Before I came over to Canada, I had endured a general disdain for Americans (that's the United States variety), and I had thought that maybe being over the pond would somewhat expel the preconceptions I had about the fat stupid Yanks. How could I be so wrong.
Now, I had never lumped Canadians and Americans together, so don't take offence any canucks! And also, I am not singling out any Americans in general, but I speak from experience.
Working at the only Anglophone place in the whole of Montreal (a pathetic call centre), I deal daily with American and Canadians who have, granted, been 'duped' into making payments for memberships they never had.
But where the Canadians who call up actually have some idea of what day it is and of whats going on in their bank accounts (i.e. the first anomoly they notice they call their bank about), Americans are forever not checking their credit payments and end up paying the memberships for YEARS before they notice!
PS The job is rubbish, but I need money to pay for my 2 week holiday in, yes you guessed it, America!
On a more fun and non-related note, I went and sampled a bit of proper Canadian culture on Tuesday.
It was the hockey, and the Habs (Montreal Canadiens) versus the Caps (Washington Capitals). After much impressive celebration and light-work before the start, the game was eventually underway. The Habs dominated and won 4-0. Kate and I were waving and cheering all the way through with our Gladiator-esque foam hands!
It was a quality Christmas present, and we had our hot dogs, massive 'soda' and then returned to Britishness afterwards with a pint of Tetleys and glass of wine!
My campaign to educate Kate and the world of film is now underway. In recent weeks she has been sat through Land Before Time and Sister Act, and there is a list longer than my arm of films she needs to see! It will keep me occupied until our three week holiday to America and then Quebec City, which we booked up yesterday!!!
In other news, I finally made it around the art galleries in Montreal. I've been in this brilliantly cultural city for nearly three months now, and I had been meaning to do it for so long! The art was very good. The Beaux (Fine) Arts Museum had much more to offer than the celebrated Musee D'Art Contemporaine, but I didn't pay a dime for either so pound for pound they were definitely worth it!
