Here's my version - You'll Know You're From Nova Scotia when:
1 - You describe your home province as Down East, Down Home or Up Home. As in, "Yeah. Yeah. I went out west for a couple years, but my brother-in-law heard about a job opening up, so I flew Down East for the interview and I got 'er."
2 - You're genuine and friendly to visitors, but your confusing mark of true affection: the more you admire someone, the more ruthlessly you'll tease the poor dear.
3 - As someone from a province with European settlement dating back to the early 1600's, you're not that keen to embrace change. "But this is the way we've always done it," you'll say.
4 - You divide all residents of your province as Nova Scotians or those who Come From Away. Because many, many Nova Scotians are 12th or 13th generations here, the Come From Away status may stick to the children of Come From Aways, but by the grandchildren's generation, they're finally considered to be Nova Scotians.
5 - When following along in conversation, you indicate your agreement by saying, "Yeah, yeah, yeah," while inhaling.
6 - If you're making a day trip between Yarmouth and Meteghan to shop at Frenchy's (the used clothing store, where tossing clothes aside in the table bins is an art form) you say that you're "going up the line."
7 - If you're encouraging someone to give it all they've got, you say, "Drive 'er!"
8 - If you're using plastic grocery bags to carry anything other than food, you've pulled out your Cape Breton Luggage.
9 - When someone says something and you can't believe it, you say, "Oh, get out," or "Oh, you shut up."
10 - When you're massively cranky, you say, "Oh, me nerves," or "You're working on my last nerve," or "I've got one nerve and you're on it."
11 - If the person has surpassed the 'nerves' stage, you say, "You're a big friggin' pain in me arse."
12 - While others say they're going to their cottage for the weekend, you say, "I'm heading down to the camp." Even though the 'camp' is definitely a cottage.
13 - When life is sweet, you say it's "some good." And when it's just exquisite, you say it's "right some good." As in, "Mmm, this chowder! Oh. It's right some good."
For a comedy version of the Nova Scotian accent, here are a few snippets from the Cape Breton Summertime Revue, featuring Bette MacDonald and Maynard Morrison.
Bette MacDonald's comedy piece starts at 2:14, and again at 3:08. Maynard Morrison's piece starts at 5:00.
Janet says As a "Come From Away" I got a big kick out of them - and recognized many!
Wylie Kinson says I could for sure do a similar list for Northwestern Ontarians (sooo different from those in the south) only much shorter. Beer + Trucks + Snowmobiles = Thunder Bay. LOL
Jennifer Leeland says I am TOTALLY stealing this idea and doing 13 ways you can tell you're from Humboldt county. LOL. This was AWESOME!
These are absolutely fabulous, Julia. As a "Come From Away" I got a big kick out of them - and recognized many!
ReplyDeleteCan I suggest another? The back bench seat of your van, positioned on your deck for summer visitors, is the Cape Breton Lawn Furniture.
Thanks for the chuckle this morning :)
Wow, we sound uneducated with all those 'me arse' and 'me nerves' and 'right some good'. I don't remember talking like that! And I've never heard of 'drive 'er', we've always used 'give 'er'. And the difference between a camp and cottage is simply that the cottage has the bathroom indoors, the camp has the bathroom located some distance away in an outhouse.:)
ReplyDeleteOh this is cool! I haven't been to Nova Scotia. Now if in the future I'll be able to visit then I know what to expect :)
ReplyDeleteGreat one! Happy Thursday!
Nice list. I don't think I've ever known any one from Nova Scotia.
ReplyDeleteHave a great Thursday!
http://iamharriet.blogspot.com/2010/01/is-there-anything-growing-in-your.html
That was fun. Enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteRe: #2 - I must be Nova Scotian!!!
ReplyDeleteFun TT!
ReplyDelete*hugs*
Paige
My TT is at http://paigetylertheauthor.blogspot.com/
Great post and another place I'd like to visit. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun list--I have a friend from Nova Scotia and I'll try these on her.
ReplyDeletehttp://collectingmythoughts.blogspot.com/2010/01/thursday-thirteen-magazine-clutter.html
Well, that helps me understand Sid a bit better. But the whole thing about the teasing? Doesn't explain why our friend from Knoxville -- heck, both my friends from Knoxville, come to think of it -- do exactly the same thing. Tease me mercilessly (not that I don't deserve it, just that ... well, darn it, they make me laugh. A lot.)
ReplyDeleteJulia - what a fun summary of you Easterners :)
ReplyDeleteI could for sure do a similar list for Northwestern Ontarians (sooo different from those in the south) only much shorter. Beer + Trucks + Snowmobiles = Thunder Bay. LOL
btw - we call them CAMPS too (no matter what the plumbing sitch is). Cottages are for snobs ;)
Hey, Wylie - I'm so glad you mentioned the 'camp' versus 'cottage' thing. My husband's from Geraldton (being from Thunder Bay, you would know of this isolated northern town) and that's all he calls them, too. Myself, being from northern Saskatchewan - we called them cabins (Going to the cabin this weekend) no matter what the plumbing facilities looked like - most were the kind where you hoped you could hold it).
ReplyDeleteSorry, Julia, for highjacking your blog comments, but I had to acknowledge a fellow Northern Ontarian (being I'm married to one).
I am TOTALLY stealing this idea and doing 13 ways you can tell you're from Humboldt county. LOL.
ReplyDeleteThis was AWESOME!
How funny, great idea for a list.
ReplyDeletePS M's still sick, but hopefully gaining on it.
Oh my god Julia, that was so funny!!! I'm planning a trip with some friends this April to be "goin' down the line" and that is what we ALL called it!!! Love it:)
ReplyDeleteJulia, this is great. You see I am "from away" still even though have been east now for 11 years!! I have picked some of this up,particularly the "some good". How great is this, Julia, Bravo !!
ReplyDelete