We are not the 51st state!

[dvb]

I was talking to a friend from Denmark on msn lastnight, and we got onto the subject of politics. He asks me if Canada votes in the US Presidential election. I say 'No'.

Then he asks that since we're part of the UK in some way, we must vote in the UK elections instead. I think he was refering to the commonwealth, and although we are a part of that, we are still an independant country and we vote accordingly.

Now I've been asked this question before from Europeans, and I'm not saying that all Europeans don't know the difference. All I'm wondering is how people can get things so wrong. I even said to my friend in Denmark that we have our own currency, and he said he knew and acknowledged that. So I'm like, what's the deal here? Anyways I corrected him, but since this subject has come up on more than one occasion with me, I thought I'd share it all here with the rest of you.

Any Canucks have similar experiences?

How about the international folks here?

What facts about your country do foreigners get mixed up with all the time?

[Humphrey]

When i moved from Toronto to Florida i got numerous questions like that. The best one ive gotten that i still get when i mentionm Toronto: "Whats it like living in Canada's capital?"

[dvb]

Good one Humphrey! =D>

[pumpkinpie]

You mean Toronto's not the capital???
(ducks and runs.....)

[mjparme]

Where is this Canada place you are talking about?

[Humphrey]

Where is this Canada place you are talking about?

Above Mexico and Below Antartica.

[Parrothead]

LOL! Nope it's not..Toronto City Council may think otherwise, though. :wink:

[dvb]

Where is this Canada place you are talking about?

Above Mexico and Below Antartica.

That would be arctic, and we are a part of it.

Antarctic is in the south where penguins live. We live with the polar bears.

[TriangleMan]

Many Europeans assume that since I'm Canadian I am fluent in both English and French (I'm not, but I'm not proud of that fact either).

During the SARS crisis a couple mentioned that they were thinking about travelling to Vancouver but decided not to because of SARS in Toronto (Vancouver is about a 5 hour flight from Toronto).

As for Bermuda most people think it is in the Caribbean but geographically its about 500 miles east of North Carolina. Bermuda is a member of many Caribbean organizations though so I can see why people assume it's in the Caribbean.

[dvb]

So what's a Canadian doing living in Bermuda?

[Argos]

He asks me if Canada votes in the US Presidential election. I say 'No'.

Given the American influence in the world, we should.

How about the international folks here?

What facts about your country do foreigners get mixed up with all the time?

a) "The capital of Brazil is Buenos Aires".

b) There are snakes and crocodiles in the Brazilian Streets.

c) Brazil is more or less the size of Los Angeles (An American lady once taught me)

d) We live naked all the time, chasing with bow and arrow.

e) The offcial Brazilian language is Spanish.

There is an endless chain of misconceptions about my land, unfortunately.

[dvb]

There is an endless chain of misconceptions about my land, unfortunately.

Am I correct in saying that Brazil produces and exports the most coffee in the world? 8-[

[TriangleMan]

So what's a Canadian doing living in Bermuda?

In my case, working at an excellent job while enjoying the benefits of living on a semi-tropical island. I can't speak for the other 2,000-3,000 Canadians here but I suspect most of them are here for the same reasons. 8)

[TriangleMan]

d) We live naked all the time, chasing with bow and arrow.

Having seen pictures of people on Brazilian beaches I could see why foreigners would think the first part was true. :wink:

[Mars]

For part of the year Florida is a Canadian Province.

[Argos]

d) We live naked all the time, chasing with bow and arrow.

Having seen pictures of people on Brazilian beaches I could see why foreigners would think the first part was true. :wink:

Yeah, that´s the best part. :wink:

[Argos]

There is an endless chain of misconceptions about my land, unfortunately.

Am I correct in saying that Brazil produces and exports the most coffee in the world? 8-[

Yes, for the time being. Colombia is also a great player, and produces better quality cofee. But industry and services comprise 75% of the economy. Also, Brazil competes fiercely with Canada in the aircraft market.

Edited for grammar

[Ut]

Hrmm. The closest I've ever gotten to anything like this is some punks from the south making statements along the lines of "We should nuke you commie so-and-so's".

Teenagers.

[daver]

d) We live naked all the time, chasing with bow and arrow.

Having seen pictures of people on Brazilian beaches I could see why foreigners would think the first part was true. :wink:

I've never seen any archery equipment in those photos, but perhaps I was distracted.

