~July 2007 K-1 Filers II~

[mox 298]

Am I the only one or is it a common thing that applying and interviewing for jobs makes me feel so much more like a foreigner and insecure.

Back home I am so confident about those things, but here....... is it a language thing?

Possibly...did you feel like you were struggling to keep up, language-wise? Mostly I think it's probably because you're used to how interviews are conducted back home, which are of course going to be different than here. I've sat interviews in 2 different countries (plus my own country of course!) and both countries conducted the interview differently than I expected and it really threw me off my game.

glass of wine anybody?

I'll drink with ya!

[rae_and_scott 1]

Maybe you guys could try to set a specific amount of money aside each year for family-emergency-money, and whenever christmas and thanksgiving and birthday presents would be due, you could tell them that you wanted to get them a present, but that the budget was already used for helping them out.

I really like that idea. You are still giving but also teaching a lesson at the same time. Excellent!

And I've been drinking wine tonight. A cheapie from Trader Joe's, but sometimes this is just right. Another glass?

[StillThePrettiest 3]

oh MAN; I don't care that it's 6.24am; I am so up for some wine

Am I the only one or is it a common thing that applying and interviewing for jobs makes me feel so much more like a foreigner and insecure.

Back home I am so confident about those things, but here....... is it a language thing?

I think it might be a tiny bit a language thing - but maybe not the way you mean; your English is excellent... but I've been misunderstood enough, even as a native English speaker, over things that sound different because of my accent or because of things we pronounce differently (I'm starting a list! it's quite lengthy ) or because of things we actually have a different word for, to feel quite unsure of myself in situations where I would normally have felt very confident

but the majority of it is, in my experience at least, as maven and mox described... you're just not in your familiar surroundings, and things are different; even little things that you might not consciously pick up on are not as they would be at home, and you end up feeling uncertain... I sympathise GREATLY

mox, great story about the beest lady

good on her for having the guts to approach you... that took some class

and well done you on the creamed corn manoeuvre; that was genius

PS I spelled 'manoeuvre' correctly the first time - doesn't that win me a ten thousand dollar prize under the Geneva convention?

[rae_and_scott 1]

PS I spelled 'manoeuvre' correctly the first time - doesn't that win me a ten thousand dollar prize under the Geneva convention?

Under the Geneva Convention, perhaps, but in the US it's more common to spell it maneuver. No points, no money, sorry, but there is a lovely gift basket of water crackers at the door. Most people aren't big on spelling here. (I hate thinks like Kwik-E-Mart & other intentionally spelled wrong signs -- pet peeve.)

[mox 298]

PS I spelled 'manoeuvre' correctly the first time - doesn't that win me a ten thousand dollar prize under the Geneva convention?

no cuz u speled it rong lern to speek merkin jeez!!!!!

[*julez* 124]

PS I spelled 'manoeuvre' correctly the first time - doesn't that win me a ten thousand dollar prize under the Geneva convention?

Under the Geneva Convention, perhaps, but in the US it's more common to spell it maneuver. No points, no money, sorry, but there is a lovely gift basket of water crackers at the door. Most people aren't big on spelling here. (I hate thinks like Kwik-E-Mart & other intentionally spelled wrong signs -- pet peeve.)

I share the same pet peeve. Would it really hurt business if the shop were named Quick Mart????

[StillThePrettiest 3]

man; slammed immediately and completely

I will NEVER spell the American way in my personal correspondence, so yah boo sucks

and those dudes over at the Geneva Convention office just cut me a cheQUE, so looks like they agree with me B)

(for years, my brother and I have shared misspellings like that - it's not uncommon for one of us to receive an email from the other containing naught but 'Kountry Kamping, arrrrrggghhh!!' or similar, so I share your outrage on THAT count )

[rae_and_scott 1]

(I hate thinks like Kwik-E-Mart & other intentionally spelled wrong signs -- pet peeve.)

Um.... I'm an idiot. I correct StP on her Merkin spelling and then write thinks instead of things?

Course, none of you called me on it.

