18 WEIRD GERMAN WORDS YOU WON’T BELIEVE EXIST

18 Weird German Words You Won’t Believe Exist

1. Ohrwurm (Ear worm)

Have you ever listened to a song on the radio while driving to work only to find yourself still humming the same tune by lunch time? Congratulations, you’ve had an ear worm. The beautiful German word Ohrwurm describes the fact of having a song stuck in your head as if it wriggled itself into your brain through your ear.

2. Fernweh (Distance pain)

This gem describes the feeling of wanting to be somewhere else. It’s kind of like a reverse homesickness (Heimweh in German), a longing for a place that isn’t where you are right now. Fernweh is also a frequent reason for people in Germany to go on holiday.  

3. Kummerspeck (Grief bacon)

When a relationship ends or during other times of sadness, anger, or worry, it’s common to put on a few pounds of Kummerspeck. What it means is the excess weight put on by emotional overeating. So when you find yourself on the couch watching “Bridget Jones’ Diary” with a tub of ice cream, you are in fact feeding your grief bacon.  

4. Innerer Schweinehund (Inner pig dog)

Can’t get up in the morning to be on time for work? Too lazy to go to the gym? Homework remains undone until the last minute? Don’t worry, it’s not your fault. The blame lies with your inner pig dog. That’s the tiny voice in the back of your head which is trying to convince you to live a life of inertia and which you will have to overcome to rid yourself of Kummerspeck.

5. Fremdschämen (Exterior shame)

For those of you who cringe in phantom pain when others make a fool of themselves, this is your word. It describes the feeling of shame when seeing someone else in an uncomfortable or embarrassing situation. It’s a real thing for the more empathetic folk and has kept more than one person from watching “the Office.” 

6. Torschlusspanik (Closing-gate panic)

As people get older, some find themselves worrying about roads not taken or milestones they meant to achieve by a certain age but haven’t. Torschlusspanik is the feeling of urgency to accomplish them before some imaginary gate closes and “it’s all too late.” It’s mostly used for those who sense their biological clock is running out and feel the need to settle with a partner or have children immediately.

7. Treppenwitz (Staircase joke)

Have you ever noticed how when you have a chance encounter with an attractive person of the opposite sex or get into an argument with someone, the best jokes, lines, and comebacks always occur to you afterwards? That’s the so-called Treppenwitz. It’s the joke that comes to your mind on the way down the stairs after talking to your neighbor in the hallway two floors up.     18 weird german words exist

8. Lebensmüde (Life tired)

This word literally means being tired of life and was used to describe the dramatic and soul-crushing emotional agony of young Romantic poets (see also Weltschmerz and Weichei). Nowadays lebensmüde is what you call your friends when they are attempting something especially stupid and possibly life threatening. Most people in fail videos on YouTube suffer from latent Lebensmüdigkeit.

9. Weltschmerz (World pain)

The world isn’t perfect. More often than not it fails to live up to what we wish it was. Weltschmerz describes the pain we feel at this discrepancy. It can be one of the main drivers for Kummerspeck.

10. Weichei (Soft egg)

No, Weichei isn’t what you order in the hotel when you want a three-minute egg for breakfast. In fact the waiter might look at you slightly disconcerted for accusing him of being a wuss. A soft egg, in German, means someone who is weak and cowardly. The same is also conveyed by calling someone Würstchen, the diminutive of sausage. Apparently Germans like to name wimps after foodstuffs.

11. Backpfeifengesicht (Slap face)

Have you ever heard the joke “Some people just need a high five – in the face – with a chair?” Backpfeifengesicht kind of goes in the same direction. It describes someone who you feel needs a slap in the face. Disclaimer: we’re telling you this for informational purposes only and do not in any way condone violence.  

12. Erklärungsnot (Explanation poverty)

Erklärungsnot is a state shared by cheating spouses, lying politicians, and school children without their homework alike. It’s what you find yourself in when put on the spot without a sufficient explanation or excuse for something you have done or failed to do. Most often used in the form of in Erklärungsnot geraten or in Erklärungsnot sein.

