Lol! The Canadian accent. I don't think Americans think about a specific Canadian accent anymore these days. Most probably assume that Canadians sound just like the closest Americans e.g. Torontonians sounding like Buffalonians, Vancouverites sounding like Seattleans, etc. I did hear a quasi-English accent a few times when I visited Alberta so that might be a traditional Canadian accent but to me it was far more regional than national in nature. Torontonians definitely do not speak with that accent. As for "eh" or "ey", read
Lyddie by Katherine Patterson and you'll find that northern New Englanders at one time said it frequently too so it is not authentic to Canada at all.
Queuing is a British thing. It's mentioned in the Hollies 1966 hit song "Bus Stop" and I've personally seen it done effectively in Hong Kong where metal stanchions actually section of a space for a queue. I did not see it applied as effectively in Canada, especially in the big cities where American style bunching still occurs. I mean sometimes a queue naturally forms when there is not enough physical space on the sidewalk and it is considered impolite to jump the queue but that is pretty much etiquette everywhere.
15-20% tip for formal restaurants is pretty standard here in the U.S. too and yes Americans are always expected to tip as well so that part is well understood. Whoever that does not tip is a miser, not an American. Foreigners from other parts of the world may have a harder time understanding the tip. In Hong Kong for instance, a percentage is already included in your bill for service so a tip is redundant.
Good thing he mentioned about pennies or else ignorant Americans would be holding out their hands waiting for the cashier to hand out a few more copper colored coins.
The tips about the rest stops make sense in some parts but he over-generalized it. There are huge swaths of the US with nary rest stops and so you'd better fill up and use the washroom when you can before taking off. I think Americans bringing their vehicles into Canada understand that they may encounter places without many rest stops. I always have a road map ready. On the contrary, I wouldn't freak out about rest stops while on the QEW. Sheesh.
I'd probably like to add my own list of don'ts to Mr. Wolters's list, some of which I learned from this City Data Forum over the years:
1) Don't tell a Canadian that Canada is a free rider benefiting from America's defense
2) Don't call provincial leaders provincial prime ministers or PPMs and don't consider the word
premiere legally meaning the same thing as prime minister even though it comes from the same Latin root.
3) Don't think free speech in Canada is exactly the same thing as in the US.
4) Don't say that Canada is "our friendly but backwards neighbor" as a former US President supposedly implied (could have been a rude joke) and don't say that Canada is backward period.
5) Don't expect measurements to always be recorded in English Imperial (feet, inches, pounds, etc.)
6) Don't expect Canadian laws and societal norms to be the same as the US's (and don't expect Quebec laws and societal norms to be the same as the rest of Canada either)
7) On the contrary, don't treat anglophone Canada as such a foreign country that you'd have to pull out a "Canadian" dictionary (is there such a thing lol) or make pretend that you know so little that you're going to have a translator or tour guide to take you around. (Again Quebec may be an exception.)
8) Don't complain if Canadians don't treat you like a VIP, after all they have to look after themselves first
9) Don't assume that Canadians are ignorant about American politics.
10) Last of all, don't make fun of Canadians lest they make fun of you.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
