A true American or just a Brit abroad?
 

Last night I attended my first in-home "Pampered Chef" party, (basically a tupperware party but with cooking accessories and equipment).

So today I'm having a nationality crisis, have I become the all-American suburban housewife (:scared: ah!), or am I still a Brit abroad struggling with American suburbia, obsession with cookie-baking, and bonding mom's?

Anyone else had experiences that make you wonder whether you are rapidly becoming Americani'z'ed?

Re: A true American or just a Brit abroad?
 

What you consider yourself to be should be determined by what you're comfortable with. If you feel at ease being an "American suburban housewife" as you put it (housewife = homemaker in US English), then that's OK.

The assimilation into American life is at one's pace. Don't force it upon yourself (or others). I believe that the earlier you do it, the better, so you have the knowledge/exposure to an American experience, etc.

These are just my comments and no criticisms are implied.



NC Penguin

Re: A true American or just a Brit abroad?
 

Bottom line: you're always going to be the Brit who Americanized nomatter what you do. In this life, you have one life history, not two, and you're not living two parallel lives. :)

so am I alone in struggling with cultural and social differences, that's what I mean, even after five years?

Actually I think they become more acute after time, in the beginning it's a novelty, I remember being so impressed by electric garage doors on every house!

I'm sure you're not alone in stuggling with the differences, even after five years. I think some might not recognize that they're still dealing with them and fewer might admit it.




NC Penguin

I'm staying Scottish - in saying that sometimes the biggest changes are the ones that only your friends and family back home notice!

He he you're right there, my brother says I'm sounding more like a yank every day when I call him...I mean eh phone him.
Other day I said something about taking out the 'Trash' and he was like "wtf! what happened to calling it rubbish? next you'll be saying soccer!"

try taking visiting Brits to McCormick and Schmick and watch them try to contain their chuckles and bemusement at the menu item: "Home Style Meatloaf with Hot Fanny Gravy".

Maybe the restaurant should rename itself "McCormick and Schmuck"! :)


NC Penguin

When I speak to Brits, whether here or in the US, I tend to speak in British English and when I'm with Americans, I use American English...



NC Penguin

lol that's funny :D

I try to look at it this way.... life goes on and things change no matter where you are. Remember when we all didn't even know what a VCR was?

Now and then I find out that things I'm used to only from living here have been around in the UK too for years. I'm sometimes scared that I wont be accepted as a Brit by British people because I've been here so long... but my in my heart I'm always going to be true to my country of birth. =)

I have done that when my parents have visited but I mostly gave up when my mother visited at the end of May. I've settled here, I'm not going back, and they might as well get used to the idea that the language here is different. :D

LOL!! If you plan on saying that to your parents, you might want to duck immeadiatly afterwards. LOL!

Re: A true American or just a Brit abroad?
 

EEEeeeeeeek!! Bonding 'Mom's' - watch out, you too could become a stepford wife!!!! lmao :D