Don't Assume... Help Your Foreign Guests!

I just returned from my trip and I really ran into a few differences that maybe I don't usually see on single day trips. I thought that I would mention a few, so that you can start to think of how things may appear to foreigners...

• ID - Checking into the hotel, I was asked for ID and then they copied it. It's not something that is required around here, just payment. So I was surprised. I think I saw them doing it to people paying by credit as well. So much of our ID cannot be photocopied by law. Some of it, you can't even legally write down the number. When asked for ID they will look at it, confirm your identity and continue. (Not make a copy so that it can be stolen internally and used in ID theft! Yes... that's where my mind went.)
• Prepayment - We go to the gas station and we can pay at the pump or we can choose to pay inside. Only after 10PM are we required to prepay. While on vacation, I couldn't pay at the pump even if I wanted to, they don't accept foreign credit cards (they ask for ZIP code we don't have!) I had to go inside. They took money from me but didn't hand me a receipt... very disconcerting. (BTW, we have to put our card into the reader and leave it there, not pull it out.)
• Talking to Strangers - People saying good morning to people they don't know is a bit foreign. We only greet those who we know and often in the morning it's more of a nod than anything else. It's like "Do I know you?"
• Credit Cards - Okay, I'll be honest, I have been burnt by Home Depot less than 2 weeks ago, so I'm gun shy. But that being said, those swipe terminals differ from our EMV terminals. (And why do they keep on asking me for my phone number to pay? And restaurants freak us out! No... you may not walk off with my card so you can clone it in the back of the restaurant. (I have to point out to guests how we do it, because we bring a terminal to the table. You never let anyone touch your card.)
• Tipping - We tip. We know how to tip. But we saw a number of different tipping guidelines that weren't clear. When we have guests from countries that tip differently, we help by giving them guidelines for local tipping (restaurant/bar). Tipping isn't usual everywhere. We tip less because our minimum wage is already $10 an hour.
• Parking - Parking meters are different from place to place. We don't have colours on our sidewalks, it's all by the signs. And I will be the first to admit that people don't read them, even if they can. I had a guest just park and couldn't understand why he couldn't park where he parked... it was a free space. Signs be damned!
• Receipt Checking - Around here, the Cost Club does it, but it's part of their agreement. But Wally World checked our receipt the same way... weird. (Incidentally Wally World is so different than our Wally World and what's with the "gift cards, prepaid credits cards and money transfer services all over the place?)
• Privacy - So many people seem to want to violate our privacy. Can we have your email address, phone number and cell number. Really? I can't just buy things anonymously anymore? I have to go through a barrage of questions just to buy a shirt? Want a discount? Give us your phone number. Want a discount? Give us your email address. I often tell them that I don't have a phone (or email address.) All I have to say is that these companies clearly don't regard my privacy as being worth anything.... http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/home-depot-says-hackers-also-took-53-million-email-addresses-1.2826664

I'm sure that there are more. But these are the first ones that came to mind. And I have never seen so many payday loan places in my life!
Finally, I have to say this about Home Depot's statement on having my email address stolen... "In all likelihood this will not impact you. But, as always, it’s important to be on guard against phishing scams..." Really, Home Depot? You are trusted with my email address and you don't seem to get it... I can't trust you if you don't value my data and my privacy at all.

"When in Rome, do as the Romans do."

Your trip to here? Or overseas? I know Europe is a lot different about ID. Here I've not been asked to prove who I am at a hotel except out west. Which includes NV, CA, OR & WA. All of them demanded proof of ID before allowing me to use my cc. They said it was to protect me from having my card used illegally. Ha.
I've never had my ID copied. I don't hand it over. I show it, in my wallet.
Phone, email, etc for making a purchase? I decline. 'No thanks.' And they either enter a fake number or move on. If they insist on a phone number, email, zip I give them a fake one. If you are using a cc and you provide your zip code or phone number you have just given them permission to market to you directly.
Yes, all the restaurants here, except probably some high end ones, the server is leaving with your cc. We had a server here in town with a skimmer in his pocket.
I thought Wally World asked to see your receipt but they don't. All the price clubs do, tho.
I've been adding a link to my newsletter emails asking Canadians to please verify they still want to receive the newsletter. I'm not sure how to tell who is Canadian, tho, just by looking at the email addy so I'll be breaking the law soon unless I delete every CA person from the newsletter.

