Do you ever approach fellow British people in the US?
Aug 29th 2008, 7:20 am
#46
Lurk Lurk Lurk
Joined: Jul 2004
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 689
Re: Do you ever approach fellow British people in the US?
If I approached all the Brits around here, I'd never get anything accomplished! 
Seriously, when I first moved here I did start to talk to Brits I met in bars and stuff. I made friends with a couple, but most didn't seem to want to know, so I largely gave up. If someone approaches me, though, I usually try and be friendly.
Seriously, when I first moved here I did start to talk to Brits I met in bars and stuff. I made friends with a couple, but most didn't seem to want to know, so I largely gave up. If someone approaches me, though, I usually try and be friendly.
Aug 29th 2008, 8:30 am
#47
The Kwisatz Haderach
Joined: Aug 2008
Location: North Wales
Posts: 8,080
Re: Do you ever approach fellow British people in the US?
Aug 29th 2008, 8:40 am
#48
Resident Sillycow
Joined: Oct 2007
Location: Dunwoody, GA!!
Posts: 1,651
Re: Do you ever approach fellow British people in the US?
Hey! Hey!...Dey don't do dat do dey .....visions of young Melly being surrounded by men with curly hair, moustache's and brightly coloured shell suits
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/image...usetrio203.jpg
Once ran into a lady working at the perfume counter at Bergners in Peoria ...she was from Stroud ....funny thing is she had a very posh accent whilst talking to Yanks and then it went all kind of west country whilst talking to me ....also met an Irishman in the local pub (go figure) had a few drinks and poked fun at the locals ....great guy ....
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/image...usetrio203.jpg
Once ran into a lady working at the perfume counter at Bergners in Peoria ...she was from Stroud ....funny thing is she had a very posh accent whilst talking to Yanks and then it went all kind of west country whilst talking to me ....also met an Irishman in the local pub (go figure) had a few drinks and poked fun at the locals ....great guy ....
Aug 29th 2008, 8:50 am
#49
Banned
Joined: Oct 2004
Location: Santa Monica,CA from Birmingham, UK
Posts: 18,402
Re: Do you ever approach fellow British people in the US?
We get a lot of Brits here.
Last week I saw a little lad in the park with a Wales T-shirt on. I asked his mother if she was Welsh, she said no in a broad Welsh accent and explained she was raised in a Welsh family. She then chatted away to her son in a thick Welsh accent. I saw them again last week with her husband who was also Welsh. So either;
a) She was lying about being Welsh
b) She's adopted her husband's heavy Welsh accent
Very strange
I overheard a Scottish guy last week in the park. I just listened while he talked with another Scottish guy. Both were with their wives and they soon moved onto the subject of the olympics. Within a few sentences the American wife was loudly broadcasting that Scotland should have it's own country at the olympics. I just sat there waiting for the anti-English rant to start, but they soon left.
Ran into a girl from Sheffield at my local store. She was here to be a songwriter. She was nice.
That's all just within the last week. Invariably the conversation is. Where are you from? After I say Birmingham about 90% of British people shout " BEEEEEEEMINGUUUUUUUMMMMM!!" in a faux Brummie accent and think they are being funny and original. Which I find irritating for it's complete un-originality. Next comes the "How long have you been here then??" Kind of a challenge to say I've been here longer and therefore know more. Of course having been here 21 years I am now the smug one with the superior attitude
Last week I saw a little lad in the park with a Wales T-shirt on. I asked his mother if she was Welsh, she said no in a broad Welsh accent and explained she was raised in a Welsh family. She then chatted away to her son in a thick Welsh accent. I saw them again last week with her husband who was also Welsh. So either;
a) She was lying about being Welsh
b) She's adopted her husband's heavy Welsh accent
Very strange
I overheard a Scottish guy last week in the park. I just listened while he talked with another Scottish guy. Both were with their wives and they soon moved onto the subject of the olympics. Within a few sentences the American wife was loudly broadcasting that Scotland should have it's own country at the olympics. I just sat there waiting for the anti-English rant to start, but they soon left.
Ran into a girl from Sheffield at my local store. She was here to be a songwriter. She was nice.
That's all just within the last week. Invariably the conversation is. Where are you from? After I say Birmingham about 90% of British people shout " BEEEEEEEMINGUUUUUUUMMMMM!!" in a faux Brummie accent and think they are being funny and original. Which I find irritating for it's complete un-originality. Next comes the "How long have you been here then??" Kind of a challenge to say I've been here longer and therefore know more. Of course having been here 21 years I am now the smug one with the superior attitude
Last edited by Lord Lionheart; Aug 29th 2008 at 8:54 am.
