The Maple Leaf Lounge

[MurphyCooper]

I'm in a predominantly non-French area, though at least a third of the people living in this building are either immigrants or refugees and I hear a variety of languages and accents every time I leave my suite.

I spend a lot of time on FB and YT now, usually in political groups and channels, and one person replied to me in Croatian (obviously I needed the translator to know what they said because I can't read a word of Croatian). Another person replied to me in French, and I had no problem whatsoever reading and understanding what they said. I wouldn't presume to reply in French, though. I'm too lazy to refigure my keyboard to the French alphabet.



At the very least, you'd have an easier time if you wanted to come here for holidays.


There's a YT video I saw earlier today that just annoyed the hell out of me. A woman from France moved to Canada. She's been here one month and is bitching and whining and complaining about the food. She shops at Walmart and says it's not as good as the food she got from the American Walmart when she went down there to be with her boyfriend.

More complaining and ranting about not being able to get really fresh food. Well, you're not going to get fresh food at Walmart, especially if you're buying the American-packaged stuff. I'm boycotting as much American stuff as I can (there are still some things I can't avoid, due to medical reasons or affordability). I told her to go to a farmer's market and buy direct from the farmer. Or rent a plot in a community garden and grow her own. They must have those in Montreal. As for meat, if I wanted it here, I'd contact somebody local. If I wanted the freshest eggs and produce, I'd contact the Hutterites. They even deliver.

Then she complained and whined incessantly about having to walk to Walmart. Hello, they deliver. So do most other grocery stores nowadays.

Next on her list of whining and complaining was the weather. Oh, horrors, she had to cope with snow in April.

This is Canada. Snow in April is normal. It's been normal for many years. We had several snowstorms here last month. This is actually the first May in years that there hasn't been a snowstorm (I still don't consider winter to be officially over until June 1, considering the blizzard we had on May 29, 1986).

I live less than an hour away from Canada, so I would be more prepared for it than whoever this person is that you are talking about.

 

[Set Harth]

I can't imagine moving to Canada and then complaining about the weather. I mean, I can imagine it, but you know what I mean.

 

[Marc]

though I understand the rules have changed since.

yeah if the snowbirds spend to long in the U.S they'd have to pay tax.

given the rise of trump, that's probably less of an issue now.

 

[Ovation]

I can't imagine moving to Canada and then complaining about the weather. I mean, I can imagine it, but you know what I mean.

We send them all to Ellesmere Island.

 

[Owain Taggart]

There's a YT video I saw earlier today that just annoyed the hell out of me. A woman from France moved to Canada. She's been here one month and is bitching and whining and complaining about the food. She shops at Walmart and says it's not as good as the food she got from the American Walmart when she went down there to be with her boyfriend.

I think I know who you're talking about. If it's the same video I watched the other day. I don't know what it is about her, but I've always found her a bit annoying as she seems to have unrealistic expectations, then complains when those expectations aren't met. Like hello, yeah it's a different country in case you hadn't noticed! And yes, she does tend to ramble on.

And I applaud Charlie Angus' efforts to speak French. He doesn't always manage it without absolutely butchering the accent, but he's getting better as time goes on.

Ahh yes, agreed on Charlie Angus. I mean, he tries. He reminds me of when my Dad tries speaking French. It's not so much the accent, but rather the intonation coming across much deeper.

But I do know what you mean about the French from France being easier to understand. Like you say, it's more formal, but it's also a cleaner sound. And despite a few linguistic differences and different word choices in our vocabulary, it's still easier to understand than the Quebec French, which I would say is way more informal. Ironically enough, I find that French YT girl difficult to understand at times because she also has a tendency to mumble.

 

[Avro Arrow]

They also tend to speak fast.

I'm going to be honest... I have a difficult time with comprehension when people talk too fast in English. I guess my brain just doesn't run that quickly.

Yep, there's a definite difference in French accents and vocabulary when you consider Quebecois French and the French they speak in France.

I've never been to France, but I have heard from others that some of the people there can be quite condescending to those speaking Quebecois French.

I can't imagine moving to Canada and then complaining about the weather. I mean, I can imagine it, but you know what I mean.

I mean, why not? We all complain about it too... you'd fit right in!

 

[Ovation]

the French from France being easier to understand

Depends entirely on which part of France. There are regional dialects that are as indecipherable as some Welsh and Scottish ones.

I've never been to France, but I have heard from others that some of the people there can be quite condescending to those speaking Quebecois French.

I can confirm this (while also noting that it’s considerably less common than the stereotype suggests).

 

[MurphyCooper]

I'm going to be honest... I have a difficult time with comprehension when people talk too fast in English. I guess my brain just doesn't run that quickly.



I've never been to France, but I have heard from others that some of the people there can be quite condescending to those speaking Quebecois French.



I mean, why not? We all complain about it too... you'd fit right in!

What part of Canada are you from, if I may ask?

 

[Owain Taggart]

I'm going to be honest... I have a difficult time with comprehension when people talk too fast in English. I guess my brain just doesn't run that quickly.

True. And I hate to pigeon-hole, but I do find there are lots of millenials that speak very fast and mumble. There's a local ad campaign for a car dealership that annoys me, and each of the people in each of the videos speak very fast and not very clearly, and something as simple as 'No Loan or Lease" comes out sounding unintelligible and it makes me do a double-take everytime I see these commercials.

Depends entirely on which part of France. There are regional dialects that are as indecipherable as some Welsh and Scottish ones.

Yeah, true. Like I'm sure the French from Northern France is different from that of the Southern.

But all this reminds me of a video I had seen of Celine Dion do an interview in France, and she had changed her accent and everything to be more in line with the French from France and it was an interesting transformation. Was quite good at it too.

 

[Avro Arrow]

So I saw some news tonight that Dunkin' Donuts is "returning" to Canada. My first thought was: were they here before? But it turns out they were apparently quite big in Quebec in the 90s.

Dunkin’ Donuts coming back to Canada with hundreds of locations - National | Globalnews.ca

Dunkin’ Donuts officially left the Canadian market in 2018, closing its last locations in Quebec. The first location is expected to open in late 2026 or early 2027.

globalnews.ca

What part of Canada are you from, if I may ask?

No worries, I'm from Ontario. Although I am admittedly curious what it was in the post you quoted that prompted the question!