13. Sitzfleisch (Sit or seat meat)

As much as it sounds like it, Sitzfleisch isn’t a recipe of German Hausfrauen that involves tenderizing meat by placing it under your buttocks. Instead, it describes a character trait. Those who possess a lot of seat meat are able to sit through and weather something incredibly hard or boring. It’s like carrying your own personal cushion around with you.  

14. Purzelbaum (Tumble tree)

This tree is so common in Germany that every child knows it. However, if you are about to take out your big German botanical dictionary, let me stop you right there. Fespite the name, a Purzelbaum isn’t part of the kingdom of plants. Instead, it describes a somersault on the ground, a favorite way of children to get their clothes dirty.

15. Dreikäsehoch (Three cheeses high)

This sounds like it would make a great name for a pizza. However, what it describes is a person who is vertically challenged, implying they’re only as tall as three wheels of cheese placed on top of each other. Usually this label is reserved for small children, together with Zwerg or Pimpf.

16. Zungenbrecher (Tongue breaker)

While it sounds like a medieval torture instrument, the nature of the Zungenbrecher is much less gruesome. It is the German equivalent of tongue twister, a phrase that’s very hard to pronounce even for native speakers due to its sequence of letters. A very common one in German is Blaukraut bleibt Blaukraut und Brautkleid bleibt Brautkleid. Yeah, practice that for a while and say it 10 times fast.

17. Schattenparker (Shadow parker)

This word is part of a series of insults for men which accuse them of unmanly behavior. In this case, of parking their car in the shadow to avoid heating up the interior. These kinds of derogatory terms were something of a meme some years back and whole lists of them exist on the internet. Alternatives include Warmduscher (someone who showers with warm water), Sitzpinkler (a man who urinates while sitting down), or Turnbeutelvergesser (someone who used to forget their gym bag in cardio class).

18. Kuddelmuddel (???)

I know, great final word right? Don’t even start guessing its English meaning. Kuddelmuddel describes an unstructured mess, chaos, or hodgepodge. Alternatives which are equally awesome include Tohuwabohu, Wirrwarr, Mischmasch, and Kladderadatsch. I know, some of these just sound too far-fetched to be true. Well, they are far-fetched – gathered in the distant land of Germany. If you’re still convinced I’m making up words, go ahead and look them up in the dictionary!

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The 10 Most Beautiful Villages In Canada

When most people think of Canada, they imagine its cosmopolitan capitals like Vancouver and Montreal, or its iconic natural attractions like Niagara Falls and Whistler; however, Canada’s tiny villages and villages are often-overlooked sources of the country’s most unique scenery and richest traditions. From the charming seaside communities of the east coast, to the historic villages of rural Quebec, here are ten of the most beautiful villages in Canada.

Frelighsburg

Ranked among Quebec’s most beautiful villages, Frelighsburg is set in a gorgeous location at the foot of Mount Pinnacle, on the banks of the Pike River. Located near the Vermont border, the village was settled in the late 18th century by American Loyalists. Many buildings from this period, which blend brick and wood materials, are still standing today. Highlights include an early 20th-century convent, and a mill dating back to 1839. The surrounding valley is a flourishing apple-growing region, with numerous cider-houses and orchards dotted across the countryside.

Frelighsburg, Quebec, Canada

Victoria-by-the Sea

Victoria-by-the Sea is located on the shores of the Northumberland Strait, halfway between Charlottetown and Summerside. Founded in the early 19th century, the village exudes an old-fashioned charm with its colorful Victorian heritage homes, pretty little lighthouse, and easy-going locals. The village is known for attracting artisans and artisans, with visitors able to try candle making and pottery at some of its art galleries. The village is an excellent base for kayaking or visiting the beaches found along the Northumberland Strait.

Victoria-by-the Sea, Prince Edward Island, Canada

Merrickville

Nicknamed the Jewel of the Rideau, Merrickville was named ‘Canada’s Most Beautiful Village’ by Communities in Bloom. The village is home to more designated heritage buildings than any other Ontario community of its size, including lovely Gothic churches, historic stone houses, and grand Victorian homes. Many of these buildings have been transformed into the shops of the village’s thriving artistic community, selling crafts, antiques, and artwork. The Rideau Canal runs through this village, adding to its picturesque appearance. Once an important shipping route, the canal is now a popular spot for canoeing and kayaking.

