How American have you become?
Mar 14th 2005, 10:41 am
#46
Just around the next bend
Joined: Sep 2002
Location: Missouri
Posts: 2,276
Re: How American have you become?
Originally Posted by strim
When I was first over, I ran in to some trouble at the deli...
deli: what bread do you want?
me: brown bread
deli: what?
me: brown bread
deli: you want round bread? (Puzzled expression)
me: no, brown bread (slightly exasperated)
deli: round bread?
me: brown bread (slowly)
deli: (??!!! is this guy a nutter)
at which point an english colleague who had been chuckling to himself stepped up and said he wants wholewheat!
deli: what bread do you want?
me: brown bread
deli: what?
me: brown bread
deli: you want round bread? (Puzzled expression)
me: no, brown bread (slightly exasperated)
deli: round bread?
me: brown bread (slowly)
deli: (??!!! is this guy a nutter)
at which point an english colleague who had been chuckling to himself stepped up and said he wants wholewheat!
shop guy: white or wheat?
me: do you have granary?
s.g: pardon me?
me: bread with grains in it?
s.g: no, ma'am, just white or wheat.
my husband: wheat means wholewheat
s.g: we call it wheat because it's made of wheat flour.
me: so what flour is the white bread made from?
s.g: *blank stare*
In the end I opted for wheat.
As for the 'wadder' option in restaurants, I just can't bring myself to say wadder. Several times I've been told they don't serve water.
Last edited by dbark; Mar 14th 2005 at 10:45 am.
Mar 14th 2005, 11:24 am
#47
Homebody
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: HOME
Posts: 23,182
Re: How American have you become?
It's when you start saying mAgazine you're really doomed!
Mar 14th 2005, 1:35 pm
#48
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 307
Re: How American have you become?
Originally Posted by Guelder Rose
Well, I just find that a bit too weird! Do they also call their children God - and if so, how is that pronounced? I heard something about a G in Spanish not sounding like a G?
Now I'm wondering whether the Mexicans think we get it all wrong when we pronounce a J like a J, rather than an H? And ... if the J is an H, then how is the H pronounced?
Now I'm wondering whether the Mexicans think we get it all wrong when we pronounce a J like a J, rather than an H? And ... if the J is an H, then how is the H pronounced?
Hubby's name is Hinojosa -- and even in south Texas where the name is quite common it gets misprounounced! H is not pronounced at all and the J is an H, so it sounds like Inohosa.
Mar 14th 2005, 3:03 pm
#49
Rock Goddess
Joined: Jan 2003
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 1,429
Re: How American have you become?
I definitely have an accent now...my Mum keeps telling me off! I can tell the difference when I talk to someone from back home because I sound different and English people sound strange to me now. I never thought that would happen. I had an ex once who lived in New York, (she was English) and she'd lived there for 30 years and still sounded 100% English...not a trace of American. I don't know how she did it. I must just be one of those susceptible types! 
I can tell the difference when I talk to someone from back home because I sound different and English people sound strange to me now. I never thought that would happen. I had an ex once who lived in New York, (she was English) and she'd lived there for 30 years and still sounded 100% English...not a trace of American. I don't know how she did it. I must just be one of those susceptible types!
Mar 14th 2005, 5:05 pm
#50
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: back in Gods own country..
Posts: 4,007
Re: How American have you become?
Originally Posted by dbark
Well, in the sandwich shop, the first time, the conversation went like this:
shop guy: white or wheat?
me: do you have granary?
s.g: pardon me?
me: bread with grains in it?
s.g: no, ma'am, just white or wheat.
my husband: wheat means wholewheat
s.g: we call it wheat because it's made of wheat flour.
me: so what flour is the white bread made from?
s.g: *blank stare*
In the end I opted for wheat.
As for the 'wadder' option in restaurants, I just can't bring myself to say wadder. Several times I've been told they don't serve water.
shop guy: white or wheat?
me: do you have granary?
s.g: pardon me?
me: bread with grains in it?
s.g: no, ma'am, just white or wheat.
my husband: wheat means wholewheat
s.g: we call it wheat because it's made of wheat flour.
me: so what flour is the white bread made from?
s.g: *blank stare*
In the end I opted for wheat.
As for the 'wadder' option in restaurants, I just can't bring myself to say wadder. Several times I've been told they don't serve water.
me "bottle of water please"
shop woman "excuse me"
me "sorry bottle of water please"
shop woman "oh sorry you want a pretzel"
me "no sorry I'd like a bottle of water"
shop woman "a plain pretzel"
me "no a bottle of water please"
shop woman "what"
me "water please"
shop woman "sorry, we don't have plain pretzels"
me "no W..A..T..E..R.. please" I was also waving a bottle of water in her face that I picked up from behind the counter..
shop woman "ooooh, you don't want a plain pretzel now, just a bottle of wadder"
me...walked away...
