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Yep. Let me tell you, internets, being a French-Canadian federalist is SO much fun.
English Canadians automatically think I'm a separatist, and generally distrust me because I'm French. From people I don't know I usually get condescending pats and told how good my English is (as though it's some sort of weird miracle that I can understand their language at all). "You have such a cute accent!" they tell me.
French Canadians, upon hearing that I'm not a separatist, generally tell me I'm a traitor to my race. Sometimes they're polite about it and couch it in veiled terms. "Don't you think every people has the right to self-determination?" As though Quebeckers are routinely being oppressed the way they were fifty years ago. As though we haven't had TWO referendums in which at least half the local population wanted to stay put. Some of them are more direct about it, and I like them better: at least I know where I stand with them. They're also quick to tell me that they knew I was an "Anglo" because of my accent.
In case some of you were scratching your heads, yes, it is true that once people on either side find out about the "other" side of my nature, they retrofit me with whichever accent fits their perception of me best. So French people think I have a terrible English accent when I speak French, and English people think I have the quaintest French accent when I speak English. Only after I've told them about my heritage, mind: I'm sure it won't come as a shock to most of you that I don't actually have much of an accent in either language. I do have a French accent when I speak Italian and German, though.
I'm going to leave the comments open for now, but I'm seriously considering disallowing them entirely. If I change my mind, please don't be offended if your comment gets deleted in the process.
English Canadians automatically think I'm a separatist, and generally distrust me because I'm French. From people I don't know I usually get condescending pats and told how good my English is (as though it's some sort of weird miracle that I can understand their language at all). "You have such a cute accent!" they tell me.
French Canadians, upon hearing that I'm not a separatist, generally tell me I'm a traitor to my race. Sometimes they're polite about it and couch it in veiled terms. "Don't you think every people has the right to self-determination?" As though Quebeckers are routinely being oppressed the way they were fifty years ago. As though we haven't had TWO referendums in which at least half the local population wanted to stay put. Some of them are more direct about it, and I like them better: at least I know where I stand with them. They're also quick to tell me that they knew I was an "Anglo" because of my accent.
In case some of you were scratching your heads, yes, it is true that once people on either side find out about the "other" side of my nature, they retrofit me with whichever accent fits their perception of me best. So French people think I have a terrible English accent when I speak French, and English people think I have the quaintest French accent when I speak English. Only after I've told them about my heritage, mind: I'm sure it won't come as a shock to most of you that I don't actually have much of an accent in either language. I do have a French accent when I speak Italian and German, though.
I'm going to leave the comments open for now, but I'm seriously considering disallowing them entirely. If I change my mind, please don't be offended if your comment gets deleted in the process.