When you travel, you do things the way locals do, or you don't get their services.
The first time I checked into a European hotel they asked for my passport, disappeared with it, and told me I'd get it back the next day! I was shocked and uncomfortable, but with time I learned that they always do that over there (but you usually get it back to you within an hour).
It's a matter of expecting things to be different from what you're used to at home. It will always happen. Even in your own county, some areas do things differently from how it's done at home. You have to roll with the punches when you travel.

Arks said:

When you travel, you do things the way locals do, or you don't get their services.
The first time I checked into a European hotel they asked for my passport, disappeared with it, and told me I'd get it back the next day! I was shocked and uncomfortable, but with time I learned that they always do that over there (but you usually get it back to you within an hour).
It's a matter of expecting things to be different from what you're used to at home. It will always happen. Even in your own county, some areas do things differently from how it's done at home. You have to roll with the punches when you travel..

Click to expand...

Arks said:

When you travel, you do things the way locals do, or you don't get their services.
The first time I checked into a European hotel they asked for my passport, disappeared with it, and told me I'd get it back the next day! I was shocked and uncomfortable, but with time I learned that they always do that over there (but you usually get it back to you within an hour).
It's a matter of expecting things to be different from what you're used to at home. It will always happen. Even in your own county, some areas do things differently from how it's done at home. You have to roll with the punches when you travel.

Click to expand...

I have had o/s guests hand me their passport at check in, I back away, woooooo nelly...you keep that.

Talking to Strangers - People saying good morning to people they don't know is a bit foreign. We only greet those who we know and often in the morning it's more of a nod than anything else. It's like "Do I know you?"
Welcome to America my friend! People NOT saying good morning is poor etiquette here.You know us Yanks with our big bright smiles and warm handshake or hug.
You may not survive a day where I am, really, you would have overload of these items. If these things jump on your radar. For all the things you feel are secure where you live we find insecure. Interesting observations Jon.
You were in a place where the mafia owns the town and every illicit thing is the norm. They have a higher transient population than anywhere else, you were not in a typical place. Don't even consider that or nearby that as being typical. Majority there are not from that area, even remotely, anyway.

Joey Bloggs said:

Talking to Strangers - People saying good morning to people they don't know is a bit foreign. We only greet those who we know and often in the morning it's more of a nod than anything else. It's like "Do I know you?"
Welcome to America my friend! People NOT saying good morning is poor etiquette here.You know us Yanks with our big bright smiles and warm handshake or hug.
You may not survive a day where I am, really, you would have overload of these items. If these things jump on your radar. For all the things you feel are secure where you live we find insecure. Interesting observations Jon.

You were in a place where the mafia owns the town and every illicit thing is the norm. They have a higher transient population than anywhere else, you were not in a typical place. Don't even consider that or nearby that as being typical. Majority there are not from that area, even remotely, anyway..

Click to expand...

Joey Bloggs said:

You may not survive a day where I am, really, you would have overload of these items. If these things jump on your radar. For all the things you feel are secure where you live we find insecure. Interesting observations Jon.

Click to expand...

I can't survive a day where you live. Seriously. I shut down. Leave me alone is all I can think. A quick 'good morning' or a nod is fine, but after that? Back in my shell. I'm moving to Canada.

