I imagine that .0001% of hubski is Canadian -- but if anyone else is wondering about us northern folk, here's some Canadian thoughts and links to a few iconic Canadian tunes at the end of this post.
The idea of asking questions on Canada Day has worked really well and is a lot of fun. You can use these questions for your own national holidays wherever you're from. Just change the word Canadian to American or Australian or wherever. I've been told that the questions themselves have a Canadian sensibility that is not transferrable. What do you think?
Well I'm not Canadian but I have at least ten border crossings within an hour of me. My grandma was born in New Brunswick (1928). #2 - When you are out of the country, what do you miss most about Canada? - I love the Ketchup chips comment. I'm in Maine and we have them, I didn't realize other places didn't. And who can forget Tim Hortons! #12 - If I were to say, “That smells Canadian,” what would it smell like? - I first think of early morning fog, and dew and low temperatures. I also think of those few days per year, like at the middle of June when you can't wait for school to get out, when it's hot and muggy and you don't even care. #23 - Canadians are defined as people who have sex in canoes. How would you define Canadians? - I don't know, I've never heard that. One time I canoed across a lake from the US to Canada and we brought back a tree... we had to ditch it halfway there because we put a hole in the canoe. This was like early 2000s and I was 13. I love going to Canada. I used to visit a friend right across the border pretty often when we were kids. It's been awhile now... Next year, I hope to go to Quebec City. I've never been there before.
theadvancedapes, sounds_sound, forwardslash, backslash -Anything missing from this list? I like the idea of asking questions at a party and putting them in a hat. Pretty cool, I'm going to borrow that. Also.... no mention of hockey???9. Canadians are not known for their nationalism. How grateful are you for that?
-Seems when traveling outside of the US, I see more Canadian flags on backpacks than I do US. I'm not sure this is due to nationalism on the canadian's part, maybe it's more to show that you are not from the US? More "what you are not" rather than "what you are."
I've definitely met some Canadians while travelling who have projected an aura of "hey, we're not Americans, aren't we great?" Generally, Canadians abroad are pretty cool, as are most people I've met and taken the time to talk to. Most people. As for Canadians at home, I have had a lot of interactions that reminded me of interactions I've had with citizens of other English speaking countries, who have expected to be familiar with some part of their foreign policy or political . . . stuff, not to mention pop-cultural stuff and when they understand that I am not familiar with whatever they are referencing, there's usually some mild surprise (sometimes shock) followed by a little, usually inaudible sigh, a slight eye-roll, etc. I don't know if that's a function of more U.S. culture being piped in to other countries via media or of a culture-wide lack of interest in all the stuff from other English speaking countries. Maybe both. Also, I believe that those little Canadian flag patches are available from Canadian consulates and embassies. I don't think that the U.S. consulates and embassies offer them. To be honest, I rarely inform the consulate or embassy that I'll be in a certain country.
Hi tng
Thanks for reading. Thanks for being you.
There are a few other Canadians - mostly friends of mine who lurk occasionally. The questions that work well at a party of random humans are here. Quite a few people I know print out the questions, cut them up, fold them, and bag 'em. Unlike the Canada Day questions, these ones are personal. People, including wrenauld have used the linked questions on a road trip and it really helped people get to know each other in new ways. I have used the linked questions (not the Canada Day questions) for impromptu public speaking exercises in classes. Since no one knows what question they will pick, there's always a think-on-your-feet component. As for hockey, some Canadians follow hockey. Upon finding out I'm Canadian, Americans often say to me, "I suppose you like hockey."
"No, not really." I say, to their amazement.
Should I feel guilty? Is that unCanadian of me? (I will ponder.) Canadians are more likely to like donut shops named after a hockey player. The seats are cheaper and they are easier to find.
Obviously Don Cherry, though I find him to be a huge blow hard, a xenophobic relic, and a generally obnoxious tool. But fiercely Canadian he certainly is. If you need any proof, just go and find his celebratory rant on YouTube from the time when Justin Morneau, Steve Nash and Joe Thornton all won the MVP award in their respective sports leagues in the same year (2007 maybe???). Also, they don't make suits like that in the States.Dead or alive, real or fictional, who is the most fiercely Canadian person you know?