Neighbours Canada and the US fly very different flags

They share the longest undefended border in the world, and this week both Canada and the US also mark birthdays – July 1 and 4. Join us in celebrating with the UAE's Canadian and American residents and see that, despite the similarities, they really can be as different as hot dogs and poutine. Read the full story here.

For example:

To ask or not to ask: topics to embrace or avoid

Do ask an American:
They say you should "never meet your heroes" – does that apply to Mickey Mouse?
What are your favourite 14 episodes of Modern Family?
What's your personal record for speed-dialing votes into American Idol?
Exactly how many seconds does it take to optimally nuke a single packet of Orville Redenbacher's Ultimate Butter microwave popcorn?
Is it true Coca-Cola can dissolve corrosion off a car battery?

Don't ask an American:
How much more do stores charge you for all those XXXL T-shirts?
What's your credit score?
Anything that begins: "Why does your government insist on … ?"
Which part of Canada are you from?
Why do all of your victorious national sports teams call themselves "world champions"?

Do ask a Canadian:
Miss hockey much?
You think the Tim Hortons here are as good as the ones back home?
Is the plural of Tim Hortons Tim Hortonses?
You running in the Terry Fox this year?
What's up with the bilingual on cereal boxes?

Don't ask a Canadian:
Miss taxes much?
Do you find that the longer you're away, the more your Canadianness condenses into cliches, like sap boiled down to maple syrup, but not tasty?
How 'bout them Leafs?
Which part of the States are you from?
How're your RIM shares doing?