I want to know what Canadians think of americans.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by MattyC

Probably making the sacrifice of living with their parents for a few more years than they'd want to save up a couple thousand and go on a europe tour. My girlfriend and I looked at doing it around the end of April and it came out surpisingly low for a European trip through Paris, Prague and Frankfurt. Around 3000 per person for a 12 day trip

See, that's what I'm saying. $3000 isn't surprisingly low to me. (not talking about value). $3000 is a LOT of money.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

So you're saying you can have a good vacation in SE Asia for $500? Come on.

Yup, for sure - depending on how much you move around. (500 minus flight tickets)

Originally Posted by MattyC

Probably making the sacrifice of living with their parents for a few more years than they'd want to save up a couple thousand and go on a europe tour. My girlfriend and I looked at doing it around the end of April and it came out surpisingly low for a European trip through Paris, Prague and Frankfurt. Around 3000 per person for a 12 day trip

Youch, pricy... $3k for 12 days? I did 6 weeks in Eastern Europe / former Yugoslavia for $2400.

[Kybosh]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

See, that's what I'm saying. $3000 isn't surprisingly low to me. (not talking about value). $3000 is a LOT of money.

I agree, $3000 is a lot of money but I would rather save up and spend that money on a trip than buy anything else.

Haha, we're kind of getting side tracked but maybe this is one of the key differences between Canadians and Americans? I've personally met far fewer Yanks abroad than any other western nationality.

[missdpuck]

It seems like Europeans at least regard rest and vacation/travel as necessites where as to Americans they seem like indulgences . Just another generalization, it seems like Canadians take the European attitude.

[Dan02]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

I remember a stat about how Americans travel less than Canadians globally... and it was a huge number too (something like 1 in 2 Canadians will leave Canada in their lifetime, but only 1 in 10 Americans will leave the U.S. in theirs).

How many Canadians only ever visit the US though??? Theres alot more reason for Canadians to go visit the US then there is for Americans to visit Canada or Mexico.

As for my opinion. In my experiences Americans are far and away ruder and i don't know if dumber is the right word, perhaps we'll just say their education system manages to leave alot of children behind.

The last few times i've been down to the states, i've wanted to slug more people for their stupidity/rudeness in my week long stay then in the average year in Canada. People so blatantly rude it's absured.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by joe_mullen

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Working_time

Europeans (on average) work much less than North Americans. For example, France has a mandatory 35 hour work week. A friend of mine is a physician in Italy, where he is not allowed to work more than 40 hours per week. Also, Europeans get a lot more vacation and stat holidays.

Hmm thanks for the link. Guess I'm wrong. But - do these extra 60 hours a year in the USA vs Canada really change life expectancy? And how much of it is pulled up by a few professions that pull 12 hour shifts?

... I'd think people would be more stressed with the 2 hour drive to work/home lol.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

Yup, for sure - depending on how much you move around. (500 minus flight tickets)


Youch, pricy... $3k for 12 days? I did 6 weeks in Eastern Europe / former Yugoslavia for $2400.

Yeah i could be mistaken.....after posting i thought about it for a bit and i think it might have been closer to $2000

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

See, that's what I'm saying. $3000 isn't surprisingly low to me. (not talking about value). $3000 is a LOT of money.

the point is that a person whos 18 and living with their parents without much else for expenses can afford to give that up. In one summer I probably make between 10 and 12 thousand.

[kermitology]

I've spent a LOT of time in the United States over the past two years, and I've dealt with a lot of Americans.

In general, there is very little difference between Americans and Canadians other than the differences is tastes when it comes to sports, beer, food, etc.

But it all depends on the person you meet. Examples:

My first experience in Texas was after a cabbie accidentally hauled a bag off the carrousel and nailed me in the thigh. The Texan guy next to me started ranting in a rather terrifying ethnic tirade. It was my fault for standing there as far as I was concerned. He didn't do anything intentionally.

Then there was the guy from Alaska who is the stereotypical ######bag American. While he worked with our company, he knocked up 3 girls around the world, he was rude, ignorant, threatening, and just plain nasty to locals, especially in third world countries.

