Just something I wonder about... do you change yourself (mannerisms, dress, speak, etc) when visiting your SO's country...I mean with all the various cultures and tradition world wide...Maybe change is not the right word, but you get what mean... adjust or blend it...

Have no reason to be different, here or in Romania

I definitely had to make some minor adjustments while in Morocco. You know, cultural differences.

i really did think id have to make major adjustments in romania, but when i got there i saw i didnt. i think the ONLY big adjustment i had to make was getting used to the cold and snow

I make adjustments too. The culture is a little different, and Home in the USA I am a "home body" but when we are in Jamaica there seems like there is so much more to see and do....meeting people and catching up with "his" friends, hanging out, partying....etc.





**Oh yeah and lots of walking, I never walk here...just jump in the car and go

I haven't yet had the chance to visit my husband's home country (Albania); we spent all of our time together in Italy and when I am there, I don't think I change my personality/mannerisms, etc very much. I think if anything, since for some reason I feel more comfortable there than I do in NY, I'm more outgoing and sociable, friendlier even. But that's about it. Also, I eat better when I'm there AND I can't wait to go back to visit (and neither can my husband!) Even though I speak Italian, everyone automatically knows that I'm from the US, and I don't try and hide that, but I try my best not to stand out too much, be too loud, etc. normal stuff I do here in the US too.

When I am around his family here in NY, I'm usually pretty much myself too, except maybe more polite and gracious than I typically am.

We are both from the same country so I didn't change a thing.

I tried to "blend in" but I was walking in the center of the city one day and I had two "locals" yell to me "Hey Amerikanski, come here!" So obviously I failed miserably!

Life in New Orleans is different than Canada. But I love it, I love learning the History and Culture. My husband is an amazing cook and has taught me many great dishes to make. My family here in Canada aren't as adventurous as I am food wise. So I haven't done much cooking for them here.

In the U.S. I am able to speak in more complex sentences with waiters and people behind counters.

Everyone knows I am not from Brazil in Brazil because I dress like I always do. I wouldn't say I dress in an "American" way, but it's definitely not Brazilian either.

I put cap on my camera's lense in order to blend in.

no, i do not have to change a thing. although most of the time as soon as i speak they know i am not from there.

Daniel

I try to adjust to customs and tend to be a little more quiet than usual, but otherwise I'm still myself.

Ditto for me, in India.

I've had to make some adjustments while living here in Palestine because of the political situation and the culture.
But im definetly myself with my fiance.

looooooong reply following, lol

I lived there for a few years and I don't think I was any different, cept for the way I communicated with ppl. I very much tried to hold onto my own nationality...did not want to be like Madonna who all of a sudden grows an accent & is all 'pip pip cheerio'. However, after being somewhere for an extended period of time, and being in social situations...I found makem slang creeping into my vocab. When I first said 'nowt', I looked at my friend in shock and everyone cheered, lol. But communication is easier when you somewhat assimilate & don't have to repeat yourself like 30billion times....like 'bathroom' was an odd word to most UKers...it's either toilet or loo....and DON'T get me started on the word 'fanny'

I was never all 'haddaway and shite marra, I'm gan yem' or owt like that. And I will hold firm to the fact that there's no R in the word azz.

Whenever we would travel, I did not want to call attn to myself as being American
....D would do most of the talking. One time, we were in an airport...and here comes this loud and obnoxious American family & they're causing a whole bunch of hoo-ha. Some other traveler with this look of digust looks at them, looks at me & says in broken English 'Americans! can you believe them!!!' I about busted out laughing.

Now that I'm back home, I'm slowwwwwwwwwwwwly trying to break the habit of the slang. But it's hard cos it comes naturally now. Tbh, I hate it sometimes when I see what I've written because to me Brit speak from a non-Brit seems very contrived....(I actually had to backspace to type 'ery' on the end of that v, lol) One of my friends here in America went to the UK for 10 days and came back all 'lovely jubbly,chokka block, wot, crikey! ' and it made me just wince in embarrassment. But I skit her for it and call her Geico. so it's all good.

Two of my friends from the UK came over last month and they said I became 'Americanised' again. I was like 'wasn't I always?' but apparantly my accent is harsher now? I can't tell the diff whatsoever. Maybe I'm louder, lol.

