Lingo Limbo - Recently, I had to ask someone to sign a work related document for me. As I handed them the document, I said, "... and could you please put your John Handcock right there," to which the person responded, "Huh?"

"Uhhhh, sign here," I asked again, realizing that my very American reference was completely lost on this person.

Yeah, I've been having a lot of those kinds of moments recently in which I realize how much of what what we say, how we say it and how we spell it is so culturally bound. The spell checker on my work computer up here loves me and my New York ways!! I've been having to read through paperwork at least twice because half the time I'm using Canadian spellings (which in many cases the differences are about using the more British spellings). But, then as I get rollin' with my writing, I forget and drop back to American spellings.

People ask me things like do I have a touk or a bellaclava in case I go "Up North" in the fall (and I have no idea if I've even spelled those right). Dude, to me, it sounds like Touks are an ethnic group originating from a former Soviet block region now called Bellaclava. And as far as I know, I am "Up North" in comparison.

Hey, but, it's not all bad. At least coming over the border, I went from being a "counselor" to being a "counsellor." I'll take a one letter promotion any day!