Articles tagged with: Cultural Differences
10 Weird and Funny Questions French Asked Me About Canada
I don’t talk about Canada that much when I’m in France—I’m usually too busy enjoy France in the first place. But one thing you have to know about French is that they have an opinion on everything. And sometimes, it leads to funny comments and questions!
The French And Their Bathrooms
I first noticed the many differences between North American bathrooms and French bathrooms a while ago, but I had somehow forgotten about it. It all came back to mind today, when I went for a drink with one of my oldest friends (we’ve known each other since we were six years old!).
5 Canadian Culture Facts I Never Truly Understood
I have been living in Canada for quite some time now and all in all, I think I adapted pretty well. Yet, there are a few cultural facts—habits, customs etc.—that I adopted without being entirely comfortable with.
Canada is Huge
At school, I learned that the three largest countries in the world were Russia (and at the time, the USSR was larger than current-day Russia!), Canada and China. As a kid, it was hard to comprehend how big these territories actually were. But as a new Canadian, the country immediately struck me as humongous.
The Same… Just Different
Thanks to globalization, no matter where you go these days, you will probably experience a lesser culture shock than the great explorers did a few centuries ago. Familiar brands and franchises took over the planet and local customs and lifestyles were exported well beyond their original boundaries. But it’s not always the same. Or rather, it’s the same… just different. Here are a few examples between France and North America.
French-Spotting and Relationships in North America
Dating is so heavily codified you’d need The Da Vinci Code’s symbologist to understand all the subtleties. It starts in high school, where guys are supposed to take women to the prom—a relatively formal event for which women shop for princess dresses and guys really hope to take that dress out in the car at the end of the night. And dating apparently only ends when, as Beyoncé put it, you “put a ring on it”.
5 Things You Wouldn’t Believe Are Banned or Illegal in Canada
I learned about local customs and laws little by little, in context. For instance, my journey to Canada started with understanding the basic of immigration law. I learned to respect local traffic laws when I took my driver license.
But there are some laws or bans that you really, really can’t guess. Here are 5 things you wouldn’t believe are banned or illegal in Canada!
5 More Things My Mum Observed in Canada
I never get tired of noticing the little cultural differences that exist between counties and culture—I even have a blog tag dedicated to them! My mother and my brother came to visit us in July and I eagerly wrote down what surprised them, and what probably surprised me as well a few years ago.
5 Things My Mum Observed in Canada
In July, part of my family (my brother, who is 19, and my mother) came to visit us for three weeks. I loved walking around with them because they noticed a lot of little Canadian quirks I don’t even see anymore. I changed over the years—I became more Canadian. Two pairs of fresh eyes was all I needed to rediscover the city and some aspect of our culture.
5 Subtle Cultural Differences
There are these obvious, yet strangely subtle cultural differences you may have never really considered. Driving rules are different. You spend hours looking for household products at your supermarket. You are really not sure what the cashier is saying when he is asking if you have a dime. Welcome to the wonderful world of immigrants!
