Around ~2008 I was in a Barcelona hostel and met a guy there. He started speaking and I interrupted him excitedly…“Oh you’re American!!”.

He looked down…the weight of pain curdled the air around us. You could sense deep sorrow welling beneath the surface of this man. He paused for what felt like an eternity to compose himself,

He looked up with a piercing, but harrowing, stare and said “No, I’m Canadian…”

I’ll never forget that moment. That sheer depth of emotion is something I haven’t experienced before or since.

Did I silently murder this poor Canadian soul? How do Canadians cope with the mistaken identity?

  • Cabbage@lemmy.ca
    0·
    10 months ago

    Only when I’m travelling in the States.

    I feel like because right wing politics have gotten to such an extreme down there that I need to actively make it known I’m not a bigot if that make sense?

    I want people to know I’m a friendly Canadian who’s approachable

    • CashewNut 🏴󠁢󠁥󠁧󠁿@lemmy.worldOP
      0·
      10 months ago

      I’m a friendly Canadian who’s approachable

      I thought your whole ‘thing’ was that you’re polite and friendly!? Surely you don’t need to say “friendly” and “approachable”?

      With regards to your reputation for politeness/friendliness - do you think that’s compared to Americans? So for example you’re at the same level of polite as Brits? Or do you think your friendliness/politeness goes above Brits even.

      Obviously this is all stereotypes/generalisations. You’re average inner-London (UK) chav with a zombie knife isn’t that polite!