Things in the US that aren't in Canada

[ShadiRoxan]

I have a fairly good e-buddy that is from Alberta that I want to send a Christmas package to. I want to include things that she can't get up there and things unique to my area. So far the only thing that I can think of is sand from the beach.

[Sunspace]

We have beaches. Well, they're frozen right now, but they're still beaches. Oh, you mean in Alberta. Well, anything beachy would be good, especially the more subtropical stuff, such as flowers and plants.

There are a lot of US candies that are uncommon in Canada (and vice versa). There is a candy store in Toro0nto that sells them as imports, but the vast majority of convenience stores and such do not. The only one I can remember offhand is Mike and Ike and their brandmates.

When I went to California, I saw strawberry milk, which I have never seen here in Canada.

Hmm. That's all I can think of at the moment. Maybe Spoons and MrsSpoons will chime in; they live in Alberta, and she's from the States.

[ShadiRoxan]

She's never been to the ocean so that's why that keeps popping into my mind.

By strawberry milk, do you mean already made or just the mix?

[cerberus]

I'd say handguns and such, but they don't like it when you try to bring'em into canada.

[kezami]

That smug know-it-all attitude. No idea how you'd package it for shipping though.

[Barbarian]

Virginia to Alberta. Paging Ginger and Weirdave!

[Mehitabel]

Mallomars. They're in season right now but they're expensive; I picked up some (Canadian imitation) Whippets last week because they were on sale, but they're thin-skinned and too sweet. <man, the jokes write themselves sometimes.>

Send her some brawny Merkun Mallomars, the kind they eat in heaven.

[Palooka]

Originally Posted by Mehitabel

They're in season right now but they're expensive; I picked up some (Canadian imitation) Whippets last week because they were on sale, but they're thin-skinned and too sweet. <man, the jokes write themselves sometimes.>

You aren't talking about dogs right? RIGHT?

[Declan]

Originally Posted by ShadiRoxan

I have a fairly good e-buddy that is from Alberta that I want to send a Christmas package to. I want to include things that she can't get up there and things unique to my area. So far the only thing that I can think of is sand from the beach.

One thing that I love, but have not seen up here is saltwater Taffy.

Declan

[Larry Mudd]

Originally Posted by Palooka

You aren't talking about dogs right? RIGHT?

Mmmm... Whippets and malamutes.

That's good eatin'.

[RumMunkey]

We certianly do have have Mike & Ike's!

[Sunspace]

Originally Posted by RumMunkey

We certianly do have have Mike & Ike's!

Yes, but they're a lot less common than in the States. There was a thread about Canada/USA candy exchange a while ago...

[Mehitabel]

Naw, there's not much meat on the doggy Whippets, and it's pretty stringy.

I meant these Whippets.

[CBCD]

Visits to your doctor on the same day you make the call for an appointment, saying you are in pain.

[ShadiRoxan]

Originally Posted by CBCD

Visits to your doctor on the same day you make the call for an appointment, saying you are in pain.

I don't really get that either. We're military.

[Hello Again]

They don't haev Hershey's Take5 bar. They don't have Luden's Wild Cherry Cough Drops (least. medicinal. cough drop. EVAR). They don't have Funfetti cake mix.

That's all I can think of right now.

[Nanoda]

I can buy a litre of strawberry flavoured milk from Safeway (and do, when it's on sale). The local 7-11 also has Mike&Ikes in several flavours... the other stuff sounds good though. It's going below zero again here after almost a week of melted slush, so I second the beach-stuff idea.

[Rodgers01]

Originally Posted by kezami

That smug know-it-all attitude. No idea how you'd package it for shipping though.

Oh-ho-ho! I think you're getting your countries mixed up there, fella.

If you're from Virginia beach, are there perhaps some southern delicacies you could send your friend? A Virginia smoked ham?

[WhyNot]

I bet they've not seen a decent pecan tart or praline that far North!

