tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21558474.post5870467584780866840..comments2023-11-02T08:09:02.234-04:00Comments on Her Bad Mother: Canadian-IshHer Bad Motherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03535958887714152413noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21558474.post-38218851251852705192008-08-31T07:45:00.000-04:002008-08-31T07:45:00.000-04:00I have the title "citizen born abroad" thanks to m...I have the title "citizen born abroad" thanks to my Cdn Father and an American Mother. <BR/>Born in Ottawa and spending my childhood in various eastern states and provinces I landed in the U.S and so began my adult life. My sister landed in Nova Scotia and has stayed "North". <BR/>I haven't lived in Ontario since the early 90's but every time I find myself back on the QEW I feel at home....guess that's a lot for a girl who has spent her life bouncing around North America!<BR/><BR/>Thanks for post neighbour!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21558474.post-28103597933523801512008-08-26T07:33:00.000-04:002008-08-26T07:33:00.000-04:00I get your Canadianish even though I grew up in Ve...I get your Canadianish even though I grew up in Vermont! My grandparents were Memere and Pepere and spoke a lot of French. It's funny because I've always found, after the fact, that the artists I love are almost invariably Canadian. That kind of applies to blogs as well. Glad I found you from 5 star Friday!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21558474.post-56613347008193191762008-08-21T11:01:00.000-04:002008-08-21T11:01:00.000-04:00Born and lived in US 14 years. Moved to Canada to...Born and lived in US 14 years. Moved to Canada took out Canadian citizenship (and renounced American citizenship). Have now lived in France over 20 years but have not taken out French nationality. I was always pleased to be a Canadian until 2 years ago. <BR/>Now that Canada is doing anything the US asks and more, I'm not so sure but then France hasn't been any better since Sarkozy was electedAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21558474.post-25168256686844546302008-08-18T10:47:00.000-04:002008-08-18T10:47:00.000-04:00great post kyran we should focus on what unites u...great post kyran we should focus on what unites us not what makes us different. and hey i don't mind being called a prissy bitch sometimes...my husband is canadian citizen now but he was a political refugee and he is also proud to be canadianAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21558474.post-56000697830780219952008-08-18T08:31:00.000-04:002008-08-18T08:31:00.000-04:00As a Canadian living abroad, I do have to admit th...As a Canadian living abroad, I do have to admit that it ticks me off a bit that I'm no longer allowed to vote in Canada. What with internet and everything, who is to say that I cannot make an informed decision for the country that I was brought up in and may, one day, move back to?... Bother.<BR/><BR/>But that is not really about your post, just a personal rant.<BR/><BR/>Nice post. I'm not sure what nationality I feel anymore actually. Can "Foreign" be a nationality because no matter where i am, my accent isn't right anymore.JChevaishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02683339168047479228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21558474.post-19305456345694250022008-08-18T00:15:00.000-04:002008-08-18T00:15:00.000-04:00Health care isn't a right, human or otherwise. It...Health care isn't a right, human or otherwise. It's a service, and it has to be paid for.<BR/><BR/>I prefer that the people using the service pay for it.<BR/><BR/>Your milage may very.<BR/><BR/>LamontAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21558474.post-68301612778285316012008-08-17T22:35:00.000-04:002008-08-17T22:35:00.000-04:00Great post Kyran. As a Canadian from the west, I f...Great post Kyran. As a Canadian from the west, I feel like I have to apologize for anyone that's called you a Newfie. I cringe at it now, but until I started working with some Newfoundlanders I had no idea that the term is so derogatory. No one ever taught us that out here. Clearly there's still some cultural education that needs to happen, eh? :-)Canuckedup mamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18307468740398987635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21558474.post-51311396337723892952008-08-17T21:52:00.000-04:002008-08-17T21:52:00.000-04:00Maybe it's because I'm a Newfoundlander too that I...Maybe it's because I'm a Newfoundlander too that I've also felt Canadian-ish for a long time. Living away does have a tendency to bring out. I completely identify with your "I felt more Canadian-ish living in America than I'd ever felt in Newfoundland or Canada" statement. When I'm on the mainland I often feel completely divorced from the country. It's only when I'm in Europe (or discussing America, interestingly enough) that Canadian-ish ideals come bubbling to the surface.