When I graduated from broadcasting college in the summer of 2006 in Saskatchewan, Canada, I got my first gig in the small northern community in northern Manitoba.

During the six months I was in this town, every time I was brought on air by one of my fellow announcers (all of whom had grown up in Manitoba) would ask me the stereotypical questions, "Do you only drink Pilsner?" (It's a very popular beverage in small town Saskatchewan), "Is Saskatchewan gonna make the playoffs for football?", "Could you watch your dog run away for three days?".

I only started to be mentioned as a Manitoban about three weeks before I left. I later moved from the small town to the small city, and I'm not sure if it was because the city is a lot closer to the border with Saskatchewan or if it's because maybe they're just nicer, but I was considered a Manitoban from the start. When they asked me about my team making the playoffs, a lot of them were sincere because they were fans as well. In fact, I plan to return to the area to run for the Manitoba Legislature in 2011.

This is better, compared to some people I've talked to who have moved out west to Alberta and have been there for a few years now. To this day they are still considered "that person from Saskatchewan". The feud of Saskatchewan and Alberta grows to this day.

My girlfriend grew up in the south, and as most southerners do, she developed a sweet southern accent. When she moved to one of the northeast states to attend school, she was constantly teased about the way her voice sounded. This bothered her to the point that while she is at school, she covers the accent with what she calls, a "Yankee" accent. No matter where we're from, be it Canada, US, Europe or Asia, we have all been stereotyped by the way we talk.

The sad part of all of this; now that I'm back in Saskatchewan, I'm considered the guy from Manitoba. It's a viscous cycle for everyone that moves to a new place; whether you're a surfer living in California and move to New York, you live in the blue state of New Hampshire and move to the red of Mississippi, or if you live in Newfoundland and Labrador and you move to...well, anywhere outside of there.

Learn more about this author, Catlin Hogan.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about How long you have to live somewhere before you're considered "from" there?
We want to hear your view. Write now!