[alice_in_wonderland]

I can get strawberry milk, saltwater taffy and pralines that would make your hair curl up here, with no problem, whatsoever. I can also see my Dr. the same day 99 times out of 100.

Maybe a Virginia ham would be nice - sort of a local favorite?

[Ethilrist]

Monkeys!

[CBCD]

Originally Posted by alice_in_wonderland

I can also see my Dr. the same day 99 times out of 100.

Well. I guess I learn something new everyday. I'd been told by a friend in Toronto it took weeks to get an appointment with a doctor. Me stand corrected.

[girls => shoes]

One thing I noticed they don't have in Canada is a big business section in bookstores. Maybe that's because most business books are geared to US stock markets, tax structures, inheritance laws, etc. But it still seemed odd to me, as a business traveler wanting to get some general marketing books.

[Spectre of Pithecanthropus]

Way, way too many people.

[Spectre of Pithecanthropus]

Back to beachy ideas.

Could you ship her a ship in a bottle?


Yarrrr!

[NurseCarmen]

I'm fairly certain Canada doesn't have Iowa.

Do you have a large envelope?

[Spatial Rift 47]

Originally Posted by NurseCarmen

I'm fairly certain Canada doesn't have Iowa.

Do you have a large envelope?

That's what I thought when I saw the thread title. Only it was Cleveland, and then I realized what a crappy gift that would be.

I've been told Canada is about 10 years behind the US in certain aspects of pop culture. I could be wrong, but assuming that's true, maybe some DVDs of recent movies?

[elfkin477]

Originally Posted by Spectre of Pithecanthropus

Way, way too many people.

People would be hard to send, though. You have to qualify to become a Canadian citizen, after all, so most would end up returning before long. Besides, it depends on where in the US you are. They aren't "way too many people" in my state, given there are only 1.2 million of us.

Anyway, back to the OP. Do they have Fluff in Canada? Many parts of the US are lacking it, having to settle instead for the far inferior "Kraft Marshmallow Creame" (blech) instead, so I can't imagine it's made much headway up yonder.

If not, maybe you can trade Fluff for areo bars. They sell the latter in the US more regularly now, but $1.50 for a 2oz candy bar isn't worth it.

[McDeath_the_Mad]

Spree!

Everytime I go accross the line I buy ~20 rolls!

MtM

[Sunspace]

Originally Posted by Spatial Rift 47

I've been told Canada is about 10 years behind the US in certain aspects of pop culture. I could be wrong, but assuming that's true, maybe some DVDs of recent movies?

Canada is the only country outside the US that is considered 'domestic' for purposes of US movie distribution. Yes, we get Hollywood movies at the same time as Hollywood does. Including the FBI warnings.

This annoys Canadian filmmakers no end, because the US distribution networks have English-speaking Canada locked up, and it is excruciatingly-difficult for a Canadian movie in English to get distribution.

French-language movies, especially in Quebec, are a whole different story...

Nanoda, I have never seen strawberry milk in Ontario. Maybe it's a Western thing?

[Rodgers01]

Originally Posted by McDeath_the_Mad

Spree!

Everytime I go accross the line I buy ~20 rolls!

MtM

Canada doesn't have Spree??

Originally Posted by Sunspace

Canada is the only country outside the US that is considered 'domestic' for purposes of US movie distribution. Yes, we get Hollywood movies at the same time as Hollywood does. Including the FBI warnings.

This annoys Canadian filmmakers no end, because the US distribution networks have English-speaking Canada locked up, and it is excruciatingly-difficult for a Canadian movie in English to get distribution.

On the other hand, half of Hollywood movies these days are filmed in Canada anyways...

Are there no Canadian owned movie chains that can pick what they want to show, including homegrown movies? Surely it's no harder for Canadian movies to get distributed in Canada that it is for British movies in Britain, Australian movies, etc.?

[RickJay]

Originally Posted by Spatial Rift 47

I've been told Canada is about 10 years behind the US in certain aspects of pop culture. I could be wrong, but assuming that's true, maybe some DVDs of recent movies?

You're kidding, right?

