Some of your know that my Daughter is in the UK for a week (she's the one that had a nightmare on Virgin Flight - 'suspicious sick person' on board!!)
Anyway..as any 18 year old would.. she has completely stretched herself all over the place to see all the friends and family that she can..

She calls me this morning almost in tears saying that she is sick of people saying things like 'oh its not ATM, its cashpoint, your not american ya know' or 'its not Gas its petrol, tut...' Then people saying " so whats it like in California?" and then she tells them they are like "yeah ok, don't rub it in" :curse: WTF?? Do they think she's doing it to show off?? Do they have any idea what its like to live in another country??

What do people expect??? Would they be happier if she was having a terrible time over here?? Mostly I have to say its her friends of the same age.. and yes its an immaturatey and jealously issue i'm sure.. but jeeezzzz ... Some family friends have also made comments!

Ofcourse she has picked up on the slang... infact all 3 of my kids have made an effort to use their friends terminology because they were sick of being picked up for their English expressions!!!

On one hand people are getting annoyed cos she can't spend as much time with them as hoped, and on the other hand their getting narked with her cos shes loving her new life and using Americanisms...

She was so happy to be home on a visit.. (although she never wants to live there again ) and I wanted it to be a really positive visit for her,
I just don't get people sometimes, truely I don't.. What's wrong with just being happy for some???

But s'ok I'm back in UK friday... I'll be telling some home truths and no mistaking

jealousy #1 ...don't let it bother you, peeps just don't know, haven't a clue.

My sister's like that. She'll start telling me "Your President Bush ..blah blah.. warmonger... imperialist.. blah blah"
I want to say, "Yes. I DO live in America, but I'm not a fu**ing idiot, yet. If you want to tell me something, tell me something I don't know."

I agree...jealousy. We've been through similar experiences...it's unfortunate that it happens but you learn to grow a thick skin over the years. Just try to keep smiling and let them have their say and then come home and sit in the sun with a large glass of Californian wine !

I know what you mean.. Just infuriates me! Why pick up on the bad stuff? Honestly I wanna say to people.. ' you can say nice things, ya know even how lovely it must be to be experiancing new and exciting things... its actually quite good for the soul to be NICE!'

californian wine

french please

it's hard for peeps to say things like that, esp if they are a tiny bit jealous.

How sad...

Well if I was 18 and was having the life she's having at the moment, I think I would feel the same... Early days though...

never say never eh

I had a bottle of Californian wine which only cost $2 the other day and really enjoyed it....... and I'm not afraid to admit it!

I did too

I'm sure she'll realise in due course...

good for you......i much prefer the french or chilean wines.