What does an American need to know?

[Penguin50388]

Alright, as you can probaly guess I am an American, but I am planing on going to Canada for school. I was wondering what an outsider like me would need to know about so that I won't seem like an idiot when I show up in Sk for the first time. You can post specific details or general fields that I should study up on.

Thanks

 

[Avatar]

Not very much really. We're pretty much the same as you up here.

Don't say our money looks like monopoly money though, we're sensitve because its not worth as much as 'real' dollars.

And never insult the beer, we went to war with Serbia over that I think,

Yes, I remember now.

Pres Clinton (On the phone to our Prime Minister): Hey Jean, we'd like you to join us in the whole liberating Kosova dealy.

PM Chretien (our dude): Eh, Bill, you know we got the thing here, we got the peoples... they are not wanting so much for the war. They thinking maybe the U.N. we do some things with them.

(If that was hard to read, imagine poor us, we lived 10 years with this guy as PM)

Pres Clinton: Jean, they said Canadian beer tastes like something recycled from a Moose (ssshhh Monica, I'm on the phone).

PM Chretien: # $ @ &% !! How many plane you need! We bomb them into... wait, can we buy some bomb for plane?

That's about how it went.

Welcome to Canada!

 

[zoziw]

Alright, as you can probaly guess I am an American, but I am planing on going to Canada for school. I was wondering what an outsider like me would need to know about so that I won't seem like an idiot when I show up in Sk for the first time. You can post specific details or general fields that I should study up on.

Thanks

Generally speaking there isn't too much to worry about. We watch the same TV shows, eat the same food and drink the same stuff.

If you wanted to you could brush up on Canadian geography and politics in case you run into some know-it-all who wants to show how much we know about the US and how little you know about us. Such a person would ask some really easy question like "Who is the Prime Minister of Canada" or "What is the capital of Canada". If you can answer that and fire back with "What is the capital of Delaware" you will probably win the day.

People like that aren't very common though.

Keep in mind that we spell things a little differently.

Center = Centre
Meter = Metre
Liter = Litre
Favorite = Favourite
Color = Colour

Basically, muddle things up and add lots of U's and you will be fine.

Enjoy your stay and our tax system.

 

[Penguin50388]

Keep in mind that we spell things a little differently.

Is Theatre the right spelling up there? Or is it Theater?

 

[zoziw]

Theatre is correct.

 

[Athanasian Creed]

Alright, as you can probaly guess I am an American, but I am planing on going to Canada for school. I was wondering what an outsider like me would need to know about so that I won't seem like an idiot when I show up in Sk for the first time. You can post specific details or general fields that I should study up on.

Thanks

OK, here's some helpful tips -

1) Learn to end every sentence with "eh" and whenever asking someone to repeat what they've said.

2) If you don't already know how - learn to skate. It will enable you to join in on the multitude of "shinny" games that the Prairies are famous for (shinny=pick up hockey games)

3) Immerse yourself in everything hockey - it is a way of life in Canada (some say religion). If you don't have a favourite NHL hockey team, pick one (preferably the Toronto Maple Leafs )

4) Memorize the I AM CANADIAN ! rant word-for-word -

Hey, I'm not a lumberjack, or a fur trader....
I don't live in an igloo or eat blubber, or own a dogsled....
and I don't know Jimmy, Sally or Suzy from Canada,
although I'm certain they're really really nice.

I have a Prime Minister, not a president.
I speak English and French, not American.
And I pronounce it 'about', not 'a boot'.

I can proudly sew my country's flag on my backpack.
I believe in peace keeping, not policing,
diversity, not assimilation,
and that the beaver is a truly proud and noble animal.
A toque is a hat, a chesterfield is a couch,
and it is pronounced 'zed' not 'zee', 'zed' !!!!

Canada is the second largest landmass!
The first nation of hockey!
and the best part of North America

My name is Joe!!
And I am Canadian!!!

Good luck and welcome to Canada EH !


Ray

 

[dews]

In the summer, please don't ask where the ski hills are. That has happened to me before. A family has asked me that and had skis on the roof-rack of their car planning to go skiing (near Toronto).

 

[StromRider]

Couldn't you have picked a better province than Sask to go to school in? Out of curiosity was it the cost difference that led you there or was it just a particular school?

Sask is flat, boring, endless rolling prairie in the southern part with lots of trees in the northern part. Unless you are from Alaska or live next to the Canadian border it will be colder than anything you have ever experienced.

As stated earlier, having some basic knowledge of Canadian geography, history and politics will endear you to the people you meet. My wife has given up and just tells people we are from Canada while I still get a kick out of saying I'm from Calgary, Alberta and watching the deer in the headlights look

I believe the drinking age in Sask is 19 (last time I was there). Much more civilized than countries with a 21 limit. Don't insult the beer, after living in the US for 6 years I can state with confidence that Canadian beer (on average, there are exceptions to every rule) is better.

Don't assume foods with the same name will be the same. Shreddies and Special K are quite different between the two countries. I grew up on them in Canada and can't eat the imposters they sell here.

Oh, I don't end sentences with 'eh', can hardly move on skates, and don't care for the NHL at all. So much for stereotypes.

Plan on spending much time at the nearest Tim Horton's during those long, cold Sask winters

 

[traingosorry]

Ever seen the Northern Lights, Penguin??

 

[StromRider]

Ever seen the Northern Lights, Penguin??

I had forgotten about them, an amazing site. Best seen out in the wilderness away from civilization, wait, he's in Sask. He'll have a great view everywhere

The best viewing I ever had was in Suffield, Alberta. The sky seemed to be dancing. It was a magnificent site.