Just saw "Narnia" last night.

The first thing I thought of was specific types of hamburgers. So far as I am aware Canada does not have any White Castle outlets, for example, nor do we have Fatburger, Whataburger, or Carl's Jr. I wonder if you could ship those. (The burgers, not entire stores.)

[Max the Immortal]

I'm told that in Canada, Coca-Cola is sweetened with sugar; in the States, they use corn syrup. When I asked a young american woman how american Coca-Cola tastes, she enthusiastically replied "Awesome.". So, american cola is a possibility; just beware that you may raise a few eyebrows if you tell your friends that you're planning on sending some Coke across the border .

[GingerOfTheNorth]

Originally Posted by Max the Immortal

I'm told that in Canada, Coca-Cola is sweetened with sugar; in the States, they use corn syrup. When I asked a young american woman how american Coca-Cola tastes, she enthusiastically replied "Awesome.". So, american cola is a possibility; just beware that you may raise a few eyebrows if you tell your friends that you're planning on sending some Coke across the border .

Your friend is wrong. Take a Coke Slurpee, let it sit and melt, then drink it. That's what American Coke tastes like in comparison to Canadian. Bleah.

I'm from Alberta and live in Maryland. I can't think of anything to send. We haven't got a lot of lighthouses in Alberta, which is one of my favourite things living here. Send her a replica of your local lighthouse! Or, a blue crab somethingorother.

I also never had trouble getting into the doctor, can get strawberry milk, saltwater taffy, and Iowa. Only, we call it Saskatchewan.

[Ethilrist]

Monkeys, I say. There are no polar monkeys!

[elbows]

I think your first instinct was the best.

Seaside sand, seashells, feathers from local birds, maybe a fossil, or the pods of local flowering trees!

I think that these would make great gifts!

[PoorYorick]

How about gumbo? I know that our Yankee friends appreciate a bit of Cajun spice at Christmas time.

I know Canadians aren't Yankees. They're like . . . uber Yankees.

[NurseCarmen]

Originally Posted by Ethilrist

There are no polar monkeys!

I suspect there is a relationship between this and the whole Strawberry Milk thing.

[Aguecheek]

I used to watch commercials for Combos as a kid and was awful sad that I couldn't get any. Now I always grab a bag for my mom when we go up North.

And to echo GingerOfTheNorth, American Coke is nasty.

[MLS]

Originally Posted by elbows

I think your first instinct was the best.

Seaside sand, seashells, feathers from local birds, maybe a fossil, or the pods of local flowering trees!

I think that these would make great gifts!

Better check up on whether Canada permits the importation of things llike feathers and vegetation. I know you often can't bring such things into the US from offshore.

Sand and (empty, clean) shells and fossils are probably fine.

[Motorgirl]

Caffeinated Mountain Dew?

[McDeath_the_Mad]

Originally Posted by RickJay

nor do we have Fatburger

Sorry RickJay Vancouver, BC now has a Fatburger!

MtM

[Dante]

Originally Posted by Spatial Rift 47

I've been told Canada is about 10 years behind the US in certain aspects of pop culture. I could be wrong, but assuming that's true, maybe some DVDs of recent movies?

Good idea! Me, I can't wait til' them new fangled Star Wars movies finally come out up here. I was going to go see it when I was in Slovenia in 1999, but I thought I'd wait. Only 4 more years to go!!

BTW, how did your interview with Rick Mercer go?

[Rodgers01]

Originally Posted by Max the Immortal

I'm told that in Canada, Coca-Cola is sweetened with sugar; in the States, they use corn syrup. When I asked a young american woman how american Coca-Cola tastes, she enthusiastically replied "Awesome.". So, american cola is a possibility; just beware that you may raise a few eyebrows if you tell your friends that you're planning on sending some Coke across the border .

