after being here in the great white north there are several phrases and words that mean different things. here is the beginning of a comprehensive list.
1. bathroom = washroom - depending where i am, sometimes if i ask for the bathroom they make an obnoxious comment about how they don't want customers taking a bath on their premises.
2. cotton candy = candy floss
3. cemetery = feld - i am pretty sure feld isn't actually a word because when i try to use it on text twist it doesn't work.
4. parakeet = budgie - i knew these words were synonyms because when i had bluebell the parakeet i also had a book called, "my first budgie," but apparently not all are intimately aware of all of these words.
5. prawcess = proooocess - this is an important one. technically it isn't a canadianism, just a pronunciation thing but there have been situations where i have used this word which describes the means in which something is done and unless i say proooocess people look at me funny.
6. lanyard = boondoggle - while everyone used to just call it gimp, we are now more politically correct. if you ask for lanyard at the arts & crafts shed you will not get anything besides a funny look. yes, its boondoggle and only boondoggle.
7. silverware = cutlery - being that what i use all the time isn't actually made of silver i have to agree with the canadians that cutlery makes a whole lot more sense.
8. vacation = holiday - an important distinction so one can take them!
9. substitute teaching = supply teaching - while these words mean the same thing (torture for the instructor and less then stellar academic performance by the students) obviously they are not the same word.
this list is not yet comprehensive. when new words come to my attention i will be sure to let you all know.
