I’m travelling to Nova Scotia, Canada with my folks next week to see relatives and other points of interest. I’m really psyched up for it!
However, my Dad is nervous about taking my laptop across the border for some reason. It’s a 2002-vintage brick of a thing that doesn’t even have a wireless collection–I’m going to be using it for photo storage mostly, to show said relatives pictures of little ones they haven’t seen yet. Do I have to declare it or something? Will it be a problem at Customs?
Also, I’m a moderate Dem but my parents were both Bush voters, with varying levels of enthusiasm. My Dad in particular is a real social conservative who is pretty weirded out by Canada ‘okaying gay marriage’. I get the feeling the Maritimes are somewhat more conservative than Ontario et al–is that correct, or are they just outvoted? And in their e-mails to me the Bush-ribbing has already started; are my folks going to have to endure endless jokes and assumptions up there? (I, of course, will enjoy the jokes, but they might get hurt after a while).
Are Americans allowed to make fun of Paul Martin or is it taboo to discuss the current political shenanigans with outsiders? Since we’re coming back in mid-August, I assume the same government will still be there. I know it might change pretty quickly in September.
Finally, and most importantly, what’s the quintessential Canadian thing to order at Tim’s for our first breakfast in Halifax? And what sorts of restaurants serve poutine? I am determined to try it or die in the attempt (maybe both).
My company travel web site makes a big deal about registering my laptop with US Customs before leaving the country with it. (There is a form for that available from Customs)
However I go to Canada about 8 times a year with my laptop, and the only time anybody is curious about it is when I clear security, not when I go through Customs.
That clears that up doesn’t it?
The likelihood of your laptop being a problem is pretty miniscule. If you had to declare every toy you brought with you on vacation you could never cross the border.
The Maritimes is relatively centrist by Canadian standards. The most liberal province in that regard is Quebec, actually.
Most decent people are not going to rib Americans for their politics to their face. It’s stupid and rude. But jerks are everywhere so I can’t guarantee anything.
I would imagine most people take this sort of thing in good humor, but my personal belief is that you should never, ever criticize another country’s politics in friendly conversation. Our politics ain’t your business and your politics ain’t my business unless our countries are at war.
A “double double.”
Poutine is a fast food; you’ll find it at some restaurants, but it’s more commonly found in pizza joint and fry stands. The locals may know your best poutine sources.
Remember, poutine is properly made with cheese curds, not cheese.
I forgot to mention while you are in Canada try to catch the Royal Canadian Air Farce on TV while you are there. These guys do political humor better than anybody in the states. They shaft both Canadian and US officals.
This is one of the things I look forward to when I travel to Canada.
Canadian customs officials may (gasp!) ask you to turn on your laptop. This apparently proves it is not a bomb.
Nova Scotia is slightly conservative… by Canadian standards. This makes it wildly liberal by American ones. A majority of Nova Scotians still support gay marriage, universal health coverage, etc. Canadians (mostly) are not crazy about Bush, but most Canadians are not anti-American, most of us have plenty of American friends.
You’ll likely hear a few Bush jokes. Please make fun of Paul Martin, the rest of us do. Outsiders in Nova Scotia are not permitted to make fun of Keith’s beer, fishing, lobster, Digby herring, the Maritimes, Deluxe fish and chips, Dooly’s, the Lower Deck, Salty’s or dulce (don’t ask, don’t taste).
I like the bagels at Tim Horton’s, toasted with cream cheese and a large double double.
I once had to turn my cellphone on to prove that it worked when I was going through security in the Sault Ste. Marie airport. This was years ago, long before the Terror Scare. It occurs to me now that this would be the ideal time to trigger a bomb…
Translation: nekkid dancing in the streets is still unusual.
If you can, hit a bookshop and thumb through a copy of Fire and Ice, the book that made comparative sociometrics popular. It is the result of a series of polls done of Canadians and Americans, and shows how the two societies are diverging culturally. Since it was published at the height of the Canadian right-wingers’ “we’re becoming more and more alike; might as well integrate now” fad, it made a bit of a splash.
Hey! I’ve had dulce. It was… interesting.
When you go to Timmy’s for lunch, get the soup and bagel combo with an everything bagel.
Well, I’m not driving 950 miles from NYC to have bagels, but thanks for the suggestions about Tim’s! I will try the double-double. Also heard good things re the apple fritters.
I won’t worry about the politics thing, my folks are very tactful, and I have to remember that not all Canadians talk the way people do on the Dope! It was just that the Bush jibes in the e-mails were totally out of left field and it made me wonder. Oh well. I wouldn’t criticize another government but I might venture a puzzled expression on occasion.
You may find this less and less common as turning on a device in no way proves it isn’t a bomb. Swabbing for explosive residue is much more commonplace now, at least if they have the equipment. I had this done to my camera in Germany last year and my laptop back in Jacksonville just last week.
FWIW the Kennedy Space Center does visual inspections and requests that all devices be turned on, cameras, phones. My GPS really baffled them but I got in okay.
As for laptops I can’t imagine that being a problem as any restrictions would cripple business travel. I drug a mountain of computer stuff back and forth to Germany in both checked and carry on luggage and no one batted an eyelash with only my camera getting extra scrutiny. Same goes for my weekly travel as last week was the first time in a year my laptop bag got any extra screening.
My recommendations for Tim’s would be the fritters (apple or blueberry), and the Canadian Maple donut. But really, Tim’s is not about being great. They are about being consistent, cheap, ubiquitous, and good enough.
Although, that said, my two year old really loves their iced cappuccinos.
to see relatives and other points of interest. I’m really psyched up for it!
