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ArticNorth β Taking a vaction
Published: 2011-06-12 09:09:43 +0000 UTC; Views: 1203; Favourites: 26; Downloads: 31
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Description
I did this comic making fun of the fact that it is pretty common for a American to pretend that they are Canadian when they go traveling the world. Looking around about this fact, it is actually quite funny to see many comments of Americans who freak out about this and profusely claim that this isn't true. Some even go as far as saying that Americans that do this are un-American and unpatriotic. Though, most Americans do this to get better treatment and for safety when going to different countries.It is also a growing problem for Americans going to Canada and/or Mexico to go on their airlines to go to Cuba to avoid getting their passports stamped and to look as though they are not from the States. If I remember correctly, both Cuba and Canada are trying to crack down on this. Because, well, doing this is technically breaking the law.
As a Canadian. This doesn't bother me too much, but I do worry about it. It feels strange to know that there are others pretending to be us. I heard a story from my Grandparents of when they went on a vacation to France and the UK. They were on a train with an American couple. Unfortunately the man there was being a bit of an ass and making rude comments about the French. My Grandfather asked him what he would do if he was caught doing and saying those things. His reply was... "Oh, I'll just say that I'm Canadian." My Grandfather face palmed right there and groaned out. "Oh, don't say that..." The guy didn't know that my Grandparents were Canadian.
So yeah, that is where most of my concern of this comes from.
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Comments: 22
I get annoyed when that happens.
When I travel I always keep a Canada tag on my luggage; and I verify its authenticity when I'm polite to people :3
I love Canada's rage face here
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I can confirm that IΒ΄ve seen and meet a lot of backpackers that do this , they even buy small pins of the canadian flag or a maple leaf to use in their clothes of backpacks.
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Wow, I've never heard of this, but now... Americans, why do you do this?
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Well I think a lot of people act fairly hostile to Americans, But Canadians are known as nice people do no one really hates them. They hate us because a lot of us are jerks.
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I had been planning to do this when I went to Europe last summer, but when I got there I became resentful that I HAD to do it. And as ignorant as it may sound... it's as much fault the rest of the world as it is America. We're a country of over 300,000,000 people (To give some perspective... the population of Canada is 33,000,000. California alone has 36,000,000). There are sure to be a few assholes mixed in there and a few idiots. The idiots and assholes are at fault, but also the people who look at the idiots and assholes and decide all of America is like that and then use that as prejudice against the rest of us are at fault too.
I enjoy living in my country, I was born here, my friends and family are here, my memories are here. Why should I be forced to be ashamed of that because a few people were idiots and the rest of the world can't see that everyone is different, especially in a country that was based off of difference?
That fact has actually made me cry on more than a few occasions. I'm normally a very self-confident person. But my biggest insecurity comes out when I'm in another country- because my biggest insecurity is being American. My biggest insecurity is my home.
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That is true. I honestly don't know when this all started to happen. I can imagine it feeling disheartening having others accuse you of being a stereotype that isn't correct. Stereotypes can be very cruel and damaging.
Oh, I can imagine that. Like they say, home is where the heart is. No one can take that away.
I've met some Americans that came to see Canada. (I work at West Edmonton Mall 
A. We won't accept it
or
B. Treat it as Canadian.
(I know there are places in Canada that do accept American money, but that's just because they are owned by the States. Tim Hortons WHY?! *sob* )
That is really depressing. I mean, we shouldn't be in a world where we need to lie to protect ourselves from evil stereotypes. But I don't think you are lying to yourself or your country. You are being yourself, though, you are only lying to those who believe in those stereotypes. You're proof that there are plenty of awesome Americans out there.
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I normally don't like blaming the internet, but I think I will now. Internet and the media has exploded- giving everyone a distorted view of the world. No one likes to talk about good experiences they had with people of any kind. People are much more likely to complain (loudly) of negative interactions. And on TV? No one likes to interview sane people.
I understand how frustrating it is when people are ignorant, I can imagine getting the wrong currency and then having people complain about it is annoying. My friend and I almost accidentally paid in pounds in France. We caught our mistake, and it was an honest mistake- both were the same color and looked similar folded up. We fixed the error though. And then another time I was in London paying for two bags- one for my sister and one for me- and they asked if I wanted it in USD or GBP. I panicked and said USD... but now I'm not sure if that was right.
But to also be fair, I have met a lot of really nice Canadians... but also met a few mean(?) ones.
I don't like when someone brushes off what I'm saying because I'm American.
I also don't like when things are rubbed in. It hurts =0(
I understand poking and making light. But there's a significant difference between making light, and actually rubbing salt in an open wound. I understand to most of the world, we suck. But when I open a deviation for Hetalia, thinking it's something cute and nice only to find out it's loaded with ammo... I'm sad. I know I shouldn't let things online get me down, but it happens.
