or call us Baby U.S or think we live in Igloos.
And you do not have to publish silly lists telling Americans how to behave when we visit up north. We are not the big bad bullies you may think we are. Some of us actually know where Ottawa is on the map, eh?
9. Dont look so amazed that we have highways and hydro..ooh and do not ask: Do you know where Ohio is? Because we do know where things are in the world.
Unless you're the guy who tried to sell us a car, who, when he found out I was from Atlanta, asked me how the gambling was there, becuase he thought Atlanta (Georgia) was ATLANTIC CITY.
11. No we do not have 3-5 Walmarts in every town. Especially Peterborough we only have ONE and we do not have SUPER Walmarts. You dont have to tell me that in America that you have 3 Walmarts in a town that is smaller than ours.
The difference between Wal-Mart and Zellers? Two words: Martha Stewart. I rest my case.
12. Not every city has a mountie. They are in Ottawa and only dress up in uniform for SPECIAL events. Ottawa is 3 hours drive away from Peterborough and Nova Scotia and Vancouver are on opposite sides of the country not just down the road. You dont have to yell at me because my country is too big. So is yours!!
Not every city has a mountie, but just about every province, and every municipality without it's own police force does. They're called the RCMP - ever heard of them? Oh, and Atlanta and Atlantic City? Not related. Not even close.
13. PLEASE do not litter or disrespect our natural environment..learn how to drive a boat, throw trash in the trashcans etc. This is not your backyard this is someones country.
Unless of course, you live in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, where it's perfectly okay to dispose of your used needles and condoms on the street, or preferably, bury them in a sandbox in a park that is populated by children.
14. Just because you are American it still means you have to pay for parking. Do NOT CALL MY COUNTRY A WELFARE STATE THAT YOU HAVE TO SUPPORT. WE SUPPORT OURSELVES!
Unless you live in Quebec where the government has all manner of special subsidies just so you'll reconsider that whole "separation" issue.