Merrickville, Ontario, Canada

Waterton

Waterton is a tiny mountain village located along a lake in the middle of Waterton Lakes National Park. Set near the USA-Canadian border, the 195-square-mile park is a World Heritage Site as well as an International Peace Park, sharing an open border with Glacier National Park in Montana. Visitors approaching the village are greeted with the impressive vista of the historic Prince of Wales Hotel set against a commanding mountain backdrop. Despite the national park’s popularity, the village is laid-back and unassuming, offering a few restaurants, shops, hotels, and other tourist facilities.

Waterton, Alberta, Canada

Tadoussac

Located three hours away from Quebec City, Tadoussac is best known for its excellent whale watching possibilities. The village is set at the meeting point of the Saguenay Fjord and the St. Lawrence estuary, a site where whales linger over the summer before migrating to the Atlantic Ocean in the autumn. Many companies offer tours on Zodiacs, but smaller whales like minkes and belugas can sometimes be spotted from the shore. Aside from whales, Tadoussac offers an artsy, historic atmosphere, with plenty of quirky shops and boutiques lining its streets.

Tadoussac, Quebec, Canada

Memramcook

Memramcook is located less than a 20-minute drive away from the cities of Moncton and Dieppe. One of the region’s main hubs of Acadian culture, many locals speak the distinct Chiac derivative of the French language. The village’s Monument Lefebvre National Historic Site is home to a fascinating exhibit on the history of the Acadian people. Aside from its interesting culture, the village is surrounded by the beautiful scenery of the Memramcook River Valley, which offers wonderful walking and biking trails through picturesque marshlands.

Memramcook, New Brunswick, Canada

Harrison Hot Springs

Harrison Hot Springs is a small village located 75 miles east of Vancouver along the shores of Harrison Lake. The lake’s stunning vista of sandy beaches and surrounding mountains is best enjoyed with a stroll along the village’s waterfront promenade. As you may expect based on its name, the village is known for its healing hot springs waters which have a naturally-high mineral content. There are two sets of hot springs in the village, one accessible to guests at the Harrison Hot Springs Resort and Spa, and a public pool located at the junction of Hot Springs Road and the Esplanade.

Harrison Hot Springs, British Columbia, Canada

North Hatley

Another member of the Association of Quebec’s most beautiful villages, North Hatley is set on the north shore Lake Massawippi, surrounded by mountains. Located 18 miles south of the city of Sherbrooke, the village is shaped like a natural amphitheater. It became a favorite summer residence of wealthy Americans towards the end of the 19th century, resulting in the construction of numerous opulent residences. These centuries-old homes have since been converted into lovely B&Bs, art galleries, and boutiques.

North Hatley, Quebec, Canada

Blue Rocks

Blue Rocks is located on the south coast of Nova Scotia, a 5-minute drive from the popular UNESCO World Heritage Site of Lunenburg. Often compared to larger Peggy’s Cove, the village has inspired artists like William E. deGarthe with its romantic scenery. Most families living in the village earn their living by catching fish or mussels. As you might expect based on the village’s name, the rugged rocks of Blue Rocks Point do appear blue and offer incredible views over the coast.

Blue Rocks, Nova Scotia, Canada

Elora

Located about 12 miles northwest of Guelph, Elora is the self-proclaimed ‘Most Beautiful Village in Ontario.’ The village is set on the Elora Gorge, where 80-foot limestone cliffs overlooking the banks of the Grand and Irvine Rivers. This natural recreation area is a well-loved spot for kayaking, camping, and hiking. Complimenting this dramatic setting are the village’s many historic stone buildings, which date back to the early 19th century. A number of these lovely old buildings have been converted into quaint studios, restaurants, and shops. There’s also the Elora Quarry Conversation Area, a former limestone quarry that’s now used by locals and tourists for swimming.

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23 Things Canadians Are Truly Proud Of

23 Things Canadians Are Truly Proud Of

It’s been found that Canada has some of the most prideful people in the world. So, last week, we asked fellow Canucks “what makes you most proud to be Canadian?“

Here’s what they revealed as their source(s) of pride:
1. “We are very accepting, not as judging, and overall very polite.”

