Cultural anecdote between France and Canada

Question

Good evening (or morning) everyone

I'd like to take this opportunity to share with you an anecdote. I'm French (from France) and I had this opportunity to go for 3 months in Alberta (Canada).

During my internship, I met some nice people and two of them invited me to their house for a diner. Twice, I ate at 4.30pm, sometimes 5pm...

What a surprise !!! In France, it's the time of a break (cake; juice; toasts; yogurt... something light) before the dinner at 7pm to 8.30/9pm.

And I'd like to add that in France, you have different step in a lunch/diner : entrée (salad...) then the main meal and, after that, some cheese and... the desert : fruit; cake; ice-cream... whatever

But in Canada, they have everything in the table and some of them took some of each dish/meal in their plate (some salad; roast beef; strawberries...).

Maybe that's clever : they don't have to wash a lot of plates

What do you think ? It's funny, right

My roomates were so surprised when I prepared something around 7/8pm and I refused to eat pasta and "cheese" or brocolis at 4.30pm

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

I live in Canada, in Ontario.

A few very quick comments.

Canadians eat dinner at a wide range of times, depending on their custom. Very broadly speaking, I'd say city people eat later than country people. It also depends on whether they have young children.

They put strawberries on their plate with roast beef? Those crazy Albertans!

You would have been interested to visit Quebec and check out the customs of French-Canadians.

Clive

Asline · Answer

Hi Clive

Thanks for these canadian information ! Indeed, they told me it depends where you live : city or country.

They didn't have any children.

Actually, I'm more interested to go study or work in Ontario or BC rather than Quebec a francophone province. But, of course, I'll definitly visit Montreal

One of my colleague, my tutor, during my internship in Alberta, was quebécois and told me about their customs. I realized how the language could be different. For example, the second day, he passed by my office and told me "je vais dîner, à plus tard" : it means literary "I'm gonna diner, see you later". So, busy and tired I was, I though it was the end of the day (4.30pm) and I took my coat.. few minutes later, I realized it was only 12pm...

When he came back, I asked him "why did you say "dîner" and not "déjeuner" (so "lunch" in English). Then, he explained me that in Québec they say "souper" ("supper" in English, I think) for the evening lunch and "dîner" for the lunch.

Well, complicated but sometimes, even when we speak the same language, some words are different. I heard how UK English and USA English have the same problem

Do Canadians and Americans have the same case ?

Where do you live in Ontario, Clive ?

Clive · Answer

Hi,

Do Canadians and Americans have the same case ? Sometimes. Not a lot.

Where do you live in Ontario, Clive ? Toronto

Clive

Asline · Answer

Toronto, really ? How lucky you are

This city seems wonderful ! Have you always lived there ?

Some people told me that Toronto is really a big city (about 4 million people) and looks like an american city (NY...). Is that right ?

I was looking for an internship in Toronto last month but it's really hard when you don't have a fluent english

I think I should add in my next emails "please, don't let me in Paris ! I don't want to be stuck in a parisian company !!!"

Ontario guys have pity, right ?

Anonymous · Answer

Hello.  My girlfriend is moving here to Canada (Saskatchewan ) from France .  Aside from weather difference is there anything else I can do to help her adjust more easily ? Any help you could offer would be greatly appreciated .  Merci

Clive · Answer

Help and encourage her with her English.

Cultural anecdote between France and Canada

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