Yes, Canadians are great. And nice. Exceptionally nice. To your face. But they talk behind your back, that's the part that no one ever comments upon. And they are terribly concerned about standards and petigree when it comes to trying to get a job or some kind of employment - especially if you're trying to move up in the world. I spent a lot of time in the States, and I was incredibly surprised at how many chances people gave me, based not just on my petigree (and I've got good education, education at Brown U, Benjamin N. Cardozo Law School and University of Michigan). What does it all mean when I come back "home"? Nothing. Nada. Struggled and struggled to keep my head afloat here. Things only turned around for me when I had to go on permanent disability. Now my life is much more stable than it ever was in the Canadian work force. Getting a job in the states? I had all kinds of opportunities. I'm a little bitter about it, but another thing about Canadians is that they are terribly ignorant about how their country works politically (and absolutely unwilling to consider that there might be a deeply ingrained class system happening in our great country). And they're deeply complacent about anything out there happening in the world. Now, I know that Americans are deeply self-centric when it comes to considering world politics. For Americans, the world and its politics must revolve around them. But for Canadians it's as though world politics don't even exist! It's crazy. Try having a moving conversation with a Canadian about anything political and all they can say is what their father's taught them about politics. They follow whatever party their parents did without even considering that they might be able to think for themselves. Now, I must admit that Canadians who travel extensively abroad (and I don't mean to Cancun or Mazatlan, either) are much more interesting to talk to and converse with and are usually much more conversant on world politics. Maybe those have been the ones you've been meeting. Your run of the mill Canadian (not Quebecois - they're a different breed altogether) is sadly ignorant about the world around them, sadly misinformed about their own political situation and will talk rivers of hate behind your back. Sorry to all the Canadians reading this, but it's true. There I go again. Apologizing. Canadian deep to the core!