Quebec, what gives?

Question

First of all, I consider myself a fairly worldly person. As a member of the US military, I have lived in a couple different countries including 4 years in Japan. As well as visiting many other countries. Now I know that US citizens are not the most popular people at the moment, but never in my life (not even in Iraq) have I experienced the widespread level of discrimination that I experienced last week in Quebec, CA.

I was there visiting family, as my mother was born in Quebec. I don't speak French, although I have tried my best to pick up a bit here and there. It seemed as soon as people heard me speak their manner changed instantly. It did not matter how polite I was. Everywhere my wife and I went, we were greeted with rudeness and clear disdain. I could cite many examples but only have so much space here... The only people who treated us humanely were my family, although a cousin did remark that he was happy about what happened on 9/11.

So I ask you, Quebec. Why?

Answer 1

In my experience, expectations have a way of being met.  Is it possible you went to Quebec with an expectation of being treated badly ?

I too am a US citizen having had a recent travel experience in Quebec having seen Sherbrooke, Quebec City, Montreal and some small towns in between. I cannot corroborate the rudeness and disdain.  We were treated with hospitality and welcome.

Answer 2

I cannot believe this. I am Canadian, who lives in Ontario, five minutes from the Quebec border. I have family from the States who has come up to visit me, then detoured into Quebec for a few days before heading home. They have neve had anything but amazing experiences. Were you perhaps wearing any of your military garb??

Answer 3

I'm very surprised! And i think you are going too far when you say that "The only people who treated us humanely were my family". Exaggerated a little bit?

I just wish you will come back and have a better experience, we are friendly people...

Answer 4

dont take it personally,  Quebecois are notorious for snobbery and rudeness.  Its in their french genes.

I hope it doesnt turn you off the rest of the country which by and large is friendly, unpretentious and welcoming to all including our american brothers.

Answer 5

For long, canadian englishmen are hate by some extremist Quebec separatists because of the unwanted management by the Queen of England, but americans were generally welcome in Quebec by the same extremists. It's at a point that Quebec Separatist Party once proposed to use the american dollar as money in the case Quebec separates.

But, it was before 911...

When it occured, the whole rest of the occidental world considered americans citizens as victims but also considered it was the result of its american government foreign politic.

The Bush foreign politic that followed since this event has, as you say, made United States very unpopular in the world, and it's in Quebec that US politic is the less approved in Canada. It's not only related to the 911 and the "petrolium war" (the real world to qualify american presence in Irak and middle-east) but also to other events like US refusal to sign "Kyoto" and the "lumber conflict" and US goverment refusal to follow the decision of the NAFTA court which particularly affect Quebec workers.

BUT, meanwhile the American politic is very unpopular at the point that Bush is considered as "persona non grata" in Quebec, Quebeckers generally make the difference between the American government and his citizens and generally consider individual american people with the same respect as any other stranger, but there can be exceptions: extremists.

However, I AM VERY SURPRISED that you encountered a general discrimination, rudeness and disdain from a lot of people. Refering to your cousin, it's an extremist that is probably considered as a moron by ourself. We generally dont take americans in pity for the 911, but we generally don't say you "merited" it for so.

American tourists are generally welcome as others in Quebec. I am curious to know in which region of Quebec it occured...