Mar 14th 2005, 5:21 pm
#51
Powder Maggot
Joined: Nov 2004
Location: Nuevo Mexico
Posts: 4,452
Re: How American have you become?
Originally Posted by woodsey
me "bottle of water please"
Mar 14th 2005, 11:17 pm
#52
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,848
Re: How American have you become?
Originally Posted by AdobePinon
Well, it's obvious. The problem's in the last word.
On the TV in our area there is an advert for 'Aquafina' (which is owned by Pepsi Cola, I think).
However, the voice-over is by an English chap and he definitely pronounces it as waTer....
Mar 15th 2005, 12:53 am
#53
Not living a 9 to 5 life
Joined: Jun 2002
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 11,061
Re: How American have you become?
Originally Posted by AdobePinon
Well, it's obvious. The problem's in the last word.
I'm afraid I can't get out of the British habit of including these words in my daily conversation...
NC Penguin
Mar 15th 2005, 1:01 am
#54
Account Closed
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 8,266
Re: How American have you become?
A close friend came over on holiday from S.A. the second year or so that we were here, and was highly upset when he heard me on the phone speaking to a friend with an American accent. I told him that she wouldn't understand me otherwise. He wasn't convinced until someone asked him for the time a day later and kept saying 'excuse me' when he replied.
Mar 15th 2005, 2:38 am
#55
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 3,338
Re: How American have you become?
Originally Posted by NC Penguin
Good point. I've noticed that Americans don't tend to use "please" and "thank you" when speaking to members of the public. e.g. grocery store cashiers, in eating establishments, etc.
I'm afraid I can't get out of the British habit of including these words in my daily conversation...
NC Penguin
I'm afraid I can't get out of the British habit of including these words in my daily conversation...
NC Penguin
Mar 15th 2005, 2:59 am
#56
Account Closed
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 8,266
Re: How American have you become?
Originally Posted by NC Penguin
Good point. I've noticed that Americans don't tend to use "please" and "thank you" when speaking to members of the public. e.g. grocery store cashiers, in eating establishments, etc.
I'm afraid I can't get out of the British habit of including these words in my daily conversation...
NC Penguin
I'm afraid I can't get out of the British habit of including these words in my daily conversation...
NC Penguin
Mar 15th 2005, 3:11 am
#57
Not living a 9 to 5 life
Joined: Jun 2002
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 11,061
Re: How American have you become?
Originally Posted by izibear
I think that was my first shocker. I had a teenage girl staying with us (my best friend and her kids moved over stateside a month after we did), and her friends would waltz into the house, walk right past, and not even say hello. I saw red for a while, and informed the kid to kindly point out to her friends that I expected to at least be greeted in my own home.
How did she react to being asked to be friendly to you? I hope it didn't end with the girl's parents coming over to have a "chat" with you...
NC Penguin
Mar 15th 2005, 5:31 am
#58
Account Closed
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 8,266
Re: How American have you become?
Originally Posted by NC Penguin
Maybe that's a generational thing. She's the rebellious type and doesn't want to communicate with the older generation.
How did she react to being asked to be friendly to you? I hope it didn't end with the girl's parents coming over to have a "chat" with you...
NC Penguin
How did she react to being asked to be friendly to you? I hope it didn't end with the girl's parents coming over to have a "chat" with you...
NC Penguin
Mar 15th 2005, 5:36 am
#59
my arm aches
Joined: Jul 2003
Location: the warm waters of Florida
Posts: 2,289
Re: How American have you become?
Originally Posted by ImHere
My accent hasnt changed but I drive everywhere. .
Mar 15th 2005, 6:31 am
#60
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2002
Location: Arizona
Posts: 3,113
Re: How American have you become?
Originally Posted by NC Penguin
Good point. I've noticed that Americans don't tend to use "please" and "thank you" when speaking to members of the public. e.g. grocery store cashiers, in eating establishments, etc.
I'm afraid I can't get out of the British habit of including these words in my daily conversation...
NC Penguin
I'm afraid I can't get out of the British habit of including these words in my daily conversation...
NC Penguin
I have found in my job in which I have to use a lot of customer service, that using pleases and thank you's works wonders especially with the accent. I have people eating out of the palm of my hand sometimes. I have also found that restaurant staff respond well to it most of the time.
