This is a trifle awkward
um
I’m really sorry to bother you
cough
but it’s kind of important
uh
that you do what you were hired to do.
so
if you wouldn’t mind, I’d appreciate it
ah
if you would follow through?
.
.
.
Canadian approach to slow contractors, agents, students, etc. lol Why are we so gentle?
(Okay- weird thing- just reading this as it’s published and noticed every second long line rhymes. That was a complete accident. lol )
Shawn L. Bird 
Oh how I can relate, I had to say this to a Dr. It took me a few weeks then I stammered out something like this to her. But blasted her secretary when I didn’t get any results. Not my finest moment to be sure, and a apologized accordingly. Such a polite country to be raised in. I’ve always been proud to be a polite Canadian. Yet sometimes it really deters me from getting things done. 😳
lol
On the other hand, I just went through several emails at various levels including an ombudsman to get resolution to a issue this month. Felt kind of super-powered to remain on message until they did what I wanted them to do.
I say good for you!!! It’s the squeaky wheel always gets the grease adage that rings true. I think the older I get the more I just want and demand professionals do their job. 😃
Consistently holding to message, with courteous insistence will wear them down.
I love that, it’s great advice I’m going to take Shawn. 😃
I have noticed how we apologize in stores when we are bumped into by other people and or their carts. Now what is the origin of this habit I wonder?
Yes, someone bumped me in school and I apologized. Conversely, when my broken ankle was rammed (by a Quebecois) at a recent event, and I howled and doubled over in pain, he lectured me for being in the way (seated in my row, with my foot on a chair, also in my row) while he tripped over me because he was not watching where he was going. I did NOT apologize for being in his way!
Ouch! I broke my ankle several years ago and I can imagine how that hurt.
Yeah, still hurts. Even stabilized with plate and screws. (I think one of the screws is working out: ouch). Another 4 months and it’ll be time for another surgery to remove the ‘training wheels’ 🙂
Much preferable to the local approach:
“Hey! Douce bag! Get with the effing program! What do you think this is? A welfare state?
Maybe I could use a little Northern Exposure?
lol
Our friends to the North are very special very kind very good people who many of us in the United States too often take for granted. Our shared border is one of the widest shared borders in the world. How wonderful that we show the world that peace not only can exist but can make all people’s lives richer.
Yes. Our N/S border states often bear a great deal in common. My Rotary district follows the Okanagan Valley half in Canada, half in the US. What is funny is that at our District conferences, the Washington state accent makes the Americans declare themselves clearly, and yet they claim they can’t hear a BC accent (which there must be, if we hear theirs, don’t you think?)
I lived in Washington State for 13 years. I couldn’t hear the accent for either BC or Washington State but you can never miss the Georgia accent
I can’t really describe it, (although if I sat with a tape recorder and a phonetic alphabet I might be able to work it out). I only know that when I talk to a Rotarian I’m meeting for the first time at conference, if I say, “Where in Washington are you from?” There’s never any hesitation in the answer (and frequently a “How did you know I was from Washington?”) lol
You are a very astute observer, Shoot most people in Georgia figure if you don’t say “Hey, y’all and fixin” you are a Yankee. They aren’t aware enuff to think that it’s possible for anyone to live north of the USA.
My Socials teacher in high school related the time he was filling his gas tank somewhere in the South. He saw the gas jockey studying his licence plate. He came up to the window with a “Where y’all from?” When the guy was told British Columbia, he was flummoxed. “South America?” Nope. British Columbia in Canada. You know. Above Washington State? “Washington State? Y’mean DC?” No. The state above Oregon. Baffled expression. Above California? “Oh! Hmm…” As students, we had a good laugh, though of course, we wouldn’t have been able to put many states more than generally in their geographic areas. 😉
I used to be quite good at placing British accents into general geographic zones, but I am less accurate these days.
I feel obliged to include this little link. Rick Mercer, a Canadian TV personality, used to have segment called “Talking to Americans” on a comedy news show called “This Hour Has 22 Minutes.” It was always pretty funny. This is a special based on that segment:
I’m sure Americans could create a similar show about Canadians if they came up North…
What a great story! I have lived here for 10 years, the first couple I spent most conversations with out a clue what people were saying to me. It has gotten easier as time has gone by but even now I will still run across people who I have no idea what they are saying but i always smile and say, yes and it’s nice to see you again! When I do I always hope I haven’t agreed to do something that i can’t do.
lol
and then there’s the oh so sweet way to tell folks to F-off, “My, bless your heart!” 😉
“Hello, Chopped Liver calling. Would you be so kind as to honour our contract? Oh, it’s implied? Well, in that case…. HAVE IT DONE IN AN HOUR!”
lol
This describes me quite well with certain circumstances.Beautiful words as always, Shawn.
Thank you.