I just tried to be as polite as I might be anywhere I was for the first time...in other words 'on my good behavior'. LOL

I didn't attempt to assimilate the slang - I don't know what I would do if I was there long term. I don't know how you could live in NI and not start saying 'aye' instead of 'yes' or 'ok' - they utter it in nearly every sentence.

'Nor'n Iron' speak is actually very lyrical - there are upswings and odd little phrases at the end of sentences. I really don't know how you could 'pick it up' unless you had heard it from birth.

I'm sure if I were there long term I'd have to adjust my 'speed' - life there is just a bit slower. I felt healthier because I was walking MUCH more than here. I'd probably have trouble adjusting to the weather - grey skies depress me.

lol, never uttered 'aye' in my life...to me it sounds manly, lol. For some reason, there are only particular words that I've picked up...dunno why some took and some didn't. And I know just what you mean about being lyrical...they do that in NE England too. when a woman says 'hiya' it's like 'hiiiiiiiyaaaa' and it's all sing-songy. It's cute...but ya can't get away with that unless it's where ya came from, you're right about that Becs

PS....Belfast is one of my fave cities. Never got out to the countryside in NI, but I could talk forever about my time in Belfast

sometimes you just adapt to saying the local way.

Three things I will never say, however:

Tomahhto
orrygano
bazzil


my friend's boyfriend used to refer to me as oregano so amused was he by my pronounciation of that particular herb, I mean 'erb

zactly!

tho I wound up saying i-BU-profin cos everytime I asked for it ibuPROfin, the ppl would be all

LMAO

Yeah, I also change a li'l bit, it's different there in NL so I try to adjust to their customs. I get somehow quiet while I watch and learn LOL

I spoke as clearly as possible, and probably a bit slower than I do here at home. I was not as mouthy when getting poor service, not wanting to add more to the "rude loud american" stereotype.

The one thing I did notice about my behavior is that I began to speak less in public to avoid stares. I don't think I did this consciously and regret that I felt the need to change myself that much in order to not offend, shock or amuse someone else.

I did pick up words I would not normally use, more because of Tim's children not knowing what the hell I was talking about. Rubbish, boot instead of trunk, oi instead of hey, toilet instead of bathroom, pants instead of underwear of course trousers instead of pants lol. I told one once to take off his pants after he had played in the mud and water, and got this look....... ! So change was necessary for somethings.

I am right there w/ you Bethanie-but not from spending time in his country-it's frm having him here with me in NY and conversing with him.


The 1st time I was in SCT, I was quiet-not wanting to draw attention to myself.
But after the second time, I realized that there isn't much I can do to divert attention from myself, as I am far from blending in with my coloring and my thick Sonny Corleone Brooklyn twang.
So, I was just simply me. Seems that the locals got quite a thrill from my way of "tawkin" and would ask me to say words just so they could hear the way I said them. It got annoying after a while-but I knew it was purely fascination as some of them hadn't really ever ventured too far from home.
Now, when I visit-I roll with it and just expect to be the oddity.

Yes living with them and hearing it all day is the biggest reason for change. I constantly get, "you have picked up his accent". It is more accomodating than it is personal change. Things I say differently is so that he can understand what I am talking about. He has enough change going on in his life, sure don't mind making somethings easier for him.
Not sure I could ever let completely loose when visiting there. Though he demands I be myself, I just fear embarassing him in some way. Silly? Probably but I am always thinking of him first.
Guess much depends on the area as well. If he were from London it probably wouldn't be a big deal. Being in a rural area, there isn't much diversity and the population seems to be older and less accepting. Next time I go over I will just stick my tongue out at anyone giving me strange looks!

i agree with you Lisa...

Living with stewart, however I can't help but pick up some things..like I say "ring" instead of call...I can't help it.
I say "Car park" instead of parking lot.

I will NEVER cave on
Tamaaahto sauce...it's KETCHUP!!
And alUminium....(said weird) vs. aluminum

Aluminum

Aluminium.

Which one is in the dictionary?

I keep telling my husband you can't add a syllable to a word just because you feel like it.

He says they can do whatever they want with english because they had it first........

Hahahaha......well a lot of the time I heard the women say 'oh, aye'......maybe that's different?

