tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34774945.post6611277520131752115..comments2023-10-06T04:59:12.999-05:00Comments on stranger in a stranger land: The Continuation*bren j.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09132628402113226709noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34774945.post-80050623626467019182007-04-13T21:34:00.000-05:002007-04-13T21:34:00.000-05:00I lived in Switzerland for a year, working as an a...I lived in Switzerland for a year, working as an au pair, and while I was there most of my best friends were fellow au pairs from Canada. I was really surprised at the great lengths they took to make it clear they were NOT from the US when we were traveling (although I would have done the same had I been able! whew! What an embarrassment we can be to ourselves down here!) and this sparked the question you answered in this post. We literally spent a year discussing it. For each of them, it came down to the melting pot/mosaic thing, almost exactly as you said it. <BR/><BR/>I guess that means you passed. :)<BR/><BR/>Very interesting. Thanks!Catherinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07316677018586769316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34774945.post-46977795784344222582007-04-12T14:49:00.000-05:002007-04-12T14:49:00.000-05:00This was such a surprising answer, in many ways. ...This was such a surprising answer, in many ways. I agree that the melting-pot/mosaic distinction is more apparent than real. But the friendliness answer threw me for a loop. I think the real distinction here is between casual chit-chat amoong strangers vs. real friendship. Canadians may not strike up a conversation in the elevator, but there may be fewer boundaries at other levels. That said, though, Manitoba really IS friendlier than Ontario, so regional differences may play a role in our perceptions.Beahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15957626443087438904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34774945.post-60757303005575313312007-04-08T21:49:00.000-05:002007-04-08T21:49:00.000-05:00Well said.I have a few things to add.1. What you s...Well said.<BR/><BR/>I have a few things to add.<BR/><BR/>1. What you said about immigrants in WA applies here too. In both our previous town and current region you need to speak German for a lot of jobs.<BR/><BR/>2. We lived in Scotland for a year and their relationship to England is much like ours to the US. They get us. They apologise profusely if they mistake our accent for American etc. We met a Texan once who was like, "Oh, so kind of like the relationship between Texas and the US..." hmmm.<BR/><BR/><BR/>I would like to be interviewed by you, but you may be the only one who reads it...erin khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04305990411777728168noreply@blogger.com