Canadian accents - The first time I went to Victoria, BC, I was a little surprised to hear the British-influenced speech, which seemed stronger there than in other provinces I'd previously visited (Manitoba and Ontario), in which the accent seems less pronounced.

Really? We have accents? What an odd thought! I've always wished I could sort of switch my ears or something so I could hear my accent. Because of course, to me I sound like I have absolutely no accent.

^ Probably true for everyone.

I have a question narnian_at_heart, you mentioned that there are Orthodox Churches where you are and I was wondering if they are a bit different then the ones here. Do you know if the sit or stand during the services and if the women have to have their heads covered?

I'm not Russian Orthodox so I've never been to one of the services, just heard about them. I don't know about the head coverings, I don't think they wear them from what I've heard from friends who are Orthodox.

I do know that they do stand and there was actually quite a bit of contraversy a few years ago because some people wanted to bring in a few chairs and let older people sit but the rest of the people didn't want them to bring in chairs.

I'm pretty sure that they do sit part of the time now because I was talking to an Orthodox friend and she said that she's probably the first person to ever fall asleep holding a candle (during a service). I'm assuming that she was sitting because I can't imagine her falling asleep with a candle while standing!

Oh, I don't know. I've fallen asleep on my feet before at my cash register at work. The human body has an amazing capacity to fall asleep in pretty much any situation.

Adeona,
No worries mate. Thanks for asking so many questions. Our national heroes are varied. I'll give some examples:

Ned Kelly - the famous bushranger (an Aussie version of Robin Hood). His famous last words before he was hanged - "Such is life", today's translation - "Meh."

Donald Bradman - world's most famous cricket batsman

Saint Mary MacKillop - an Australian nun who did great things for the education of the poor, especially in country areas. She's the only Aussie to be canonised

(John) Simpson (Kirkpatrick) and his donkey - this man was amazing. He served in World War 1 at Gallipoli. He was a stretcher-bearer who went the extra mile to help wounded and dying soldiers. Simpson would run into the crossfire of battle, over and over again to help his fellow Aussies. A true hero

Dawn Fraser - Australia's greatest Olympian - a champion swimmer

Dick Smith - another kind of hero. This man founded Dick Smith Electronics, Dick Smith Foods and Australian Geographic. He's all about staying true to one's country. With Australian Geographic he helps to make people aware of Australia's great range of places to visit, the different cultures within the rural and the city. He's also big on helping to preserve Australian wildlife. With Dick Smith Foods he promotes foods made in Australia for Australians (keeping Aussies jobs and quality products). Of late we've been getting lots of cheap Asian knock-offs of foods, Aussie ones included. He tries to help minimise this and make people aware that it's best to buy Australian

The 800 Horsemen - 800 Australian Horseman during World War 1 did what 50,000 British infantry could not - they opened a way for liberation in Jerusalem by charging Turkish artillery and not backing down. Awesome stuff. This is probably my favourite because it sounds so mythic to be unbelievable but it's true.
Read more here: http://www.swcs.com.au/aust3.htm

I've heard of popovers; they do look a lot like the Yorkshire pudding pictures posted. Wikipedia notes a connection between the two treats.

I've heard of popovers before, too, though I'm not sure I've ever actually seen or had one. It looks akin to a bread bowl, doesn't it?

Re: Sweet potatoes vs. Yams, sweet potatoes are most commonly orange in my state and about the size of a standard Russet potato. Yams are honkin' big sweet potatoes but I think they're found in the Pacific region or some such. I have no idea if they taste similar, although sweet potatoes rock. And candied yams is my absolute, hands down favorite dish for Thanksgiving.

One thing I've always wondered was how we each ended up driving on opposite sides of the road.

Driving on the opposite side of the road: I have no idea, but I do have a couple of... "theories".

1. Perhaps it is because everything is reversed anyway in the opposing hemispheres? In Canada, water flushes clockwise. In Australia, water flushes counter-clockwise. We drive on the right side of the road, they on the left.

2. Perhaps it dates back to medieval periods? You know, back when they fought with arms and armor, it mattered a great deal which hand held the shield and which the sword. Aww, that doesn't make any sense. Never mind.

So I have several questions!

For Brits: Do Americans ever star in your movies like Brits do in ours?
Do you have the same kinds of cars as us Americans?
What are the stereotypes (if any) surrounding us in your country?
What is health-care like there?
Is it true that the Queen is mostly a position, or does she make decisions? Is there a King? (realizes this is probably silly to ask )

For Russians: What is the weather like?
What special holidays do you have that Americans don't?
What is something that you are curious about us?

For Canadians: Is snow a regular occurrence in Winter, and does it get very deep?
Do you really make hugs snow forts in winter?
What's your food like?

Well, that should hold us for awhile...

Lu

"Is snow a regular occurrence in Winter, and does it get very deep?"

Yes, for the most part. On the coast of BC in the Victoria region, the weather is warm enough, even in winter, so that it doesn't snow a lot. However, getting into the prairies, it does snow a lot and there is the potential for pretty deep snow. This is elevated more when high winds come up, blowing the snow into huge drifts, sometimes five feet high or more!

