An American in...anywhere outside America

Did you know people outside of the US don't really like the US? Yea, surprise, right? Today at JazzFest, the band I was watching (Emir Kusturica & The No Smocking Orchestra, check them out, they're gypsy-jazz fun) starting a crowd chant that basically involved the responding to the band with "fuck you MTV". The lead singer yelled "come on, louder, we want the MTV people in the US to hear us!", which elicited quite a response. I refuse to take all the blame for MTV, Canada! Let's point that blame where it belongs: New Jersey.

Having never spent significant time outside the US, it is weird to feel like the foreigner. Especially when this conversation has happened:

"oh you just moved here? great, where from?"

"The States"

"oh, I'm sorry"

"ummm, me too, sometimes?"

So don't worry, America. I'm here, repairing your reputation, one PBR can at a time (what, you thought I would leave drinking PBR in over heated practice rooms to Brooklyn? Pfffft). I even celebrating the 4th of July! Though with a distinctly Montreal flavour (see what I did there?) We went to Tam Tams, the weekly summer drum circle that happens in Mont Royal Park (or is it Jeanne Manc park? hmmm). It looks like Hash Bash in Ann Arbor, only with less cops (meaning no cops) hassling you about...errr, wait, I'm keeping this blog family friendly. There is also jousting.

Thank God for Google stock photo...actually, this just looks like the diag in Ann Arbor most of the time...

As far as being a foreigner, I think Quebec has an interesting feel for anyone not from here, especially if you don't speak French fluently (and oh my god, I do not. Though I am improving). I've heard quite a few stories from people about being hassled for not speaking French. Besides the secession movement, there is a lot of emphasis from people wanting to preserve Quebecois culture through the language, especially depending on where you are on the island. In many ways, it's not much different from the battle between Spanish and English in the states...

Anyways, no one reads this, but if you do, comment and tell us your OWN experiences when you've felt distinctly like a foreigner...

Coming up: All you've ever needed to know about Canadian Dollar Stores (it's not even hyperbole when I say they are kind of the GREATEST THING EVER)