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The question in terms of culture is how different are the following:
Canada vs. regions of the US
Regions within the US
Regions within Canada
Regions of Canada vs. regions of US
Canada vs. USA overall
Magnitudes of differences exists between parts of Canada, and within Canada, and the same goes for the US. A Vancouverite lifestyle and culture may resonate more with Seattle or San Fran than say Halifax. And someone from New Brunswick may have a more similar lifestyle/day-to-day culture to someone in Maine or Nova Scotia as opposed to someone from Edmonton. Borders are not cut and dry when it comes to culture. While I think there are some things common to all Canadians and some things common to all Americans being under different leaderships - they are different countries with different governments that have different outlooks and objectives - regional lifestyles should be considered when thinking about cultural differences as well.
And perhaps you shouldn't be guessing as to the cultural differences (or the common cuisine) between US regions unless you've lived in those different regions (and same goes for Canadian regions).
Have you lived in different Canadian cities/regions or US cities/regions?
When did I say I was guessing? Yes, I have either been to or lived in those regions in USA/Canada. I frankly cant believe that some people think that cuisine across America is the same!
Aside from food you can look at things like language, music, movies, tv shows, holidays, sports, materialism, etc...
Regional cultural differences are pretty lame for the land area we have... Go to Washington, Florida, Kansas, and North Carolina. Everyone of those places you will meet some mid aged women driving a Honda Odyssey talking on their iPhones, listening to Katy Perry on the radio on their way to pick their kid of from Soccer practice. and they will probably stop at some fast food joint on the way home.
Much of what you have said can be easily countered with hard facts about variations in income levels, spending habits and education levels in different cities and States. Soccer is an interesting example cause I remember that during the WC some sections were mocking the sport - saying that it was un-American and too socialist!
Are you telling me that the average level of education is the same in Boston, MA vs Jackson, Miss? Income? Jobs? And clearly all this then leads to huge differences in politics and policies. 100s of studies have been done comparing the differences between different states and cities. What about differences in laws - abortion, death penalty, same-sex marriage, etc.
I am really not going to argue about this because these differences are evident to most Americans I know. This is not even a matter for debate and this thread is sounding very absurd now.
When did I say I was guessing? Yes, I have either been to or lived in those regions in USA/Canada. I frankly cant believe that some people think that cuisine across America is the same!
Is that a big deal if they think that? And really, they're not entirely incorrect.
Sure, there are culinary variances across cities, states/provinces, and regions (thank gawd). Long may those variances continue! But there is more of a commonality to how Canadians and Americans eat- across cities and regions - than there are significant differences.
Is that a big deal if they think that? And really, they're not entirely incorrect.
Sure, there are culinary variances across cities, states/provinces, and regions (thank gawd). Long may those variances continue! But there is more of a commonality to how Canadians and Americans eat- across cities and regions - than there are significant differences.
Atleast we are talking about food now.
Commonality to what extent? Some would consider a Po' boy in NOLA and a Philly-cheese steak from Philly to both be sandwiches. Are they the same? Clearly No!
There are tremendous differences in food when you compare the West Coast (California/Oregon) - costal areas to food in the Mid-West (say Chicago). Are there similarities in the food ate in Chicago and Portland? Yes. I am sure people eat tacos and burgers in both places. But on average, the food served in Chicago and Portland is not the same. I know people who visit W.Coast (and NOLA) just for the food. I am yet to find road side restaurants and small pubs (even breweries) in Chicago that all serve fancy seafood cooked in wine.
These differences are not debatable. If you don't believe me - go visit the Oregon Coast and then tell me if the food there is the same.
Much of what you have said can be easily countered with hard facts about variations in income levels, spending habits and education levels in different cities and States. Soccer is an interesting example cause I remember that during the WC some sections were mocking the sport - saying that it was un-American and too socialist!