The thing I will ALWAYS remember about the city you just visited is this:
In 1963 we were driving to California and Daddy said we HAD to see that city at night, otherwise it was just another city. As we drove down the blvd at 3 AM (took us that long to get there) I saw a sign on the marquee of a gas station - "We give free sympathy and aspirin". THAT is why you saw so many payday loan places.
Where I am from, we never met a stranger. You smile, you chat, the very least you do is say hello or good morning. And as Arks & his sister can attest - we do not even think about it - we HUG.

Madeleine said:

Joey Bloggs said:

Talking to Strangers - People saying good morning to people they don't know is a bit foreign. We only greet those who we know and often in the morning it's more of a nod than anything else. It's like "Do I know you?"
Welcome to America my friend! People NOT saying good morning is poor etiquette here.You know us Yanks with our big bright smiles and warm handshake or hug.
You may not survive a day where I am, really, you would have overload of these items. If these things jump on your radar. For all the things you feel are secure where you live we find insecure. Interesting observations Jon.

You were in a place where the mafia owns the town and every illicit thing is the norm. They have a higher transient population than anywhere else, you were not in a typical place. Don't even consider that or nearby that as being typical. Majority there are not from that area, even remotely, anyway..

Click to expand...

Joey Bloggs said:

You may not survive a day where I am, really, you would have overload of these items. If these things jump on your radar. For all the things you feel are secure where you live we find insecure. Interesting observations Jon.

Click to expand...

I can't survive a day where you live. Seriously. I shut down. Leave me alone is all I can think. A quick 'good morning' or a nod is fine, but after that? Back in my shell. I'm moving to Canada.
.

Click to expand...

Ha ha. Canada? Read your reply a few times and I'm thinking that you think people will leave you in your shell in Canada? Then don't move down to Newfoundland. Half of the time, people want to know where you're from ( no accent, moved from Ontario ), and the other half, when they find out my DH was born here, they try and find out how they're related. And 9 times out of 10, at some point down the line, they are! I have lovely chats when I go shopping anywhere and I find out all about what they're going to have for supper, when their family is coming for a visit,etc. That's what one of the attractions of our province is. People are super friendly and everyone wants you to fall in love with their 'home'.

gillumhouse said:

The thing I will ALWAYS remember about the city you just visited is this:
In 1963 we were driving to California and Daddy said we HAD to see that city at night, otherwise it was just another city. As we drove down the blvd at 3 AM (took us that long to get there) I saw a sign on the marquee of a gas station - "We give free sympathy and aspirin". THAT is why you saw so many payday loan places.
Where I am from, we never met a stranger. You smile, you chat, the very least you do is say hello or good morning. And as Arks & his sister can attest - we do not even think about it - we HUG..

Click to expand...

At the cashier, they also had a blue round thing, about an inch wide. I asked what it was and they told me it was for taking fingerprint for cashing a cheque. I had never seen that before in my life. The last time I gave my fingerprint was... never!

Madeleine said:

Joey Bloggs said:

Talking to Strangers - People saying good morning to people they don't know is a bit foreign. We only greet those who we know and often in the morning it's more of a nod than anything else. It's like "Do I know you?"
Welcome to America my friend! People NOT saying good morning is poor etiquette here.You know us Yanks with our big bright smiles and warm handshake or hug.
You may not survive a day where I am, really, you would have overload of these items. If these things jump on your radar. For all the things you feel are secure where you live we find insecure. Interesting observations Jon.

You were in a place where the mafia owns the town and every illicit thing is the norm. They have a higher transient population than anywhere else, you were not in a typical place. Don't even consider that or nearby that as being typical. Majority there are not from that area, even remotely, anyway..

Click to expand...

Joey Bloggs said:

You may not survive a day where I am, really, you would have overload of these items. If these things jump on your radar. For all the things you feel are secure where you live we find insecure. Interesting observations Jon.

Click to expand...

I can't survive a day where you live. Seriously. I shut down. Leave me alone is all I can think. A quick 'good morning' or a nod is fine, but after that? Back in my shell. I'm moving to Canada.
.

Click to expand...