 

[Svt4Him]

Just need to learn some new words:

Please. Thank you. Excuse me.

That's about it. If you already know them, you'll fit right in.

 

[StromRider]

Just need to learn some new words:

Please. Thank you. Excuse me.

That's about it. If you already know them, you'll fit right in.

When I first moved to Louisville, KY if people didn't understand what you said instead of saying 'excuse me' or 'pardon me' they would say 'please?' That took a while to get used to

Yes, the stereotypes about Canadians being polite and clean are true!! Unless things have changed dramatically in the last six years jaywalking isn't a competitive sport like it is here and people in the service industries actually try to be polite. And people tend not to treat the place like one big ashtray like some other countries that shall remain unnamed.....

 

[McDLT]

It cannot be overstated - be exceedingly polite. You will gain so much more. But make sure you pronouce "sorry" correctly. Canadians pronouce it s - or - e not sari.

If you are here in the winter, invest in a parka, toque, and mittens.

Hope you enjoy your stay in Canada.

 

[Sitting Duck]

Some things people haven't mentionned yet...

It's considered impolite and dangerous to add wood to the fire before asking the igloo's owner permission first. You have no ideas how many igloos have been melted this way by unsuspecting foreigners.

If you feel like playing with sled dogs, you need to pet the alpha male first to avoid getting bit.

Penguins are actually much more dangerous than polar bears, especially when they have youngs to feed. Whatever you do, stay away from the penguins!

Most canadians won't be terribly offended if you burn a canadian flag, especially if it's to warm yourself. But if you want to make friends, it's best to burn Quebec's flag, except of course if you're in Quebec, where the opposite is true.

You'll need four sets of clothing, one for each season.

And finally, differences between americans and canadians are greatly over-exagerated.

I wish you a nice stay, eh.

I apologize in advance to anyone offended by my lame attempt at humor.

 

[traingosorry]

Some things people haven't mentionned yet...

It's considered impolite and dangerous to add wood to the fire before asking the igloo's owner permission first. You have no ideas how many igloos have been melted this way by unsuspecting foreigners.

If you feel like playing with sled dogs, you need to pet the alpha male first to avoid getting bit.

Penguins are actually much more dangerous than polar bears, especially when they have youngs to feed. Whatever you do, stay away from the penguins!

Most canadians won't be terribly offended if you burn a canadian flag, especially if it's to warm yourself. But if you want to make friends, it's best to burn Quebec's flag, except of course if you're in Quebec, where the opposite is true.

You'll need four sets of clothing, one for each season.

And finally, differences between americans and canadians are greatly over-exagerated.

I wish you a nice stay, eh.

I apologize in advance to anyone offended by my lame attempt at humor.

this was BEAUTIFUL!!

 

[Svt4Him]

Some things people haven't mentionned yet...

It's considered impolite and dangerous to add wood to the fire before asking the igloo's owner permission first. You have no ideas how many igloos have been melted this way by unsuspecting foreigners.

If you feel like playing with sled dogs, you need to pet the alpha male first to avoid getting bit.

Penguins are actually much more dangerous than polar bears, especially when they have youngs to feed. Whatever you do, stay away from the penguins!

Most canadians won't be terribly offended if you burn a canadian flag, especially if it's to warm yourself. But if you want to make friends, it's best to burn Quebec's flag, except of course if you're in Quebec, where the opposite is true.

You'll need four sets of clothing, one for each season.

And finally, differences between americans and canadians are greatly over-exagerated.

I wish you a nice stay, eh.

I apologize in advance to anyone offended by my lame attempt at humor.

That's great.

 

[New Creation]

There's another thing- develop a thick skin about your country because you're going to hear a lot of slamming of it- for which I apologize in advance.
We like to think we're all "tolerant" up here but when it comes to Yankees, all bets are off. (disclaimer: not all Canadians do this, but an embarrassing amount do)
Saskatchewan is a beautiful place as long as you can appreciate open spaces. The people there are tough, hearty, and kind. They lean to the conservative side compared to the rest of Canada. They are celebrating their 100th anniversary this year. I hope you learn a lot and make many friends. God bless you!

 

[Penguin50388]

Couldn't you have picked a better province than Sask to go to school in? Out of curiosity was it the cost difference that led you there or was it just a particular school?

It was a lot of both. The school I found there I would be more than willing to pay 15000 a year to go to, but guess what, it's less than 5000 (American dollars, I don't have the whole money conversion down yet, wait until I get up there, then I'll know it)

Ever seen the Northern Lights, Penguin??

No, not in person, I can't wait. I have a couple of friends that used to live near the border and poped up to ski a good bit. The two things they always tell me about is the northern lights and the beauty of the slopes at sunrise and sunset.

Please. Thank you. Excuse me.

Those words are already in my working vocabulary.

If you are here in the winter, invest in a parka, toque, and mittens.

Well, first I must ask, what is a toque? And my next question has to be are mittens better than a good pair of gloves?

There's another thing- develop a thick skin about your country because you're going to hear a lot of slamming of it- for which I apologize in advance.

I already hear a lot of slmming of America, I am not the biggest fan of it myself. I can normaly take insults about things like that well.

Again, thank you all for all of your advice.

 

[Svt4Him]

Those words are already in my working vocabulary.



Well, first I must ask, what is a toque? And my next question has to be are mittens better than a good pair of gloves?

Then you'll fit right in.

And a toque is a nice warm hat.

Here's a picture: http://etobicoke-ringette.com/images/stinger-gear/Toque229.jpg

 

[Penguin50388]

Oh, I have a few similar to that, most of them are made out of a light material and are mainly for looks not warmth.