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It's "Foy-yeay" not "Foy-yer" and other observations from an AmeriCanadian!

By
Home Stager with Stage Tucson! Professional Home Staging

Can you believe it's October all ready? 

 This used to be the time that I would wake up to crisp cold Alberta mornings. The smell of damp fallen leaves in the air. Many of you can relate to this, but here in Arizona, we are happy to be approaching the time of year that we can finally leave the air conditioning off at night time. Don't get me wrong........  I LOVE Tucson with all my heart .....(okay......MOST of my heart) but with Canadian Thanksgiving around the corner, I get fairly nostalgic and this it the time of year that I miss my family. (my siblings, parents, and cousins)  -- and thinking about that makes me laugh at the things that just once in a while give me away as an "AMERICANADIAN".   --I left my "eh" at the border almost 10 years ago. But my "about"is still as strong as it ever was (and why do American's think that Canadians say "aboot?"  -- we SO do not)

My business partner gives me the "evil eye" when I still refer to "Model Homes" as "Show Homes"

I say we need a "carpet" on the hardwood and she says we don't need to remodel, a "rug" will do just fine"

I seriously give up on the word "foyer"  .... 

I never heard the word "skootch" (is that how you even spell it?) until I moved South of the border.

Our kids don't give us "sass".....  they just get "sassy"

When something is worn out....  I no longer say it's "had the biscuit"....  I just throw it away!

Our kids don't ride a "toboggan" anymore, now they wear one (our eldest son and his wife live in Tucson - the other two remain in Colorado (go RAMS!).....and in fact they used to wear a "toque"  (sp?)  but now they wear a "beanie"

 being in the United States almost 10 years.... I forget most of the obvious differences that were so apparent when we first moved to Colorado just after Christmas '97. But one thing is the same in both countries..... and that is the friendly demeanor of people and the joy that we all share in being fortunate enough to call "North America" our home.

..... by the way.....  Our Son and Daughter-in-law still have a traditional "Canadian Thanksgiving" dinner which we will be enjoying next Monday.  --That's the great thing about being "AmeriCanadian".....  LOTS of turkey from October thru December!!

 

 

 

 

1~Judi Barrett
Integrity Real Estate Services 116 SE AVE N, Idabel, OK 74745 - Idabel, OK
BS Ed, Integrity Real Estate Services -IDABEL OK

That is funny.  I have heard "fo-ya" "foy -yer" and "foy - yeah".  Sometimes it's just the entrance.   Do you have dinner or supper?

Oct 02, 2007 01:29 PM
William Moore
Innovative Realty - Londonderry, NH
Eh?
Oct 02, 2007 01:45 PM
Toronto's 2 Hounds Design: Decorating + Staging
2 Hounds Design + Home Staging - Toronto, ON

Hey Nancy!

I have had my friends (American ones) tell me I say 'house', 'about' and 'roof' different. I just don't hear it. I think we all sound the same with those words.

But...

I can honestly say I've never *axed* anyone!

Happy Thanksgiving...there is no such thing as too much turkey!

 

Oct 02, 2007 01:53 PM
Anonymous
Anonymous

Dane - When I first moved here, I couldn't hear much of a difference, but now I most definitely do...oh yeah...........forgot about "ruf"  -- I always say.......Canadians take the "short" way around words like "about and house" and Americans just take the long way.

Judi, I think we usually eat "supper."   Oh and here's another one I forgot too, Americans "call" people, and Canadians "phone" people.

 

Oct 02, 2007 02:44 PM
#4
Stephanie Heron
Dressing Rooms LLC - Scottsdale, AZ
Weeber - Dressing Rooms

Oh Nancy - its worse in my house! My husband is a Canadian (from Alberta) I am from England and we live in Arizona. He still has to translate for me (the word water seems to confuse people) and I have been here 12 years. His 'eh' is only apparent after a few drinks:) Canadian Thanksgiving eh? Might have to try that next week.

Stephanie

PS - they are show homes:)

Oct 02, 2007 02:53 PM
Betty Haney
Haney Consulting - Calgary, AB
Nancy, my husband and I live in Alberta but back in the 70's he was going to University in Laramie, Wyoming.  I remember going shopping with a girlfriend to find some of those rubber flowers for the bottom of the tub.  (I told you it was a long time ago.)  Anyway I asked for 'deckals' and no one had the faintest idea of what I was talking about.  Apparently they are 'deecals' in the US.  Also turbine and turbin' engine and 'shone' and 'shown' for the sun.  You brought back some pleasant memories.  Thank you.  BTW I am cooking Thanksgiving dinner for nine.  Yum!  Betty
Oct 02, 2007 03:44 PM
Marci Toliver
438-4642 - Mauldin, SC
Anderson SC, Spartanburg,Greenville SC, Home Staging

In the south there are so many ways to say things different- dont even mention things that other countries say different!