Madeleine said:

Joey Bloggs said:

You may not survive a day where I am, really, you would have overload of these items. If these things jump on your radar. For all the things you feel are secure where you live we find insecure. Interesting observations Jon.

Click to expand...

I can't survive a day where you live. Seriously. I shut down. Leave me alone is all I can think. A quick 'good morning' or a nod is fine, but after that? Back in my shell. I'm moving to Canada.

Click to expand...

ha!

Madeleine said:

Joey Bloggs said:

Talking to Strangers - People saying good morning to people they don't know is a bit foreign. We only greet those who we know and often in the morning it's more of a nod than anything else. It's like "Do I know you?"
Welcome to America my friend! People NOT saying good morning is poor etiquette here.You know us Yanks with our big bright smiles and warm handshake or hug.
You may not survive a day where I am, really, you would have overload of these items. If these things jump on your radar. For all the things you feel are secure where you live we find insecure. Interesting observations Jon.

You were in a place where the mafia owns the town and every illicit thing is the norm. They have a higher transient population than anywhere else, you were not in a typical place. Don't even consider that or nearby that as being typical. Majority there are not from that area, even remotely, anyway..

Click to expand...

Joey Bloggs said:

You may not survive a day where I am, really, you would have overload of these items. If these things jump on your radar. For all the things you feel are secure where you live we find insecure. Interesting observations Jon.

Click to expand...

I can't survive a day where you live. Seriously. I shut down. Leave me alone is all I can think. A quick 'good morning' or a nod is fine, but after that? Back in my shell. I'm moving to Canada.
.

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That's more a big city kind of thing. People in the Atlantic provinces will hold the door open for you, even if you are 10 paces back. Here, we pass you the door, not hold it open for you. But the morning is really "alone" time... gotta give people the time to wake up.

Arks said:

"When in Rome, do as the Romans do.".

Click to expand...

The point being, if you aren't Roman, as a good host, you may want to ease them into the local culture.
For example, do people around your area tip 15%, 20% or 25% and is that before taxes or after taxes?
We stood in front of the gas pump for a while wondering why it wasn't coming on. If said to put your card in if you were paying by card, otherwise to just pump. Nothing indicated that we needed to prepay. I went in and asked why the pump wasn't working and then they told me about prepayment. But still, taking money without a receipt.... scary!

Jon Sable said:

gillumhouse said:

The thing I will ALWAYS remember about the city you just visited is this:
In 1963 we were driving to California and Daddy said we HAD to see that city at night, otherwise it was just another city. As we drove down the blvd at 3 AM (took us that long to get there) I saw a sign on the marquee of a gas station - "We give free sympathy and aspirin". THAT is why you saw so many payday loan places.
Where I am from, we never met a stranger. You smile, you chat, the very least you do is say hello or good morning. And as Arks & his sister can attest - we do not even think about it - we HUG..

Click to expand...

At the cashier, they also had a blue round thing, about an inch wide. I asked what it was and they told me it was for taking fingerprint for cashing a cheque. I had never seen that before in my life. The last time I gave my fingerprint was... never!
.

Click to expand...

Jon Sable said:

At the cashier, they also had a blue round thing, about an inch wide. I asked what it was and they told me it was for taking fingerprint for cashing a cheque. I had never seen that before in my life. The last time I gave my fingerprint was... never!

Click to expand...

My sisters uncle-in-law was a priest there for a few years and he told me it got pretty old doing last rites over violent crime 'ends' for the most part. Everything was pretty extreme.
We had a guest here (speaking of the hello or a nod part) who was a prof at the univ there and said that the moment he got to know anyone they moved away, it was a very lonely place to work and live. He said, and I quote "This place (the community here where we live) is like being in Heaven" those were his exact words. I understood the sentiment, actually, as being an innkeeper is similar in a lonely place where we have people we talk to ALL THE TIME right here at our B&B, but no long lasting friendships formed, as they stay they pay and go away...

