Anecdotes from America

[Hotter Otter 1,211]

Today I was asked how much the royal baby weighed when she was born. When I asked how I was expected to know I was told "because you are British!" I was unaware that the Queen was going to send me a personal telegram with the news the moment the new arrival popped its little head out.

But this lead me to remember that many of us have funny anecdotes from conversations and misunderstandings that we have with Americans so share them here. How many times have you been asked if you were Australian, or even French? Have you ever mistakenly used a word in its British context only to find out it offends in the US?

[rhirhi 35]

Not a story about a misunderstanding (although there have been plenty!) but yesterday there was a town election. I work at a school, which was one of the polling stations, so I got harassed by the various groups on both my way in and out of work. I eventually got so frustrated that I said to one guy "I can't vote, at least not in this country!" and he responded by punching the air and yelling "GOD SAVE THE QUEEN" as I walked away!

I think I may actually have been able to vote in the election so I'm just glad he didn't know enough about it to call me out on it

[Boiler 43,435]

8lbs 3oz, odd that it was announced in Imperial rather than Metric?

I have had to explain where Wales is and that there is a Welsh language.

[MacUK 983]

Today I was asked how much the royal baby weighed when she was born. When I asked how I was expected to know I was told "because you are British!" I was unaware that the Queen was going to send me a personal telegram with the news the moment the new arrival popped its little head out.

But this lead me to remember that many of us have funny anecdotes from conversations and misunderstandings that we have with Americans so share them here. How many times have you been asked if you were Australian, or even French? Have you ever mistakenly used a word in its British context only to find out it offends in the US?

Telegram? How quaint

Her Maj, Lizzie MkII texted me as soon as young Kate dropped her sprog.

As for anecdotes, dozens in the relatively short time I was in the US...

-Got accused of having a 'fake English accent' at a drive-in restaurant.

-When getting a tattoo done I had to go and get my Union Flag off the car so the artist could draw it as he'd never heard of it.

-Same Union Flag on the car, a plumber asked me if it was some sort of rebel flag. The irony amused me.

-Managed to convince the ex's daughter that Heathrow airport was a field with a grass runway where the farmer would have to shoo off the sheep between landings/take offs.

-Had to 'educate' a teacher at the kids middle school on the differences between England and the UK. Child had been set a homework project to do a presentation about 'England', I helped out with such things as the St. Georges cross and suchlike. I was surprised when she got a Fail mark so went to see the teacher only to be told that she thought England and the UK were all the same thing.

[wbeem 567]

-Got accused of having a 'fake English accent' at a drive-in restaurant.

-Same Union Flag on the car, a plumber asked me if it was some sort of rebel flag. The irony amused me.

Loved these two the most!

[lost_at_sea 995]

Someone had a baby?

I do a fairly decent job of not processing stuff like that. Very glad to be far from that. I don't even know what it's called.

Quite excited to see what happens with the election - and generally curious to see who, if anyone, around me takes notice of the fact that there is a GE going on in my homeland right now. I got my postal vote in.

[lost_at_sea 995]

8lbs 3oz, odd that it was announced in Imperial rather than Metric?

I have had to explain where Wales is and that there is a Welsh language.

I'm Cornish. I've had to explain what/where that is, too, and what all that "recognised national minority" stuff was that happened.

[ChasUno 101]

One of my first trips to the USA, the belt on my bum bag broke. My friends took me to the local Target to buy another, but we couldn't find the aisle they were supposed to be in. My friend then went up to one of the Store Clerks and said "'Scuse me Lady, where can I find some fanny packs?"

I was absolutely mortified, went bright red and wanted the ground to swallow me up. Someone I thought was a well mannered friend had just gone up to a complete stranger and used such derogatory language towards her!

To my complete surprise, the Store Clerk didn't bat an eyelid and directed us to the aisle where we could find 'fanny packs'. My friend sensing that I was in a bit of shock asked me what was up. I told him that I couldn't believe he'd gone up to lady store worker and used the word "fanny". It was then it was explained to me that the word "fanny" in the USA has a totally different meaning, and meant English "bum"...

And "bum" means something different too! We use to describe an #######/ ###, they use it to describe a tramp. So many UK/ USA words are spelt exactly the same yet have different meanings. With all my trips to the USA I am now bi-lingual - UK English and USA English!

[wbeem 567]

ChasUno, so true! I could rattle off a list of everyday items found in most grocery stores in the UK, the names of which I wouldn't dare utter in public in the USA.

[Hotter Otter 1,211]

ChasUno, so true! I could rattle off a list of everyday items found in most grocery stores in the UK, the names of which I wouldn't dare utter in public in the USA.

Spotted #######?

Mind you, our local grocery store sells a product called "####### flavoured soup" that gets me every time I see it!

* edit the censor got me. Imagine a male chicken for the second blanked out word

Edited May 7, 2015 by Hotter Otter

[wbeem 567]

Spotted #######?

Mind you, our local grocery store sells a product called "####### flavoured soup" that gets me every time I see it!

* edit the censor got me. Imagine a male chicken for the second blanked out word

Oh, don't worry. I'm still in the UK and have to shop at Tesco. I knew what it was even with the ### signs

Also, in the frozen food department, McBrains roasted .... I can't type the word. I think I'd be banned on this forum for even trying

[Cam54 84]

Love this topic. One of my colleagues is bilingual in English and Spanish so I remarked it was cool that she could speak two languages, her response was "well you speak another language too in England dont you?", bless her, certainly feels like we do sometimes.

I also frequently get asked about the Queen's condition, I say shes doing well because its easier than explaining that I dont know her personally or keep record of her situation, And I get mistaken for a Kiwi or Aussie on a daily basis

[cowboysgirlfriend 1]

We once had a discussion about "Morning Glory Muffins". At first, husband and I thought we were talking about the same thing, but I couldn't understand why he didn't think it was a weird thing and he couldn't understand why I thought it was so strange. Then I asked him how he knew they were bran based, and what does bran have to do with it anyway?

Turns out morning glory in the US is more of a digestive health indicator than a, er... morning... fun time indicator?!

[2ndMessiah 184]

I'm Cornish. I've had to explain what/where that is, too, and what all that "recognised national minority" stuff was that happened.

Ohh just like the pastie.... nice

[Cody and Daisy 373]

This is brilliant.

I've not had anything like these yet, apart from the fact that no one can ever understand me, especially when I spell out something...

It's literally like they think I'm talking gibberish.

I said to a few friends the other day though that I had to buy a swimming costume... That sent their heads rolling.