I know that apparently, some American travelers put Canadian flags on their luggage or carry on then claiming they’re from Canada (the dead giveaway on debunking this is their passport, since how can you be “Canadian” when you have US citizenship unless you’re a dual citizen in possession of both nationalities) since some of them have hatred towards the US or feel ashamed of the country due to its internal affairs.
Yes. I did it. Mainly in response to invasive questions from dodgy people. I had a fake name, a back story about where my family lived, etc.
After 9/11 and then the global war of terror, it was a prudent thing to have on dial. Never wrote clothes or put Canadian stuff on my bags.
Yes, I have several friends who did it even 20 years ago
They weren’t fully trying to represent legally that they were Canadian or hate the country. But backpacking / doing hostels across Europe they generally did get treated better and didn’t have to get into arguments about US policy and things. Especially once the Iraq war and stuff got into full swing
Canadians are Americans, so idk wtf you’re asking
Do you really not or are you just wasting time forcing people to unnecessarily type out “citizen of the United States of America” instead of the globally accepted “Americans”?
This was definitely a thing back in the early 2000’s, after the US went on its global rampage against brown folks. It wasn’t safe to let people know you were from the US. It also had the unintended consequence of making Canadians look bad, due to the association with rude assholes putting Canadian flags all over their gear.
When I was stationed in [the former West] Germany in the 80s one of the guys in my platoon was an avid & considerate traveler. He never claimed to be Canadian but
- he had a Canadian flag patch on his traveling pack
- listened to the Dayglo Abortions and knew all the words to Proud to be a Canadian
He didn’t want to lumped in with “Ugly American” a-holes. And he wasn’t. Probably more due his considerate behavior than flag patch but who knows.
Other proof of his excellence: he took me to my first Fields of the Nephilim, Sisters of Mercy, and Nitzer Ebb shows.
If confronted at a bar I’d consider it for basically all the reasons you mentioned. When I send updates to my friends in France or Ireland or China I find myself apologizing for wherever embarrassing things we’ve done most recently.
An entire nation has a racist grandad at every dinner
Canadians don’t wear Canadian flags, it’s almost always an American.
Used to be you could spot us by MEC or Roots gear, but they’re both enshittified now.
I’ve had Americans here in Spain ask me to speak English as they don’t speak Spanish.
I was speaking to them in English. I am English
Just cements the proof they often respond without thinking
Just kind of flipping that script a little, I work in 911 dispatch, and we get a lot of calls from Spanish speakers.
Sometimes we’re lucky enough to have a Spanish speaking dispatcher on duty, so if they’re not on another call, I can transfer them over, and almost without fail the conversation goes like this
Me (English): 911, where is your emergency?
Caller (broken English): uh… Speak Spanish?
Me (broken Spanglish): ok, let me get you a Spanish speaker, un momento Transfers caller
Spanish Dispatcher (in Spanish): 911 where is your emergency?
Caller: Ok
Spanish Dispatcher: repeats in Spanish
Caller: uh… Speak Spanish?
Spanish Dispatcher (in Spanish): Yes sir (or ma’am,) I’m speaking to you in Spanish, where is your emergency?
Caller: oh! continues in Spanish
I’m not a liar, but I can see the appeal. Luckily, I also have an EU passport to hide behind, should I want to. Also, other Americans should know that there are many tells that will out them if they try.
Traveled Europe in the 90’s with a backpack. It was pretty common then. I met loads of Americans claiming to be Canadian. As a travelled Canadian myself it was fairly obvious to me but some insisted it was worthwhile. It certainly fell off over the years I traveled however.
I remember meeting some masquerading Americans during the Iraq war. These were backpackers in SE Asia.
You only show your passport at the border or maybe when you get a car or a hotel room. That leaves a lot of time to pretend being Canadian everywhere else.
That being said, I just saw a comedy bit where this was recommended to Americans. I think it’s more meme than happening IRL today.
american dad did an episode, where they pretended to be canadians just to fit in internaitonally.
There was also a Simpsons scene (from the George W. Bush administration) where Lisa did that.
Immediately followed by Homer making a scene about being an American
Only heard about this anecdotally, but it’s plausible that it would work. People who aren’t from North America often have trouble distinguishing at least some American accents (generally the more northern ones) from Canadian accents. Like, you won’t get away with it if you’re from Texas or Louisiana or some such, but if you talk like Dan Rather or David Sedaris you can pass for Canadian in most places that aren’t Canada.
Dan Rather or David Sedaris
That is quite the range.
I think that’s kind of my point - to us Europeans, those accents sound the same.
Oh, point taken! I just thought you did well to show the range.
I’m a New Yorker. Only American on a technicality.
I’ve always said that I would if I traveled, but I never travel, so…
I’m embarrassed to be an Australian and always say I am from New Zealand when travelling.
Why? I love meeting Australians, you’re a funny bunch.
Is this a bit or are you serious (and why)?
They’re probably travelling to cheap (for Australians) tourist hotspots like Bali, where Australians get a bad reputation due to the bogan crowd.