[English Muffin 59]

Course, none of you called me on it.

I did notice it but being British I am far too polite to say anything.

[StillThePrettiest 3]

yes, don't think for a second that it went unnoticed... I was being polite as well

I mean, don't thing for a second...

no wait; what DO I mean?

I'm in America, where nothing makes sense...

[mox 298]

I think places like "Kwik-E-Mart" are a product of the times they were created in. Back in the day, when it started to be more socially acceptable for American women to enter the workplace, you couldn't expect to come home to a piping hot meal from scratch anymore. Americans were also starting to move away from the cities and out to the 'burbs, and so were becoming more mobile, with less free time. All of this gave rise to convenience foods such as fast food and convenience stores. A name like "Kwik-E-Mart" conveyed the idea that you, the busy commuter, will be in and out in a flash. And back in the '50's and '60's, Americans kinda liked this wordplay. That's why we have brands like Electrolux, Tast-E Freeze, Krispy Kreme, etc.

So for tonight, please finish the rest of chapter 7, and there MAY be a quiz! Oh and Ms. Prettiest, I will accept your paper this time, but in future DO try to remember that there is no "Q" in "check," automobiles do not have "boots" or any other footwear, and that your stubborn refusal to use double quotes when quoting may leave me with no other choice except to recommend to your advisor that you be sent to a remedial English class. Oh, and one more thing, PLEASE do try to remember during your next oral presentation that the proper pronunciation is "nook-you-ler." You're a bright young lady Ms. Prettiest, let's try to get on board shall we?

[rae_and_scott 1]

But why can't they be Quickie Marts, Tasty Freeze, Crispy Creams? Why can't they just be friggin spelled correctly??

*whine*

[mox 298]

But why can't they be Quickie Marts, Tasty Freeze, Crispy Creams? Why can't they just be friggin spelled correctly??

*whine*

Because that's boring. It doesn't Katch your I!

And if you think about it, we do the same sort of thing nowadays, just a little different. It's the electronic age, so take your product and throw an "e" or an "i" (lower case!) in front of it. If you make buggy whips, now you have iBuggyWhips and BAM!! Welcome to the 21st century!! I think that's how it must have been in the 50's and '60's. A word like "ElectroLux" sounded futuristic. A name like "Krispy Kreme" sounded hip.

Edited November 26, 2008 by mox

[*julez* 124]

(I hate thinks like Kwik-E-Mart & other intentionally spelled wrong signs -- pet peeve.)

Um.... I'm an idiot. I correct StP on her Merkin spelling and then write thinks instead of things?

Course, none of you called me on it.

I totally noticed, but like you too much to slam you for it!

[Jeraly 4]

Oh, and one more thing, PLEASE do try to remember during your next oral presentation that the proper pronunciation is "nook-you-ler." You're a bright young lady Ms. Prettiest, let's try to get on board shall we?

Let's not forget "Aluminum"... Of course, changing the proper spelling to how it is pronounced here is perfectly acceptable...

In other news - we got rain here last night (yes, that really is news - it was in the local paper and people were b!tching about how there are going to be loads of accidents - I'm like, get a grip ). Contrary to popular belief, our roof has not been properly fixed so after being woken by a small torrent of water dripping onto my face at 2.30am I am not best pleased. Especially as we spent the next hour pulling out furniture and finding things to catch drips, all the while looking to spot where they might breach next...

So the house is a mess. I can't be bothered to put it all back just for it to happen again, I have a cold and I am feeling miserable because desert people don't know how to build waterproof houses.

More news - the cats are finally training to be roach-catchers. We had one in the bathroom last night (first one in a while) and they were both playing with it. Eventually it ran into the heater (as they do) and we left it. A bit later we hear a bit of a scuffle and the cats fighting. Turns out that when we just had Daisy she wasn't too interested in the roaches, but now we have Riley who is interested, she doesn't want him to have something she doesn't. Result? Two cats fighting over who gets the roach.

Funnily enough, Riley won. Roach is now outside and the ants are eating it... nice(!)