2. “I’m a proud Canadian because when I walk into a store, someone’s already holding the door for me.”

”[…and] because when I hold the door for someone I’m instantly greeted with a smile and ‘thank you’. Being Canadian is so much more than toques, lumberjacks, and say ‘eh.’ You’re just bred awesome, and taught to respect elders and always be polite eh?”

3. “Our hospitality, hospitals, and our likeability.”

4. “We are accepting of others — no matter their race, culture, religion, or sexual orientation.”
“I’m proud to call Canada my home. We have a large, diverse, and very beautiful, landscape. I love our society in general.”

5. This man’s story:
“While wearing a shirt that said ‘Canada’ in a McDonalds in Berlin, a lady came up to me and asked if I was Canadian. After saying I was, she asked if I could look after her CHILD while she went to stand in line. When she saw the look of confusion she simply said, ‘You’re Canadian, I know I can trust you.’”

6. “Our diversity.”

“I’m proud to be Canadian because of our diversity. We have people who come from all over the world and are proud to call themselves Canadian as soon as they come here.”

7. “That we are smart enough to ban guns, not Kinder Surprises.”

8. “The value of education.”

“Teachers’ pay is similar to that of doctors […] longer maternity leave, allowing families to actually like each other.”
And another friendly reminder that Canada consistently comes out as the number one most educated country in the world.

9. “When we travel abroad the resounding thing we hear back is “Canada. It’s a GREAT place!”’

“and it’s said with a smile :).”

10. “We gave the world William Shatner.”

11. “Everyone seems to love everyone, and we have amazing landscapes and wildlife.”

12. “We have most of the population of wild bears, maple syrup…

13. “A very peaceful country with a low crime rate.”

This person also adds and counterbalances that “although the cost of the living has risen, wages seem pretty stagnant, employment prospects are pretty bleak… I think once you have secured one of those well protected jobs, life can be pretty sweet.”

16. “The fact that although we are all proud of our awesome country, we don’t shove it in anyone’s face.”

17. “I’m proud to be Canadian because we so vigorously resist being defined as just one thing.”

“…engaging with the tremendous diversity of this country requires a genuine respect for all human dignity and appreciation of others. It’s the only way to make the vastness of Canada work.

18. “If the worst ‘insulting’ stereotype you can throw at me is that we’re too polite and we say ‘sorry’ too much, well, I think that says it all.”

19. “That we’re not American.”

20. “I’m just proud not to be American if I’m being honest. Yay Canada!” -samanthah53.

21. “That we are not America.” -Jacob Pacyga.
22. “I live in the country that everyone loves - and that I’m not American.” -Flobee Buzzin.
23. 
“1. Better beer
2. Rachel McAdams
3. No Nancy Grace
4. Health Care
5. Having an intelligent stance on gun control. 

6. Literally just not being ‘Murican”

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6 Reasons I’m Proud to be Canadian

6 Reasons I’m Proud to be Canadian

Being patriotic in Canada is sort of like knowing how to skate. Most Canadians do it, most people enjoy it, and most people don’t really know why or how. It’s just a good time, something we start at a young age and carry with us for the majority of our lives. Maybe it’s the competitive nature of Canadians, the fact that we feel like we need to boost ourselves up that much higher in order to stand out from elephant on the continent (Psst, that’s a reference to America). While I may be ashamed to be Canadian on occasion, it usually is for good reason; however, there’s countless reasons to be proud to be a Canadian. And no, it’s not just our beer.

The Canadian Healthcare System

In 1984 a large piece of federal legislation was adopted by the true north strong & free. This legislation in short said “Hey insurance people, hospitals, doctors, it’s time to heal those that are sick, injured, or that require medical assistance. By the way they don’t have to pay you. If you don’t abide we’re coming for you. Boom!” While universal health care may not be perfect, it’s still a success story in most eyes. Canadians have access to free, high quality health care, it’s pretty tough to complain about the price. At the end of the day we’re strides ahead of other countries in terms of quality of life. I can’t imagine what life in Canada would be like without this perk. While Canadian health care is fantastic, we’re still encouraged to have travel insurance when leaving the country. C’est la vie!

