Are Americans really an different to us?
Apr 9th 2009, 7:03 pm
#31
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Re: Are Americans really an different to us?
When i was a kid we used to go visit my auntie in Birmingham and we'd take pack lunches and games for the car journey. It was a 1.5 hour journey and we thought it was far. My wife drives further than that to go shopping now.
Apr 9th 2009, 7:16 pm
#34
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Re: Are Americans really an different to us?
I have a cheshire accent too, believe me you will stick out like a sore thumb,as soon as you open your mouth
Hubby is from S.Cali and he tells me he doesn't have an accent, he says it is just 'American' 
The people here are no different from anywhere else, you will find snobs, racists, jerks, comedians, talkative, genuine, generous and wonderful people, just like you can all over the world. Don't form any opinions before you get here, come with the idea that you will fit in if you allow yourself too and will make some great friends, but you will not like everyone you meet. That's just life!
Have fun and good luck
Apr 9th 2009, 7:17 pm
#35
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Apr 9th 2009, 7:18 pm
#36
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Apr 9th 2009, 7:24 pm
#38
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Re: Are Americans really an different to us?
I have a cheshire accent too, believe me you will stick out like a sore thumb,as soon as you open your mouth Hubby is from S.Cali and he tells me he doesn't have an accent, he says it is just 'American'
The people here are no different from anywhere else, you will find snobs, racists, jerks, comedians, talkative, genuine, generous and wonderful people, just like you can all over the world. Don't form any opinions before you get here, come with the idea that you will fit in if you allow yourself too and will make some great friends, but you will not like everyone you meet. That's just life!
Have fun and good luck
Hubby is from S.Cali and he tells me he doesn't have an accent, he says it is just 'American' The people here are no different from anywhere else, you will find snobs, racists, jerks, comedians, talkative, genuine, generous and wonderful people, just like you can all over the world. Don't form any opinions before you get here, come with the idea that you will fit in if you allow yourself too and will make some great friends, but you will not like everyone you meet. That's just life!
Have fun and good luck
yeah i thought their would be individual differences but i wondered if their were any truths in stereotypes as different cultures are bound to have different ways of socialising. i just hope they are warm and have a good sense of humour, Americans i have met have often seemed to be confident and loud which i can be intimidated by, as a shy person.
Last edited by yodfrodo; Apr 9th 2009 at 7:26 pm.
Apr 9th 2009, 7:24 pm
#39
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 35,082
Re: Are Americans really an different to us?
It's the flip side of the 'taking the piss' type of humor. If your jokes are all at the expense of your audience (making fun of that person or his clan), people won't stay friendly for long.
Apr 9th 2009, 7:25 pm
#40
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Apr 9th 2009, 7:25 pm
#41
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Re: Are Americans really an different to us?
hmm what is the flipside???
sorry for sounding stupid.
sorry for sounding stupid.
Apr 9th 2009, 7:37 pm
#42
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Re: Are Americans really an different to us?
What are Americans like ?
I have been looking for an uncontroversial thread where I can add my four peneth
ok well we are off to a good start by identifying the State and it's Virginia
It's the SOUTH !
All American ladies without any exceptions have a dim view of Southern Belles because they respect their menfolk and Northern women don't - so the Southerners are letting the side down
With my beautiful sophisticated West Yorkshire accent, I was preferred by the Atlanta ladies and the LaGrange ladies, to far more handsome specimens with big belt buckles and impressive cowboy hats which were larger than the average Bradford council flat..
The guys I worked with, worked 14 hours a day and weekends and the 'little lady' was treated like a servant/hostess ... Their wives were 90% stunning in Georgia
I report that it doesn't work anywhere north of the mason/dixon line where you are just an 'alien'
American men are enormously respectful to each other because they assume the other guy has either a loaded firearm or a huge todjer hidden in his chaparrals
Once they know you are unarmed and have even 1 teeny weeny reservation about the US, they will beat you to pulp
Actually I know Irishmen in the UK who are like that if you even try to give a historically correct account of the famine
So buy a big car, use lots of petrol and drink corona especial only - take a low profile and remember the yorkshireman's creed - and you will be fine.
The Yorkshireman's creed>
http://www.lancasterauthentic.com/english-accent.htm
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I have been looking for an uncontroversial thread where I can add my four peneth
ok well we are off to a good start by identifying the State and it's Virginia
It's the SOUTH !
All American ladies without any exceptions have a dim view of Southern Belles because they respect their menfolk and Northern women don't - so the Southerners are letting the side down
With my beautiful sophisticated West Yorkshire accent, I was preferred by the Atlanta ladies and the LaGrange ladies, to far more handsome specimens with big belt buckles and impressive cowboy hats which were larger than the average Bradford council flat..
