[Maritime Q-Scout]

Just a few quick points.

I like the USA, although drinking with my buddies I'd never admit it. Not because I secretly hate the US but because ragging on it can be fun. Same reason we joke about how dumb Newfie are, in reality some of the smartest people I know are from Newfoundland, some of my closest friends, I love partying there, with them, and would do basically anything they ask. But dumb Newfie jokes are fun, in good fun, nothing more.

As for the US, isay it's just like Canada but a little off. Not off in a bad way, Americans coming to Canada would say the same thing. At a glance it's the same with minor things different. It's hard to pinpoint exactly.

I've found Americans very friendly and knowledgeable, I don't expect them to pick out Nova Scotia on a map, or know a lot about it. When they do I think it's cool. One guy said to me, oh yeah Nova Scotia, that's the province that's a 6 on top of a 7? I was impressed and told him I was from the 6.

Last time in the States I discussed the Canadian Healthcare system with random Joe Blow in the bleachers of Fenway. You can't fault people for nit knowing something they never had the opportunity to learn. And why would they? Think about it, how much do you know about Mexico? Really? Do they have Stares, provinces, territories, counties, if so how many? How many cities over 1,000,000 does it have? Where are they? I think it's easy for us to say the US knows nothing about us, yet we don't look in the mirror when it comes to us and other countries.

A few weeks ago I was at a friends wedding where the bide was from Georgia, they had friends and family from all over the Southern US. I was amazed at how much they knew about Canada, down to obscure court procedures, and geography.

One think I do have trouble talking to Americans on is the weather. Not because of them but both of us. I don't know how to convert negative C temperatures to F, and vice versa nor do they. Might as well tell the other in the winter the temperature drops to placemat.

Here is a serious question for Americans. I was outside a department store in Maine, and started chatting to this old man, who clearly had some health problems. He started telling me about how he was shot in Vietnam, etc. I honestly didnt know how to respond. Canada didn't support the Vietnam War, we tend to treat our soldiers very well after their service (I can't say enough good things about how my grandparents have been treated by DVA). I also don't know anyone that's been shot (or told me, as I think of it my grandfather HAD to have taken a bullet at some point in WWII knowing the battles he was in). How do you respond to a stranger telling you his ailments from Vietnam, I feel for the guy, but can't affirm him being there, not being American I can't thank him for his service as he didn't serve me or my country. It was awkward, and I feel bad. Thoughts?

Tl;dr USA = a ok, it's both similar & dissimilar to Canada, how do you to a Vietnam vet as a Canadian in the States?