Need some video explanation on the Canadian Healthcare System? Check out Real Canadians Talking Real Healthcare, or if your feeling like something a little more polished with a bit of humour check out Michael Moores Documentary Sicko. 

Same-sex marriage

I like to think Canadians have a good grasp on human rights. While there’s clearly been some hiccups in the past, we’re a pretty progressive country that’s happy to face the ridiculous claims of “1 man + 1 women = true family” and drop the gloves all over that craziness. In July 2005, Canada became the fourth country in the world to legalize the sanctity of marriage between same sex couples. LGBT rights in Canada are still the most advanced in the western hemisphere. So neighbouring countries and such, maybe come stop by the Village in Toronto, or Le Village in Montreal and see for yourself it’s all about love! It’s been almost seven years since the same-sex marriage legislation passed, and the world still spins.

Bilingualism

Throughout Canadian history, the French language has been there for nearly every step it. Over 22% of Canadians call french their mother tongue. While officially, Canadian language comprises itself of English and French there’s still a lot of work to be done in order to perfect the bilinguality of the citizens of Canada. I was fortunate enough to have parents who enrolled me in the French Immersion program, which means that from Kindergarten onwards, all subjects were taught in French. I have that program to thank for my french skills. While I clearly don’t use those acquired skills often enough, french immersion is the main reason I’m a huge supporter of the french language and culture in Canada. Being raised in that environment makes it easy to be proud of the bilingual aspect of Canada.

Mosaic of cultures

I remember being taught by a teacher at a young age one of the key differences between Canada and America. She preached that America was a melting pot, where languages and cultures are encouraged to assimilate and become “Americans”. Canada, on the other hand, is a mosaic of cultures. While each person becomes a Canadian, they are still encouraged to maintain ties with their mother land. They’re encouraged to hang on to their familial ties, keep their traditions and culture, and ultimately enjoy the freedom in Canada. It’s sometimes hard to find this “mosaic” in smaller anglophone communities (but I assure you it’s there). If you want it to hit you in the face, a weekend in Toronto exploring the different neighbourhoods will prove that no matter what your background is, we can all get along.

Underground Railroad

In the 19th century, Canadians from all walks of life helped enslaved african-americans escape to the northern parts of the United States as well as Canada. Estimates indicated that anywhere between 30,000 and 100,000 slaves successfully made it to Canada through the secret network of stations. Stations were said to have been as far west as British Columbia, and as far east as Nova Scotia. Survival on the railroad was hard, and on many occasions had it not been for the help of the Native Americans along the trail, many people wouldn’t have survived. While freed slaves found safety all over Canada, the majority settled in the Ontario area where they formed their own communities and pioneered their own farmland.

As it turned out many of the new arrivals to the “promise land” found the weather to be cold, the life to be hard, and when civil war erupted in the United States, some chose to fight with the Union and help rebuild the United States from the ground up. While many African-Americans headed home in search of family and friends, some stayed and formed communities. Men like Josiah Henson began to purchase land in Ontario and formed communities around what is now Dresdon Ontario, such as the famous Dawn Settlement. Josiah Henson is/was the inspiration behind the famous abolitionist tale, Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Hariet Beecher Stowe. This book is said to have been one of the books Abraham Lincoln read which encouraged him to pass the Emancipation Proclamation.

While the most of the credit needs go to the brave souls of the african-americans who made that journey, I couldn’t be more proud that Canadians helped people find their own freedom.

Peaceful country

According to the 2011 Global Peace Index, Canada scores an in the Top 10, at the relatively charming number of 8, just behind Finland (7) and Austria (6). This index looks at up to 23 different measures, including military spending, percentage of violent crime, possibility of violent demonstrations, deaths from conflicts with neighbouring countries, along with the political terror scale, which apparently we didn’t score too high in due to the G20 Protests in Toronto. But to most Canadians, you don’t need a fancy number to know we’re a pretty peaceful bunch.

