Canada, by a Canadian, for Japanese, written about by a Canadian

Tumbling down the daily rabbit hole that is my high school day in Japan, I chanced to find myself in the library, and there stumbled upon a book written about Canadian life for those who know either little Japanese or little English. The following is a few passages that I found quite interesting. I'm wondering what kind of mindset we're now seen in when a Japanese is asked about Canadians. I am well aware that they are taken out of context and are not meant to patronize. I simply found it amusing some of the aspects of our culture that were chosen to be highlighted.

Coffee Craze
"For many people, the coffee shop is the first stop of the day. We can't seem to function without that first cup of coffee. It is a staple in both our business and social lives."

Dating
"Most Canadians begin dating in junior high school. This relationship usually consists of holding hands, thinking you are in love and... breaking up after three weeks. This continues into high school, the only difference being at 16, most people get their driver's license. It's a parents' nightmare, especially dads. Now the boys are picking up the girls usually in a beat-up car with a stereo that costs more than the car."

"Nowadays Canadians are waiting until later to tie the know. After all, we are only young once. Our twenties are the best time to have fun!"

Dressy or Casual?
"We love being comfortable even at the cost of looking like a slob."

"... when given the option, a lot of us would most likely choose jeans and a T-shirt over dress pants and a shirt. Therefore, when traveling to Canada, designer goods and high heel shoes are best left at home."

Exercise
"... If you get a chance, you may want to check out a gym. You can work off a little stress and laugh while learning about people we have come to call "muscle heads." They are the guys who flex in the mirror. This is done for their own benefit although they may feel that they are benefiting the entire gym."

Family Holidays/Turkey Dinner
"No matter what the holiday is, you can expect to see a turkey on the table and turkey always means leftovers. It's delicious, but in the end of the following week when we are still eating turkey sandwiches, turkey soup and mom's turkey hash, we're happy that the next family holiday isn't for another two months."

The Great Outdoors
"Many people survive the workweek knowing that they are going to their cottage on the weekend to relax."

(About hunting and fishing) "Usually these activities are enjoyed by Canadian men. It's a guy thing! It gives them a chance to feel at one with nature and more importantly, a chance to brag to their friends if they should happen to catch something."

Japan in the Eyes of Canadians
"We imagine everyone rides bicycles, eats rice, and knows Karate."

"In general, we believe that Japanese people are very smart. They provide some of the world's best cars and technology."

"For me (the author) ... The biggest mystery is sleeping on the train. All Japanese people fall asleep on the train and wake up immediately at their stop. Not before and not after. This never works for me."

Hockey
"Nothing gets Canadians more riled up than a good game of hockey."

Party On!!!
"Canadians love to party."

"Basically any situation is a good situation for a party."

"If you're looking for a party, it won't be hard to find and don't worry if you drink too much and make a fool of yourself. Your friends may make fun of you all week until next weekend when they make an even bigger fool of themselves. This behavior is quite common in Canada."

Public Drinking
"For a country that enjoys drinking, the rules as to where you can buy liquor and where you can drink it are quite strict."

Smoking
"One could almost admire the determination of a Canadian smoker who braves the -20 degree weather in the dead of winter just to have that cigarette."

Sense of Humor
"Most Canadians are sarcastic by nature."

Sensitive to Being Called Americans
"We don't like it when we are mistaken for our southern neighbors, whose reputation is markedly different from ours."

"Achieving success at the cost of Americans, especially in the world of sports, helps us maintain our national pride."

Vegetarianism
"There is also a group of people who have no better reason other than "everyone else is doing it" or "maybe I will lose some weight." They usually stick to the diet until the first summer barbecue."

What You See is What You Get
"Japanese may spend extra time trying to make a good impression, but keep in mind Canadian manners are quite different. In Canada, what you see is what you get."

Which Way to the Beach?
(About Polar Bear Swims) "Wading in is torture. You will be okay once you survive the initial shock."

Winter Blahs!
"Apparently university classes are more important than your life and you should brave the storm."

"The sight of snow makes us sick and we being asking, 'What the hell am I doing here?' "