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Post by paulumbo on Sept 26, 2008 17:09:41 GMT -5
Girl, do you live in Quebec?
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Post by paulumbo on Sept 26, 2008 17:29:59 GMT -5
I heard on CBC radio that the Canadian government was close to making Quebec almost an independent state within Canada and I thought what a great idea it would be for the US to offer to "take on" Quebec as a state. I know the Quebeckers have been militating for a long time to secede from Canada. Join America!
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Post by Girl on Sept 29, 2008 8:38:51 GMT -5
Malheureusement, oui. Maudit.  Tempting as that may seem, the only English that Quebec would accept is English money. They want to separate, but maintain Cdn. (or U.S.) currency, while continuing to receive their share of federal funding! (Hence the term, "Sovereignty-ASSociation") They can't have it both ways. I'm tempted to vote YES once and for all in the next referendum if there is one, and then LEAVE and let them stew in their own juice. Anglos have no rights here whatsoever, and I've heard many complaints from tourists as well. Their 4th grade geography book... Quebec only. There is no world outside Quebec for them. ALL immigrants, (and that includes those from neighboring provinces) are forced to send their children to French schools. There is a full staff of language police, whose job it is to "preserve the French culture" by going around inspecting commercial signs (and following up on complaints re the same) to be sure they comply with the French sign laws, while driving their Japanese cars, drinking Tim Horton's coffee, sporting Italian suits, etc. and so on. Our tax dollars hard at work. A better idea would be for Canada to follow through on the plan to bring in Turks & Caicos... wtf happened there? This is the MOTHER of all NO-BRAINERS! I guess they're afraid we'd all LEAVE... I know I would! Btw, my YouTube is down, or I would have posted "la chatte en crisse". Francais 101, the only words you need to know in this province. If someone wants to post it, go ahead. I don't know why I'm blocked. |
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Post by paulumbo on Sept 30, 2008 15:45:56 GMT -5
I was on vacation in Montreal in the '70's and the Quebeckers were battling with the English Canadians (even though Trudeau was Prime Minister.) I let them know I was American, and I had no problem there. They must have hardened their position since then. My sense of the Quebeckers was that they are more Canadian in their attitudes than French (less contrary.) Not true?
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Post by Girl on Sept 30, 2008 20:04:08 GMT -5
lol well, I am glad your experience was positive... yes, it's gotten very bad. Recently when I called customer service for my utilities, they asked if I wanted the French dept. or the English dept. Bzzz! Wrong answer! She gave me attitude and told me it would be a long wait, then hung up. And it was... 45 min. long. Yes, I could have hung up and got someone else, but I wanted to see. I was only watching a movie anyway, but
I should have just caved like I normally do and just get it over with. #*($&#.
Most gov't or municipal services, it's, "For French, press 1, for English press 9". I kid you not. I could accept 2... but 9???
Absolutely militant with it. As others are militant about some other things. They're so intoxicated over the idea of their own little frutopian paradise nothing else matters. Nearly everyone I knew from school has left, years ago.
You have to understand though, the French from France are far more cultured and accepting. It's not even the same French they speak. Even THEY don't understand them.
The strange thing is, as you travel the west end of the city, everybody's speaking English. You have to go to the east side and then out into the rural areas.
Anglos can survive here as long as they keep to themselves and never have to deal with the public. Or work.
Don't have it, ya won't get it. Unless you're a telemarketer shafting U.S. clients.
You know... I was told by a travel school teacher that they need more students who speak English... the French are having a bitch of a time with Sabre, which is English only. I'm surprised it hasn't been banned. Shhhhhhh!
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Post by JoJo on Sept 30, 2008 20:40:43 GMT -5
Haven't been there in ages, probably mid 80's last time. It's OK if you're a tourist, they aren't going to alienate that source of income. Different story if you live there, as Girl has stated. I remember us eating at a little cafe in a rural area, and yeah I needed my high school French, because everything including the menu and the people working there.. all Le Francais, merci.. Not that they had an attitude about it really, just they plain didn't speak English, period. Quebec City and of course Montreal were a different story, as long as you went to the touristy areas, esp. within QC.
Love the old city in QC.. gotta go there again sometime.. Also love the "Fruitopia" portrayal, lol.
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Post by iameye on Sept 30, 2008 20:48:31 GMT -5
thanks Girl for the lowdown.... maybe Vermont, NH and Maine will secede someday!  |
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Post by JoJo on Sept 30, 2008 21:16:27 GMT -5
Well, NH always opens the new session with a vote on whether to stay in the union. Maybe by next January, with what will maybe have transpired by then, they will actually treat as something other than a ceremonial oddity..
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Post by iameye on Sept 30, 2008 21:24:36 GMT -5
Well, NH always opens the new session with a vote on whether to stay in the union. Maybe by next January, with what will maybe have transpired by then, they will actually treat as something other than a ceremonial oddity.. heh maybe you will influence that vote, amigo.  |
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Post by Girl on Sept 30, 2008 21:56:57 GMT -5
Ha hah, Jo... good thing you paid attention in class. ;D Yes, you must swing by sometime... May 31st 2009 they have museum day: free admission & transportation to 29 museums all over the city. I have to say though, it is a well-kept secret that many of them love to pretend they don't understand when in fact they do understand every word. I guess it depends on who you get. One guy recently posted on a Canadian forum that while visiting Quebec City, the waitress told him, "I don't take orders in English" and his reply was, "Well, I don't eat in French" and walked out. Touché. Magnifique. Brilliant. I may use that someday. I mean, it just gets to you after awhile. I can't say too much, cause I found out late in life that I have French blood. So I'm half Welsh, half French. Does that make me a Wench? LOL Iameye, that would rock, wouldn't it? Long live New England! lol Damn, if we weren't so close to the "end of the world", I might consider moving down. My sis in N.H. is longing to have me there, and she has the space. Lot of red tape we'd have to go through, though. Of course, if museums aren't your thing, there's always the JazzFest, the Comedy Fest, Grand Prix, etc. lol |
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