These struggles are familiar to every Canadian

Canadians are often thought of as the northern version of Americans who visit Tim Horton's instead of McDonald's and pour maple syrup over everything. Other people associate them with hockey and skiing. In fact, they are a separate nation with a fairly vibrant culture and their own chips. In this article, we've compiled a list of quirky Canadian problems. If they are familiar to you, congratulations, you are already a Canadian.

1. Emotional damage the house hippo commercial caused

In the 1990s and 2000s, an unusual public service commercial was run on Canadian television. It showed mouse-sized hippos supposedly living in Canadian homes. Kudos to the animators and editors — the miniature African animals still seem real. And behind the scenes you hear a voice typical of animal shows.

This commercial was supposed to develop in Canadians a critical attitude to what they see on the screen. This was reported by a female voice at the end of the commercial. But many children successfully skipped this part and then spent a long time believing in tiny hippos and looking for them at home. You may have already heard the story about the North American house hippos, which is now popular on social media. It's exactly the same commercial.

2. Disgusting sounds of the drill

In Canada, they routinely test emergency warning systems twice a year. To put it simply, sirens go off to sound the alarm. The sound almost gives Canadians a heart attack, it is so scary and unexpected. The trumpet of Jericho obviously sounds similar. Also, people are getting nervous — the sound of the siren does not bode well. When most of the city's residents have had time to grab their alarm bag, experience complete shock, and imagine war or fire, the sirens turn off. A cheerful voice from the loudspeakers announces that it was a drill, and already gray-haired Canadians curse their Ministry of Security.

3. Correctly cutting a milk carton is an art

Inhabitants of Asia would not be surprised by packaged milk, but in the West such packaging is rare. But in Canada there is a lot of it. People in Canada are always confused about the size of the cut on the carton. If the hole comes out too small, it creates a "cow effect" — you have to milk the milk from the bag. If the hole is too large, the milk hurries to leave its resting place and floods all around. True Canadians have poured milk out of a bag at least once in their lives.

4. Winter clothes over holiday costumes

This is mostly true of Halloween, the most beloved day of Canadian children. It is already very cold in the country at this time, so it is impossible to walk down the street in costume. Whether you decide to be a witch, a zombie or a superhero this year, you'll still be wrapped in a ski jacket and many layers of clothing like a cabbage. Severe frosts don't let the kids get dressed up. You can only show off your cool clothes in a well heated room.

5. You are always dressed out of step with the weather

The weather in Canada changes very drastically. For example, in the early morning it was only 7 degrees Celsius and you left the house warmly dressed. In the afternoon, the temperature suddenly rises to 20 degrees Celsius, and you walk home in a sweat. And two hours later, it might start freezing rain, which cancels all your plans for the evening with friends.

Canada is characterized by large variations in temperature: from 10 degrees during the day and above. It is very difficult to dress for the weather here. The most advanced Canadians wear several layers of clothing, which they take off or put on depending on the changing weather. You may need a ski jacket, a sweatshirt, and a light T-shirt on the same day.

6. The penguin gait is your best friend

Walking on ice is hard, but Canadians do it professionally. They move quickly in the semi-step gait of a penguin, taking small steps and swaying amusingly. Everyone — children, adults, and elders — has to mimic the huge waterfowl. Both the local schoolchildren and their stern headmaster will walk this way. One has to give a damn about image and reputation — the safety of the coccyx and other bones is much more important. You can't walk safely any other way, you'll fall all the time.

7. Canada geese attacking

We have already written that Canada geese are called the cobra chicken because of their violent temperament. Every resident of the country has been attacked by these creepy birds at least once. The reason is very simple — lazy ugly swans build nests next to human homes. And then fiercely defend the territory from its rightful owners. "Funniest" is the hatching period, when the angry papa and mama geese pounce on anyone who happens to be near their clutch. Canadians joke that they are the most tolerant animals in the world — they don't discriminate against anyone and hate everyone equally.

Read our article to find out what is bothering Canadians.