Is it just me?
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2009
Location: Dunedin
Posts: 45
Is it just me?
I have been here 14 years and yet every day i hear the same question: "How long have you been here?" Followed by: "You haven't lost your accent have you?" What do people expect, that we suddenly morph into the Briscoes lady, and say "men and woman" "good as gold" or my personal favourite (not) "anyhoo". Its not as if i am from a part of the UK with a very strong regonal accent like say a Geordy, Brummie or someone from Ulster. I am probably just a grumpy so and so but i do get a bit fed up with the same question. frown:
#3
Re: Is it just me?
[QUOTE=Kiwiprincess;
Rant away though. People need to rant.[/QUOTE]
Indeed we (I) do.
Rant away though. People need to rant.[/QUOTE]
Indeed we (I) do.
#4
Re: Is it just me?
I have been here 14 years and yet every day i hear the same question: "How long have you been here?" Followed by: "You haven't lost your accent have you?" What do people expect, that we suddenly morph into the Briscoes lady, and say "men and woman" "good as gold" or my personal favourite (not) "anyhoo". Its not as if i am from a part of the UK with a very strong regonal accent like say a Geordy, Brummie or someone from Ulster. I am probably just a grumpy so and so but i do get a bit fed up with the same question. frown:
'and where in Australia do you come from'? How long have you been here?
and 'when are you leaving'?
And when I turned up in NZ for a visit, strangers I met would assume I was a 'pom'.
Its a real no win situation I am afraid, its best from my point of view anyway to find a bit of a standard answer to the question, I had to, for my own sanity, so you can just reel off the same answer every time
How long have you been here?
answer: "about 70 years."
"You haven't lost your accent have you?"
Answer; Why? do you think I ought to?
These people you come across are probably like the ones I met in UK, they are just making frivolous conversation and passing the time of day... no harm is meant by it but I understand it can become quite draining at times.
Heaven forbid that anyone should turn into the Briscoes lady; she's well past her sell by date
#5
Re: Is it just me?
Friend of mine is Chinese. Her family can be traced to the gold rushes (the males obviously).You should see her reaction when people suggest she goes 'home'/how long they have been here. Asks them if Stokes Valley is far enough away for them.
Maybe people are curious though and just making conversation. It's a pretty easy topic to talk about -not to mention a lot of kiwis have been to the UK so will possibly spark the conversation that way. It's not unusual though. I know a number of people who live in different countries who regularly get asked how long they have been there - particularly those in the trades (presumably they meet a lot more people on a day to day basis than someone who works in an office?).
Maybe people are curious though and just making conversation. It's a pretty easy topic to talk about -not to mention a lot of kiwis have been to the UK so will possibly spark the conversation that way. It's not unusual though. I know a number of people who live in different countries who regularly get asked how long they have been there - particularly those in the trades (presumably they meet a lot more people on a day to day basis than someone who works in an office?).
#6
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Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2009
Location: Dunedin
Posts: 45
Re: Is it just me?
No one has ever been anything but friendly when asking the questions, its just that it makes you think you will never belong and will always be an alien. It is Paul Henry and also my boss who say "anyhoo" instead of "anyhow" but maybe it is just them being plonkers.
#7
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Joined: Nov 2007
Location: homeless
Posts: 1,756
Re: Is it just me?
British accents are,
in fact,
the number one cause of
hot (?) women dating nerdy British men
in fact,
the number one cause of
hot (?) women dating nerdy British men