The Old "I'm a Candian" Trick

[justinsb]

The Old “I’m a Canadian" Trick or Unsolicited Advice for Traveling While American

One afternoon while planning my first trip to Europe, about ten years ago, my to-be traveling companion talked about sewing a Canadian flag to her backpack as some sort of cultural camouflage. Of course, these were the days when Clinton was president and we were mainly hated for translating and sending shows like Baywatch (“Vigilantes de la Playa”), The A-Team (“El Equipe A”) and Alf (“Alf”) to places like Spain and Mexico. My friend never mentioned it again and the only thing I sowed on my backpack was my name.

Reading the news today, I’m sad to see the “I’m a Canadian Master Disguise” plan is still alive. The theory behind the plan goes like this: “The world hates Americans. Americans don’t hate Canadians thus the world must not hate Canadians. Since Americans can’t tell the difference between Canadians and Americans, the rest of the world can’t either. Hence, I can disguise myself as a Canadian with a simple patch or t-shirt. Bwah-ha-ha-ha!”

Of course, there are some simple flaws to the theory. There’s a good chance that you’ll actually meet real Canadians while traveling. I’ve found a good rule of thumb for getting along while traveling is that no culture – not even the Australians - likes to be imitated, either in accent, mannerism, or garb. This probably goes double for Canadians who do get mixed up with Americans regularly. Also, it’s possible those wily foreigners in such far off places as Europe have heard of this trick. I’ve checked – they have the Internets over there too. Most people will treat you far better if they think you are being honest with them.

Just as wearing an eye patch does not actually make a person a pirate, wearing a Canadian flag patch does not make one Canadian. I’ve found that most places I’ve traveled the locals tend to be curious and will ask you questions about yourself and your homeland. Having to fake or lie your way through a conversation when asked such questions as “What is the weather like?” “What part of Canada is that city located in?” and “I see that you’re wearing an eye patch. Are there a lot of pirates in Canada?” If you’re not studied up on Canada but you're pretending to be from there, you’ll be a lot less happy when having one of these conversations. Plus, you’ll miss a chance to plug your homeland and talk about what does make America great.

[EnfantTerrible]

1. Are you from Candyland? n/t

:evilgrin:

[edbermac]

2. What's the matter with Canada, eh?

Take off, you hoser...

[getmeouttahere]

5. I don't know, eh, I just got up!

[justinsb]

7. Sorry could you be more specific?

I didn't say that anything was wrong with Canada.

[Burma Jones]

3. In Quebec, I was treated better when they figured out

I was from the states.....

[Bassic]

9. Depending on where in Québec you go

That is not very surprising. There is still a lot of historical emotional baggage between francos and anglos in Canada.

[getmeouttahere]

4. I find that....

Americans often are NOT mistaken for Canadians because Americans are more likely to be loud and obnoxious and ask for "American" mustard, stupid crap like that. I've seen it all in my travels - a woman screaming on her cell phone in a crowded square in Portugal, an American businessman berating a Chinese man on an airport bus in Hong Kong, etc., etc. As an ashamed American, I tend to avoid them at all costs when I am elsewhere. Besides, I know more than enough about Canada to fake it if I did want to disguise myself.

[pansypoo53219]

8. i was taken for canadian the 1st time over the pond.

but most of the danes were very nice. BUT as a confirmed Bush hater, OBVIOUSLY i was a good american.

[5thGenDemocrat]

11. Right. Not that I've ever been anywhere more exotic than Montreal, but

I am from Saginaw, Michigan. I suspect if I wanted to fake being from, say, Sarnia or Windsor, Ontario, I could probably manage it without much problem. Especially with a couple weeks of brushing up on current Canadian affairs.
John
Not that it's ever going to come up, though.

[aden_nak]

6. I find this to be more effective than a patch.

[Lisa]

10. Most Canadians will forgive imposters who look contrite

...if they aren't making asses of themselves, or trying to keep up pretenses once they already know that they're talking to real Canadians.

After all, it's a kind of compliment, that they would pick us as their "safety nationality".

[HEyHEY]

12. When abroad and I need to be rude for something I tell people I'm a yank