Prime example- PeaCan Pie versus PaCAUGHN Pie

Oct 03, 2007 02:39 AM
Nancy Morrish
Stage Tucson! Professional Home Staging - Tucson, AZ
Stage Tucson!
ohhhh   I LOVE Pee-Con Pie!
Oct 03, 2007 02:47 AM
Janice Sutton
1st Stage Property Transformations - Murrieta, CA
Home Stager - Temecula Murrieta

Ok I am originally from NY....so I butcher lot's of words. I now call it the Entrance Way. ;) 

Oct 03, 2007 03:17 AM
Robin Willis
eXp Realty - Tucson, AZ
CDPE, SRES, Associate Broker

I want to be an Americanadian just for the culinary possibilities.  LOL

My family lives in Ohio.  They drink "pop" while we drink "soda". ;-)

Oct 04, 2007 06:11 AM
Kimberly Wester
Valparaiso, IN
That is so funny.  I have a friend that is from Canada.  I will never forget the story of her going 5 different stores looking for 'elastics'.  It wasn't until the 5th store that someone finally figured out that she really needed 'rubber bands'!!  LOL!!!
Oct 04, 2007 08:29 AM
Nancy Morrish
Stage Tucson! Professional Home Staging - Tucson, AZ
Stage Tucson!

thanks for your remarks.........Kimberly, I definitely remember the "elastics", and Robin - We most definitely drink "pop" in our house.

Betty - I had forgotten about deck-als but sure enough......you are right  --

Stephanie  - thanks for the support - I will tell "other Nancy".....

and here are some more....     "sneakers" or "tennis shoes" instead of "runners", "felt tip markers" instead of "felts",   "10th grade" instead of "grade 10", "mawm" instead of "mum"  the list goes on and on :)

Oct 04, 2007 09:28 AM
Julianna Hind
eXp Realty - Tacoma, WA
REALTOR, 206-679-4768, Tacoma Federal Way, Auburn, Kent, WA
skootch.. IS that how you spell it? funny, I just used it in a blog. I think its such a ridiculous word you dont really need to spell it right. Nancy, my hubby is from Toronto, so I guess I need to head out to Lake Sammamish and shoot us a Canadian Goose for Monday. I hear Canadiens are really partying hard this year now that their Lune is on par with our George. (actually, thats not even true, as they have had a drop of 50% in American Tourism with less cash flow into their economy... And Alec Baldwin never moved there as promised... bummer for them, but good for us -- he is dang funny)
Oct 04, 2007 09:54 AM
Wendy Casey
A-List Home Staging & Decor - Surrey, BC

How 'aboot' garborator instead of garbage disposal? Or, washroom instead of the American bathroom. I still get a quizzical look when I ask directions to the washroom in the States.

 As a Canadian with a daughter going to university in Pennsylvania, I'm aware of how much fun we have teasing each other about our words and 'accents'.

I have even had my daughter's roommates call me to see if she was pulling their leg about the pronunciation of scone. (We say 'skonn') I can still hear the giggles in the background!

Wendy Casey - Vancouver, BC

Oct 04, 2007 03:49 PM
Nancy Morrish
Stage Tucson! Professional Home Staging - Tucson, AZ
Stage Tucson!

oh good one Wendy.....   don't forget "garbage" instead of "trash" (I much prefer "trash")  -- I think you will find many Canadians say "skone" - I actually had this discussion before we moved from Canada.

P.S. - I was born in Vancouver!  --

Julianna..........I think buying a turkey would be much easier!

Oct 04, 2007 04:33 PM
Beth Anderson
Goedert Real Estate - Tecumseh, MI
Realtor - Tecumseh / Lenawee County
I just love the Canadian accent, it reminds me of the 80's valley girl accent.  Whenever I am in Canada, that song 'valley girl' starts running through my head :)  Being in Michigan, it's just a jump across the bridge to Canada it always seems so clean and friendly and we love visiting.  Stratford and Niagra on the Lake are favorites.
Oct 06, 2007 04:19 AM
Dena Stevens
Rocky Mountain Realty - Canon City, CO
Putting The Real Into Realtor Since 2004
"fo-ya" "foy -yer" and "foy - yeah" in Pueblo we say entrance way!
Oct 06, 2007 02:35 PM
Nancy Morrish
Stage Tucson! Professional Home Staging - Tucson, AZ
Stage Tucson!
Hey Beth.... my husband was born just 1/2 hour from Niagara Falls and grew up in London - so very close to Stratford.....and Dena.......we used to live in Colorado Springs.......so I know Pueblo quite well!
Oct 06, 2007 04:07 PM
Alan Kirkpatrick
Austin Texas Homes - Round Rock, TX
Alan in Austin

Nancy:

That is a funny post! I say tomato what do you say? Thanks for posting on my blog.

Oct 06, 2007 05:19 PM
Steve Hamilton
Fonville-Morisey Realty - Raleigh, NC
nice to here the. experience of another Americanadian. Loved your blog and your experiences has a transplanted Canuck. I almost had forgotten the right way to say foyer.
Oct 07, 2007 12:26 PM