Hi all, as Expat mentioned in her intro for me - I'm a recovering expat, lived in Richmond, VA - U.S for almost 5 years and then Dresden, Germany for 2 years.  During those years, I had also spent a significant amount of time in China, Portugal, Austria and Malaysia (and a few other places too...).  In all that time, in all those places and all the people I met - once I told them that I was Canadian - there were two very common reactions from almost everyone of them...

1. They seemed happier/more relaxed with me - because I was not American.  (most assume that since you're speaking english, without a british accent, that you're american...)

- and - 

2. The first thing to come out of their mouth is 'Isn't it COLD there?'.

Number 2 is the reason why I write my other blog.  There's really very little convincing you can do when talking to people about it - so now that I'm no longer an expat, but living back home again, I'm trying to tell them AND show them - that Canada is not the North Pole (exclusively).  It's not always winter.  There isn't a wall of snow at the U.S/Canada border.  I did not have to trade in my dogsled for a car...My furs for shorts...My snowshoes for sneakers.  I don't live in the wilderness.  There aren't polar bears wandering around my house and no my house is not an igloo!  

I really found it quite amusing that people had such stereotypical views of Canada (and no - this definitely not just about the U.S!)  

Since this is my first post here, I'll keep it short, but I'm curious to hear about everyone else's experiences - and if you have had similar conversations with the locals where you are.  So just drop a quick comment about where you are, or where you've been and what kind of reaction you get when you tell people you're from Canada.

Thanks!

The Canadian Expatriates blogging team would like to extend a warm welcome to our newest contributor, mare ad mare.

After eight years of globetrotting, first residing in the United States and then in Germany, the mare ad mare clan has returned to Canada prepared for their next adventure - rediscovering the Motherland. Below is an excerpt from the family's blog.

I was feeling guilty for taking my family away from their family and from Canada. It's not like it's a third world country that we're trying to escape! I had been lucky enough as a kid to take long vacations with my parents to the east coast and the west coast - getting to see so many different parts of Canada. This activity was going to be my launching point for re-introducing Canada to my girls. Now that we're back at home, I want to show my girls what it's like to be a Canadian. So I'll be taking trips, doing special things with them every week and writing about it here. I hope that this catches on, and others Canadian parents contribute their own stories about what it's like for their Canadian girls. That way, my girls can see too! This is a pretty big country...

To learn more about the family's project and why the phrase mare ad mare is likely familiar to many, yet difficult to place, please visit this introductory post.

Welcome aboard, mare ad mare! I look forward to reading more about your unique perspective on all things Canadian and following your adorable daughters' adventures as they rediscover their heritage.

In the immortal words of Miss Muriel Stacey in the musical, Anne of Green Gables, "Open the windows! Sweep out the cobwebs! Open your mind to what is going on all around."

Yes, it is time for some spring cleaning. The dashboard of this old blog has become laden with dust and bits and pieces that once worked, are now in desperate need of a tune up.

Fortunately, Canuck Abroad has come aboard to lend a helping hand. The Canadian Expatriates blogging team would like to extend a warm welcome to our newest contributor, Canuck Abroad.

Please take a moment to visit CanuckAbroad.com. The site is bursting with important information and resources for Canadians living abroad and Canadians planning to travel. The site includes plenty of information on how to travel on a budget, things to know when staying in hostels, searching for over sea jobs, tips on immigration, and much more! It is definitely a site that every Canadian expatriate will want to bookmark.

Welcome aboard Canuck!