However, don't get the impression that we pack up school and work just because a snowstorm comes through, like some places. It would take something REALLY drastic for that to happen, which occasionally does, but not all that often.

"Do you make really huge snow forts in winter?"

Yes, we do make snow forts occasionally. But, it's not like its an obsessive pastime for us. We turn to hockey for that. Even though all our NHL teams haven't done much in the last decade.

"What's your food like?"

If your asking what are national dishes are like, such as Poutine, I wouldn't be of much help because I really haven't had them, at least for quite awhile.

Secondly, commercially, restaurant wise, we have a lot the same as the US. Of course, there is Tim Hortans, our very own coffee shop franchise. Yeah! Old folks have taken up the tradition of coming to "Tim's", buying a coffee, and then sitting around the tables, gabbing. At one time, "Tim's" was REALLY good, as most of their food was baked fresh. But, in recent years, they have gone to mass distribution and frozen foods. Naturally, their food isn't quite as good now. But, it still doesn't stop them old folks.

Lastly, I come from a Mennonite background, so I can tell a of little our cuisine. We make good old farmer sausage; mix pork with a little beef, add salt and pepper to taste, and smoke until pink all the way through. It's that easy! We make a special kind of pierogi; fill with cottage cheese and slobber with cream sauce. Yum, yum! So yeah! Another thing which is common among the farming communities, probably the same in the States, is: what was grown in the garden or what was out in the pasture, that is what makes it to the table. A classic meal consists of fresh carrots, cooked peas and beans, mashed potatoes, and roast beef. Just the ultimate classic!

There, now for some questions of my own.

Australians: What's your country like as far as terrain goes? I've heard that at least 75% of it is actually just desert!

Have you actually seen the coral reef? How did you like it?

Brits: What's the architecture like? Do you just have to look next door to find an old house or estate? Or, do you actually have to go hunting for something old?

Yeah, about 75% of Australia is made up of desert and salt-flats. The rest is bushland, a bit of rainforest, mallee, wetlands. We also have hills and valleys and some mountains. Along the coasts are our capital cities. We have many different landscapes. The only one we don't "really" have is decent snow (and the only snow we might get would generally be in the Blue Mountains area of New South Wales.
Sorry, I haven't been to the Great Barrier Reef but I've heard from friends that it's great. One nickpick of mine - the pelicans in Finding Nemo are brown pelicans from the US. They should've had Aussie pelicans in the movie.

Brown Pelican:

Aussie Pelican:

Is snow a regular occurrence in Winter, and does it get very deep?
As Watziznehm said it gets quite cold and deep over into the prairies, I remember on the weather report it was apparently -47°C in Regina , Saskatchewan I think. However, I live on the coast low down and we;ve only had one snowfall so far. It has been above averagely cold though.

Do you really make huge snow forts in winter?
I actually don't know if it's a big thing in the rest of Canada, it isn't where I live. My brothers and I try to, but I got frostbite on my feet when I was little so I can't stand the cold very well and so our snow forts never get very big. Also, this year we haven't had enough snow. I can't speak for other Canadians though.

What's your food like?
Not much different than the US as far as I know. We have McDonalds and Subway and A+W . . . As mentioned above though, Tim Hortons is a huge thing. The little town I live in just got our first Timmys as of 2010, so everyone has abandoned Starbucks for the time being and has been flocking there. I'm sure it'll even out again though, its already begun to.

Hmmm I've always wondered if hockey was really *that big* in Canada or if it's just a sterotype

It actually is that big. I always thought it was rather funny that such a huge stereotype be true. Drives me crazy though since I'm not really a hockey fan, while nearly everyone else in my family and town is just mad over it.

Well, this thread was fun to read through.

I'm British (N.Ireland/England) but I've lived in Japan pretty much my whole life, so if anyone wants to ask me any questions about here, go ahead.

To each other does it sound like you have accents?

Yes, mostly, in different places people have different accents. Yorkshire accents (for example) sound completely different from a posh accent or a London one.

What is pigeon pie and what are ices?

The ices question has already been answered and pigeon pie is just what it sounds like pie with pigeon meat in it but nobody eats it nowadays.

Are there some things that Americans say that tip you off to the fact they're American?

As you mentioned "she sure did" is VERY American "I guess" is quite American "Sidewalk" instead of Pavement and "Elevator" as opposed to Lift are all American words. Accents are obviously big clues.

Has an American ever pretended to be to be British but you knew they weren't?

I had a teacher who I knew was American but who pretended to be British occasionaly. Obviously the fact that I knew was American might have helped but the whole class could tell.

What do you think about movies with British accents? Do they sound different enough that you notice or do you not really notice?

It depends on the film some actors can do great accents but the ones that can't annoy be soo much I have never finished a film with an obviously fake British accent.

Is it true that Americans think they can do a British accents and the British roll there eyes because it sounds so fake?

Absolutely! Most Americans can't do accents at all but some can there are always exceptions to every rule.

Can Brits do American accents?

Some can, most do pretty unconvincing accents only a few could pass as Americans so this answer is really the mirror image of the last answer.

Hope I've helped.