neil

I bumped into another local Brit last night who has been living in our town for 6 months (transferred with her husband's job, but didn't meet him). I know the North East is full of us but my town is pretty small (population of about 14000 - surprised it's that high as it actually feels smaller). Anyway, I have now personally met 5 other Brits and have heard about others - it seems that everyone in town knows another Brit (as they tell me when they meet me, of course they could all know the same one I suppose).

Anyone else seem to have a high concentration in their area?

Roland Hulme

I used to be REALLY embarassed running into another Brit in New York. It was like you felt obliged to talk to them, even though you had nothing in common!

britvic

you are a strange one

Elvira

Are you that ginger bloke I ran into at Lexington and 57th who seemed to think I was trying to rob him when I asked where the nearest tube station was?

Irn-bru

that's why he will probably fit right in here in BE life

TouristTrap

Too many.

britvic

I would not say there are loads in the Town I live in, Norfolk & Virginia Beach areas there must be, there is a Brit shop because of all the military pretty sure there is a few about, also a generation much older than mine of War Brides.

Maz

Actually Roland has a really valid point, and it's one I can empathise with. I've been to a few local Brit meetups and some of the conversation has been really stilted. That said, my two best mates here are both Brits.

But yeah there are a ton in the Chicago area, it having a population of 8 or 9 million or so. Haven't counted the Brits yet...

Roland Hulme

I think that's the concensus.

I don't know. It's like that pub on West 4th St, the Slughtered Lamb. It's always full of Brits. Some of them in New York for a weekend! Why the hell do you go to a cheesy British theme pub when you're in Manhattan?

No, I figure if I meet a Brit in America, generally there's the "where are you from?" and then it turns out we have nothing in common apart from coming from England. We would never have ended up being friends (or even meeting each other) if we'd both stayed in England. Why does politeness dictate that we're buddies now?

I normally say it was nice to meet them, wish them luck and then follow obediantly off after my wife (who's carried on walking and is blooming miles away by then.)

But then here I am hanging out on his board so my logic makes NO SENSE.

neil

NYC is a little different. I was in Macy's a couple of weeks ago and it seemed that every two steps you take there was another British accent. Obviously different in any of the boroughs - if you meet them there then they're probably expats.

britvic

I dont see it as being buddies either, just nice to bump into the odd Brit and have a little chat I wonder if you might change your out look some what when you have lived over here for years Plus my OH would not walk off, he would be just as happy to meet them as me.

nun

I'm with you mate, I live in the New England and there are a lot of UK expats. When you run into one there seems to be this assumption that you must have lots to talk about. Why does geographical position suddenly make this person that interesting.To be honest I've been in the US so long that expats annoy me, I'm not keen on loud americans either......I'm going to move to Vermont and starts wearing a tin foil hat, just sign me up in the misanthrope column.

neil

I suspect this depends where you live, where I am has a small town feel where you see many of the same people around all the time so you sort of get to know the "locals". It's nice to meet other Brits around here, but I wouldn't want to talk to other Brits when I'm in Manhattan for example (in fact I generally go out of my way to avoid it there).

Last night for example, the woman was having a tough time adjusting to life in the US so maybe it helps to see someone who's been living here longer and is happy here.

Tarkak9

You tell me....

cindyabs

We've got a fair few in the metro area, even though as cities go, Savannah is pretty small. However we have JCB's North American HQ here, and also there were a slew of guys who were working here as contractors over at Ft Stewart for a couple of years.

I'm the one who gets more excited if I hear a British accent than my DH, but then I would be the brash Yank, .