Canada is great because it seems to be the single largest source of Canadians who are, without question, the nicest people anywhere. Two examples:
1) A few years ago, I ordered some specialty hardwoods from a Canadian firm for a project. Twenty minutes after placing the order online, I got a phone call - not an email, a phone call - from an absolutely delightful gentleman who wanted to confirm the order, go over shipping, expected arrival, etc. The day the wood was supposed to arrive, the same man called again to make sure it got there. It hadn't and he sounded absolutely devastated, assuring me that this wasn't the way his firm treated people, and he hoped I wouldn't hold it against him personally. I was a bit flummoxed over someone being so concerned that an order hadn't arrived on a specified day (as we all know, they never do), but I assured him that I wasn't angry, upset, worried, etc. After we'd hung up, the wood arrived about an hour later. He'd been so nice, I felt obligated to call him back and tell him everything was fine. He actually choked up thanking me for taking the time to let him know. The next day, I got a call from the man's superior, apologizing again, this time for putting me to the trouble of having to call back and tell the first man things were fine.
2) More recently, the wife and I were dining out, and I'd overheard the people a few tables over tell the waiting that they were on holiday from Canada. At one point in the meal, their daughter (12, 13 thereabouts) got up from the table and pushed her chair in. The chair bumped the table and the girl apologized. To the table.
Yup. Nicest people anywhere.
Boru
1) A few years ago, I ordered some specialty hardwoods from a Canadian firm for a project. Twenty minutes after placing the order online, I got a phone call - not an email, a phone call - from an absolutely delightful gentleman who wanted to confirm the order, go over shipping, expected arrival, etc. The day the wood was supposed to arrive, the same man called again to make sure it got there. It hadn't and he sounded absolutely devastated, assuring me that this wasn't the way his firm treated people, and he hoped I wouldn't hold it against him personally. I was a bit flummoxed over someone being so concerned that an order hadn't arrived on a specified day (as we all know, they never do), but I assured him that I wasn't angry, upset, worried, etc. After we'd hung up, the wood arrived about an hour later. He'd been so nice, I felt obligated to call him back and tell him everything was fine. He actually choked up thanking me for taking the time to let him know. The next day, I got a call from the man's superior, apologizing again, this time for putting me to the trouble of having to call back and tell the first man things were fine.
2) More recently, the wife and I were dining out, and I'd overheard the people a few tables over tell the waiting that they were on holiday from Canada. At one point in the meal, their daughter (12, 13 thereabouts) got up from the table and pushed her chair in. The chair bumped the table and the girl apologized. To the table.
Yup. Nicest people anywhere.
Boru
‘I can’t be having with this.’ - Esmeralda Weatherwax