This is Canada, the land of everlasting sorry’s, a free country built on a strong foundation of coffee and donuts. The majority of our violence is kept on the ice, one of the few places the majority of Canadians can agree is a completely acceptable place to air your frustrations with another through the use of hard body-checks and taking a break in the game to drop the gloves and punch the crap out of another human being. We do not have a nuclear program, despite being one of the largest providers of uranium in the world. Gun crime is crazy low, so the chances of getting shot are pretty minimal unless you’re chasing illicit drugs. We’re raised in a country where health-care is free, where you accept your neighbour regardless of race, creed, or sexuality. We have flaws like any other country, but spending any amount of time in this country, it becomes easy to see that Canada is ultimately a peaceful country. One that I’m proud to live in.

The Canadian Pride

Canadians are a proud people, not the obnoxious type of proud but the “grateful for what we have” proud. This feeling has been building over the years, heck, even Molson Canadian tried monetizing it (see “My Name Is Joe“). What started off as a quiet type of pride evolved. The notion of “keep your love of Canada, inside Canada” was more or less obliterated after the recent Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia. There was a call to arms to cheer loud, embrace our differences and show the world how proud we are to live in a country where you can be gay, straight, french, english, sick without worry, practice any religion you choose, and hail from any background and not have to worry about persecution. Canada’s not perfect, but it’s trying to get there.

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10 things Canada does better than anywhere else

10 things Canada does better than anywhere else

1. Apologizing

It's not so easy to get a simple apology in most of the world.

Being jostled in India. Getting your foot stepped on in Greece. Not having the door held open for you in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.

That's just all part of unrepentant life.

In Canada, apologies happen constantly -- "sorries" flying in from all sides like swarms of affable killer bees.

Apologies are issued not just for some negligible mishap, but for actually having the gall to be on the receiving end of one.

A Queen's University poll titled "Sorry ... I'm Canadian," found that 90% of Canadians aged 18-25 will immediately apologize if a stranger bumps into them.

But while it may be true that some of the ugliest brawls in Canada have been waged over who's sorrier, travelers should be wary of such niceties, notes another Canadian apologist: "Sometimes we're actually expressing our sympathy for your shortcomings."

2. Lakes and "Cottage Country"

Canada has more lakes than any other country -- about 3 million.

The province of Ontario alone contains about a third of the world's freshwater, spread over 250,000 lakes.

No surprise that "heading up to the lake" is more than just a favorite national phrase.

It's Canada's sacred version of lighting out for the territory -- but with cottages furnished with Muskoka chairs, Kevlar canoes and competing Gordon Lightfoot and loon mating call soundtracks.

Recently, Ontario's prime lake district, Muskoka, got the nod from National Geographic Traveler as the top summer destination -- in the world.

Well, yeah, eh? It's beauty up there.

3. Stand-in movie locations

Even if you've never set foot in Vancouver, Halifax or those handful of cities in between, you've frequently been staring right at them without knowing it.

You're not in Kansas, "Capote" fans. But Winnipeg. 

You're not in Kansas, "Capote" fans. But Winnipeg.

Why?

Because Hollywood loves making movies in Canada -- big movies -- while passing the settings off as New York City, Wyoming, ancient Persia, the bow of history's most ill-fated oceanliner ...

Basically anywhere else but Canada.

If you've sat through "The Incredible Hulk," you've visited Toronto's Yonge Street -- at least via celluloid.

"Brokeback Mountain"? That ain't the American West, pardner. It's Southern Alberta's Rocky Mountain country.

"Capote"? You're not in Kansas, Dorothy. But Winnipeg.

"Twilight"? Vancouver.

"Blades of Glory"? Montreal.

"Titanic"? Much of it filmed off the coast of Halifax.

And where in the world was Morgan Freeman's shack in "Unforgiven"? Just up the road from Calgary in the Drumheller Valley -- a moonscape-ish backcountry that's also passed for Egypt, Persia, Armenia and East Africa in several film and TV productions.

4. Air

In a recent national air quality study by the World Health Organization, Canada placed third for the cleanest air on the planet.

Until the first and second placers (Estonia and Mauritius) are covered in CNN Travel's "better than anywhere else" series, we direct your breath to Canadian cities -- which average a relatively pristine 13 micrograms of PM10 particles per cubic meter.

5. Humor

Canadians are hilarious -- sometimes even intentionally -- as a disproportionate number of comic heavyweights like Jim Carrey, John Candy, Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Dan Aykroyd, Seth Rogen, Mike Myers, Phil Hartman, Michael Cera, Leslie Nielsen and so many others have repeatedly confirmed over the years.