Arks said:

When you travel, you do things the way locals do, or you don't get their services.
The first time I checked into a European hotel they asked for my passport, disappeared with it, and told me I'd get it back the next day! I was shocked and uncomfortable, but with time I learned that they always do that over there (but you usually get it back to you within an hour).
It's a matter of expecting things to be different from what you're used to at home. It will always happen. Even in your own county, some areas do things differently from how it's done at home. You have to roll with the punches when you travel..

Click to expand...

Arks said:

Even in your own county, some areas do things differently from how it's done at home. You have to roll with the punches when you travel.

Click to expand...

I walked into a hotel further west of here and asked for ID (not required), then gave me a form to sign that was clearly not written for this country (the word state appeared frequently.) And then took a deposit on a prepaid room for security purposes (in violation of their merchant agreement).
See, if you don't know, you think this is normal. And when you do know, you want to strangle them.

Jon Sable said:

Arks said:

"When in Rome, do as the Romans do.".

Click to expand...

The point being, if you aren't Roman, as a good host, you may want to ease them into the local culture.
For example, do people around your area tip 15%, 20% or 25% and is that before taxes or after taxes?
We stood in front of the gas pump for a while wondering why it wasn't coming on. If said to put your card in if you were paying by card, otherwise to just pump. Nothing indicated that we needed to prepay. I went in and asked why the pump wasn't working and then they told me about prepayment. But still, taking money without a receipt.... scary!
.

Click to expand...

Jon Sable said:

The point being, if you aren't Roman, as a good host, you may want to ease them into the local culture.
For example, do people around your area tip 15%, 20% or 25% and is that before taxes or after taxes?
We stood in front of the gas pump for a while wondering why it wasn't coming on. If said to put your card in if you were paying by card, otherwise to just pump. Nothing indicated that we needed to prepay. I went in and asked why the pump wasn't working and then they told me about prepayment. But still, taking money without a receipt.... scary!

Click to expand...

It depends.
Always the answer I give I think.
If you are at a bar, a cocktail server gets more than 15%. A tip is on the total amount, if you are dining, but it depends. I think breakfast with constant coffee refills and good service is much more than 15% esp if it is in one of those casinos and a $1.99 breakfast. All relative.
Not getting a rcpt is your fault, sorry Jonno.

Joey Bloggs said:

Jon Sable said:

gillumhouse said:

The thing I will ALWAYS remember about the city you just visited is this:
In 1963 we were driving to California and Daddy said we HAD to see that city at night, otherwise it was just another city. As we drove down the blvd at 3 AM (took us that long to get there) I saw a sign on the marquee of a gas station - "We give free sympathy and aspirin". THAT is why you saw so many payday loan places.
Where I am from, we never met a stranger. You smile, you chat, the very least you do is say hello or good morning. And as Arks & his sister can attest - we do not even think about it - we HUG..

Click to expand...

At the cashier, they also had a blue round thing, about an inch wide. I asked what it was and they told me it was for taking fingerprint for cashing a cheque. I had never seen that before in my life. The last time I gave my fingerprint was... never!
.

Click to expand...

Jon Sable said:

At the cashier, they also had a blue round thing, about an inch wide. I asked what it was and they told me it was for taking fingerprint for cashing a cheque. I had never seen that before in my life. The last time I gave my fingerprint was... never!

Click to expand...

My sisters uncle-in-law was a priest there for a few years and he told me it got pretty old doing last rites over violent crime 'ends' for the most part. Everything was pretty extreme.
We had a guest here (speaking of the hello or a nod part) who was a prof at the univ there and said that the moment he got to know anyone they moved away, it was a very lonely place to work and live. He said, and I quote "This place (the community here where we live) is like being in Heaven" those were his exact words. I understood the sentiment, actually, as being an innkeeper is similar in a lonely place where we have people we talk to ALL THE TIME right here at our B&B, but no long lasting friendships formed, as they stay they pay and go away...
.

