Hi, Laura... well, I think most of us Canadians can identify with what you're seeing. As I'm sure you can imagine, it's flattering to have someone from another country, especially the States, decide to move here. We've lived our whole lives with this vague impression that people not only settled in Canada, but settled for Canada. If you want to be successful, you move somewhere else... mostly the US. So when someone comes here, people suddenly sit up and take notice. There's a natural desire to know what we're doing right -- or at least right enough to be attractive. But no one wants to seem too cocky while they do it. Enjoy the sensation -- it's probably going to be like this for the rest of your life whenever you reveal your origins. :)
Canada's got a something of a complex about the US; sort of a less-famous-younger-sibling thing. I think it's well summed up in this Arrogant Worms song:
If you haven't heard of me I wouldn't be surprised I bet you know my relatives Their names will never die My mother is a saint And my brother is a god But all I am is Jesus' brother Bob
Jesus' brother Bob, Jesus' brother Bob A nobody relative of the son of God If only I'd been born just a little sooner I'd be more than the brother of God Junior
I have to pay the ferry To cross the Galilee But not my brother No not him He walks across for free I finally get to work 'Bout a quarter after nine Already he's turning water into wine
Jesus' brother Bob, Jesus' brother Bob A nobody relative of the son of God If only I'd been born just a little sooner I'd be more than the brother of God Junior
One day when I was home I heard a mighty roar There were a thousand people Right outside the door "Help us, Jesus, help us!" Came the cheering from the mob But then they got a look at me "Oh nuts, it's only Bob"
Jesus' brother Bob, Jesus' brother Bob A nobody relative of the son of God If only I'd been born just a little sooner I'd be more than the brother of God Junior
He died upon the cross I thought that I was free Finally people would get to know Me for me ("Hi Bob" -- "Hi Judas!") This was my big chance To finally get ahead The next thing you know He's rising from the dead!
Jesus' brother Bob, Jesus' brother Bob A nobody relative of the son of God If only I'd been born just a little sooner I'd be more than the brother of God Junior!
Re chequeing/chequing, I was wondering about that. Both look wrong to me, and I don't have a dictionary with Canadian spellings to look it up. Thanks, Tijo!
I haven't noticed asking for the bill yet - mostly because I've been holed up at home, unpacking, or else at Ikea or Home Depot. I'm going to try to remember to ask for the bill soon, though...
Wednesday, September 07, 2005 8:17:00 AM
Anonymous said...
I haven't figured out this "asking for the bill" instead of the cheque... I am Canadian thru and thru, right down to the Stand on Guard red and white boxers I have on right now ;) but I still ask for the cheque. Must be an Alberta thing.
, right down to the Stand on Guard red and white boxers I have on right now ;)
ROFLMAO!
Last night we went out for dinner in our neighborhood, and the server said, "I'll just get your bill". Maybe she's originally from Alberta. :)
Thursday, September 08, 2005 11:48:00 AM
At the bank when we opened our chequeing account, at the corner store where we made copies of our driver's licenses, on our driveway chatting with our neighbours, people want to know, "What brings you here from the US?" They often say, "Are you here for a change of employment?"
To the first question, I'll answer, "We didn't want to live in the US anymore. We like Canada better." To the second, I'll say, "No, actually, a change of life. We wanted to live in Canada."
Generally the person expresses some amount of surprise, in a pleased and friendly way. The young guy at the store said, "Yeah? Wow, good stuff, I love it." The bank officer - also young, but trying to be professional - said, "Oh interesting..." and looked like he was dying to ask more. The neighbour pressed a tiny bit further. I said, "Yes, we've emigrated, we're here for political reasons". He seemed fascinated.
The woman next door is American by birth, now a dual citizen, married to a Canadian man. She emigrated ten years ago. When the other neighbour asked why we moved, she volunteered, "Thanks, George! We're getting all kinds of good people because of him."
I would categorize these reactions as polite surprise, with a desire to know more, in conflict with too much courtesy to ask.
* * * *
Buster update. Before we moved, I mentioned that we were beginning to transition him to regular food and lower dosages of medications. It didn't work.
He reacted to the new food almost immediately. We knew we couldn't take a chance on Buster being sick during the actual drive north - that would be a disaster - so we quickly put him back on his boiled chicken and rice diet. Dr S advised us to keep the meds at the same levels, to give him maximum support during the added stress of the move.
If Buster experienced any stress over the move, he certainly didn't show it. He has seemed perfectly happy and relaxed the whole time. He's come such a long way from when we first found him! On our first trip upstate, he howled and cried and screamed for hours, absolutely freaked out at being in a strange place. It was heartbreaking. I can only think he feared we were abandoning him. Each summer his reaction was a little less, until it disappeared altogether. Now, if he's with us, he's happy.