[Humphrey]

Where is this Canada place you are talking about?

Above Mexico and Below Antartica.

That would be arctic, and we are a part of it.

Antarctic is in the south where penguins live. We live with the polar bears.

Depends on how you think of the worold. If you see it as a globe then i am correct too. :-)

Florida has alot of misconceptions.

-The beaches are all beatiful and covered in Bikini clad sex goddeses.
Reality: more than half the beaches look like crud, covered in bugs, rocky, or covered in old folks and kids trowing sand in your face.

-Florida is a surfers paradise
Reality: Only on the Atlantic side. The Gulf side is a giant baby pool.

-Florida is pleasent parasdise year round.
Reality: semi true. During the summer its not unusualy to have a 4:00 P.M. rain shower. During thw winter it drops into the teens for about a week.

-Everyone goes to the theme parks whenever they want to.
Reality: this one is exspecially anoying. I always get asked this. "Oh you must be so lucky to live near the parks, you must go all the time!" No, we dont. It's just as expensive for us to go as it is for you. Just our travel time is less. Plus you can get tired of the same rides, over and over again. Plus who wants to drive on I-4 more than once a year? I'd rather go sky diving.

[BlueAnodizeAl]

Regionally people ask me all the time what it's like to live so close to Disney. Like it must be heaven on earth. Let me tell all the people who don't live here that Orlando is just like any other city with 2 million people, except only 1 million are permanent residents and the other 1 million don't have a clue where they're going. We only tolerate Disney because it keeps the cost of living down in our state and city and we only go to Disney ourselves to gawk at tourists like I did this weekend.

The second misconception I've experianced with Europeans is they have no concept as to the size of the nation. A pair of Britons who work for my father flew into New York and said they were going to save the company some money and drive the rest of the way to Florida ...See you in a few days.

[kucharek]

I was once visited by some guy who lives in Orlando. He came with his family, two little kids. I asked, how it is to live with kids in Micky Mouse's capital. He padded the ears of his kids and told me: "Sheesh, they don't know it yet!"

Thinking that Toronto is Canada's capital is a common misconception. Even I has to give it a little thought to come up with Ottawa.

[Laser Jock]

The second misconception I've experianced with Europeans is they have no concept as to the size of the nation. A pair of Britons who work for my father flew into New York and said they were going to save the company some money and drive the rest of the way to Florida ...See you in a few days.

I see the same thing with Easterners with regard to the West. Things are a lot further apart here and the states are a lot bigger. Some think they can tour Colorado one day ( ) and go see Yellowstone the next. Yes, Colorado boarders Wyoming, but it takes almost all day to get from northern Colorado to Yellowstone, much less see anything there.

I think everyone should be required to drive all ~460 miles across Nebraska on I-80 at least once. :wink:

[BlueAnodizeAl]

Or I-10 from Florida to California (I've never done this, but one of my classmates in college did).

[bearcub]

Or I-10 from Florida to California (I've never done this, but one of my classmates in college did).

I did that back in '82. I thought I'd never get out of Texas, let alone make it home!

[Nowhere Man]

Where is this Canada place you are talking about?

It's where you wind up if you go due south from downtown Detroit, MI.

Fred

[Crazieman]

He asks me if Canada votes in the US Presidential election. I say 'No'.

Given the American influence in the world, we should.

Over my dead body

[Humphrey]

That can be arranged.....mmmuuuahahahahaha!!!




:-P

[Laser Jock]

Or I-10 from Florida to California (I've never done this, but one of my classmates in college did).

I'm not that mean.

A few Colorado misconceptions:

- Colorado is full of mountians.
Reality: The eastern third of the state is as flat as Kansas. I lived in Fort Collins (hour north of Denver) for many years and it is flatter than most Midwestern cities.

- It is really cold in Colorado.
Reality: The weather in Colorado is surpisingly pleasent year round. It was not unusual for my brother and I to play tennis outside on Christmas eve. It can get cold, but it usually doesn't last very long.

[Bob B.]

I think everyone should be required to drive all ~460 miles across Nebraska on I-80 at least once. :wink:

I've driven across Texas, does that count?

I use to make a yearly pilgrimage from Birmingham, Alabama to the Texas Star Party in west Texas - about 1,100 miles (1,770 km) one way. After driving across 2 1/2 states we would reach the Texas border, and then we still had about 60% of the trip remaining!