What were your childhood impressions of the various Countries of the world? (house, movies)
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As a French-speaking Canadian living in ''English Canada'' as a child, my impressions of France where that we would have quite a few things in common with them. That impression was furthered by the fact that our anglo neighbours referred to as as ''the French'' all the time. (Occasionally some would even not-too-nicely suggest we go ''back'' (sic) there, but that's another story...)
As a kid I assumed that many things that were considered ''French'' in Canada like tourtières, sugar pie, etc. would also be common in France, but little did I know they did not exist there at all and were homegrown specialties.
I also thought that as the most French part of Canada, Quebec (where we did not live) was quite similar to France and that visits there gave a taste of what France might be like.
It was during this phase that I actually went there for the first time, and expecting to find absolutely nothing familiar or common ground there, was somewhat shocked at what I found: Quebec celebrities on the covers of tabloids at supermarket checkouts in Paris, everyone immediately recognizing my accent as soon as I opened my mouth, frequently being referred to as a ''cousin from overseas" by total strangers, etc.
Obviously it wasn't simply another big Quebec or big French Canada as I expected as a child, but there were way more affinities and commonalities than I would have thought before going there.
As a French-speaking Canadian living in ''English Canada'' as a child, my impressions of France where that we would have quite a few things in common with them. That impression was furthered by the fact that our anglo neighbours referred to as as ''the French'' all the time. (Occasionally some would even not-too-nicely suggest we go ''back'' (sic) there, but that's another story...)
As a kid I assumed that many things that were considered ''French'' in Canada like tourtières, sugar pie, etc. would also be common in France, but little did I know they did not exist there at all and were homegrown specialties.
I also thought that as the most French part of Canada, Quebec (where we did not live) was quite similar to France and that visits there gave a taste of what France might be like.
It was during this phase that I actually went there for the first time, and expecting to find absolutely nothing familiar or common ground there, was somewhat shocked at what I found: Quebec celebrities on the covers of tabloids at supermarket checkouts in Paris, everyone immediately recognizing my accent as soon as I opened my mouth, frequently being referred to as a ''cousin from overseas" by total strangers, etc.
Obviously it wasn't simply another big Quebec or big French Canada as I expected as a child, but there were way more affinities and commonalities than I would have thought before going there.
Having gone to English language schools in the more anglo parts of eastern Canada, also gave me childhood impressions of what the UK might be like.
Even though our lives and culture were much more (North) American in most respects, there was a residual reverence for Britain that was very apparent, and an affection for those British things that Canadians did retain. (Thought not a majority, a good number of my classmates had parents or at least grandparents born in the UK, and it was not uncommon to hear British accents occasionally.)
If I had a dollar for every time I heard someone say ''there is no finer lady'' in reference to Queen Elizabeth...
Not having travelled extensively to places like New England as a child, I fully expected that Canadian towns and cities were more British in appearance than American ones were. Not exactly the same of course, but I expected a decent number of similarities.
I also expected that, reciprocally, people in the UK to have a special affinity and interest in Canada, as of course we were the ''good guys'' who had sided with Britain in 1776, still had the Queen and were members of the Commonwealth.
Later in life, when I ended up visiting the UK for the first time I was a bit taken aback at how indifferent people there were to Canada. People were very nice and had positive (if superficial) views of Canada, but it was clear that their focus was on the US and also Australia. 98% of the time, Canada was of interest only inasmuch as many aspects of it were ancillary to stuff in the States.
As a child if someone would have talked to me about chavs I probably would not have believed them that these types of people actually existed in Britain.
Alot of people around world have a very distorted view of the UK, Britain isn't all gentlemen with top hats...
I think we know that - we're talking about childhood impressions as you requested in your OP. The US isn't all gun toting Honey BooBoos and race riots either, or in your own words, a "giant ghetto-crime ridden city."
Children (and many adults) have notoriously ridiculous misconceptions about foreign countries. I think the vignettes being described are pretty funny! At least KIDS have an excuse for being ignorant!
I think we know that - we're talking about childhood impressions as you requested in your OP. The US isn't all gun toting Honey BooBoos and race riots either, or in your own words, a "giant ghetto-crime ridden city."
Children (and many adults) have notoriously ridiculous misconceptions about foreign countries. I think the vignettes being described are pretty funny! At least KIDS have an excuse for being ignorant!
Yeah I know, but I get the impression that some people from the New world like to stay ignorant about their view of "good old England"
Staying with the US I thought they were at war for some reason.
I thought China was all villages or something.
Australia, all desert with one small seaside town.
Mexico: Sombreros, ponchos, dark hair, chiles, cacti
New Zealand: Green, Tropics
Russia: Snow, fur hats, the cancan.
Scotland: Redheaded men with kilts and thick accents
(Any country in) South America: tropical, women with fruit baskets on their heads
Spain: Romantic and passionate; lots of red
Sweden: Blonde/blond blue-eyed people
United States of America: Patriots, Yankees (not the teams), NYC skyscrapers, Texas Ranches, Florida Beaches, California Surfers, Midwestern Farms, Rocky Mountains, New England Farms, Southern Plantations
Yeah I know, but I get the impression that some people from the New world like to stay ignorant about their view of "good old England"
Staying with the US I thought they were at war for some reason.
I thought China was all villages or something.
Australia, all desert with one small seaside town.
I thought Indian people were Muslims also.
Would you say that "some people from the Old World would like to stay ignorant about their view of the US?"
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