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Canada is more culturally similar to America with a few odd Britishisms. In terms of accents , dialects ,words , how city looks , how buildings look and so on.
I think most of the culture shock will be is Canada it is base on a parliamentary system than a republican system in the US.
Some dialects and slang words like runners ,touque ,hydro ,faucet , cutlery / utensils , cottage , serviette , Loonie , Toonie , patro , sofa
The accents like the diphthong OU like in house or about. In the US the diphthong is very different , to explain it to people in Canada the diphthong OU sounds like AR so when Americans say about it sounds like abart to people in Canada.
Other thing is the word dollar in the US the first syllables are stressed where in Canada it is the last syllables and the er at the end where people US do not put er at the end.
Well other word is sorry !! When people in Canada say it well it sounds like sorryeee where in the US there is no ee at the end , and it is not drawn out ee at the end that people in Canada like to do.
The Canadian raising the phenomena where it sounds like they are asking a question all the time.
The buildings looks very different in Canada than the US it has more a British feel.
The Canadian constitution and bill of rights is very different .
Even education and healthcare is different.
Note this all I can think of I'm sure others can comment on this thread and say more.
Canada's Bill of Rights is very different because it's a federal statute passed by the parliament which applies only to federal government actions and laws. If you're looking for something akin to the U.S. Bill of Rights (first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution) you need to look at the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, part of the Constitution Act, 1982.
i think Americans from the Southern or Sunbelt states including myself would experience some level of "cultural difference'- not culture shock per se...i did when I dated a Canadian a few years ago and spent a few months there:
- weather
- it overall feels less "intense" (eg- go thru a busy airport in Canada vs a US one on a busy day and you'll get what i mean)
- things are more expensive & less bang for the buck in many respects
- food is a little different (more ethnic and less bbq/ fried food/ Mexican/ 'amusement-park' food)
- people are a little different (generally more goody-goody and open minded, less concerned about playing the race or economic card)
- people dont look down on you for taking public transit!
everything else are superficial differences and are nothing compared to the differences between the US and other countries around the world
For the most part it really isn't a shock at all it is just the little differences. One thing I saw that surprised me is the health clinics in shopping centers. You really don't see that in the U.S. Other things include, banks open late, certain businesses closed earlier, and the fact you can't get biscuits at KFC. I could list more but that's what I can think of for now.
i think Americans from the Southern or Sunbelt states including myself would experience some level of "cultural difference'- not culture shock per se...i did when I dated a Canadian a few years ago and spent a few months there:
- weather
- it overall feels less "intense" (eg- go thru a busy airport in Canada vs a US one on a busy day and you'll get what i mean)
- things are more expensive & less bang for the buck in many respects
- food is a little different (more ethnic and less bbq/ fried food/ Mexican/ 'amusement-park' food)
- people are a little different (generally more goody-goody and open minded, less concerned about playing the race or economic card)
- people dont look down on you for taking public transit!
everything else are superficial differences and are nothing compared to the differences between the US and other countries around the world
What do you mean by people are a little different generally more goody-goody ?
Do Canadians feel safe in the US ?
Also do you find the accents , dialects and words strange
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