When I was 18 years old, I moved to Ireland.
I was meant to be away from Canada for “just one semester” of college, but my time away ended up lasting…a lot longer.
And since I first settled in, I’ve been asked a lot about Canada.
Some questions were pretty standard, some were less so (for example, no, I’ve never had a pet moose).
But some were just downright confusing.
So, I’ve rounded up some of the more common questions I’ve been asked a-boot Canada (with some new additions from the Her team) and answered them once and for all.
1. Do you eat nothing but maple syrup?
I don’t personally – I drank a shot glass-sized dose of maple syrup when I was 10 years old as a dare and kind of lost my taste for it.
But there is something called a Cabane à Sucre (Sugar Shack) which is basically when sap is collected from maple trees and boiled into maple syrup.
There’s all kinds of maple-related and outdoors-y activities, including a feast made up of things like ham, baked beans, scrambled eggs, pork rinds and pancakes (all covered in maple, naturally).
And there’s also tire d’érable, which is kind of like maple taffy – and when the syrup is poured onto the snow and lifted with a small popsicle-style stick and turned into a lollypop.
2. Do you always say ‘eh?’
As much as I try not to, yes.
I don’t pronounce it oo-t (out) and a-boot (about) though.
3. What about ‘sorry’?
Yes, a thousand times over. But since it can often be used to replace ‘huh?’, it always ends up sounding like I’m either a) apologising for something that I shouldn’t be, or b) permanently confused.
4. Are you obsessed with ice hockey?
Kinda. When I was still living at home, I used to go to every home game (around 41 a year).
Now I just have to settle for watching live streams at midnight (or the very grim 3am starts) whenever I can.
5. Why do you hate America?
Nothing is higher than the stakes of tomorrow’s game. pic.twitter.com/usqJ9EPTpg
— Command Sign (@CommandSign) February 20, 2014
I don’t, personally – and I can’t think of many people I know who do (seriously, is this a’thing’?)
It seems to be more like a super-competitive, sibling-rivalry kind of relationship (especially when it comes to hockey).
Never saw it as actual hatred.
6. Do you get mistaken for an American all the time?
Not all the time, but I’ve got a pretty neutral-sounding accent – so I’ll be confused for an American often enough.
Either that, or get asked where in North America I’m from (with the reasoning that they think #5 is true).
7. Do you mind getting mistaken for an American all the time?
Nope. I’ve got a neutral accent, it’s bound to happen.
8. How do you feel about Justin Trudeau?
He’s got great socks.
9. How do you feel about Justin Bieber?
I think it’s hilarious that a Canadian wrote a song that is essentially just a giant 3-and-a-half-minute apology.
10. Have you ever seen a moose?
Yes.
And as intimidating as it was (seriously, it was huge), it is the Canadian geese that are absolutely terrifying.
11. What are the similarities between Ireland and Canada?
Everyone was really, really welcoming after I first arrived – almost to a Canadian-stereotype-level of kindness.
It even still happens, since I’m still occasionally mistaken for having just got here/being a tourist.
12. What do you miss most about home?
My family, snow, poutine, and getting to see ice hockey live.
And Tim Hortons.
13. Do you have your own independence day?
Kind of.
We’ve got Canada Day, which is the anniversary of when the colonies of Canada, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick were joined to make one country – otherwise known as when the Constitution Act, 1867 was enacted.
Canada didn’t become fully independent of England until the Canada Act of 1982, though.
14. Do you speak French?
Yeah, I spent a lot of my childhood in Quebec so, growing up, a lot of my classes in school were in French.
15. Is the Winter Olympics a high-point of this year for your nation?
This one gets broken out every four years, without fail.
It’s February, so I can’t speak for the rest of the year – but it’s definitely something everyone seems to be pretty proud of.
It’s the biggest team the country had brought to the Olympic Winter Games, and they ended up third in the medal standings – what’s not to get excited about?
16. Can you sing the national anthem?
Yes, but not entirely in one language. As in, I know it primarily in like…3/4 French, 1/4 English.
17. How to you feel Ralph’s version of Oh Canada in The Simpsons?
I mean, it’s Ralph Wiggum – he’s great. He was just trying to make it calm, totally a Canadian thing to do.
18. What about Robin Sparkles?
I’ve been asked way too many times if I know here – and I’m not sure that they were all joking?
19. What surprised you the most when you came to Ireland first?
The levels of rain. I know it sounds stupid, and I probably should have expected it, but I wasn’t prepared for that much rain.
20. What should Canada do better that Ireland does well?
Chicken fillet rolls. Please. It’d make visits home so much easier.
21. What should Ireland do better that Canada does well?
The answer changes from time to time.
But given the week that’s in it, I’d say be better prepared for all kinds of weather – especially snow.
22. Would you ever move back?
At this point in my life, it’s not something I’m considering (sorry, mom and dad).
But never say never, eh?
