every bit of evidence at my disposal indicates that there are significant cultural differences between Canadians and Americans. The differences do tend to be subtle - my ex-pat American partner, who has lived in Canada now for six years, keeps telling me that the differences become more obvious to him the longer he's here.
I suppose I'm also an ex-pat, though I've never used that word for myself. I came to Canada from the U.S. in 1972 and have been here ever since.
Your partner is quite right; I've also seen those subtle differences. When I first came here, all I saw was that different look of the money and a few pronunciation differences. Then I gradually became aware of more. The most significant one, for me at least, is that in the States I felt constantly under attack. When I've gone to visit relatives there occasionally, that feeling came back, so I don't think it was a matter of my immaturity in 1972. (Mind you, I was immature.) It seems that everyone fears that someone -- anyone -- else might attack them, and thus they look at, well, me as a potential enemy. (And at other people too, of course.) When I came here I gradually, gradually began to drop my shields.
Interestingly, I was talking to a man from Europe a few months ago, and he said he felt the same difference between there and here -- with Canada being the place where he felt the constant pressure of fear that I feel in the U.S.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2005-02-01 02:42 am (UTC)I suppose I'm also an ex-pat, though I've never used that word for myself. I came to Canada from the U.S. in 1972 and have been here ever since.
Your partner is quite right; I've also seen those subtle differences. When I first came here, all I saw was that different look of the money and a few pronunciation differences. Then I gradually became aware of more. The most significant one, for me at least, is that in the States I felt constantly under attack. When I've gone to visit relatives there occasionally, that feeling came back, so I don't think it was a matter of my immaturity in 1972. (Mind you, I was immature.) It seems that everyone fears that someone -- anyone -- else might attack them, and thus they look at, well, me as a potential enemy. (And at other people too, of course.) When I came here I gradually, gradually began to drop my shields.
Interestingly, I was talking to a man from Europe a few months ago, and he said he felt the same difference between there and here -- with Canada being the place where he felt the constant pressure of fear that I feel in the U.S.