While writing the post about Canadian customs have acquired over so many years living here, I was thinking about the things that are still strange to me. So to be fair to the Brazilian who has inside me, here are 10 Canadian customs that I could NOT get used to.
1 Congratulations without palms
Time to sing the Happy Birthday they do not clap. It looks like a formal thing, or an obligation, everyone singing half-heartedly. I think so bland. I can not get used to it, I have to make a huge effort to hold my hands. My husband claps today even though here do not do that.
On the anniversary of my daughters tract soon to sing happy birthday in Portuguese and clap until their hands hurt.
2- Overuse of Hand Sanitizer
Certainly the Canadian point of view I am the worst mother in the playground because they do not carry with me a collection of hand sanitizers (alcohol gel).
As they are super neurotics with germs always carry in my bag a little bottle of hand sanitizer to smear the hands of children. I favor the use of alcohol gel in places that deal with the public, such as hospitals and clinics, and when there's no way to wash hands. If you have soap and water around I prefer that my children wash their hands even. I think this means exaggerated to be using hand sanitizer to all, several times a day.
A funny thing is that most children carry a vasilhinha of hand sanitizer hanging in the backpack. My not. The mother of one of the girlfriends gives bottles of hand sanitizer for my daughters every time we met. I already have a collection ...
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3- Use any cloth to wipe the floor
One thing that really do not understand is that Canadians have so much neurosis with germs but if any liquid falls to the ground they take the first cloth that lies ahead to wipe, whether the dish towel or bathroom face. The justification: then just rinse with hot water (along with the other same towels). You can not ...
4 Going out with super crumpled clothes
People here go out on the street with the most wrinkled clothes than drunk money and do not care. I do not spend all the clothes I use but give a basic smoothed and double right out of the dryer toasty warm. They are not perfect but are not super rough. I use at home in good but if you leave, I pass those worse. I admire them self confidence to go out regardless of this nonsense but I can not.
5- Use the dishwasher to wash other things
Another thing that does not make sense to me. They have disgusted all but put the cat food bowl or dog to wash in the dishwasher. Also put sponges, broom, cap and so on. Yeah doubting? Then see this matter Today's Parents magazine with a list of things you can put in the dishwasher to make your life easier. The justification is that will disinfect everything in the wash at high temperature. It may even be but I will not put a rubber boot in the same place that I wash my plate. Yuck!
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6- Do not bathe every day
Few people who take a bath every day here, especially in winter. In summer the normal frequency is day in, day out. In winter we expected to two days (or more) between baths.
When my daughters were babies pediatrician went crazy when I said I bathed every day. "Take a bath every day is bad for the skin." It may even be but my Brazilian side prefers risk. My daughters never had any skin problem.
7- bath in the morning and evening not
Another super common thing is to take bath in the morning to leave for work but tidy when not take at night when they get home. Sleep without bathing. What is the logic in that? If you will just take a bath in the day, it's bedtime.
8 Paying to go in weddings
The wedding party guests leave envelopes with money to the bride and groom. It is good form to give a value to cover its share of the buffet and one extra gift to newlyweds. The value can range from $ 50 to $ 250 per head. The more pompous marriage more money is expected in the envelope.
It's the kind of thing I do because there's no way but do not get used to the concept of having to pay for other people's party.
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9. Exit the pajama street
There are many people here who go out in pajamas on the street, good. In the market, the bakery, to buy coffee to take the kids in school, to sweep the sidewalk ...
10- Plan a schedule of games
That's one thing I noticed recently and I'm not quite sure if it is a custom of all Canadian children or just the circle of friends of my daughters (5 and 7 years).
When it comes Brazilian girl friends here at home they play alone with the girls for hours, making up their own games.
Already Canadian children expect adults to have a schedule of activities for the playdate (which is what it's called when the children are to play). They are all the time wondering what you have to do (and looks that we have thousands of toys, trampoline and playground). I can understand that when children are brand new adults need to be around, always directing and teaching how to interact. But with 5:07 years?
And you who live / lived here, which Canadian customs NOT purchased?
Images: Public domain
