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.
I am Canadian and I always refer to people from the United States as "Americans". I don't really care if they use that term for themselves and don't in any way feel deprived of my "continental" identity because of it.
As for referring to the United States as "America", that doesn't bother me either. Not only do people from the U.S. use it, but I have noticed it very common especially among the British and Australians as an equivalent term for the United States.
I am Canadian and I always refer to people from the United States as "Americans". I don't really care if they use that term for themselves and don't in any way feel deprived of my "continental" identity because of it.
Once again, I don't really care.
Acajack, are you from Calgary by chance? All the coolest, most down to earth, non stuck up Canadians I've met were always from Calgary.
I always hated that smugness coming from both Canadians and South Americans abroad.
The funny thing is, I lived in South America for nearly a year. Everyone called me 'Americano'. They don't call themselves Americanos in their language, they call themselves Chileans or Brasileiros or whatever they are. Occassionally I'd hear 'Norte Americano', but it was rare. But most everyone would refer to me as the Americano.
But, you meet the young smug ones in hostels in Europe or somewhere, and they love to make an issue about it.
Generally, these days, I just say 'I'm from the United States' and try to avoid America/American if see any of those guys with huge maple leafs attached to their backs, or Latin Americans (the latter of which I quite like, by the way), but the ones who have money and can travel abroad, seem to be the ones politically smug about that.
Yeah, I know what you mean about the smugness! I got it all the time. I often felt like I had to be whatever the opposite of Ugly-American is. A Pretty-American? After being overseas for a while you can get tired real quick of everyone's attitude towards you once they find out you're American. Stereotypes, and more stereotypes. (Well, with the exception of the Aussies, they weren't snobby to me ever, lol) Don't get me started on French people....
But thats kind of funny about the Brasileiros comment, because I distinctly remember a Brazilian guy giving me the third degree for the "American " comment!
I've always liked the Quebec ones! The Maritimes and that middle area - Alberta, Saskatchewan, etc., as well.
Quote:
Originally Posted by IslandDreamin
Acajack, are you from Calgary by chance? All the coolest, most down to earth, non stuck up Canadians I've met were always from Calgary.
Sounds like you might been living in South Korea? That's where I was, and met way too many extremely anti-american and extremely smug Canadians. I kind of pinpointed the most unbearing to be around were almost always being from Ontario, and to a lesser extent, British Colombia.
Quote:
Originally Posted by IslandDreamin
Yeah, I know what you mean about the smugness! I got it all the time. I often felt like I had to be whatever the opposite of Ugly-American is. A Pretty-American? After being overseas for a while you can get tired real quick of everyone's attitude towards you once they find out you're American. Stereotypes, and more stereotypes.
Yep, they got a ton of extremely unflattering negative stereotypes - we're all obese, loud, obnoxious, warmongering, racist, ignorant, etc.
I occassionally got the 'you don't SEEM American' when asked my nationality...which showed me right away that I'm dealing with one with some heavy prejudices.
Definitely not all Canadians are like that, but it seemed like if they were under 30 and from Ontario, it seemed like the chances that they would be, would skyrocket.
hahaha someone ask me to help them research the travel cost cause she needed to get everyone passports too....i also was told what was my immirgration status...or more so one person said at my job if i didnt help them they would call the immirgration and deport me as an illegal alien.
My brother in-law from Oregon stated that living in Hawaii is like living in another country.
I'd be a bit nervous living in Hawaii, given all the money we owe China, and one day, if we can't pay it back, they may confiscate Hawaii to help settle the debts, or we just hand it over to them saying: Debt settled! And keep your hands off our Aleutian Islands!
So some day.........................................you never know..................we may need a passport & visa to go there!
I'd be a bit nervous living in Hawaii, given all the money we owe China, and one day, if we can't pay it back, they may confiscate Hawaii to help settle the debts, or we just hand it over to them saying: Debt settled! And keep your hands off our Aleutian Islands!
So some day.........................................you never
know..................we may need a passport & visa to go there!
I think we'd cede Las Vegas, Nevada before Hawaii.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
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.
