Telling people you're Canadian sounds like a good idea. Maybe they weren't telling all those French-cowards jokes like the Americans...

But if you're "Canadian", make sure you know how to pronounce some of the names correctly. Sault Ste. Marie is "Sue St. Marie"; Quebec is "Ke-bec" or "Kay-bec" -- there is no W sound in it at all.

If you go to the Philippines, be careful. Their elections are taking place next week, and those people and their bodyguards are SHOOTING at each other! No kidding! Virtually everyone there is on the take, and they will take American money. Keep five and/or ten dollar bills folded where you can get to them very fast and unobtrusively, like under your driver's license or other ID. Understand that you are fantastically rich compared to the people there. Be aware.

Sue