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I ran into actual, directed-at-me (rather than the government) anti-Americanism on Wednesday, for the first time in my life.
I was on the Montreal Metro, with![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
rysmiel, zorinth, and fivemack, on our way to a museum. We had to change trains at Berri-UQAM, and walked past a newsstand. I decided I could use a packet of tissues, so I went in, picked it up, walked over to the proprietor, and said my usual "Bonjour hi" and asked the price. He said "Seventy-five cents. Canadian." I said "Of course Canadian, we're in Canada." He said something about the influence of the large country to the south, and I agreed mildly. This continued for a couple more exchanges, which ended with him saying that he wished they could be Canadian without "licking the ass of the monkey in the White House," and I told him that if he figured out a way, please let me know. And then I walked out of the shop, with my purchase, and described the conversation to Rysmiel, who gave me some useful context: Berri is the Metro stop for the Montreal Greyhound station, meaning it's where a lot of clueless American college students turn up, often with no Canadian funds.
I didn't realize until a bit later that the man had been trying to start a fight, which I didn't give him because he hadn't said anything I disagreed with. If he wants an argument, he'll have togo next door, this is getting-hit-on-the-head lessons try again. It shouldn't take long, with that attitude and set of ripostes.
The other thing I realized was that this was the first time in my life, in numerous visits to Canada and the UK, a couple of quick trips across the Mexican border, and vacations in Hong Kong and Paris. The only person in Paris who visibly noticed my Americanness responded by urging me to visit the World War II monuments, celebrating the victory of his country and mine over the Nazis. I didn't take his advice, art museums and random street wandering being more my speed, but it was entirely sympathetic.
I was on the Montreal Metro, with
rysmiel, zorinth, and fivemack, on our way to a museum. We had to change trains at Berri-UQAM, and walked past a newsstand. I decided I could use a packet of tissues, so I went in, picked it up, walked over to the proprietor, and said my usual "Bonjour hi" and asked the price. He said "Seventy-five cents. Canadian." I said "Of course Canadian, we're in Canada." He said something about the influence of the large country to the south, and I agreed mildly. This continued for a couple more exchanges, which ended with him saying that he wished they could be Canadian without "licking the ass of the monkey in the White House," and I told him that if he figured out a way, please let me know. And then I walked out of the shop, with my purchase, and described the conversation to Rysmiel, who gave me some useful context: Berri is the Metro stop for the Montreal Greyhound station, meaning it's where a lot of clueless American college students turn up, often with no Canadian funds.I didn't realize until a bit later that the man had been trying to start a fight, which I didn't give him because he hadn't said anything I disagreed with. If he wants an argument, he'll have to
The other thing I realized was that this was the first time in my life, in numerous visits to Canada and the UK, a couple of quick trips across the Mexican border, and vacations in Hong Kong and Paris. The only person in Paris who visibly noticed my Americanness responded by urging me to visit the World War II monuments, celebrating the victory of his country and mine over the Nazis. I didn't take his advice, art museums and random street wandering being more my speed, but it was entirely sympathetic.