Canada vs. USA
So it’s recently come to my attention that people don’t think I’m American. By that, I mean several friends whom I know in person and have spent time, worked and shared meals with thought I was Canadian. (These friends have been neither American nor Canadian.)
http://www.maptown.com/images/ntscanadafull.jpg
Now, I do like Canada. Vancouver is an amazing city and Toronto takes the title as cleanest city I’ve ever seen anywhere in the world. Honestly, driving through Toronto I was absolutely awed the lack of litter. You could eat off the sidewalks!
http://www.greenhornetpilotcars.com/UnitedStates_Map.gif
This isn’t the first time I’ve been confused with a non-American. I used to work at a radio station where one of the salesmen was convinced I was secretly from another country. We had this conversation more than once:
“Where are you from?”
“Here.”
“No, but where were you born?”
“Downtown Washington.”
“Well, where are your parents from?”
“The Midwest.”
“Oh, well there are a lot of Germans and Eastern Europeans in the Midwest. That explains it!”
Um… okay?
So back to the reason for this post: How are Canadians and Americans different? We look alike, talk alike and are pretty easily intertwined in the minds of the world.
http://www.phoenixarizonarealestatehomes.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/canada_usa.jpg
We all know there are some major differences. Canadians can be divided into Eskimos and Mounties (or related to one), love hockey and say “eh” a lot. Americans are fat, loud and carry guns at all times. 
Okay, deny it, but at least the “eh” thing is true. 
Americans and Canadians: what makes us uniquely different? And non-North Americans: what do you think is the difference?
Hmm I must admit that I have mistakenly called Amercians Canadians before – and vice versa!!! Ooops
There are worse things you could call Americans…!
People always assume I’m Canadian till I tell them I’m American. Guess they’ve done a good job brainwashing me. Since I was 5 when I moved here it probably made it easier for them
That is interesting that people commonly mistake you for Canadian. I didn’t really think there was much of a difference, besides stereotypes and the occasional accent.
When I was in Australia people assumed I was Canadian for some reason as well. How strange! But definitely not an insult!
I definitely get called Canadian from time to time (I met a girl this past weekend who thought I was; and she, like many others, is a fellow American).
I have to admit, though, that I do say “eh” a lot…
That just happened to me last week! Somebody asked me what country I was from and I said, “Um, America?”. I was so confused! I know we Minnesooooohtans have an “accent”, but I didn’t think it sounded unAmerican! That’s the first time I’ve heard that one!
Okay, here’s a question: Is the Minnesota accent the same as North Dakota? They sound basically the same to my inexpert ear…
Michiganders are both, generally. We say “eh,” have an accent, like their hockey, and well, it’s so close to Canada anyways.
LOVE this post! I’m American, grew up in Michigan, as did my dad. My mom’s family moved around the country and worl a lot when she was little, and eventually settled down in Cnada, so I have lots of family there now and I am usually there once or twice a year. I won’t lie, all my male Canadian relatives are obsessed with hockey, in the same way my male American relatives are obsessed with football! The biggest difference is the amount of snow.cold. Michigan is a prwetty cold and snowy place, but in most parts of Canada, winter is rpetty much a good five month eight foot snowdrift ordeal. Bery fun to play in though!
Haha, that is funny. I never knew people can tell the difference between Canadians and Americans. They all look the same and talk the same to me, too. Well, I mean, you know what I mean!
I dont know what it is… Im living in America and am instantly within seconds of talking to me (must be the accent??!) labeled as Canadian (I am, born and raised).
ha, that’s really funny!
On an individual basis Canadians and Americans can easily be mistaken for one another. Collectively (as nations) we are quite a bit different from each other. Canadians are more reserved and have more socialist ideals (a left wing Canadian is a far left wing American) while Americans are much more capitalist.
Sometimes foreigners confuse the group-think for each individual person’s ideals. Maybe you’re just a little more socialist than the “typical” American
I really know very little about Canadians, but that’s so weird. What could it be about you that seems un-American?
I talked to Canadian tourists almost daily….the only thing I can think of besides the “eh” thing is they don’t generally like being mistaken for Americans….lol.
Amanda,
That’s true, we get offended by being called Americans. Mainly because we like to have our own identity.
It’s akin to someone saying: “hey you’re Jane’s sister!” rather than calling you by your name. It’s not an untrue association, it’s just a bit annoying.
It’s definitely not an insult if it’s coming from a non North American. In my experience the general opinion of North Americans by Europeans, Brits and Irish is that Canadians are extremely pleasant (which let’s face it, you are) and Americans are loud, brash and insensitive. A sweeping statement it’s true but unfortunately one that applies to a large proportion of the North American tourists we get over our side of the world!
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