Originally Posted by jasper123

Avril, this what you say here is very interesting, I feel the same way as you --- but in reverse!!! as you know I lived in US for a long time just like you, and in all those years I had not one British friend, I never came across any that actually lived there ----- only tourists, and I would talk to them briefly on ocacasins but I had nothing really in common with them really, mostly cause I had lived in US for so long and only knew Americans, and although I had few friends over the years, the ones I did have were real friends to me, and now Im back home in UK I still keep in touch with two of my long time dearest and best friends Ive ever had in my life, and thetr both American, one was born and raised in New York and the other California,
And the US was where I spent most of my working life so I was used to the wonderful social aspect of just how americans are when they are at work, I had a lot of work friends that were great to be around, mostly the friendships would stay at work ---- with some exceptions, but that good too,
Now Im back home I find it difficult to speak to English people at any lengh, I find that I have very little if anything in common with them,
where in America I could talk to my friends there for hours and hours and never run out of things to talk about, mainly I think cause ----- like you say about your English friends, you have some history, and things in common with them ---- well with me its the oppisite you see, just about all the history that I can remember has been in America with American people, and I have lots in common with them, and in a lot of ways I still think like Americans.

Originally Posted by dunroving

.......
However, I have similar experiences to you here - my 20+ years in the US sometimes mean that I am culturally ignorant (I often have to ask who someone is - besides knowing the Spice Girls and David Beckham, my knowledge and experience of popular culture and British current affairs 1983-2006 is largely non-existent). I also don't want to become a bore by constantly referring to the US ...

Originally Posted by J.JsOH

+1
We go out ocasionally with friends that we knew before USA + their friends. Their hobbies are sport and pub quizzes about which I know zilch and in avoiding talk of USA myself I am often left looking blank and with nowt to say on any subject.
I must try to bone up beforehand on some questions I can put to them to keep them talking. DW is good at questioning so I let her lead.

Originally Posted by dunroving

I was friends in the US with a British couple and always enjoyed catching up with them, because there were things we could talk about that an American would never get - we had a shared history of growing up in the UK. But that just meant I had a different relationship with them and a different way of interacting. I never had any problem talking with my US friends.

However, I have similar experiences to you here - my 20+ years in the US sometimes mean that I am culturally ignorant (I often have to ask who someone is - besides knowing the Spice Girls and David Beckham, my knowledge and experience of popular culture and British current affairs 1983-2006 is largely non-existent). I also don't want to become a bore by constantly referring to the US ...

Originally Posted by cheers

Well its luvley here with clear blue skies and nice and warm.

Originally Posted by trottytrue

Its nasty here in New Hampshire raining and windy. But better than the humidity. At least I dont feel like a wet blanket.

Here's a question...I have a jar of Horlicks which had gone rock solid so I thought I would dry it out in the Microwave....Not the thing to do now I have a big blob of horlicks. Anyone any idea how to dry it out and does anyone have any ideas what to do with a big blob of Horlicks.......