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As a Canadian-American dual citizen, I'm often thinking about the similarities and differences of the two countries.

Lately, one that's been on my mind is the American Dream.

Keyword there being "successful."

Now, after a lot of thinking, I think I've figured out what one could call the "Canadian Dream"...



How did I come to this conclusion? Coming from an American family, I definitely feel the pressure of "success". Success at the expense of family or other things... sometimes success at *all* costs. Of course, you want to go into a career that you *like*, but only if that career will lead you to success. Contrarily, in Canada I look around and I see most people working hard to achieve a job that is their *dream* job. So that they will be happy every day at work-- that goal is more important than being famous or rich and "successful."

I'm trying to acheive both dreams... but I'm wondering if other Canadians think my theory is accurate?

   

Sounds accurate to me. I have to problem of trying to be successful in my future career in Canada, while knowing that i would be in the US. I have decided that I will be happy and end up staying in Canada.

   

...hmm... this is interesting - I'll need more time to think about this, but my first impression is that the "American Dream" is in fact fairly universal. It seems to me that wherever you go in the world you'll find people who strive for material success. In my own life as a uni student I see a lot of people who are pretty ambitious to achieve that kind of success.

I do agree that Canadians may be a little less materialistic than Americans, but I think the degree of difference is subtle rather than dramatic.

   

It is a subtle difference, Freak, I agree-- it's taken me a long time to notice it

I think I realized it by observing Canadian families, mostly. Obviously, it's good to have money. And because Canadians and Americans are both like-minded in day-to-day economic matters, it makes sense for people to want money.

The *difference* comes with how you are perceived at home. Personally... I'm studying to become an Engineer and I love Engineering... but something in me just wants to draw comic books. My American family's reaction to such goals as drawing comic books is "OMG you're going to starve, go for Engineering." Whereas I feel families up here feel more along the lines of "Go to whichever career will make you *happy*... but don't be retarded and try to be a rockstar and starve to death."

   

Spike: You're someone who has seen both sides of the fence, so you have some good insight into the whole issue .

It's something that is more difficult for me to be objective about. My parents are both Canadian - I think of them as being quintessential Canucks! - but they have always encouraged me to pursue a high-paying career path. My major is Poli Sci, which is not conducive to making lots of money, and every now and then my old man grumbles about it. He mutters "Les sciences sociales...", as if it were the plague or something, but then cheers up when I tell him that I'm thinking of going to law school!

My girlfriend, on the other hand, recently graduated with her BFA in contemporary dance (something which her parents were completely supportive of) and went through a starving artist phase until she got a well-paying job she hates at a bank.

Wow I've started to ramble here... I have the flu and am heavily medicated right now!

   

Ah! See that's why I asked I think every parent's dream is for their child to be successful to a certain degree, but I think the do-or-die-lawer-doctor attitude is quite a bit stronger in the States. I'm just wondering how many families value individual happiness as a goal over monetary success 0_o...

   

My $.02
Most parents are gonna be concerned about financial stability for their kids regardless of where you're from (Hey they want ya outta the house and on your own 2 feet ASAP!) Anyway, even though the stereotype is that US is more money driven than Canada, there's lots of people that do the starving artist thing here (maybe it's just cause I live in LA though). Most of the ones I know have the money-making job (that they hate) on the side until they make it big. So I think on some level, even artists who are happy at their job want some degree of success. I've met a lot of Canadians and their demeanor is *very* generally more chill and laid-back. If it's any indication of the lifestyle up North, then I'm all for that! (unless of course the ones I met were just really mellow from smoking pot ) in which case, I'm all for that! (just kidding!) Anyway, I'd be interested to hear what Canadians have to say on this thread as I'm thinking about a change of environment soon...

   

i definatly think Canadians are more laid back than americans on average.

   

That makes two laid back non-pot-smoking Canadians (both from BC! What luck )

There are a lot of starving artists in the States, but how do their parents feel about that? Did they tell them "you coulda been a doctor!!"

   

Unfortunately, I have not met enough Americans to really have an informed opinion about whether or not Canadians are more laid back. The relatively few Americans I have known all seemed pretty ok to me!

dknychic mentioned how a lot of LAers pursue careers in acting but have some McJob that pays the bills. I see a lot of the same thing here in Montreal! I've often met people who when asked what they do answer that they are dancers or photographers or sculptors etc. but who work at "real" jobs to make ends meet. I wouldn't be surprised if this was a fairly typical phenomenon in a lot of cities. In Montreal the job market is pretty brutal even if you have a good education, so a lot of younger people end up pursuing their passion rather than the almighty dollar.

   

Yes I'm quoting myself.

Trevor I <3 that icon!!!

It's hard for me to guage the difference between chasing a dream and working the McJob (lol!!) because I'm happy in my Engineering job. WTF is wrong with me, I like to work!!

Also it's a hard comparison for me, too, because as far as I can tell most people either have the job they want for now and have more daring, independent "dream" jobs for the future... The whole "takes money to make money" thing.

   

Mine cried bloody murder when I wanted to change my major from Bio- Chemistry to cinematography(Never mind that I can't stand the sight of blood on ER!). Anyways, after switching majors like 5x, I settled for International Business to make them happy, but gosh golly, was that a waste of four years! I'm definitely not doing anything related to international business now. Are my parents happy? Nope. Have they come to accept that the doctor in me ain't coming out...ever? Yup. I think ultimately they've accept my being happy over being successful in the traditional sense, but they did put up a heck of a fight!

   

Well, drop the "non" and I'm in! (and I lived in B.C. for 5 years....so I've been told anyways! Kindda hazzy! )

Being a Newfie, I go by the theories, "I work to live, I don't live to work!", "Life is good, even when it sucks!", and "Be but a leaf upon the river of life" Thats a buddist thing! All though I'm not Buddist, humpteen million of 'em can't be wrong!

Frankly, life is too short and fragile to worry about much IMHO

The song was shitty, but the message is good! Don't worry, be happy! IMHO a little pull from the old bong every now and then can help!! Yup, if I were any more laid back, I'd be doing a headstand!

But if you do manage to piss me off , I will have no quims about kicking you right in the crotch!

   

I used to talk to my mom alot about what I wanted to do when I gradutated. Right now my current goal is med school. She seemed relatively concerned when I first told her that I was only looking for a really nice paying job and nothing else. My parents really want me to be happy, with a good job that I'll enjoy, and I think that my mom is worried that I'm going to push myself off the edge with the goals that I have. My dad however is having a fun time taking me across Canada and showing me universities. So I guess that's that. They're both born and raised Canadians, but have different ideas of what is good for me.

   

There is only one nation that has a dream. Canada has no dream, England has no dream, Thialand has no dream, India has no dream, only the US has a dream, hence the saying the American dream. Wanna who why?.................cause the rest of us are AWAKE!!!!!!!!!..........

   

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