The guys I worked with, worked 14 hours a day and weekends and the 'little lady' was treated like a servant/hostess ... Their wives were 90% stunning in Georgia
I report that it doesn't work anywhere north of the mason/dixon line where you are just an 'alien'
American men are enormously respectful to each other because they assume the other guy has either a loaded firearm or a huge todjer hidden in his chaparrals
Once they know you are unarmed and have even 1 teeny weeny reservation about the US, they will beat you to pulp
Actually I know Irishmen in the UK who are like that if you even try to give a historically correct account of the famine
So buy a big car, use lots of petrol and drink corona especial only - take a low profile and remember the yorkshireman's creed - and you will be fine.
The Yorkshireman's creed>
http://www.lancasterauthentic.com/english-accent.htm
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Apr 9th 2009, 8:31 pm
#43
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Re: Are Americans really an different to us?
do they know your british or do you have to tell them, do they like or dislike your accent?? ive always thought my accent was pretty shitty.
yeah i thought their would be individual differences but i wondered if their were any truths in stereotypes as different cultures are bound to have different ways of socialising. i just hope they are warm and have a good sense of humour, Americans i have met have often seemed to be confident and loud which i can be intimidated by, as a shy person.
yeah i thought their would be individual differences but i wondered if their were any truths in stereotypes as different cultures are bound to have different ways of socialising. i just hope they are warm and have a good sense of humour, Americans i have met have often seemed to be confident and loud which i can be intimidated by, as a shy person.
Yes, they usually get that I am British pretty quick, apart from the odd few that think I am an Aussie! Some will ask where I am from before they guess. I have never heard anyone say they didn't like the Brit accent, there are quite a few words that don't mean the same thing in US as in UK... rubber here is condom, not eraser, fag is gay guy, not ciggy etc...so that can cause a few giggles at times, you will learn to use the US terms pretty quickly.
As for differences in socializing, not really anything I can think of, Americans are very sociable people, love to go out to eat, theatre, sports games etc, there are not too many UK type pubs here, but lots of sports bars. Very family oriented people too, much more involved in the kids schools, after school activities take up a lot of time here.
I haven't really met too many 'loud' Americans, I think that is one of those stereotypes, that isn't always true. They may not all 'get' your British humour though, I have found that sometimes they just don't understand it, don't really find it funny, depending on the type of joke...You have to remember that this is a 'PC gone mad'(politically correct) Country, a lot of British humour isn't, or not too much of it (yet) If you just give people a chance and get to know them a little, you will know who you can have a laugh with and who may be a little more serious. One thing I have noticed about American people, is that when you do get to know them and become friends with someone, they are friends forever, very loyal and sincere for the most part.
Apr 9th 2009, 8:35 pm
#44
Joined: Mar 2009
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Re: Are Americans really an different to us?
The only thing they find funny is when you use the wrong word like 'toilet' instead of bathroom (is there a bath in there?). They don't understand the word sarcasm let alone get it. So basically don't take the piss out of them, but they appear to find it amusing to take the piss out of me using the wrong words (well the right words, it is the English language).
Apr 9th 2009, 8:39 pm
#45
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Re: Are Americans really an different to us?
In september i will be moving to US for 6 months to 1 year. I basically want to know what Americans are like. I hear alot of stereotypes but im not sure i believe them. Are there any clear differences which are obvious??
i will be very lonely if i cannot make friends. I am quite a shy person but when people are very like me i can usually come out my shell. i like making a joke out of everything, i like 'taking the piss' out of my friends, i sort of like spontaniaty (sp) and self-depricating people. i find people who take themselves seriously quite intimidating.
do you think i will be liked? Is there any anti-english people there? does being english make you kind of stand out??
i will be very lonely if i cannot make friends. I am quite a shy person but when people are very like me i can usually come out my shell. i like making a joke out of everything, i like 'taking the piss' out of my friends, i sort of like spontaniaty (sp) and self-depricating people. i find people who take themselves seriously quite intimidating.
do you think i will be liked? Is there any anti-english people there? does being english make you kind of stand out??
I've always found that making friends in the US is a very simple job... A lot easier than in England. I spent some time being suspicious as some people almost seemed to be too eager to be friendly, but I think that most Americans are more accepting than a lot of Brits can be.
Best watch out for the excessive sarcasm around some people... I think it either annoys Yanks or they simply miss it and you end up spending the next 10 minutes explaining what you really meant. Edit: As N1cky just said, sarcasm can backfire as they may think you're taking the piss - My MIL still hates me because of my sarcasm when we first moved over.
I've come across my fair share of anti-English types... Based entirely on my own experiences, a lot of people who claim Irish ancestry seem to have a greater dislike of the English than real Irish people.
Best of luck in your stay in the US.