Click to expand...

I realize that it isn't typical. In fact, just being there for weekdays and weekends is different. The weekend traffic from lalaland actually changes the main part of the city for the weekend. I swear I saw a lady wear a dress so short, we could tell that she had a Brazilian wax!
But so many people go to that city and it always leaves me with questions, like do people really think Paris is? How do people afford to put down $100 like water? And do I really need to see ladies leaving nothing to the imagination by wearing a skimpy outfit?

Jon Sable said:

Joey Bloggs said:

Jon Sable said:

gillumhouse said:

The thing I will ALWAYS remember about the city you just visited is this:
In 1963 we were driving to California and Daddy said we HAD to see that city at night, otherwise it was just another city. As we drove down the blvd at 3 AM (took us that long to get there) I saw a sign on the marquee of a gas station - "We give free sympathy and aspirin". THAT is why you saw so many payday loan places.
Where I am from, we never met a stranger. You smile, you chat, the very least you do is say hello or good morning. And as Arks & his sister can attest - we do not even think about it - we HUG..

Click to expand...

At the cashier, they also had a blue round thing, about an inch wide. I asked what it was and they told me it was for taking fingerprint for cashing a cheque. I had never seen that before in my life. The last time I gave my fingerprint was... never!
.

Click to expand...

Jon Sable said:

At the cashier, they also had a blue round thing, about an inch wide. I asked what it was and they told me it was for taking fingerprint for cashing a cheque. I had never seen that before in my life. The last time I gave my fingerprint was... never!

Click to expand...

My sisters uncle-in-law was a priest there for a few years and he told me it got pretty old doing last rites over violent crime 'ends' for the most part. Everything was pretty extreme.
We had a guest here (speaking of the hello or a nod part) who was a prof at the univ there and said that the moment he got to know anyone they moved away, it was a very lonely place to work and live. He said, and I quote "This place (the community here where we live) is like being in Heaven" those were his exact words. I understood the sentiment, actually, as being an innkeeper is similar in a lonely place where we have people we talk to ALL THE TIME right here at our B&B, but no long lasting friendships formed, as they stay they pay and go away...
.

Click to expand...

I realize that it isn't typical. In fact, just being there for weekdays and weekends is different. The weekend traffic from lalaland actually changes the main part of the city for the weekend. I swear I saw a lady wear a dress so short, we could tell that she had a Brazilian wax!
But so many people go to that city and it always leaves me with questions, like do people really think Paris is? How do people afford to put down $100 like water? And do I really need to see ladies leaving nothing to the imagination by wearing a skimpy outfit?
.

Click to expand...

It's certainly not an imagine I'm interested in seeing.

Joey Bloggs said:

Jon Sable said:

Arks said:

"When in Rome, do as the Romans do.".

Click to expand...

The point being, if you aren't Roman, as a good host, you may want to ease them into the local culture.
For example, do people around your area tip 15%, 20% or 25% and is that before taxes or after taxes?
We stood in front of the gas pump for a while wondering why it wasn't coming on. If said to put your card in if you were paying by card, otherwise to just pump. Nothing indicated that we needed to prepay. I went in and asked why the pump wasn't working and then they told me about prepayment. But still, taking money without a receipt.... scary!
.

Click to expand...

Jon Sable said:

The point being, if you aren't Roman, as a good host, you may want to ease them into the local culture.
For example, do people around your area tip 15%, 20% or 25% and is that before taxes or after taxes?
We stood in front of the gas pump for a while wondering why it wasn't coming on. If said to put your card in if you were paying by card, otherwise to just pump. Nothing indicated that we needed to prepay. I went in and asked why the pump wasn't working and then they told me about prepayment. But still, taking money without a receipt.... scary!

Click to expand...

