Lockwood, the US, and Canada
by Terra_Cide, HSM Editor-in-Chief
Of all the national heritage claims you hear in a melting pot such as the United States, the one you never hear about is being of Canadian descent.
Just the notion sounds rather absurd, doesn’t it? After all, both countries were founded by travellers from the Old World, so a majority of the citizens from both countries have to be descended from people who came from somewhere else. And yet, in spite of all that, I can honestly stand before you and say that I am, in fact, of Canadian heritage.
True story, yo.
My paternal grandmother’s family emigrated to the US at around the turn of the last century from a little town on the St. Lawrence River, northeast of Quebec City. Not a single one amongst them spoke English. Tracing a couple generations farther back along the paternal lineage, there are more ancestors of Canadian heritage, hailing from Nova Scotia. Now granted, the ancestors of these ancestors most certainly came from someplace else, likely the British Isles, but as a mere amatuer genealolgist, tracing such a path can get rather expensive, and I can think of better, more relevant ways to use my money. Like going to Tim Hortons for breakfast. The Canadians in the crowd will get that – have I mentioned Timmies are also in my neck of the woods as well? No surprise, really, since Maine ought to be renamed “South Canada” – especially in the summer.
So when Lockwood announced this week they were introducing a slew of content to the Gift Machine and calling the PR behind it “Canada vs. USA” I had myself a good chuckle. I could get all horribly pedantic and start citing facts about the War of 1812, and that would be – I’m sure – extremely exciting for the two people reading this who would actually be interested in finding out how I’d link that historical event to Home, but no. Let’s face it – in the modern world, while we Americans can get riled up over the most trivial of things at the drop of a hat, the Canadians simply cannot be bothered – unless it’s hockey. And they’re losing.
What makes this all the more amusing is that Lockwood is a British developer, and Britain is the nation that essentially spawned both countries. There is a rather mischievous part of my imagination that can easily picture just how much glee the team who created these items must’ve felt, having a chance to plink cultural stereotypes cleanly on the nose. I mean, the abundance of stars and stripes in the American items is so extreme how can you not want them, unless you’re the type who can’t stand poking a little fun at where you came from.
As you can see, this isn’t the first time the British had a little fun at our expense.
Besides, this is Home – we don’t adhere to things as lines drawn on a map in the virtual world.
What will truly be interesting to see is how the community will inevitably create a mashup with the items representing the respective countries. There’ll be Uncle Sams offering users pancakes smothered in Canadian maple syrup, while those dressed as Mounties will all be posing heroically around a Liberty Bell. Speaking of Liberty and the Mounties, you can bet there’ll be a corps of those girls out for a ride on the horses. Anyone care to notice that this particular horse is fully tacked up?
The first week of July always brings some incredible, one-of-a-kind freebies into Home, and while these items are set to be found in the Lockwood store and the Gift Machine, meaning they’ll likely cost some money (I know, shocker, right? How dare a company turn a profit!), these are definitely a cut above the usual fare. Usually, it’s a shirt or a novelty hat – this year, it’s fully detailed costumes, and a horse, for crying out loud – with a saddle and bridle to boot!
And before you ask, I’m not picking a side. I’ll be one of those people dressed as the Statue of Liberty riding a horse.
June 19th, 2013 by Terra_Cide | 4 comments
Terra _Cide is the former Community Manager for Lockwood Publishing and Editor Emeritus for HomeStation Magazine.
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Heh heh. I gotta say, I do find stereotypes kinda funny. Maybe it’s because I have it thrown at me on a regular basis, I dunno. What I do know however is that being Scottish in NA Home can bring so many, many different reactions. From “Oh wow, when did you guys get internet!?” to “Eww, gross! Scottish person!” lol.
Most think I either sound like Sean Connery or Wille from The Simpsons even though they’re just guessing, and I obviously play the bagpipes while wearing a kilt and chasing haggis.
If you know me though, you know where I really stand on such things and will have laughed about it with me too. It’s funny to see a UK dev tackle the traditions of another country though. I’d love to see America’s take on Rabbie Burns Night. I say “America” there since the Canadians are likely to get it right ; )
Cultural stereotypes crack me up, especially here in the US, where we can get really nuts about them -- not only towards other countries (“You’re from Britain? Have you met the Queen?”), but towards regions of our own country as well (“You’re from the south? Do you know someone who’s married their cousin?”).
On the topic of bringing cultural traditions to Home, though, I’d love to see a Guy Fawkes Day (Fire! YEAH!). Or even a recreation of the running with the bulls in Pamplona as a sort of minigame.
And only certain parts of Canada (likely the Maritimes) would get Burns night correct. Heck, there’s even cultural pockets ’round my neck of the woods that celebrate that!
That is a brilliant idea! BULL RUNS! Hell yeah!
Also Guy Fawkes would be cool at the Midnight Glade, or even a new space for it. Home needs more dark, empty fields lol!
Being from Edinburgh, Veemee should tackle that stuff. Given the quality they’re suddenly hitting back with lately, it’d be cool to see. Orrrr, they could just turn out the sun at their new Park and light some bonfires. Actually, I’d be likely to freak out if they did that, since Acorn Park is so much like a park near me, and held Guy Fawkes nights regularly.
I wouldn’t mind seeing a massive tomato fight in Home either…
This made me lol as well considering that my own grandpa fought for the royal Canadian air force in WWI before immigrating to the United States.