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I'd love to hear people thoughts who have lived in both places. Canadian or American. I am looking to leave NYC to work/live remotely somewhere in the Northeast but am thinking of widening my options to Canada because why not? I'm considering Burlington, Portland, and maybe the White Mountains. Looking for a larger town or city. Visited Montreal a decade ago. Loved it. Don't know Quebec City at all. I speak French (like actually speak it, like I have a degree in it). I want easy access to the outdoors which I don't think is really too hard anywhere in the entire region.
Oh, and also, what are Quebecois like?? Sorry for such an ignorantly American question but I've never really had an understanding of what Canada is all about. I could say with relative confidence, since I've lived in France and Spain, that the French are culturally proud, a little self-righteous, sometimes dismissive toward Americans and Anglos and the Spanish are funny, playful, EASY to get along with, and don't hold work and making money as the holy grail of all things.
Canada? Just a blank spot in my mind. Like a lot of Americans we kind of forget it's there.
...... Canada? Just a blank spot in my mind. Like a lot of Americans we kind of forget it's there.
LOL. That right there is an insult that speaks volumes about so many Americans and it doesn't inspire me to offer an indulgent or encouraging response to any questions.
But believe it or not, a lot of us Canadians prefer for it to stay that way. Just a boring blank spot in the minds of Americans. It's better, safer and more peaceful for Canada to stay boring, forgettable and beneath the notice of our neighbours.
LOL. That right there is an insult that speaks volumes about so many Americans and it doesn't inspire me to offer an indulgent or encouraging response to any questions.
But believe it or not, a lot of us Canadians prefer for it to stay that way. Just a boring blank spot in the minds of Americans. It's better, safer and more peaceful for Canada to stay boring, forgettable and beneath the notice of our neighbours.
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The person who made that stupid comment was (as far as we can tell) an American. He/she was not "Americans."
The person who made that stupid comment was (as far as we can tell) an American. He/she was not "Americans."
Read my response again. I did not say "all Americans", I said "many Americans" and I said it rightfully so because so many Americans have come here onto the Canada forum (and the P&OC forum) and made exactly the same disdainful and audacious comments and much, much worse. The number of times it's been said here on City Data is uncountable because it's been said so many times it has become a common refrain.
The audacity of a foreigner coming to the Canada forum and saying blatantly insulting things like that while asking questions and expecting willing answers about Canada for their own personal benefit just boggles the mind. It is not endearing nor welcome. The OP says he is ...."thinking of widening my options to Canada because why not?" .... and then immediately offers an insult to all of Canada that is a self-explanatory reason and answer for "why not". I don't think he would like Canada very much if he said that a couple of times face to face to any Canadians he meets in person in Canada.
Thankfully not all Americans are that blatantly disrespectful and ignorant about their nation's closest ally, friend, neighbour and biggest trade partner. I think that all Canadians recognize that there are certainly a lot of wonderful Americans who are true friends of Canada and we appreciate, welcome and love Americans like that all to bits and pieces. But I can't help wondering how many more there are who feel that same disregard and disrespect that was expressed in the opening post but just don't openly say it to Canadians.
Sorry, but it rubs me the wrong way when people offer insult for no good reason and I refuse to placidly take it lying down and not respond to that kind of rude ignorance.
I'd love to hear people thoughts who have lived in both places. Canadian or American. I am looking to leave NYC to work/live remotely somewhere in the Northeast but am thinking of widening my options to Canada because why not? I'm considering Burlington, Portland, and maybe the White Mountains. Looking for a larger town or city. Visited Montreal a decade ago. Loved it. Don't know Quebec City at all. I speak French (like actually speak it, like I have a degree in it). I want easy access to the outdoors which I don't think is really too hard anywhere in the entire region.
Oh, and also, what are Quebecois like?? Sorry for such an ignorantly American question but I've never really had an understanding of what Canada is all about. I could say with relative confidence, since I've lived in France and Spain, that the French are culturally proud, a little self-righteous, sometimes dismissive toward Americans and Anglos and the Spanish are funny, playful, EASY to get along with, and don't hold work and making money as the holy grail of all things.
Canada? Just a blank spot in my mind. Like a lot of Americans we kind of forget it's there.
When I have a bit of time I'll try to answer your questions without any focus on (perceived) slights.
I'd love to hear people thoughts who have lived in both places. Canadian or American. I am looking to leave NYC to work/live remotely somewhere in the Northeast but am thinking of widening my options to Canada because why not? I'm considering Burlington, Portland, and maybe the White Mountains. Looking for a larger town or city. Visited Montreal a decade ago. Loved it. Don't know Quebec City at all. I speak French (like actually speak it, like I have a degree in it). I want easy access to the outdoors which I don't think is really too hard anywhere in the entire region.
Oh, and also, what are Quebecois like?? Sorry for such an ignorantly American question but I've never really had an understanding of what Canada is all about. I could say with relative confidence, since I've lived in France and Spain, that the French are culturally proud, a little self-righteous, sometimes dismissive toward Americans and Anglos and the Spanish are funny, playful, EASY to get along with, and don't hold work and making money as the holy grail of all things.
Canada? Just a blank spot in my mind. Like a lot of Americans we kind of forget it's there.
Often, people start these threads then vanish.
I live in the southeastern corner of Quebec but I have properties across the border in Northern New England and I hop over the border all the time (well, I did, before Covid), I'm very familiar with both sides.
If you show up and post again I promise to take some time to answer your questions
I am a product of my culture. I am a product of my media. I could go on and on about about what a cultural backwater the US is, but that's not the point of my post, nor am I seeking some transboundary argument. I am merely seeking some quick individual insights into the Quebecois cultural psyche.
The responsibility - the choice - to remain a "cultural backwater" lies with the individual - no one else.
I do not live in Canada - but own property and a seasonal home n Quebec, and have spent the summer months there for the past 20 years.
These are my main takeaways:
1. Near the "big cities" is nothing like...everywhere else.
2. Small town folks - have always helped me, been generous, kind, informative, funny - and although they certainly do (almost exclusively) speak French - they are not to be confused with folks from France. Not much in common, that.
3. I've never experienced anything dismissive in France. Your mileage may vary. I'd say this is more of an individual thing.
As a practical matter - regions of high unemployment, very high sales tax all around, high gasoline prices and mainly higher grocery prices (but not always).
More of a ... traditional "conservative" mind set, a comforting throwback to times when family mattered more. Like everywhere, this is changing.
Even in the most out of the way places, though, modern "bad things" exist - drugs, suicide, racism.
Not sure that's helpful info - and if you live in Quebec - feel free to fix me, I am always learning...
I'm not in Quebec but I didn't feel insulted. I do think Canada is a blank spot to most Americans (and not only Americans) but I saw the OP's post as a forthright acknowledgement of lack of knowledge, rather than a "Canada is America's hat" kind of post.
We don't get the grief Americans get for being a world power, so there are benefits to being a blank spot to most of the world.
Of course I think it would serve Americans well to have more knowledge of who is at their border but admitting you don't know something isn't necessarily an insult.
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