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21558474.post-82611635895163918492008-08-16T05:38:00.000-04:002008-08-16T05:38:00.000-04:00I totally identify... you are describing the last ...I totally identify... you are describing the last ten years of my life. Dealing with the silly jokes of Americans who don't know much about Canada at all, dealing with Canadians who wonder how I can stomach living in America, a country I have grown to love in a very deep way. <BR/><BR/>My family just moved overseas, so now the question of citizenship is even bigger- if we continue to live here, I need to get my American citizenship so I don't lose my greencard. Hmmmm. But it's strange, when people ask where I am from, I often don't know what to say...Raehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07910277414363208229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21558474.post-84185271236120309882008-08-15T23:49:00.000-04:002008-08-15T23:49:00.000-04:00I can totally relate.I grew up straddling two bord...I can totally relate.<BR/><BR/>I grew up straddling two borders and it was quite a unique experience. It's difficult to determine on which side I lie. I was educated through high school in Canadian schools yet I feel more at home as an American.<BR/><BR/>Because the "You can be a prissy little bitch sometimes" is realy true.<BR/><BR/>Canadian media doesn't understand in their comparisons of everything that there are a few million people missing to adequately compare the two countries.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21558474.post-71619654399456289712008-08-15T19:23:00.000-04:002008-08-15T19:23:00.000-04:00wow, I am loving this conversation.(Lindsay, hang ...wow, I am loving this conversation.<BR/><BR/>(Lindsay, hang in there. Me too.)<BR/><BR/>as it has been explained to me, the dealbreaker is with the U.S. side, not the Canadian side. One commenter was correct in stating that Canada will always consider me one of theirs, but once I become a U.S. citizen, the U.S. will no longer recognize my Canadian citizenship. So if I were thrown in jail for anything, I could demand to speak with a representative of the Canadian consulate until the cows came home.<BR/><BR/>I'm no criminal, so I guess it's an extreme scenario. But it gives me further pause for thought.Kyranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00084535060369940911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21558474.post-61770152298008521692008-08-15T17:26:00.000-04:002008-08-15T17:26:00.000-04:00Kyran,Thanks for the good read.You are dead on abo...Kyran,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the good read.<BR/><BR/>You are dead on about that Molson campaign being a double edged sword. I think I might post about it or something along this line. <BR/><BR/>I love both these countries very much. If I move back to the states I worry that my Canadian peeps would view it as a rejection of my Canadianism, which it wouldn't be. To me it's like America represents the spouse and Canada represents the mother. I want to spend my life with the spouse, but it will never ever take the place of my mother (citizenship or not).<BR/><BR/>Great post. Impatiently waiting to hear you have a book deal.Lindsayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16371204654341480150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21558474.post-27292508197511360382008-08-15T16:59:00.000-04:002008-08-15T16:59:00.000-04:00I almost wrote this exact. freaking. post. for Cat...I almost wrote this exact. freaking. post. for Catherine.<BR/><BR/>Right down to the "I am Canadian" fleece that I bust out and wear while not telling anyone that it's a beer ad; right down to the Canadar, that lets me pick out Canadians at 100 paces; right down to my broken franglais; right down to the right-wing shift in my so-superior leftist political leanings.<BR/><BR/>"I can read both sides of the cereal box."<BR/><BR/>This is priceless and perfect.Backpacking Dadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02498905428420679901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21558474.post-16885467972442857082008-08-15T16:43:00.000-04:002008-08-15T16:43:00.000-04:00Thanks so much for posting this Kyran. I've been r...Thanks so much for posting this Kyran. I've been reading you for a while and as a Canadian newly transplanted in Massachusetts, I am eager to hear how other people define the cultural differences between our two countries. I asked around a lot before we moved. No one seemed to be able to put their finger on it. I find it fascinating and you seem to be one of a very few people who has mastered the art of critiquing without offending.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21558474.post-72432372146559445202008-08-15T15:02:00.000-04:002008-08-15T15:02:00.000-04:00I am a Dutch citizen and lived in the USA for 22 ...I am a Dutch citizen and lived in the USA for 22 years and although pushed to do so by my American friends, I could never become an American citizen and give up being a Dutch one. I am glad I did not in the end, because I returned to the Netherlands and am now very Dutch again and would not fit into American society anymore. There is no temptation to go back, although my daughter still lives there. I do not feel at home there and probably never did. I refer to it as my dream time. It was not real. I feel that I stagnated politically and became very narrow in my points of view and had a very limited outlook on the rest of the world when I was there. Doubtlessly influenced by my middle class environment and the shortsighted news. <BR/><BR/>I am happy to be a European again as I feel that now I am a citizen of the world. Maybe Canadians feel that way too.Irenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05043376053971475659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21558474.post-34763370875679826662008-08-15T14:03:00.000-04:002008-08-15T14:03:00.000-04:00I've been only Canadian for 2 years but I HEART HE...I've been only Canadian for 2 years but I HEART HEART HEART Canada.