Comments on: “No need anymore to try to look Canadian”? http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/no-need-anymore-to-try-to-look-canadian/ European Opinion Mon, 13 Feb 2012 07:39:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: The Tagsmanian Devil » Obama: A Man for all Bloggers http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/no-need-anymore-to-try-to-look-canadian/comment-page-1/#comment-22758 The Tagsmanian Devil » Obama: A Man for all Bloggers Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:21:15 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/?p=3986#comment-22758 [...] apparently now hope that they will not have to pretend to be Canadians any more, as picked up by A Fistful of Euros. Possibly my favourite post of the lot, however, was published on the Guest Blog by Neil Dillon, [...] [...] apparently now hope that they will not have to pretend to be Canadians any more, as picked up by A Fistful of Euros. Possibly my favourite post of the lot, however, was published on the Guest Blog by Neil Dillon, [...]

]]> By: Ria http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/no-need-anymore-to-try-to-look-canadian/comment-page-1/#comment-22757 Ria Wed, 19 Nov 2008 23:16:12 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/?p=3986#comment-22757 Weather reports? OK. Hazy 32°C with beginnings of Harmattan. Not too soon. It's too hot too long. Here in Senegal, as in most of Africa, the US election was a shoo-in for Obama. I'm afraid there will be many disappointed in 2009 when the Blackhawks throwing out green cards over Dakar fail to appear. Weather reports? OK. Hazy 32°C with beginnings of Harmattan. Not too soon. It’s too hot too long.

Here in Senegal, as in most of Africa, the US election was a shoo-in for Obama. I’m afraid there will be many disappointed in 2009 when the Blackhawks throwing out green cards over Dakar fail to appear.

]]> By: the nutshell paragraph » Blog Archive » What rough beast slouches towards Bethlehem… http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/no-need-anymore-to-try-to-look-canadian/comment-page-1/#comment-22755 the nutshell paragraph » Blog Archive » What rough beast slouches towards Bethlehem… Tue, 18 Nov 2008 20:15:17 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/?p=3986#comment-22755 [...] Just say you voted Obama Barack Obama is now Americans’ line of credit when abroad. No need to try to look Canadian anymore… [...] [...] Just say you voted Obama Barack Obama is now Americans’ line of credit when abroad. No need to try to look Canadian anymore… [...]

]]> By: Chris http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/no-need-anymore-to-try-to-look-canadian/comment-page-1/#comment-22752 Chris Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:52:43 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/?p=3986#comment-22752 As an American here in northern Germany, it's turned seriously cold and gray. Not Chicago-style kick-in-the-cojones cold, but that regular neverending all-permeating German windy, rainy cold. I think AL is right, with one qualification. People here treat me fine because I can and do spit out the occasional bit of German, and they respect the fact that I'm American (even a Republican free-market economist) and confident about it, just as the French are happy to be French and the Canadians happy to be Canadian. And I think that the Germans need to find a way to be happy to be themselves, which is something that they haven't really worked out yet. The women in particular, when they're not attracted to me like bugs to a bug zapper, have this serious deeply-seated anti-Americanism that seems to stem from frustration. It's the resentful "You guys consume too much; your stores are open on Sundays and that's barbaric; When will Obama be assassinated because Americans are so racist?; I'm sure you treat gardeners and garbage men with contempt because that's the capitalist way (?!); (but then criticize the fact that Americans are friendly as being phony and manipulative, to which I smile dismissively); etc". And there are these little passive-aggressive power struggles on escalators and in line at the supermarket and with pedestrians in the bike lanes. They seem to act difficult because they see themselves as powerless. Brushing by them and smiling just burns them up. Now if you're a 20 year old slob who doesn't speak any of the local language, shows no appreciation for the local culture and traditions, and trash talks his own country, then you deserve to get treated rudely. That has nothing to do with a Canadian flag or Obama or Bush or Blair or Gordon Brown. It has to do with being an annoying ignorant tourist who doesn't shut the hell up. As an American here in northern Germany, it’s turned seriously cold and gray. Not Chicago-style kick-in-the-cojones cold, but that regular neverending all-permeating German windy, rainy cold.

I think AL is right, with one qualification. People here treat me fine because I can and do spit out the occasional bit of German, and they respect the fact that I’m American (even a Republican free-market economist) and confident about it, just as the French are happy to be French and the Canadians happy to be Canadian. And I think that the Germans need to find a way to be happy to be themselves, which is something that they haven’t really worked out yet.