[hijack]
Years ago I went to the Coca-Cola Museum in Atlanta; the best part was this one room where you could taste the different varieties of Coke as served all over the world. They said that they adapted the flavor to each country, based on the local palate -- in some African varieties, for example, they used honey and nut flavorings. Anyways, I wonder how they came up with the Canadian variety... Therein, finally, may lie the elusive difference between Canadians and Americans. A kind of shibboleth taste test -- "Here, taste this Coke. Don't like it? You're Canadian." Next! Well, that and "Peace, Order, and Good Government."
[/hijack]

[alice_in_wonderland]

Ok - I thought of something.

We don't have JCrew up here - I have to order all my JCrew stuff online or from the Catalogue.

Perhaps you could get her a nice JCrew scarf or something.

Additionally, the only H& M in Canada is in Toronto. The only MissSixty store is in Montreal. You can't get Marithe and Francois Gerbaud jeans in Canada anywhere, so maybe those are some ideas.

(Of course you can order all of this stuff over the internet, but it's a bit of a pain in the ass.)

[alice_in_wonderland]

BTW - this:

Originally Posted by Spatial Rift 47

I've been told Canada is about 10 years behind the US in certain aspects of pop culture. I could be wrong, but assuming that's true, maybe some DVDs of recent movies?

is really, really funny. heh

[elmwood]

An expat living in Alberta tells me that she couldn't find Red Vines anywhere in Canada. I would think that some of the more obscure brands of barbecue sauce that are on supermarket shelves in the US are missing north of the border.

[RickJay]

Originally Posted by McDeath_the_Mad

Sorry RickJay Vancouver, BC now has a Fatburger!

MtM

OK, not Fatburger. But White Castle would still be a wonderful import.

Actually, I should scrape up some money and open a White Castle in Toronto. A city this big surely has enough potheads to make a White Castle outlet profitable.

[Rodgers01]

Originally Posted by RickJay

OK, not Fatburger. But White Castle would still be a wonderful import.

Actually, I should scrape up some money and open a White Castle in Toronto. A city this big surely has enough potheads to make a White Castle outlet profitable.

The sad irony is that "Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle" was filmed at least partly in and around Toronto. What a tease for the real Canadian potheads!

[Anastasaeon]

Originally Posted by Sunspace

Nanoda, I have never seen strawberry milk in Ontario. Maybe it's a Western thing?

I'm from the Maritimes, and strawberry milk was my daily work-drink. I used to stop off at the Irving station and pick it up. Could get the mix or the bottles at the local Save-Easy, too. (I think the compant was Northumberland? Yep, yep it was. They even have vanilla.)

There was another kind I used to buy, from a different company, though, I think, and it was banana milk.

Yes, we have Fluff in Canada. I couldn't have had a real childhood without the Fluffernutter sandwiches. It was the only kind I would buy, right up until I left Canada two years ago, and it was the most popular brand where I shopped.

Popularity will vary from coast to coast, and everywhere in between, I see.

I used to have a tough time getting my paws on SnoBalls, but I think there was a generic brand that came out a couple years before I left. Funyuns used to be another one that was hard to get, but they were showing up in local stores shortly before I left, too.

Cheese and onion flavoured chips were a rarity where I lived.

The only thing I've noticed here in the US that you guys have that Canadians don't: enormous, immense, towering variety. It's basically all the same stuff, there's just more of it. Much, much more. Canadians have variety, too, oh yes. But... but not like this. My first few trips to the stores out here, shopping malls, etc, I was just overwhelmed. Five shops, side by side, selling the same wares, but with a different name. Dozens of varieties of grape flavoured soda. Vitamins with no warnings on them. A box of Goobers from the movie theatre just says "Goobers", with no hint as to what's inside. I mean, we have chocolate covered peanuts, too, but they're not shrouded in mystery. Products with only English written on them, and no French. US containers look so uncluttered.

I think US dill pickles taste way different. I never know what I'm going to get every time I get a jar. My husband claims to hate dill pickles, but I ask him how could he know? Every brand is a surprise!

Try sending her something that just has one word on it, like the Goobers box or something. No French, no description, no nothing else but the word "Goobers". I bet that would throw her for a loop.