But that's all balanced out by the extremely friendly people I've met and worked with from around the globe. And I blame the lack of knowledge about Canada on the education system. I don't expect them to know where Calgary is, but when every single person I spoke to in Stockholm, Munich and Salzburg knew where Calgary was, but 95% of Americans I meet who don't work for my company don't know where Calgary is.. come on.

Seriously though.. stop drinking that watered down filth that dominates your beer market. There is some seriously good microbrew in the US.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by Kybosh

I agree, $3000 is a lot of money but I would rather save up and spend that money on a trip than buy anything else.

Haha, we're kind of getting side tracked but maybe this is one of the key differences between Canadians and Americans? I've personally met far fewer Yanks abroad than any other western nationality.

Yeah, that doesn't surprise me. I don't talk to many people that travel abroad currently. I don't talk to people much though, so who knows.

BTW..the only thing I buy is my house. Of course, I get less than half of what I make on my paycheck too.

Anyway, when the money is there to do something I'd much rather spend it to go home and visit family or go to BC to visit my wife's family. Much more important to me. That might change if I ever get to move back home for good. Maybe Canadian families don't end up spread out very much?

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by MattyC

Yeah i could be mistaken.....after posting i thought about it for a bit and i think it might have been closer to $2000

Yeah, I would have to think so. Doing that math, if its $3000 and $1000 is flights, thats $2000 for 12 days or nearly $170 per day. You'd be sipping some nice French whine and doing up some fancy restraunts in Paris for that kind of money. (Something I'd love to do with a girl of my dreams someday, but thats besides the point.)

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by MattyC

the point is that a person whos 18 and living with their parents without much else for expenses can afford to give that up. In one summer I probably make between 10 and 12 thousand.

Doing what? You can't do that here.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

Doing what? You can't do that here.

that's gross not net, but landscaping. I live in a pretty wealthy area so people pay through the nose to have their 2 acre yards manicured

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

I don't care what other people think. If I did, I wouldn't be very comfortable living here in the States!

So you're saying you can have a good vacation in SE Asia for $500? Come on.

You may not care what other people think, but your government does so that it can push its western agenda. Whether that's right or wrong is an entirely different debate, but your country does it. Canada does it in support of your country, but how often is Canada starting wars to influence regions? So yeah while you may not feel that way, the majority of Americans do, and the proof of this is the fact that Bush was re-elected in 2004.

You'd be surprised how far $500 can get you (once you have your flight booked). I bet you 500 would take you about 10-15 days in SE Asia and that would be living comfortably. Nice little trip!

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

You may not care what other people think, but your government does so that it can push its western agenda. Whether that's right or wrong is an entirely different debate, but your country does it. Canada does it in support of your country, but how often is Canada starting wars to influence regions? So yeah while you may not feel that way, the majority of Americans do, and the proof of this is the fact that Bush was re-elected in 2004.

You'd be surprised how far $500 can get you (once you have your flight booked). I bet you 500 would take you about 10-15 days in SE Asia and that would be living comfortably. Nice little trip!

Stop equating the individual with the government.

Just because someone voted for Bush in 2004 doesn't mean they approve of every thing that administration did. We didn't have much of a second option. It's certainly not proof of what you claim it is.

$40 a day. Do you get to eat?

[Kybosh]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

$40 a day. Do you get to eat?

Mr. Coffee is definitely not lying about this. $40 a day is pretty good for that part of the world.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by MattyC

that's gross not net, but landscaping. I live in a pretty wealthy area so people pay through the nose to have their 2 acre yards manicured

We must have deflated wages for landscapers.

Don't you need that money for school?

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

$40 a day. Do you get to eat?

In some parts of SE Asia (dunno about all) you can get by with < $10 a day... or even < $5 a day...

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by Kybosh

He's definitely not lying about this.

Not at all, it's just tough to imagine.

I'm picturing lots of roaches, rats and who knows what else running across the floor of my room.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

We must have deflated wages for landscapers.

I dont know what it is there but I make $18/ hour.......but we work a crapload. Normally around 60-70 hrs a week

[Yeah_Baby]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

We must have deflated wages for landscapers.

We're low on Mexicans up here.