The reasons behind the assumption that Canadians are american are, at least in this area of the world.
1)
geographically here in Sweden, N.America is lumped into one continent ... hence
Amerika ... same when you lump Scandinavia!
2) Sweden is one of the highest Europian country in Literacy of english. Children are being taught english as a second language. a fair amount of bussiness is done in english, adverts, newsprint or commercials are appearing more & more today with english ... infact there is a sub-lingo evolving here ...
sweglish
3) TV is not dubbed here we have sub-titles ... therefore all english programming is seen by the general public. This of course allows the average Joe to assume I'm from the States.
Yesterday when I was at my local flower shop & I had commented (in Swedish) "Dang I started to write in english" ... the gal asked what country I was from? I said to her "guess" ... USA? UK? ... then came Canada.
On a personal note: My 2 kids & I were once confronted by a few "anti-Bush anti-american" male youths

on the assumption they heard me speaking to my children. I was able to defuse them quite fast
(remember I live in the land of Hans Blixt) but still, it's a shame that people associate a population/country with the current government.
I am very careful where & when I talk out loud in public with my kids ...
