I’ve wondered about this, and I hope I can phrase the question such that we can harvest answers that are educational.
I’m a U. S. native, pretty much Texan or a lot so (depends on who you ask). But my Dad was Canadian and came from a family of 11 kids, so I’ve got all kinds of uncles, aunts, cousins, etc. scattered around Canada. I’ve been there to visit some, and I’d like to get up there again next year to see some (most are in Saskatchewan or Alberta - Grandad was a lumberjack and Dad was born on their homestead outside of Prince Albert).
My Dad became a naturalized citizen of the U. S. prior to his induction into the U. S. Army in WWII. I don’t really know what drives my curiousity - I’m culturally a southern boy, and I enjoy that, but I also know I feel a strong sense of kinship with Canada, probably because I have so much Canadian family.
Now I know it’s not at all an uncommon situation for a Canadian to become a naturalized (I’ve never before thought about how odd “naturalized” sounds) American. So, how do y’all tend to perceive your countrymen who’ve gone and become U. S. citizens?
Not trying to stir it up - remember, I like you guys.
Seriously, I don’t understand Canadians who want to become US citizens. It would take some pretty extreme circumstances for me to do it, even though I’ve lived in the States for almost three years now. There would be some bureaucratic benefits, but emotionally I couldn’t face it, even if I kept my Canadian citizenship as well. So that’s how I tend to see others who get US citizenship; it’s as if they’re saying they’ll never live in Canada again.
Oddly enough, I don’t feel that way about dual citizenship with any other country. Just the US.
I don’t have a problem with it at all. I don’t honestly see that much difference between Americans and Canadians (altho y’all are a little odd ;)). We are two countries who border each other, share in trade, and some of each country drive across the borders each day to work.
I think you should delve into your roots and enjoy what each country has to offer you and be proud that your dad had the opportunity to partake in a world that was free enough to allow him to do what he felt was right.
Depends on the situation. I know people who have had to move due to job opportunities and have made the best out of the move. At the same time, I can’t help but feel a bit betrayed if they don’t seem to miss Canada.
Myself, I’m extremely patriotic and would rather go back to waitressing here than get a great job in the US. But that’s just me.
But let me second Sue - stop by Edmonton when you make your pilgrimage.
My mother’s family was from a border town where families were intermarried across the border, and births occurred at the most convenient hospital without regard to the border.
My father’s family was from a small Commonwealth island where it was normal to move abroad for marriage and career with regard to nationality.
So from both sides of the family, it is not big deal to change nationalities. Family before country.
My Acadian grandfather’s three brothers left New Brunswick to find work in the auto industry in Detroit. I don’t think there was as much paperwork back then, you just came down, started working and that was that. We recently became re-acquainted with that branch of the family. Real good people, it’s just a bit strange when we all have to speak English during family reunions. My “aunts” seemed a tad taken aback at first when I greeted them with a kiss on both cheeks. One giggled nervously, “Oh, the French greeting!” Well, not quite. I remember feeling the same way when kissed by an older man who is a family friend from France.
As far as I know, there are tons o’ Acadian and Canadian descendants in the U.S. Many aren’t even aware of it. I once talked with a woman in Florida with the last name “Roy” and when I noted that she had a French name, she responded, “No, my ancestors weren’t French.”
There may be good reasons for keeping your ancestry a secret. You don’t want to be labelled “un-American”, heh heh.
The number of Canadians who end up living in the States (and vice versa, actually) is pretty large. Cross-border travel, relocation and relationships are so common that I think you will find it’s a complete non-issue for most people.
I know lots of Canadians that moved to the U.S. No big deal. You’re 10 times bigger than us economically, and that presents lots of opportunities. If you’re an aerospace engineer and want to design airplanes, you can either work for Bombardier in Canada, or you’re going to have to go to the U.S. There are lots of careers like that, where the major opportunities all lie in the U.S.
Sometimes Canadians are almost forced to go to the U.S. For a while, it was the only place nurses could get hired.
And trust me… You’ll NEED a beer to pass through Saskatchewan.
Just kidding. I spent half my childhood growing up on a farm near Saskatoon. But man, the drive through Saskatchewan can be amazingly dull, especially in the south.
Sue: Yeah, I moved to Edmonton to go to university in 1985, and never left. I love it here. I used to live in Lethbridge before that.
Some good replies. I had thought it was probably, as RickJay said, a non-issue for most people. Sam, I do remember my first visit, in 1962, driving up through seemingly endless fields of wheat.
Sueet al, if I can swing the trip, Edmonton will be on the agenda. If I drive (doubtful) I’ll try and hook up with you, too, Odieman.