It depends.
Always the answer I give I think.
If you are at a bar, a cocktail server gets more than 15%. A tip is on the total amount, if you are dining, but it depends. I think breakfast with constant coffee refills and good service is much more than 15% esp if it is in one of those casinos and a $1.99 breakfast. All relative.
Not getting a rcpt is your fault, sorry Jonno.
.

Click to expand...

I asked. They don't give one until the transaction is finished. Which is why we split the job. I stayed in the store and MoH pumped.
See, here the tip is 15% before taxes. But I always tip more at breakfast when there is a special, because the employee shouldn't be punished for managements specials.
Didn't see a $1.99 special. Cheapest we saw was a $3.99 special and coffee was extra. Heck, coffee is often $1.99 itself.
Incidentally, did you see that we met a famous chef while there? Photo is on facebook.
That's another thing, people were snapping pictures of him as they walked by and asking who he was. (We knew instantly and stood in line to meet him.) It's very funny how people know celebrity chefs but not famous chefs. And there is a REAL difference... I'll go to a famous chef's restaurant anytime and pay the premium but not to a celebrity chef's restaurant. They have tried to make celebrities out of some of our local chefs and failed, they don't have TV personalities. But they make fantastic food!

2cat_lady said:

Madeleine said:

Joey Bloggs said:

Talking to Strangers - People saying good morning to people they don't know is a bit foreign. We only greet those who we know and often in the morning it's more of a nod than anything else. It's like "Do I know you?"
Welcome to America my friend! People NOT saying good morning is poor etiquette here.You know us Yanks with our big bright smiles and warm handshake or hug.
You may not survive a day where I am, really, you would have overload of these items. If these things jump on your radar. For all the things you feel are secure where you live we find insecure. Interesting observations Jon.

You were in a place where the mafia owns the town and every illicit thing is the norm. They have a higher transient population than anywhere else, you were not in a typical place. Don't even consider that or nearby that as being typical. Majority there are not from that area, even remotely, anyway..

Click to expand...

Joey Bloggs said:

You may not survive a day where I am, really, you would have overload of these items. If these things jump on your radar. For all the things you feel are secure where you live we find insecure. Interesting observations Jon.

Click to expand...

I can't survive a day where you live. Seriously. I shut down. Leave me alone is all I can think. A quick 'good morning' or a nod is fine, but after that? Back in my shell. I'm moving to Canada.
.

Click to expand...

Ha ha. Canada? Read your reply a few times and I'm thinking that you think people will leave you in your shell in Canada? Then don't move down to Newfoundland. Half of the time, people want to know where you're from ( no accent, moved from Ontario ), and the other half, when they find out my DH was born here, they try and find out how they're related. And 9 times out of 10, at some point down the line, they are! I have lovely chats when I go shopping anywhere and I find out all about what they're going to have for supper, when their family is coming for a visit,etc. That's what one of the attractions of our province is. People are super friendly and everyone wants you to fall in love with their 'home'.
.

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2cat_lady said:

Ha ha. Canada? Read your reply a few times and I'm thinking that you think people will leave you in your shell in Canada? Then don't move down to Newfoundland. Half of the time, people want to know where you're from ( no accent, moved from Ontario ), and the other half, when they find out my DH was born here, they try and find out how they're related. And 9 times out of 10, at some point down the line, they are! I have lovely chats when I go shopping anywhere and I find out all about what they're going to have for supper, when their family is coming for a visit,etc. That's what one of the attractions of our province is. People are super friendly and everyone wants you to fall in love with their 'home'.

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Funny, we were just talking about going to Fogo Island. And everyone kept saying how friendly it is there. I took that to mean you can't walk down Main St without someone talking to you.
No, I didn't think Canada was going to be standoffish. Also asked DH could he stand to live somewhere (Edmundston area) where everyone knows his family (on both sides) and all of his relatives and stories about his parents that no one has ever told him before? Probably not, so we'd move to NS instead. ;-)
Or stay put. People here are friendly but they really don't care where we're from or where we're going...