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We did. We had to memorize the provinces and their capitals and be able to label them on a map. I think this was 5th grade, in California. But that's about all we learned about Canada, that I can recall.
OK, good. I don't remember learning much about Canada at all, and I did love geography and maps. I think I had a vague impression that Canada was some sort of sparsely populated outpost of the U.K. Eventually, as an adult working in NYC, I came to know that there was a lot more there, especially business, trade, and transportation-wise. Now I just think it's odd that we grew up knowing so little about the country only a few hundred miles away.
Bother me? No. I have always said that I don't care if people don't know much about Canada. I don't care if they can't name our PM, our provinces etc.
What I do find irritating is when they treat me as if I'm a country bumpkin.However mostly I find it humorous.
Things like when people think that Canada is frozen all year, and that we don't have cities, airports etc. That they have to explain to me what a nice store looks like. How freeways work. Silly question like " do you have subways".
A friend working at a World's Fair in the US at the Canada pavilion was constantly asked after viewing a film about Canada, what was the name of the city. Explaining that the film showed many cities in Canada. So their first surprise was learning Canada had a city, the second that there is more than one.
As I've said before this is not just Americans. I've posted many stories of Australians, Europeans, etc that have said some pretty funny things about Canada.
My American friends know a lot about Canada. Not everything , but a lot. They love it in fact and encourage their family and friends to visit, as I do.
So anyone reading this who hasn't been to Canada, may I suggest you do.
I snickered reading your post as it reminds me of how the north and the west and east costs of the US views the southern US.
I live in the south, my roots are here but I grew up in the north. As a kid we would visit family several times a year in the south. My northern brethren always asked things like do we wear shoes and have indoor plumbing, running water in the south, etc. And of course made fun of the southern accent. I still hear that kind of thinking today about the south and the Appalachian region as if the area is somehow fundamentally different than the rest of the civilized world.
I admit I dont know much about Canada. I've met a couple Canadians and I like Letter Kenny. LOL. I dont know much about a lot of countries and I dont see what the big deal is that people dont know lots of facts about other countries. If there is something I'm curious about I can google it.
I think it's a bit of a stretch to think that Canadians know all about the USA but people from the USA know nothing about Canada. I know very little about the USA. I definitely don't understand the political structure, and law based on an eye for an eye makes no sense, although I suppose only some states think like that so it's not really a fact about the USA. As a child, I learned a little bit about world history, but the USA was not more special than any other country. I might be able to list 3 former presidents, but that's where it ends - score twice for Bush.
My first travels to the USA were as an adult, having travelled to many other countries including communist Russia before I ended up in the USA. Most countries seem more interesting from a cultural heritage position than the USA, and if beaches are the goal - there are many better beaches than the USA has to offer.
So, does it bother Canadians that Americans basically know nothing about them? I doubt it. Canadians basically know very little about the USA. What I know about the USA today is that it appears that the covid has triggered a lot of mental health issues (street mobs), news is fake, elections are fraudulent, undemocratic and based on cheating, presidents are undignified and undiplomatic, selfish nationalism is prominent to the extent that covid triggered massive gun sales, and everyone seems miserable. Is that accurate? I doubt it, but that's what it looks like today. I'll admit that I know less about the USA than I do about other countries, and don't care what people in the USA know about other countries.
Expo 67 was only in 1967. It did not spill over into 1968.
Unlike some other "expos" most of the site was not dismantled AFAIK, and some of it is still in use to this day. Montreal's casino is in the former French pavilion. And the amusement park (La Ronde) is still open to this day - though it's obviously been renovated many times.
Also, Expo 67 wasn't really the official celebration of the 100th anniversary of Canada's confederation. It obviously coincided with it and the centennial was definitely a big part of the messaging. But the centennial wasn't Expo 67's raison-d'être.
Man and his World was the theme. I was there
Even though not " official " it certainly was a focal point of the Centennial. Purple coloured trains crossed Canada headed to Montreal. We were on a regular CP train to Montreal. I remember seeing one of these purple trains beside us in a station. People on that train were partying. As a kid, I remember thinking they're drinking cocktails in the afternoon!!! So innocent I was
OK, good. I don't remember learning much about Canada at all, and I did love geography and maps. I think I had a vague impression that Canada was some sort of sparsely populated outpost of the U.K. Eventually, as an adult working in NYC, I came to know that there was a lot more there, especially business, trade, and transportation-wise. Now I just think it's odd that we grew up knowing so little about the country only a few hundred miles away.
When I'm in eastern Washington State, I meet all sorts of people who live within a 2 hour drive of the BC border and have never been.
I made a friend from Spokane, who I invited to visit Vancouver, and Canada, for their first time. When I opened the door upon his arrival, the first words out of his mouth were " it's a city ". He thought Vancouver might be a small town.
He has learned a lot about us since then. He told me that in his schooling they learned nothing about Canada.
I snickered reading your post as it reminds me of how the north and the west and east costs of the US views the southern US.
I live in the south, my roots are here but I grew up in the north. As a kid we would visit family several times a year in the south. My northern brethren always asked things like do we wear shoes and have indoor plumbing, running water in the south, etc. And of course made fun of the southern accent. I still hear that kind of thinking today about the south and the Appalachian region as if the area is somehow fundamentally different than the rest of the civilized world.
I admit I dont know much about Canada. I've met a couple Canadians and I like Letter Kenny. LOL. I dont know much about a lot of countries and I dont see what the big deal is that people dont know lots of facts about other countries. If there is something I'm curious about I can google it.
I would love to visit Canada one day.
I have friends in Atlanta. I know the stereotypes put on them. They are educated, well travelled and a lot of fun.
Canada is huge, so I would suggest you start looking up what interests you and then head there. Lots to see and do.
I think it's a bit of a stretch to think that Canadians know all about the USA but people from the USA know nothing about Canada. I know very little about the USA. I definitely don't understand the political structure, and law based on an eye for an eye makes no sense, although I suppose only some states think like that so it's not really a fact about the USA. As a child, I learned a little bit about world history, but the USA was not more special than any other country. I might be able to list 3 former presidents, but that's where it ends - score twice for Bush.
My first travels to the USA were as an adult, having travelled to many other countries including communist Russia before I ended up in the USA. Most countries seem more interesting from a cultural heritage position than the USA, and if beaches are the goal - there are many better beaches than the USA has to offer.
So, does it bother Canadians that Americans basically know nothing about them? I doubt it. Canadians basically know very little about the USA. What I know about the USA today is that it appears that the covid has triggered a lot of mental health issues (street mobs), news is fake, elections are fraudulent, undemocratic and based on cheating, presidents are undignified and undiplomatic, selfish nationalism is prominent to the extent that covid triggered massive gun sales, and everyone seems miserable. Is that accurate? I doubt it, but that's what it looks like today. I'll admit that I know less about the USA than I do about other countries, and don't care what people in the USA know about other countries.
If all true, you'd be in the minority and atypical compared to most Canadians when it comes to most of these metrics.
This all quite surprises me but explains why Americans seem to know even less about Australia. Europeans in general seem to know far more about the world outside their own countries. That was something we found as far back as 1977, when as very young travellers we spent ten weeks in Canada and the US after having been in Europe for several months.
This all quite surprises me but explains why Americans seem to know even less about Australia. Europeans in general seem to know far more about the world outside their own countries. That was something we found as far back as 1977, when as very young travellers we spent ten weeks in Canada and the US after having been in Europe for several months.
I learned all I know about Australia from Paul Hogan.
Everything I know about Canada I learned from the documentary series "Trailer Park Boys". Very informative.
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