Comments on: Back in Town & Tips to US Visitors http://www.loudmurmurs.com/2007/05/09/back-in-town-tips-to-us-visitors/ "Be the change you wish to see in the world." — Mahatma Gandhi Mon, 25 Jul 2011 17:05:21 +0000 hourly 1 By: carolbrowne http://www.loudmurmurs.com/2007/05/09/back-in-town-tips-to-us-visitors/comment-page-1/#comment-4204 carolbrowne Thu, 24 May 2007 19:09:09 +0000 http://www.loudmurmurs.com/2007/05/09/back-in-town-tips-to-us-visitors/#comment-4204 Love this post! I'm from Alberta and we used to say homo milk for whole milk. I never thought about it here for some reason. Love this post! I’m from Alberta and we used to say homo milk for whole milk. I never thought about it here for some reason.

]]> By: ddrucker http://www.loudmurmurs.com/2007/05/09/back-in-town-tips-to-us-visitors/comment-page-1/#comment-3909 ddrucker Tue, 15 May 2007 05:51:02 +0000 http://www.loudmurmurs.com/2007/05/09/back-in-town-tips-to-us-visitors/#comment-3909 Thanks, cousin. I have to remember that some of the differences I've seen (politeness, crosswalk etiquette, friendliness to strangers, good signage) are because of the move from Boston westward. I suspect that many west coast residents on either side of the US/Canada border would be equally overwhelmed by some of the East coast's manners (or lack thereof...) I always made excuses as to why Bostonians were so standoffish; it was an extreme case of respect of personal boundaries (in both directions). This could be misconstrued as someone being cold or distant, but I saw it as people not intruding in one another's space (since there is so little of it in that part of the continent). As to the lack of observance of crosswalks, I got nothing. Nothing except perhaps a lack of respect for authority. Perhaps that's a more positive spin on it. Thanks, cousin. I have to remember that some of the differences I’ve seen (politeness, crosswalk etiquette, friendliness to strangers, good signage) are because of the move from Boston westward. I suspect that many west coast residents on either side of the US/Canada border would be equally overwhelmed by some of the East coast’s manners (or lack thereof…)

I always made excuses as to why Bostonians were so standoffish; it was an extreme case of respect of personal boundaries (in both directions). This could be misconstrued as someone being cold or distant, but I saw it as people not intruding in one another’s space (since there is so little of it in that part of the continent). As to the lack of observance of crosswalks, I got nothing. Nothing except perhaps a lack of respect for authority. Perhaps that’s a more positive spin on it.

]]> By: Cousin David http://www.loudmurmurs.com/2007/05/09/back-in-town-tips-to-us-visitors/comment-page-1/#comment-3904 Cousin David Tue, 15 May 2007 02:45:50 +0000 http://www.loudmurmurs.com/2007/05/09/back-in-town-tips-to-us-visitors/#comment-3904 David: Re your "crosswalk etiquette" comment, this may be a Pacific Northwest thing, not just Canadian. At a conference in Seattle last year (a trip that included visiting my Vancouver relatives), I prepared to step off the curb against the "red hand" one early morning on a downtown corner in typical New Yorker fashion. Before my foot hit the street, however, a local well-suited business man put his hand on my shoulder and said: "Sir, we don't do that here." And you know, as I observed over the a next couple of days, it was true. And so I succumbed to local custom and kept my East Coast agressive street crossing in check! Best to you and Pam. David: Re your “crosswalk etiquette” comment, this may be a Pacific Northwest thing, not just Canadian. At a conference in Seattle last year (a trip that included visiting my Vancouver relatives), I prepared to step off the curb against the “red hand” one early morning on a downtown corner in typical New Yorker fashion. Before my foot hit the street, however, a local well-suited business man put his hand on my shoulder and said: “Sir, we don’t do that here.” And you know, as I observed over the a next couple of days, it was true. And so I succumbed to local custom and kept my East Coast agressive street crossing in check! Best to you and Pam.

]]> By: ddrucker http://www.loudmurmurs.com/2007/05/09/back-in-town-tips-to-us-visitors/comment-page-1/#comment-3721 ddrucker Thu, 10 May 2007 00:42:16 +0000 http://www.loudmurmurs.com/2007/05/09/back-in-town-tips-to-us-visitors/#comment-3721 Quinn! Good to hear from you. I'd be curious to hear what a Japanese visitor/resident notices. Is the sushi here that different? Is the difference in density of people the biggest difference of all? Thanks, Bob - hope you'll be able to make the adjustment with ease. Maybe we can all make a concerted push for unsweetened iced tea... Quinn! Good to hear from you. I’d be curious to hear what a Japanese visitor/resident notices. Is the sushi here that different? Is the difference in density of people the biggest difference of all?

Thanks, Bob — hope you’ll be able to make the adjustment with ease. Maybe we can all make a concerted push for unsweetened iced tea…

]]> By: West End Bound http://www.loudmurmurs.com/2007/05/09/back-in-town-tips-to-us-visitors/comment-page-1/#comment-3718 West End Bound Thu, 10 May 2007 00:16:46 +0000 http://www.loudmurmurs.com/2007/05/09/back-in-town-tips-to-us-visitors/#comment-3718 I enjoyed this post, David, especially ''the melting pot", co-worker segment! I enjoyed this post, David, especially ”the melting pot”, co-worker segment!

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