Kanada, カナダ, कनाडा, Canadá

No matter how you say or spell it, Canada is recognized differently all around the world.

These are just a few examples…

Irene Salverda, president of the Associations for Canada Studies in the Netherlands works at Wageningen University and Research Centre in the Netherlands.

Says…

“Many of my non-Canadianist friends refer to Canada as “the European version of America.” Canada resembles Europe the way it wishes it had stayed: full of natural beauty.

The Dutch are attracted to the down-to-earth Canadian spirit. In Amsterdam, many locals will play dumb if an American asks for the way. But state you’re Canadian, and doors will open instantly.

Nowadays, my friends remark, with surprise, “Canada has an American president, only interested in the economy and ignorant of anything else, and America has a Canadian president.” So images are definitely changing; some Dutch people fear that this beautiful Canada will soon be one big oil field.”

Wang Bing teaches at the Liaoning Normal University in Dalian, China. He is a past president of the Association for Canadian Studies of China.

Says..

“Canada definitely conjures up a very positive image in our Chinese mind. We usually find Canada wherever in the world justice should be done, abuses of human rights criticized, refugees assisted, or wrongs redressed.

Canada’s image as a dull “wheat exporter” decades ago has now changed into a much more dynamic, diverse country. The curriculum about Canada focuses on Chinese immigrants, bilingualism and multiculturalism, which is perceived as the best, if not perfect, choice to solve problems of ethnic conflicts and social harmony.”

Emperatriz Arreaza teaches at the University of Zulia inVenezuela and is president of the Venezuelan Association of Canadian Studies.

Says..

“Canada is so important in Latin America and especially in Venezuela, in order to recuperate democracy and freedom. We are so grateful for the attention that Canada’s Parliament has given to the political prisoners’ wives and their testimonies about the violence and lack of human rights in Venezuela. Canada has a role as a peacemaker in Latin America in general, particularly in Venezuela.”

Samira Omar is a postgraduate student at Saint Paul’s University in Ottawa.

Says…

“It is one of those known and widely accepted truisms that Tanzanians love and respect Canada and that Canadians, through their goodness and generosity to Tanzania over the past 60 years and more, have shown in a clearly measurable way, their affection for my country, Tanzania.”

Article info from…

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/how-canada-is-perceived-around-the-world-1.3132343

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/how-canada-is-perceived-around-the-world-1.3132343

– Stella Mozin