Ash UK/US

LOL

A while back a woman at work at me if we speak dutch in england and in the last month I have been asked twice if I am German... and they think I am the stupid one

Ash

Lion in Winter

I've been here a long time, and I still can't ask for a bottle of water without people saying "what?", "you want what?", "what?".

dunroving

Yes, funny how in the South here they're so into politeness, but if they don't understand you they say "WHAT NOW?????" (usually with a cross look on their faces). Don't think saying "What?" is seen as being rude - I'd get a right look from the grown-ups if I said that in my day.

greasehog

I asked for a packet of marlboro reds in a petrol station once and the woman looked at me as if i was mad! 3 times i asked and pointed to what i wanted and she still didn't understand!
Another time i was talking to a women she looked at me blankly and i turned to my partner and said " she didn't understand a word i said did she? In the end i had to speak very very slowly like some sort of idiot.
You can say anything you like to them sometimes and they haven't got a clue

sibsie

That's the one that I always get stuck with. Even when I pronounce it "wadder" they just don't get it.

The Dunkin Donuts drive through, sorry thru, is hell trying to get my latte in the morning. If I'm out with Mr Sibsie and try to order something, or ask for something in a shop, or really do any sort of talking, I just get greeted with blank stares, then they look to him and he translates it for me.

I get told to "talk English" all the time. I always tell them that the clue is in the fact that it's called English and when they start calling their language American, then they can come back to me and start having a go.

It does have its advantages though. You can happily call someone a total wanking git faced tosser and they have no idea if you've just insulted or complimented them.

tony126

I just get told to keep on talking because' it is so cute' or 'love to hear that accent'. The only person who has trouble understanding me is my wife. I recently had to explain what a brew up was. Oh well,----

Bob

total minging slapper 'ho works wonders too....said with a smile at a bar

Tracy in Texas

"Hey girl, can I get an umbrella and no ice in that ?"

Jabba1

Have you seen the price of a pack of Marlboro's lately? She probably understood exactly what you were asking for.

DebraJulia

Try going into the local video store and asking for the film Reservoir Dogs .. took at least 10 attempts before the prat understood me. I get it all the time! My kid's school wanted to put my children through speech therapy because they said they wasn't pronouncing their words correctly! Flipping cheek, so if a child doesn't talk with an American accent, hey they must need therapy right? Crazy!

Roadhog

He he he. Reading these reminds me of why I want to move back to the UK.

I quite often get "I love your accent are you from Aus?" Grrrr! Why oh why do these Yanks confuse a London Brit accent for Aus? Nothing alike if you ask me.

I too get those who try to copy the accent. I just go into the Cockney London slang, and they have no idea what I am saying.

I also get those who feel that there is still a war between the England and Americans..... We kicked your butts with the Indepentance, and oh, don't forget the tea in the harbour. Apart from the fact they don't even know their own history, what they have of it, they have no idea on the Brits, and the majority of those I have met, don't even plan on travelling outside of the state, but out of the country.... Never.

Thanks for the laugh, and letting me rant too.
Colin.

dgsyd1

I got a telemarketing call today (even though we're supposed to be on the no-call list!), and the bloke on the other end somehow got it into his head that I was Mexican. He went into his whole speech in mexican, and made it impossible for me to get a word in. When he finished, I informed him that I'm English and didn't speak mexican, and then promptly hung the phone up.

Bob

can make a complaint about that then and might be able to get some compensation if you've been on the do not call list for at least 3 months...

greasehog

Cheap compared to uk prices!
Must admit that most of them do like my accent whenever i get introduced to new people i get asked to say something?? I've been asked if i'm French and australian.
Had i bit of a shock tho when someone asked me if i was russian???? Hehe!

mross2514

Does all this not make any of you want to go back home to some normality.

Is it really worth taking this for the rest of your life.

I come from an area of Scotland that has a high population of Americans working in the oil industry and I can never remember them getting treated the way they treat us here. I certainly don't remember anyone making fun of what they said as is so often the case here.