<BR/><BR/>Loved the post.7aki Fadihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08096915889748007071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21558474.post-41294480193822373312008-08-15T13:54:00.000-04:002008-08-15T13:54:00.000-04:00Hmm. I don't know about the citizenship laws requi...Hmm. I don't know about the citizenship laws requiring you to give up your citizenship. Here's something I found<BR/><BR/>The official Canadian position on dual citizenship reads in part:<BR/>Unlike the law in effect in Canada up to 1977, the present Citizenship Act allows a Canadian citizen to acquire foreign nationality without automatically losing Canadian citizenship. Since February 15, 1977, a Canadian citizen may retain Canadian citizenship, unless he or she voluntarily applies to renounce it and the application is approved by a citizenship judge. The present Act thus makes it possible to have two or more citizenships and allegiances at the same time for an indefinite period. Also, both the US and Canada require specific acts to give up citizenship. Canada requires that someone who wants to give up their Canadian citizenship has to go to a Canadian embassy or consulate and sign a special form in the presence of Canadian officials. The US requires that "A person wishing to renounce his or her US citizenship must voluntarily and with intent to relinquish US citizenship appear in person before a US consular or diplomatic officer, in a foreign country (normally at a US Embassy or Consulate); and sign an oath of renunciation".<BR/><BR/>My husband is Canadian (raised in Crow's Nest Pass and Chilliwack - I LOVE how awesome Canadian town names are, compared to American ones)but has lived in the US for the past 12 years (since before I met him) - pretty much his whole adult life, since he moved here as soon as he graduated from college. We have two small kids who will have dual citizenship as soon as we can find our marriage license (it's in his office, in his green card file. I refuse to buy a new one). We always planned to keep our individual citizenship regardless of where we lived - when we got married, everyone assumed I'd immediately renounce my citizenship, which irked me to no end. The plan was always to move to Canada, but then he got a job at an Ivy League University, and you can't turn that sort of thing down, if you're a professor. So here we are, several years down the line, and I find myself really wanting him to apply for US citizenship. All the Patriot Act bullshit makes me extremely nervous whenever he's crossing the border without me. Especially since he's a physicist and regularly goes to China (oy vey) - even though he does extremely theoretical work that's not even remotely sensitive, I worry that someone will decide to disappear him. Not that citizenship would stop them, but it might help in some way. At any rate, he's so Americanized at this point that his family mocks his accent - but he's really not ready to apply for citizenship. He.Is.Canadian. But I'm willing to bet he'd really relate to the feeling of not-quite-belonging. <BR/><BR/>I really think he just likes saying "Sorry, I'm Canadian" whenever obnoxious people ask him to sign political petitions ;-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21558474.post-91871865254022118482008-08-15T13:45:00.000-04:002008-08-15T13:45:00.000-04:00Taking on U.S. citizenship has you renounce your C...Taking on U.S. citizenship has you renounce your Canadian citizenship, but guess what - as far as Canada is concerned, you don't lose your citizenship unless you renounce it in front of a Canadian official - so you can have both.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21558474.post-40426662351754116532008-08-15T13:28:00.000-04:002008-08-15T13:28:00.000-04:00Thank you!I have felt lost in the land of "in betw...Thank you!<BR/><BR/>I have felt lost in the land of "in between" for the last 10 years. I'm born and raised Canadian who routinely gets asked why I just don't give my citizenship up... like it's an easy decision.<BR/><BR/>I'm married to a US citizen, but working here on a TN visa as an RN. I've pondered the greencard, but in the end, always stay with my TN. I guess one day I will think a little harder about dual citizenship, but that will feel like I'm giving something up.<BR/><BR/>I still get teased about "oot and aboot". My husband rolls his eyes when I say SORE-y. My yearly trips to the border to deal with the DHS (formerly known as the INS) to renew my work permit fill me with dread.<BR/><BR/>I too, was feeling alone, and now I know that I'm not.