To me, it sounds very 'pint of lager-ish'

I blend, Canada is not that different, but I will never say "uh-huh" instead of "thank you".

no.

I was myself as usual but of course did not blend in and had to hide at times when
my fiance was negotiating a price, because everything doubled and tripled as soon as taxies or market people saw me. Little children were afraid of me but gummi bears helped and after a long time one little girl carefully touched my white skin.
I only saw about 4 other white people on my entire trip there and that was in the
capital city. I definitely did not blend in !

I didn't try to hide the fact that I was American, but I didn't try to announce it, either. Everyone there was shocked and complimented me for adapting to the culture so well. I just followed their lead and didn't complain, even when it was something that I wasn't used to doing. I heard so much about the "typical rude American traveller" that I didn't want to offend anyone and just politely joined in.

It was hard for me to blend in physically because even though I was a black American in Africa they could still tell the difference just from looking at my facial features, skin color, and clothing. I was stared at all day long.

No need to be different, personally or culturally.

I try hard not to stare at the money, though. Sorta fascinated by the colors and the fun hasn't really worn off of having $2 coins. (It's the fun of grabbing a handful of change out of the glove compartment and having enough for ice cream and poutine.)

one of my pet peeves is when i hear about people hiding the fact that they are american when they travel...... if you are one of the "non annoying/cultured/non-fanny pack and white tennis shoe wearing travelers" why not REPRESENT your people in a positive way instead of hiding it and letting people continue to think ALL americans are such way?

but to answer the OP's question... i change slightly in morocco because i'd end up in jail or in a fight if i didn't. lol

When I went, I was still me but I did try to adapt to the local customs. I also found myself feeling more shy around people than I normally am as well.

When I first moved to the USA I was a bit more reserved when talking. Simply because there is only so many times you can have a conversation about where you are from. Now I've been here 5 months I am getting much more used to it and am not nearly as afraid to open my mouth as I was.

I also don't seem to get the "oh my god I just love your accent!" as much. Or perhaps I was just more aware of it when I first moved here. I'm not knocking people about liking my accent though, it is a compliment and is taken as one.

Personality wise I am exactly the same with my husband as I was before.

Well, for the most part, Canada isn't all that different from the United States, so I didn't have a difficult time "fitting in" there. Some of the words threw me a little, such as "washroom" instead of "bathroom" or "restroom" and other minor things, like "running shoes" instead of "sneakers," but overall, much of what was spoken was the same.

I've never changed myself in Canada. My fiancee can attest to this. I felt no need to do so or to "hide" the fact I am American. I'm very proud to be an American. My fiancee is proud to be a Canadian, and she hasn't very well hidden that in in the U.S., so why should I be expected to do so in her country? Besides, I'm there in Canada for one reason and one reason only -- to see my fiancee. I'm not there to please complete strangers, all of whom have little-to-no bearing on my life.

I found myself behaving the same,but also I let my fiance do most of the talking as prices tended to increase once I opened my American mouth. I always enjoyed myself though and the people I met were really nice.

Well, I didn't really ever change myself. But I was an Air Force baby and I had also travelled alone to Europe, Ireland, and South America before visiting my SO's family for the first time. The only thing I really did was talk less. This was because though my SO's family all speak English well, I do NOT speak German (the 20 phrases I know only go so far....and some aren't really appropriate for mixed company!). I found it odd and somewhat endearing that his friends or friends of my bff would apologize to me for not speaking English better. My thought was "Dude, I'm in YOUR country....I am the one who needs to apologize!" Anyway, I'm slowly picking up words and of course, am shamed by the fact that my son is nearly fluent and teases me mercilessly.


However, I do say "das ist sehr gut" more often in Germany than America. It will remain my favorite phrase (next to "ich bin in gefangenschaft" which can't really be yelled out in public, apparently).

I'm basically the same in Brazil as I am in the U.S. My husband is from the Amazon so the people are shorter and darker than I am. I'm 5'9"/blonde/blue eyes so I don't look typically Amazonian.
For this reason I stand out more, yet sometimes people think I'm from the south of Brazil (large European influence there).
I talk a lot to everyone in Brazil just like I do here so not much changes for me when I'm there. I'm just as extrovertive and adventerous .

Good advice for anyone visiting another country, regardless of where they are from. Btw, what is wrong with fanny packs?