I appreciate your kind words, and I apologize for complaining so much. I tend to get emotional now when my country is involved.... I've started feeling like I need to defend it in a way, even from its own people. It's popular among American teens to be anti-American, since it's only hicks and super Republicans who are patriotic. It's almost like, if you're American and you're patriotic... you are obviously ignorant.
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I heard they do this because Cuban Cigars are illegal in America...
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That too. It is illegal to bring in Cuban cigars into the States. Though, not in Canada. That's why Americans that want them will travel to Mexico or Canada to get Cuban cigars.
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Oh, see I am Russian/Italian so I would not know..
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I've kinda thought about saying I was Canadian if I ever go to a foreign country, since the entire world seems to have a prejudice against Americans. Don't get me wrong, I'm super proud of being American, but I really don't wanna be screamed at for being born in a certain country, a fact that I cannot control. Not to mention if the government fucks up as it commonly does, people seem to like to take it out on the nearest US citizen they find and ramble on for ten minutes about how they are such horrible assholes. It's kinda scary, but if the decent Americans would actually say where they were from, maybe not all Americans would have such a bad reputation.
Not to mention if I did pose as a Canadian, people would catch me in ten seconds as I frequently say "dude", "like", and sometimes "totally" in a sentence in spots where THOSE WORDS DO NOT BELONG agfdsfkjhf. So yeah... I... totally forgot the point I was trying to make here.
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Well, I can understand why. Frankly it isn't fair that you need to do that because of the 'bad ones'. No one wants a miserable vacation. It's pretty scary that there are countries that have such a bad view on the states that you have no choice but to say that you're Canadian. 
Hehe, Well, as long as you stay refreshingly polite and show that you don't have a care in the world, I don't think they'll question it. It won't hurt to learn a bit about Canada first, either. You might be asked questions about Canada. 
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Awww, but Alfred just wants to have a nice pleasant vacation without being prejudiced against. Is that really so much to ask?
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wait a second.
what is this.
i think it's funny when people think i'm not american because i'm not loud. i've actually been asked if i was from canada and i was all "erm, no.. i'm with them - those really tourist-y, loud people over there."
i'm very grateful i was practically raised by my german and irish grandparents; granted - they're very loud, funny, vulgar drunks (stereotypes ftw!) but they taught me well. c:
wow.
/ramble
GO CANADA! KICK HIS ASS!
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Wow. I've never heard of that. Usually everyone's first guess is 'Are you American?' when traveling the world. (Had that happen to me in New Zealand) Though, I understand the confusion and the headache that it gives. It doesn't matter where your from, it does feel a bit annoying to have you nationality to be mistaken.
Oh, that's awesome! German and Irish! Sweet! Hehe My Scottish/English Great Grandparents really influenced our family. Especially our vocabulary. (Scotland for the win! Oh...and you too England...I guess. *pets head*)
Vacation~
NO!
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I'm a lot of things - it'd take me forever to name them. Just mostly German, Austrian, Hungarian, English, Irish. xD
It is a bit annoying; but then again, I was never the most patriotic kid, though I love my country it's just... I love others more...? xD;
I know right?! I'm Scottish (just a wee bit, heh) too~
oh my gosh that reminds me of this one time.
"Excuse my French, dear... damn drivers... ScheiΓe! Gott verdammt... Why?! THE LIGHT IS GREEN! GO!"
Little me - " I THOUGHT THAT WAS GERMAN, OPA." EVERYTHING I KNEW WAS WRONG... for like a minute xDDD
I love English curse words...
You tell 'em Canada~
i'll stop bothering you now c:
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Well...being able to pass yourself off as being Canadian isn't license to act like a jerk. But then again, maybe the positive reputation Canadians have internationally might cause those people's plans to blow up in their faces....
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Yeah, I really don't like it when people use it as a shield. (the Canadian Shield... lol ). But I don't mind it that decent people do this. It's not their fault that the bad apples of the bunch gave them a bad name. Though, yes. I'm pretty sure that warning flags would start to pop up when an ass is pretending to be Canadian. Does not compute..
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I laughed so hard at this. XDD
In elementary school in the States I mentioned my mom's friend's family went to Cuba every year and they just looked at me like NNOOOOO
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I'm really happy that you liked this.
That is so true. When my boss went to Cuba, she told me that while chatting with one of the locals, they mused that they love it when Canadians come over because they can all make fun of the States together.
I really want to visit Cuba. I hear nothing but great things from those who went there for a vacation.
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I'm just scared people won't believe me when I say I'm Canadian, and they'll think I'm lying.
I think my slight accent might help though, as long as they're not comparing me to the New England way of talking.....
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That is one of my worries too. That's when I whip out my passport and my ID to prove to them that I'm Canadian.
When I went to New Zealand, people there automatically thought I was a American, but once I told them I was actually a Canadian, their attitude changed really quickly. Haha
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