Americans make around 23 million trips to Canada each year, so it’s no surprise that Canadians have noticed a few things about Americans who visit.
Somehow, the room notices
Americans have a special way of walking into most places. It’s not like they deliberately announce it or anything, but they come in with a presence that tells everybody they’re there. Canadians notice that.
Yes, they say that we’re comfortable with taking up a lot of social space, even when those around us don’t feel the same way. Canadians don’t dislike us for it. But for them, we come off a bit strong because we act a lot like we’re the main characters in every room.
Home comes packed
We don’t exactly say we’re American. No, we tell Canadians the exact state we’re from, maybe even the city, too, because we have a much stronger sense of regional pride. We’re always so excited to let people know where we call home.
Canadians have some sense of provincial pride as well, of course they do, but our regional pride is something different. We tend to show off our love for our local area before anyone’s even asked about it. Is that so wrong?
Feelings get there first
It’s a fact. We’re not the kind of people to hide our reactions, and when we see a pretty view, we make that clear. We’re also open about anything that we think is bad. It stands out in Canada because the truth is, they’re a bit more reserved than we are.
They’re going to hide their feelings a bit more while we’re open about how we feel. But it’s a good thing because it means that what you see is what you get with Americans, no beating around the bush.
Confusion gets named
Our directness also works when we’re confused because we’ll straight-up say when we don’t understand something. No apologies, no hedging, just a confession that it’s not making sense to us.
Canadians are more used to asking questions or apologizing for not understanding. Not us. Our version of showing our confusion is a little plainer, but it also saves a lot more time because we get straight to the point.
Sunny travels well
Even with the most normal travel problems, our sense of American optimism stands out. It’s almost like a social reflex, honestly. We know there’s another way to do things, and we know a slight problem isn’t going to be the end of the world, so we keep our chins up.
That’s not to say Canadians are really pessimistic, definitely not. It’s just that our American optimism shines through in practically everything that we do, and that includes when we’re abroad.Â
Empty air feels crowded
One of our less positive traits? The fact that we’re apparently not able to leave silence alone. There’s a break in the conversation, and we rush to fill it with a comment about the weather, a question about the menu, anything at all.
Canadians are happier to leave some space during a conversation, and that’s why our need to talk can surprise them. They understand we’re being nice and not annoying, but they can’t help noticing how much we talk.
A little less hiding
We’re not usually ashamed when we’re abroad. Not in a bad way or anything, it’s just that we don’t really care that we look like tourists, and we’re happy to buy the hoodie and take photos in the middle of the sidewalk. It’s no big deal for us.
Canadians see that, and they understand that we’re not huge believers in trying to blend in. We’ve got a sense of confidence that a lot of Canadians don’t have, and really, it’s quite refreshing.
Easy matters fast
It’s no secret that as Americans, we’re big believers in convenience. We want to go somewhere where the parking situation is easy and refills are free, although not because we’re rude. It’s just that we’re used to traveling that way.
Canadians aren’t as bothered about convenience as we are, so it stands out when we’re the ones looking for the most comfortable way to do something. We just don’t like being put in an inconvenient situation.
Labels travel quietly
Our attitudes towards class are quite different, too, and these usually slip out when we’re visiting other places. We pay attention to things like upgrades and rewards points a lot more than many Canadians do.
We can’t help it. It’s part of our DNA, and while those same attitudes do exist in Canada, they tend to be a little more understated than over here. Our views on class make us the exception when we’re up north.
The table has a routine
We have a special way of doing restaurants. Namely, we go in expecting big portions and substitutions that come easily, along with plenty of check-ins from the server. It’s a routine that we’ve become pretty familiar with.
Over in Canada, though, their meals are usually a little slower, and they don’t come with the same kind of expectations that we do. They’re not conditioned to see restaurants in the same way we do.
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.
