Korean Job Discussion Forums

[D-Man]

[joelove]

I believe he was just referring to the cultures of those provinces being a bit different than much of Canada. I don't think anyone is trying to be like Americans, it just the similarities and influences are there, much more than from anywhere else.

[northway]

[Privateer]

Canadians are like Americans with all the mojo removed.

Sorry Canadians but that's my impression. You're somehow either boring or weird by comparison.

[cj1976]

Americans have a lot to be proud of - and a lot to be embarrassed about too. Canadians are just proud not to be American, and embarrassed that they are so similar to them. Hence the maple leaves on display.

[sadguy]

interesting thread.

a lot of misconceptions about americans, IMO.

we're all about politics?

i've had one or two political discussions in my 4 years overseas.

we're loud on the phone? i think everyone gets loud on the phone especially if it's in a crowded noisy area.

i do, however agree with capncorea and think americans are more extreme. canadians do seem a bit more milder.

never had any problems with canadians although some have gotten offended when i ask them which part of the states they are from. kind of a ridiculous thing to make a fuss over- even though they are just semi-joking. but still, it's like WOWWW you're so cool for not being american, AWESOME MAN!!!!!! but in reality no one gives a S if you're canadian.

canadians also have this nerdiness about them that's hard to describe. it's not a bad thing though.

[whatisinmyhead]

i think it can be hard for many non-americans to understand how americans are constantly being asked to justify some current or historical aspect of america (iraq, healthcare, guns, palin, whatever). it can become quite tiresome, and it can even turn someone into a stereotypical chest-thumping american who would never actually be like that if they hadn't been provoked in such a silly way to begin with.

[Privateer]

Maybe you should accept some small share of responsibility for your government's actions instead of the convenient cop-out that it has nothing to do with you.

[whatisinmyhead]

my point isn't that i, or any other american, does or does not bear some responsibility (however small or large) for out government's actions. it's that, upon meeting some non-american, we are constantly (and often times immediately) being asked to justify something our government has done. just because i'm american doesn't mean i have any good explanations for why america did x, y, or z. i think if some foreigner meets a canadian person, the two can just have a normal conversation about anything. if that same foreigner meets an american, it's likely that at some point the conversation will turn to the american person needing to justify/explain/whatever something america has done. as if the fact that they are american automatically means they agree with what was done.

basically, your comment proves my point.

[Kuros]

[northway]

[sadguy]

yep, never experienced this either. never had to justify anything to anyone.

[northway]

I should note that depending on where you're from, I could see some Canadians being rather quick to jump on someone from a place that they see as conservative. Northerners are more likely to be insulated from whatever wrath they might have.

[whatisinmyhead]

yeah youre probably right about that. i am from a very conservative state, so im sure that doesnt help much.

i know this thread is just supposed to be about americans and canadians, but i wasnt just refering to canadians doing this. it's happened to me many times in europe, and even a few times here in korea.

anyway, was just trying to shed some light on something that many non-americans might not be aware of/consider. it might not happen to you, but it does happen to some.

[Kaypea]