<BR/><BR/>My name is Kirsten, and I. Am. Canadian.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07882586432441479686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21558474.post-89215145329010617532008-08-15T13:24:00.000-04:002008-08-15T13:24:00.000-04:00Kyran was one of only 2 people I *made* myself go ...Kyran was one of only 2 people I *made* myself go up to and do the "you don't know me but I love you" thing. This is the perfect example of why.Jenny, the Bloggesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13718481135182612620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21558474.post-59231040464775957782008-08-15T13:23:00.000-04:002008-08-15T13:23:00.000-04:00Wow, I really loved this post Kyran. I think it's ...Wow, I really loved this post Kyran. I think it's interesting to compare the two countries considering how close we are but yet how different we've ended up. I hope you're happy here in America!The Exhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02361762239371484451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21558474.post-70862732819122387462008-08-15T13:02:00.000-04:002008-08-15T13:02:00.000-04:00To someone like me, who has lived in the same U.S....To someone like me, who has lived in the same U.S. City my entire life (within a few miles of the hospital where I was born) I find this all quite interesting. My "who am I" question revolves around the chick I lost after having kids. I find myself in different mental locations, but physically I don't budge.Momo Falihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09735425888226178189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21558474.post-48307960893251742752008-08-15T12:57:00.000-04:002008-08-15T12:57:00.000-04:00I hope this comment isn't boringly long, but there...I hope this comment isn't boringly long, but there's just so much I want to say. Thank you for writing this post (and thank you, HBM, for having Kyran post). Thank you for making me feel not so alone. Sometimes I feel like I'm the only Canadian living in the US; and though most are lovely, the people here just don't *get* me. I'm also not ready (and don't think I ever will be) to give up my Canadian citizenship to be American. I'd love to vote, I try to stay politically aware and much of our future rides on the current election outcome. We're going to have to move in the next 12 months anyways, and have decided that the way the election goes will say whether we move to Canada or stay in the US.<BR/><BR/>I feel so much of what you've written about. About the differences in politics, the annoyingness of Canadians anti-Americanism, the spelling issues and how it feels when people look at me like I'm unintelligent because I spell things differently.<BR/><BR/>So thank you, again, for helping this little Canadian feel less alone in person and feelings.<BR/><BR/>Oh, and "shit or get off the pot" is a part of my lingo, so it's not just a Newfoundland expression, at least.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21558474.post-89061583261019078612008-08-15T12:29:00.000-04:002008-08-15T12:29:00.000-04:00Thanks Kyran. What a terrific post. My brother r...Thanks Kyran. What a terrific post. <BR/><BR/>My brother recently gave up his American citizenship for Canadian. Now, he calls us "You Americans!" with disgust.<BR/><BR/>This is a man who was born and raised in the US - who got his education here - who married, had a daughter, divorced, and remarried (a Canadian), had 2 more children in the US, but decided to renounce his American citizenship for Canadian.<BR/><BR/>Does it bother me? I haven't fully decided. It's his life and he and I have way too many other differences to worry about his citizenship decisions. My mother, though, is NOT happy. ;-)<BR/><BR/>Does this comment have a point? Probably not, but I wanted you to know that I think your perspective and the way you present it is wonderful.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21558474.post-50503403029381760252008-08-15T12:27:00.000-04:002008-08-15T12:27:00.000-04:00totally know how you feel. I often wonder what exa...totally know how you feel. I often wonder what exactly i am anymore. I was born in the Phillippines to American parents, so from birth had two citizenships. I lived in the states from the time i was one till i was almost 21. I've been living in canada now just over 10 yrs. I've gotten my canadian citizenship now, but never really tell anyone. Crossing the border into the states i'm american, traveling on a US passport, coming back into Canada i'm canadian without a canadian passport because i feel like i'm doing something wrong if i carry both. I'm raising my four kids to be proud of both their citizenships...teaching them to celebrate all the holidays and knowing the histories. Its funny everyone here just thinks i'm canadian unless they really know me and know my story....everyone in the states wonders what would make me want to move here. I follow both Canadian and US news...vote in both Canadian and US elections....but still i feel somewhat lost in the middle of it allgeenalynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16950499825378242774noreply@blogger.com