So. A few days after the move, I was unable to reach Dr S, and the Prednisone dosage was driving me insane. We couldn't leave the house for more than two hours at a time, plus we had to take B out in the middle of the night. Since he's doing well otherwise - and since the transition to regular food may be a long process of trial and error - I decided we'd reduce the Prednisone on our own, according to the schedule Dr S had already given us.
On the slightly lower dose, Buster started sleeping through the night. Whew. Allan does a late last walk, and I wake up very early for morning walk, but we both get to sleep all night. A big improvement.
Dr S called yesterday. She thought the Pred reduction was fine, but recommended we not reduce it further until we find a food B can tolerate. Next up: Special Food #5. (The fifth prescription diet we've tried.)
While I was organizing everything for our move, I made sure we had a good supply of all our meds (mine, Allan's and Buster's) and a lot of dog food, so we wouldn't have to scramble around right after we moved. Ha! We ended up having to find new food immediately before moving, and now again. Organization is all well and good, but you can only plan so much.
"reaction"
8 Comments -
Hi, Laura... well, I think most of us Canadians can identify with what you're seeing. As I'm sure you can imagine, it's flattering to have someone from another country, especially the States, decide to move here. We've lived our whole lives with this vague impression that people not only settled in Canada, but settled for Canada. If you want to be successful, you move somewhere else... mostly the US. So when someone comes here, people suddenly sit up and take notice. There's a natural desire to know what we're doing right -- or at least right enough to be attractive. But no one wants to seem too cocky while they do it. Enjoy the sensation -- it's probably going to be like this for the rest of your life whenever you reveal your origins. :)
Wednesday, September 07, 2005 5:12:00 AM
Wow. Cool.
Wednesday, September 07, 2005 5:37:00 AM
Canada's got a something of a complex about the US; sort of a less-famous-younger-sibling thing. I think it's well summed up in this Arrogant Worms song:
If you haven't heard of me
I wouldn't be surprised
I bet you know my relatives
Their names will never die
My mother is a saint
And my brother is a god
But all I am is Jesus' brother Bob
Jesus' brother Bob, Jesus' brother Bob
A nobody relative of the son of God
If only I'd been born just a little sooner
I'd be more than the brother of God Junior
I have to pay the ferry
To cross the Galilee
But not my brother
No not him
He walks across for free
I finally get to work
'Bout a quarter after nine
Already he's turning water into wine
Jesus' brother Bob, Jesus' brother Bob
A nobody relative of the son of God
If only I'd been born just a little sooner
I'd be more than the brother of God Junior
One day when I was home
I heard a mighty roar
There were a thousand people
Right outside the door
"Help us, Jesus, help us!"
Came the cheering from the mob
But then they got a look at me
"Oh nuts, it's only Bob"
Jesus' brother Bob, Jesus' brother Bob
A nobody relative of the son of God
If only I'd been born just a little sooner
I'd be more than the brother of God Junior
He died upon the cross
I thought that I was free
Finally people would get to know
Me for me
("Hi Bob" -- "Hi Judas!")
This was my big chance
To finally get ahead
The next thing you know
He's rising from the dead!
Jesus' brother Bob, Jesus' brother Bob
A nobody relative of the son of God
If only I'd been born just a little sooner
I'd be more than the brother of God Junior!
Wednesday, September 07, 2005 7:18:00 AM
Just thought I'd say I think 'chequeing' is spelled chequing and singular of course is cheque. Nice to see the Canadian spelling!
BTW in restaurants have you noticed yet that Canadians ask for the 'bill'?
Wednesday, September 07, 2005 7:45:00 AM
I would categorize these reactions as polite surprise, with a desire to know more, in conflict with too much courtesy to ask.
If ever The Canadian Way could be summed up into one sentence, you've just done so. Quite nicely, also.
Wednesday, September 07, 2005 7:49:00 AM
Thank you, G. :-)
Re chequeing/chequing, I was wondering about that. Both look wrong to me, and I don't have a dictionary with Canadian spellings to look it up. Thanks, Tijo!
I haven't noticed asking for the bill yet - mostly because I've been holed up at home, unpacking, or else at Ikea or Home Depot. I'm going to try to remember to ask for the bill soon, though...
Wednesday, September 07, 2005 8:17:00 AM
I haven't figured out this "asking for the bill" instead of the cheque... I am Canadian thru and thru, right down to the Stand on Guard red and white boxers I have on right now ;) but I still ask for the cheque. Must be an Alberta thing.
Peter
Thursday, September 08, 2005 7:37:00 AM
, right down to the Stand on Guard red and white boxers I have on right now ;)
ROFLMAO!
Last night we went out for dinner in our neighborhood, and the server said, "I'll just get your bill". Maybe she's originally from Alberta. :)
Thursday, September 08, 2005 11:48:00 AM