What makes Canadians so crazy funny?

The subject has launched sociological studies, none of which are funny at all.

But even if you've never watched SCTV, can't name a single member of "The Kids in the Hall" and weren't aware that SNL was created and produced by a Torontonian, or that Montreal's Just for Laughs Festival is the world's biggest comedy festival, or that the most deadly funny movie sequence ever filmed (the "Serpentine!" scene from 1979's "The In-Laws") was directed by a dude from Edmonton -- know this:

If there's one thing Canada barrels superbly at home or abroad, for whatever boring reason, it's laughs.

6. Chocolate bars

Just a few giant corporations pump out most of the world's mass market candy bars -- but not always with the same goods under that familiar-looking wrapper.

Fatty, velvety chocolate goes down best with Canadians.

Fatty, velvety chocolate goes down best with Canadians.

"Canadian chocolate is higher in fat and it is a higher particle size," a Hershey's senior chocolate expert recently noted in the National Post, adding that Hershey's now offers a separate recipe for the more discriminating Canadian chocolate palate.

"Americans tend to gravitate toward a little more of a grittier or even cheesier flavor."

That's why eating any of those generic chocolate bars or local Canadian faves like Caramilk, Aero, Mr. Big, heck even Sweet Marie in Saskatoon, is a creamy, velvety experience.

And why a KitKat somewhere else is a gritty, cheesy, polyglycerol polyricinoleate-y one.

7. Ski country

Sitting across the border from Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and Vermont would be intimidating to most countries hawking their own powdery slopes.

Not Canada, which boasts some of the best reasons to haul your skis or snowboard a little farther north.

In the West, there's Lake Louise, plunked right in gorgeous Banff National Park, and a ring of powder havens throughout eastern British Columbia. Whistler Blackcomb is one of the world's leading ski resorts, getting a "best in North America" nod from SKI Magazine last year.

In the East, there's Quebec's beer-commercial-fun Laurentians -- where après-ski needs no translation.

Heli-skiing? That all started in the Canadian Bugaboos, which remains one of the best places to do it.

8. Nation branding

No national symbol is as ubiquitous as Canada's maple leaf.

From Newfoundland to Victoria, it's everywhere you look -- a proud, unrelenting reminder of where you are. Not the United States. Not Australia. Not Nigeria. Canada.

The most obsessive leaf activity occurs abroad, where generations of flag-bearing Canadian backpackers are famous for sewing maple leaf patches onto their bags just to make sure everyone's clear at a glance who they are.

Not American. Not German. Not Rarotongan. Canadian. See the leaf? Canadian.

"No other country on earth seems to feel the same need to self-identify," posts one traveler from an undisclosed country.

9. Highway grub

Road trips are all about the food.

Nothing says gustatory bliss on the Trans-Canada Highway like Timbits with a double-double coffee. 

Nothing says gustatory bliss on the Trans-Canada Highway like Timbits with a double-double coffee.

At least in places like Alberta or Manitoba, where nothing works up an appetite like hours of sedentary driving along some of the longest, straightest roads known to non-Australian mankind with nothing to do but count Petro-Canada stations -- and pull over for the best comfort food gracing any rest stop.

Tim Hortons. Harvey's. Swiss Chalet ...

If you don't know these names, it's time to look beyond the Golden Arches.

You can eat McNuggets wherever.

Nothing says gustatory bliss on the Trans-Canada Highway like a peameal & natural smoked Bacon Bacon burger, or half-chicken plate with Chalet sauce, or a box of Timbits with a double-double coffee.

Better grab a butter tart and Nanaimo bar, too. It's a long way from Red Deer to Flin Flon.

10. Adorable terms and phrases

While you'll be hard-pressed to find a real-life, toque-wearin' local who's ever called someone a "hoser" or told them to "take off," Canadians do call their two-dollar coins "Toonies," cases of beer "two-fours" and napkins "serviettes" in polite company.

Nowhere else will you be called a "rink rat" for loitering at ice arenas.

Or be "given the gears" if you do something dumb.

Or get asked, "What do you pay for hydro?"

Or alerted that "your gitch is showing" if your belt is too loose.

Enough said.

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