American Tourists

As you may know, Dario receives many visitors from other lands. Some close, some far - mostly, in my opinion from the United States.

These Americans are a curious bunch. My favourite kind of American tourist is the type who gasp with a huge sigh of relief when after offering them wine in Italian I switch over to my perfect English. *Oh, wow!* they say, *you speak such good english!* I usually thank them and inform them that I am not Italian, (even though I totally look the part right?) and I happen to be from Canada. This comment about Canada brings up many different paths of conversation. Yesterday I was greatly amused by the comment made by some tourists from Seattle. It went something like this.

Couple from Seattle: *Did you grow up in the United States?*
Me: *No, actually I am Canadian*
Couple from Seattle: *Close enough*

Now as much as this comment doesn't mean much to most Americans, to us Canadians this is the epicentre of the American mentality. What exactly do they mean by, 'close enough', so I am almost as good as an American? Or does Canada just merge into the U.S. and not matter at all?

Being the token Canadian at Macelleria Cecchini has been fantastically amusing to me so far. I think I should start a feed of funny tourist quotes - because they never seem to end...