# Things in the US that aren't in Canada **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 13, 2005, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-in-the-us-that-arent-in-canada/335370 "2005-12-13T03:53:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2005, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-in-the-us-that-arent-in-canada/335370/21 "2005-12-13T21:56:24Z")
Monkeys! ---
**Author:** ![CBCD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@CBCD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBCD)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2005, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-in-the-us-that-arent-in-canada/335370/22 "2005-12-13T22:07:02Z")
> [@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. ---
**Author:** ![girls\_shoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3e96dc/32.png) [@girls\_shoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/girls_shoes)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2005, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-in-the-us-that-arent-in-canada/335370/23 "2005-12-13T22:11:03Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2005, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-in-the-us-that-arent-in-canada/335370/24 "2005-12-13T22:20:24Z")
Way, way too many people. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2005, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-in-the-us-that-arent-in-canada/335370/25 "2005-12-13T22:22:39Z")
Back to beachy ideas. Could you ship her a ship in a bottle? Yarrrr! ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2005, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-in-the-us-that-arent-in-canada/335370/26 "2005-12-13T22:47:33Z")
I’m fairly certain Canada doesn’t have Iowa. Do you have a large envelope? ---
**Author:** ![Spatial\_Rift\_47](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a8b319/32.png) [@Spatial\_Rift\_47](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spatial_Rift_47)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2005, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-in-the-us-that-arent-in-canada/335370/27 "2005-12-14T00:03:52Z")
> [@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? ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2005, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-in-the-us-that-arent-in-canada/335370/28 "2005-12-14T00:48:36Z")
> [@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. ---
**Author:** ![McDeath\_the\_Mad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a3d4f5/32.png) [@McDeath\_the\_Mad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/McDeath_the_Mad)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2005, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-in-the-us-that-arent-in-canada/335370/29 "2005-12-14T01:23:21Z")
Spree! Everytime I go accross the line I buy ~20 rolls! MtM ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2005, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-in-the-us-that-arent-in-canada/335370/30 "2005-12-14T01:26:19Z")
> [@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? ---
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2005, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-in-the-us-that-arent-in-canada/335370/31 "2005-12-14T04:40:20Z")
> [@McDeath\_the\_Mad](#): > > Spree! > > Everytime I go accross the line I buy ~20 rolls! > > MtM Canada doesn’t have Spree?? :eek: > [@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… :dubious: 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.? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2005, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-in-the-us-that-arent-in-canada/335370/32 "2005-12-14T06:19:58Z")
> [@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.) ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2005, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-in-the-us-that-arent-in-canada/335370/33 "2005-12-14T13:20:37Z")
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 😉 . ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2005, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-in-the-us-that-arent-in-canada/335370/34 "2005-12-14T13:50:40Z")
> [@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. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2005, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-in-the-us-that-arent-in-canada/335370/35 "2005-12-14T14:16:48Z")
Monkeys, I say. There are no polar monkeys! ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2005, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-in-the-us-that-arent-in-canada/335370/36 "2005-12-14T14:46:54Z")
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! ---
**Author:** ![PoorYorick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@PoorYorick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoorYorick)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2005, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-in-the-us-that-arent-in-canada/335370/37 "2005-12-14T15:43:46Z")
How about [gumbo](http://www.zatarain.com/)? 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. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2005, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-in-the-us-that-arent-in-canada/335370/38 "2005-12-14T16:00:42Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > There are no polar monkeys! I suspect there is a relationship between this and the whole Strawberry Milk thing. ---
**Author:** ![Aguecheek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@Aguecheek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aguecheek)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2005, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-in-the-us-that-arent-in-canada/335370/39 "2005-12-14T16:22:40Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2005, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-in-the-us-that-arent-in-canada/335370/40 "2005-12-14T16:44:50Z")
> [@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. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-in-the-us-that-arent-in-canada/335370.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-in-the-us-that-arent-in-canada/335370.md?page=3)