Aug 29th 2008, 12:28 pm
#50
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Dec 2007
Location: Kansas, USA
Posts: 2,620
Re: Do you ever approach fellow British people in the US?
When I was working at the pharmacy, someone at the drive thru actually phoned their Brit wife so she could speak to me on the phone, lol! and one of the pharmacists used to live in Sevenoaks, which wasn't far from my hometown.
Aug 29th 2008, 12:29 pm
#51
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Dec 2007
Location: Kansas, USA
Posts: 2,620
Re: Do you ever approach fellow British people in the US?
That's all just within the last week. Invariably the conversation is. Where are you from? After I say Birmingham about 90% of British people shout " BEEEEEEEMINGUUUUUUUMMMMM!!" in a faux Brummie accent and think they are being funny and original. Which I find irritating for it's complete un-originality.
lol!
Aug 29th 2008, 12:31 pm
#52
Dis-Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Location: In my house
Posts: 3,560
Re: Do you ever approach fellow British people in the US?
Absolutely not!.....some of the older ones have stun guns 
Aug 29th 2008, 12:33 pm
#53
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2008
Location: United States
Posts: 432
Re: Do you ever approach fellow British people in the US?
I personally love bumping into Brits around here and trying to initiate conversation. That's probably because I get lonely and sometimes long to hear a british accent.
The first conversation I initiated was in Roanoke, Virginia. I was staying with my boyfriend (now hubby) and his family for the holidays and we ate at a chinese restaurant. We were seated next to a family and the mother sounded like she had a british accent. Eventually I just couldn't help myself, I had to ask and she responded well. We exchanged stories of how we ended up out here and it gave me a little boost for some reason.
I've also had other Brits approach me in one of my local bookstores, at the University (that was cool because we both worked there), and at a yard sale opposite a friends house. It's been a while since i've bumped into any Brits, but if I did I would definitly try and initiate conversation!
The first conversation I initiated was in Roanoke, Virginia. I was staying with my boyfriend (now hubby) and his family for the holidays and we ate at a chinese restaurant. We were seated next to a family and the mother sounded like she had a british accent. Eventually I just couldn't help myself, I had to ask and she responded well. We exchanged stories of how we ended up out here and it gave me a little boost for some reason.
I've also had other Brits approach me in one of my local bookstores, at the University (that was cool because we both worked there), and at a yard sale opposite a friends house. It's been a while since i've bumped into any Brits, but if I did I would definitly try and initiate conversation!
Aug 29th 2008, 12:44 pm
#54
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 4,820
Re: Do you ever approach fellow British people in the US?
If I approached all the Brits around here, I'd never get anything accomplished!
Seriously, when I first moved here I did start to talk to Brits I met in bars and stuff. I made friends with a couple, but most didn't seem to want to know, so I largely gave up. If someone approaches me, though, I usually try and be friendly.
Seriously, when I first moved here I did start to talk to Brits I met in bars and stuff. I made friends with a couple, but most didn't seem to want to know, so I largely gave up. If someone approaches me, though, I usually try and be friendly.
Aug 29th 2008, 1:05 pm
#55
Sursum corda
Joined: Sep 2002
Location: Richmond Hill, GA USA
Posts: 38,860
Re: Do you ever approach fellow British people in the US?
We get a lot of Brits here.
Last week I saw a little lad in the park with a Wales T-shirt on. I asked his mother if she was Welsh, she said no in a broad Welsh accent and explained she was raised in a Welsh family. She then chatted away to her son in a thick Welsh accent. I saw them again last week with her husband who was also Welsh. So either;
a) She was lying about being Welsh
b) She's adopted her husband's heavy Welsh accent
Very strange
I overheard a Scottish guy last week in the park. I just listened while he talked with another Scottish guy. Both were with their wives and they soon moved onto the subject of the olympics. Within a few sentences the American wife was loudly broadcasting that Scotland should have it's own country at the olympics. I just sat there waiting for the anti-English rant to start, but they soon left.
Ran into a girl from Sheffield at my local store. She was here to be a songwriter. She was nice.
That's all just within the last week. Invariably the conversation is. Where are you from? After I say Birmingham about 90% of British people shout " BEEEEEEEMINGUUUUUUUMMMMM!!" in a faux Brummie accent and think they are being funny and original. Which I find irritating for it's complete un-originality. Next comes the "How long have you been here then??" Kind of a challenge to say I've been here longer and therefore know more. Of course having been here 21 years I am now the smug one with the superior attitude
Last week I saw a little lad in the park with a Wales T-shirt on. I asked his mother if she was Welsh, she said no in a broad Welsh accent and explained she was raised in a Welsh family. She then chatted away to her son in a thick Welsh accent. I saw them again last week with her husband who was also Welsh. So either;
a) She was lying about being Welsh
b) She's adopted her husband's heavy Welsh accent
Very strange
I overheard a Scottish guy last week in the park. I just listened while he talked with another Scottish guy. Both were with their wives and they soon moved onto the subject of the olympics. Within a few sentences the American wife was loudly broadcasting that Scotland should have it's own country at the olympics. I just sat there waiting for the anti-English rant to start, but they soon left.