Are you telling me that the average level of education is the same in Boston, MA vs Jackson, Miss? Income? Jobs? And clearly all this then leads to huge differences in politics and policies. 100s of studies have been done comparing the differences between different states and cities. What about differences in laws - abortion, death penalty, same-sex marriage, etc.
I am really not going to argue about this because these differences are evident to most Americans I know. This is not even a matter for debate and this thread is sounding very absurd now.
I'm talking about culture, not income, laws and jobs.
As i said... holidays, tv shows, movies, sports, etc... traveling to places like Yosemite, Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon i find myself making small talk with tourist from all parts of the US because we all share a lot in common... we speak the same language, watch the same shows, movies and sports.
I found it interesting when i was in Phoenix how often tourist would ask me for directions and i would accidentally ask tourist for directions. even though i live about 1,600 miles away from Phoenix.
yes, culture is more than pop music and TV shows, but what's unique about Canada in other things?
Language: Canadians talk exactly like Americans.
Food: almost identical, mostly beef and burger/sandwiches - food is sometimes a defining feature of "culture".
lifestyle: most people in lowrise suburbs and drive cars, shop at strip malls.
Entertainment: almost no difference, a matter of hockey/football. that's it. It is not like Canada has a badminton or Kara-okay culture.
Additionally we pretend to use the metric system but keep using pounds and feet because Americans are using it.
Honestly, I fail to see any defining cultural elements that makes Canada so different from the US. Enlighten us.
English Canadians do not talk EXACTLY like Americans. Are some US accents and Canadians ones close? Absolutely, especially some Californian ones. Still not exactly though.
I was on the phone today speaking with a friend of my mothers, who lives in Chicago. I heard a definite accent that was NOT Canadian.
Food. It's is natural that a lot of it is going to similar since we come from common parents. It's very regional though. You find that in Europe as well. The Alsace is more germanic than other parts of France and northern Italy reminds me more of Austria than southern Italy.
Lifestyle. Again very regional. You could say the same about Australia and a lot of other places in the world.
Entertainment. I'd argue that the culture of hockey and US football are quite different. We have nothing like the intensity of high school and college football that the US has.
Movies...international. Last time I was in Milan they had a huge ad in the central train station for " Sex in the City 2 ". US movies are everywhere. One thing that has changed in the last 10 years is how easy it is now to watch many other countries movies with a click on the internet.
Canada being so close to the elephant that is the US has done a remarkable job of keeping it's own identity, considering how hard it's getting to do so.
The future? Who knows, but I believe that one day, a few hundred years from now, there will be one world culture. From the look of things from this slice of time, it may not be US culture but an Asian one that has the most influence.
I'm talking about culture, not income, laws and jobs.
As i said... holidays, tv shows, movies, sports, etc... traveling to places like Yosemite, Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon i find myself making small talk with tourist from all parts of the US because we all share a lot in common... we speak the same language, watch the same shows, movies and sports.
I found it interesting when i was in Phoenix how often tourist would ask me for directions and i would accidentally ask tourist for directions. even though i live about 1,600 miles away from Phoenix.
It is very clear that
(1) TV viewing habits are different:
e.g. who watches Duck Dynasty vs shows on Netflix
(2) Sports viewing habits are different:
e.g. MLB vs NFL vs NHL
Do you disagree? There is data to prove all this.
I mean, Detroit is called Hockey Town and hockey is absent in much of the country.
So even in the things you have stated - there are several variations. But I am not sure why you keep avoiding the bigger questions that deal with differences in major laws and policies like - death penalty, gun regulations, abortion access, same-sex marriage. If people were all the "same" culturally - -- then why the differences in these major policy issues? It would be very difficult to find another country where people's views on such matters are so different.
I don't get your point about travel. Obviously everyone wants to visit DC - it is the nations capital. What does this have to do with cultural similarity?
And I have had small talk with people in countries like India, Thailand, Malaysia, etc etc - and I don't even speak any of their local languages.
Boston - weed is illegal - can be arrested and sent to jail
Seattle - weed is legal - smoke shops everywhere
Are you impressed?
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