The women in particular, when they’re not attracted to me like bugs to a bug zapper, have this serious deeply-seated anti-Americanism that seems to stem from frustration. It’s the resentful “You guys consume too much; your stores are open on Sundays and that’s barbaric; When will Obama be assassinated because Americans are so racist?; I’m sure you treat gardeners and garbage men with contempt because that’s the capitalist way (?!); (but then criticize the fact that Americans are friendly as being phony and manipulative, to which I smile dismissively); etc”. And there are these little passive-aggressive power struggles on escalators and in line at the supermarket and with pedestrians in the bike lanes. They seem to act difficult because they see themselves as powerless. Brushing by them and smiling just burns them up.

Now if you’re a 20 year old slob who doesn’t speak any of the local language, shows no appreciation for the local culture and traditions, and trash talks his own country, then you deserve to get treated rudely. That has nothing to do with a Canadian flag or Obama or Bush or Blair or Gordon Brown. It has to do with being an annoying ignorant tourist who doesn’t shut the hell up.

]]> By: AL http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/no-need-anymore-to-try-to-look-canadian/comment-page-1/#comment-22742 AL Sat, 15 Nov 2008 11:49:08 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/?p=3986#comment-22742 When two years ago PDO (Pacific Decadal Oscillation) turned into cool phase, we have really nice weather here in Vancouver. Cooler and snowy winter (I hope it will hold into 2010 Olympics), and sunny summer and autumn. As for Americans with Canadian flag on backpacks, it is highly overrated. From my extensive travel experience in Europe, if you wear shirt (instead of T-shirt), full length jeans, and socks, keep quiet, smile, and say “Hi” in the language of the country, nobody ask you if you are American. If you mange to say in the language of the country “two hundred gram of this sausage, please”, you are about to get seriously preferential treatment, and surprisingly in English. When two years ago PDO (Pacific Decadal Oscillation) turned into cool phase, we have really nice weather here in Vancouver. Cooler and snowy winter (I hope it will hold into 2010 Olympics), and sunny summer and autumn.

As for Americans with Canadian flag on backpacks, it is highly overrated. From my extensive travel experience in Europe, if you wear shirt (instead of T-shirt), full length jeans, and socks, keep quiet, smile, and say “Hi” in the language of the country, nobody ask you if you are American.

If you mange to say in the language of the country “two hundred gram of this sausage, please”, you are about to get seriously preferential treatment, and surprisingly in English.

]]> By: J. Otto Pohl http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/no-need-anymore-to-try-to-look-canadian/comment-page-1/#comment-22741 J. Otto Pohl Sat, 15 Nov 2008 09:48:10 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/?p=3986#comment-22741 It is pretty cold here in Bishkek. It is pretty cold here in Bishkek.

]]> By: Guy http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/no-need-anymore-to-try-to-look-canadian/comment-page-1/#comment-22740 Guy Sat, 15 Nov 2008 06:11:25 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/?p=3986#comment-22740 In Brittany we have been having quite a lot of rain. And chilly nights. In Brittany we have been having quite a lot of rain. And chilly nights.

]]> By: witless chum http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/no-need-anymore-to-try-to-look-canadian/comment-page-1/#comment-22738 witless chum Fri, 14 Nov 2008 23:01:34 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/?p=3986#comment-22738 In Kalamazoo, MI, it's roughly the same. With a high of 46 and falling predicted for tommorrow. First time vistor, I followed the LGM link. This blog has a superior spam protection system. In Kalamazoo, MI, it’s roughly the same. With a high of 46 and falling predicted for tommorrow.

First time vistor, I followed the LGM link. This blog has a superior spam protection system.

]]> By: Stephen Gordon http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/no-need-anymore-to-try-to-look-canadian/comment-page-1/#comment-22736 Stephen Gordon Fri, 14 Nov 2008 21:20:28 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/?p=3986#comment-22736 It's cold and grey in Canada - or at least Quebec - as well. It’s cold and grey in Canada – or at least Quebec – as well.

]]> By: gabe http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/no-need-anymore-to-try-to-look-canadian/comment-page-1/#comment-22735 gabe Fri, 14 Nov 2008 21:09:48 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/?p=3986#comment-22735 This is exactly what everyone said about Blair in 1997 and look how that turned out... This is exactly what everyone said about Blair in 1997 and look how that turned out…

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