Ran into a girl from Sheffield at my local store. She was here to be a songwriter. She was nice.
That's all just within the last week. Invariably the conversation is. Where are you from? After I say Birmingham about 90% of British people shout " BEEEEEEEMINGUUUUUUUMMMMM!!" in a faux Brummie accent and think they are being funny and original. Which I find irritating for it's complete un-originality. Next comes the "How long have you been here then??" Kind of a challenge to say I've been here longer and therefore know more. Of course having been here 21 years I am now the smug one with the superior attitude
Aug 29th 2008, 1:23 pm
#56
Septic Sprout
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 7,994
Re: Do you ever approach fellow British people in the US?
Mrs tonrob's German - and we can spot her fellow countrypeople a mile off too - even if their armpits are covered!
Aug 29th 2008, 1:59 pm
#57
Dizzy Blonde
Joined: Sep 2007
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio.
Posts: 964
Re: Do you ever approach fellow British people in the US?
I've yet to hear a brit where I am, although the other day when I said 'I thought there would be loads of brits in Cincinnati', I was politely informed that 'You're not in Cincinnati, You're in hickville USA - we're not used to your type around here, get used to being a novelty' 
USC hubby thinks neither me nor the kids look one bit american, and that we stand out like a sore thumb..... he puts it down to the fact that we are all natural blonde with green eyes and freckles, and I have to admit, most of the people round this way are dark hair and eyes, with the exception of the odd mid-brown and peroxide blonde (I can spot them a miles off) so we do look different.
Although this may also be something to do with the fact that in this weather I sit out and worship the sun when everyone else is being sensible and sitting inside with the AC on!
USC hubby thinks neither me nor the kids look one bit american, and that we stand out like a sore thumb..... he puts it down to the fact that we are all natural blonde with green eyes and freckles, and I have to admit, most of the people round this way are dark hair and eyes, with the exception of the odd mid-brown and peroxide blonde (I can spot them a miles off
) so we do look different.Although this may also be something to do with the fact that in this weather I sit out and worship the sun when everyone else is being sensible and sitting inside with the AC on!
Aug 29th 2008, 3:13 pm
#58
And YOU'RE paying for it!
Joined: May 2007
Location: kipper tie?
Posts: 2,328
Re: Do you ever approach fellow British people in the US?
I admit that this might sound quite unfriendly!
it's even worse when it comes from suppliers - it makes me much less likely to give them business. I don't want my nightmare colleague to make snotty suggestions of favoritism...
Aug 29th 2008, 3:19 pm
#59
And YOU'RE paying for it!
Joined: May 2007
Location: kipper tie?
Posts: 2,328
Re: Do you ever approach fellow British people in the US?
and then I read EB's post and felt like a bit of a tool for my attitude. OK, I'll try to tone down the snootiness and be a bit friendlier if I'm approached in the future. sorry!
Aug 29th 2008, 3:33 pm
#60
Banned
Joined: Oct 2004
Location: Santa Monica,CA from Birmingham, UK
Posts: 18,402
Re: Do you ever approach fellow British people in the US?
So I just took a drive from my garden to the beach. I stopped at a very busy crosswalk near the beach, there's lot's of bars, tourists, kids on skateboards, strollers etc. I wanted to take care that no one crossed at the green light before I made a right turn. Someone drove up behind me and laid heavily on their horn before I safely proceeded with my right turn.
After pulling next to me she wound her window down and an older lady in her mid 50's screamed out of her passenger window "Stop bloody posing" in an English accent. I guess because I was driving my convertible Jaguar. Ironically she was driving a newer ( and cheapo) X-type Jaguar.
Must be my week for meeting British arseholes.
I drove off before she detected my accent and screamed BEEEEEEMMINGHUUUUUUM
After pulling next to me she wound her window down and an older lady in her mid 50's screamed out of her passenger window "Stop bloody posing" in an English accent. I guess because I was driving my convertible Jaguar. Ironically she was driving a newer ( and cheapo) X-type Jaguar.
Must be my week for meeting British arseholes.
I drove off before she detected my accent and screamed BEEEEEEMMINGHUUUUUUM