Canadian American RV Culture Difference

Last winter I had a lady from Northern Indiana ask we if we drove on the left side of the road in Canada. Her next question was have we been to London to see the Queen because of our British ties. I bit my tongue, but I felt like asking if she had been to Washington to see Obama.

Paoli wrote:
It always amazes me how little Americans know about Canada.
One visitor from the US told me Toronto is the capital of Canada and after that he asked me who is the president in Canada. :S

I think that this is by far the biggest difference. I could write a book on the things I have heard over the years, in fact, I am actually considering doing that!

It always amazes me how little Americans know about Canada.
One visitor from the US told me Toronto is the capital of Canada and after that he asked me who is the president in Canada. :S

mockturtle wrote:
I like Canada, too, but I don't like to hear Canadians criticizing our country, our government, our laws or our lifestyle while they are here in the US! I may take issue with some things about their country, too, but I don't feel compelled to show them the errors of their ways. :D

BTW, We call carbonated beverages 'pop' here in the NW, not 'soda'. I think it must a regional thing.

This works both ways. Some people can't just go with the flow when visiting other places.

Unless they hunt, no one owns a gun in Canada. Canadians like it that way. They think people in the U.S. who are so adamant about owning guns are extreme.

Not true. Many non hunters have guns in Canada.

Canadians have two languages. English and French. In Quebec, of course, almost everyone is bilingual.

Not true, the majority in Quebec only speaks french.

But even in the other provinces, you will hear a French accent fairly often.

Not true either.

We also have cultural differences in the US and yet some are the same as Canada. I grew up drinking Pop and DH drank Soda. He's from CT and I'm from OR.

He wore Levi's, I wore Jeans. He wore Sneakers, I wore Tennis shoes.

mockturtle wrote:
I like Canada, too, but I don't like to hear Canadians criticizing our country, our government, our laws or our lifestyle while they are here in the US! I may take issue with some things about their country, too, but I don't feel compelled to show them the errors of their ways. :D

BTW, We call carbonated beverages 'pop' here in the NW, not 'soda'. I think it must a regional thing.

Agreed. Criticizing someplace else when you are a visitor/guest is bad manners.

Regional things are what makes travelling overland so enjoyable.

mockturtle wrote:
I like Canada, too, but I don't like to hear Canadians criticizing our country, our government, our laws or our lifestyle while they are here in the US! I may take issue with some things about their country, too, but I don't feel compelled to show them the errors of their ways. :D

"Its your country - do what ever you want." Said no American politician ever ;)

gotsmart wrote:

Rolin wrote:
I'm learning to speak and spell in Canadian. They have had their difficulties as well, but by and large it is a refreshingly civilized place. Hope it doesn't change. Enjoy visiting our neighbors to the North and welcome them to visit us.

My friends from the BBC tell me that they don't have restrooms, but they do have washrooms - and cloth napkins are napkins, but paper napkins are serviettes.

A napkin works better than a serviette if you accidentally spill your poutine on the chesterfield in your fifth wheel. :) Mistaking your lefse for a napkin at Christmas dinner will cause your hosts to react with great hilarity in either country.

Onroutes are rest areas along the 400 series highways. They have fuel, Tims, restrooms, MacDonalds, Subways, etc. Some have small park like areas where you can have a picnic or just rest. OTR truckers have their own parking areas. The rest areas buildings have been torn down and rebuilt and are now called Onroutes. I believe the provincial govt. was involved.