View Full Version : I love Americans
Del Lardo
03-07-2009, 13:08
Working from the Club lounge at a Sheraton hotel this today which as usual is full of American tourists and I just heard this classic.....
American 1: Are the shops open tomorrow?
Concierge: Yes sir, it's Saturday so all the shops are open
American 1: Aren't they closed for the holiday?
Concierge: Looks confused Holiday?
American 1: Independence Day, you guys celebrate Independence Day don't you?
Concierge: No sir, why would we celebrate American Independence Day in Italy?
American 2: Looking at his friend You dumb ****
I had a similar thing happen to me when I was in Sacramento a few years back. I was out for dinner the evening before Thanksgiving and the waiter didn't believe me that we didn't celebrate Thanksgiving in the UK.
Flibster
03-07-2009, 13:39
My favourite from Americans is:
"You speak good English for a foreigner"
Or even
"What part of Australia are you from?"
Eh?
My favourite from Americans is:
"You speak good English for a foreigner"
Or even
"What part of Australia are you from?"
Eh?
Both of which I've personally experienced. The first one was said to me by some redneck who was visiting NYC, I was in the Hershey store and she asked me to reach up and get something off a high shelf for her.
The second one is very common and I asked an American friend of mine why so many Americans think that Brits are Australian. Apparently Americans all expect us Brits to sound like High Grant so when we don't and the realise it isn't an American accent we have they assume it's an Australian accent.
Awww bless ;D
All newbie people I meet (including Brits and Americans) think I have a down under accent?! What's that about?!
Really? Can't see if myself, Pheebles.
Briggykins
03-07-2009, 14:04
Tho it has to be said I think some Brits are Australian - specifically people from Surrey and Sussex. I've a friend who doesn't have an Australian bone in her body and yet wouldn't sound at all out of place on Neighbours. Same with some of my cousins friends - she lives in Brighton and tho she's got a proper Westcountry accent, her mates all sound Aussie.
Never noticed it with you tho Pheeb!
See I'm just rubbish with accents. Paula will tell you this (how's America lil lady ;))
Me neither! But Pickys Ma thought I was Australian when she first met me too! And all the magic folk?! Weiiiiird.
A guy in a sports shop asked if I was Australian when I was in Cincinnati. I should have played along and done a full-on Steve Irwin.
"Yeah mate! Oi'm lookin' fur a tarp to help me wrestle a 'roo to the ground, so I can stick my thumb roight in 'is butthole, boy croikey!"
We were watching the Best Job in The World show last night and Mrs. Feek thought that Ben was an Aussie due to his accent even though he's English.
I was told in an American restaurant "You didn't look like you have an accent" by a waitress :confused:
Greenlizard0
03-07-2009, 14:32
Apparently Americans all expect us Brits to sound like High Grant so when we don't and the realise it isn't an American accent we have they assume it's an Australian accent.
This kind of stuff really irritates me, but aye their view of us does involve films a lot. A similar but different thing happened a few years back when Snatch and Lockstock came out.
Another film that I'm sure doesn't help is e.g. Vicki Christina Barcelona in terms of their European Perceptions in general.
semi-pro waster
03-07-2009, 18:34
I've been accused of being English/Northern Irish/Welsh/French on account of my accent before; in fairness to the last option the girl who said it was from Eastern Europe so perhaps her mistake is excusable. However it can be worse: while I was in Canadia and people found out I was Scottish after telling me they were Scottish too ("really, only five generations removed, that's very close") they'd ask me do the voice of Shrek - I wouldn't have minded so much if it was someone cool like Shir Sean but that it was a Canadian masquerading as a Scottish ogre....
telling me they were Scottish too ("really, only five generations removed, that's very close")
That sort of thing always makes me laugh. I got chatting to an 'Irish' chap in Seattle a few years ago and despite his insistence that he is Irish it turns out that he's six generations removed. FFS.
I get all sorts of oddities out here. Thankfully being a small island state where White Caucasians are in the minority, it isn't quite so bad as sometimes it appears things are on the mainland. They aren't quite so provincial, though still shockingly unaware of what is going on in the world.
A couple of things off the top of my head:
Newcastle is only a short drive from London, suitable for popping down on a Saturday to go see the sights.
British people are predominantly smokers. That I'm not seems to come as a shock to people.
Everyone seems confused where I'm from, they expect either a Gangster/Mockney accent or a Hugh Grant one.
That sort of thing always makes me laugh. I got chatting to an 'Irish' chap in Seattle a few years ago and despite his insistence that he is Irish it turns out that he's six generations removed. FFS.
They have no long history of their own, and a deep sense of need for such, so they latch on to whatever they can find.
They have no long history of their own, and a deep sense of need for such, so they latch on to whatever they can find.
I did point that out to someone once and he got quite irate with it. After he'd cooled down a bit I asked him what the Americans were doing, for example, around the time that Henry VIII was beheading wifes left, right and centre. Silence.
I may come over as disliking Americans but that isn't the case, this is just one of their little quirks.
Streeteh
03-07-2009, 18:50
They have no long history of their own
Indeed. Was discussing this with a mate only a couple of weeks ago and we realized the (old) renovated farm house his family live in was built before America was even independent. Makes you realize how little time the country has existed for.
I love America though, many are terribly educated about the outside world, but i tend to find they're always eager to learn and don't mind appearing dim for asking questions. Many of the friendliest people i've ever met are from America.
Indeed. Was discussing this with a mate only a couple of weeks ago and we realized the (old) renovated farm house his family live in was built before America was even independent. Makes you realize how little time the country has existed for.
I love America though, many are terribly educated about the outside world, but i tend to find they're always eager to learn and don't mind appearing dim for asking questions. Many of the friendliest people i've ever met are from America.
Agreed on the last score. The more time I live here the more I'm beginning to like them :)
The church I'm at celebrated it's 75th birthday a few months back, and people asked me how old my church was back in England. Whilst my last church was only 15 years old, they were shocked when I mentioned the C of E church I used to go to was over 900 years old, and currently in a building from before Chris Columbus sailed the ocean blue (it's a late 14th century building)
I was in one of the smithsonian museums in DC a few years back, and was at one of the shops looking to buy a film for my camera. I asked how much 24 exp and a 36 exp were. The polite lady behind the counter cottoned on to my accent and asked whereabout from England I was from. So far so good. I said about 30 miles north east of London. She said "Wow London! So you must know the Queen?" :shocked:
I had to bite my tounge a bit, but replied "If I knew the Queen, do you think I'd have to ask the difference in price of a 24 and a 36 film?!"
I love Americans, have to really, my brother married one, and to be fair they're a fantastic bunch. But they, like us, have their strange quirks!
I generally can pick out the nuances between a Dundee and a Glasgow accent, but you southerners all sound the same to me. You either sound like The Doctor or Ms Brahms... ;)
Dymetrie
04-07-2009, 08:29
I did point that out to someone once and he got quite irate with it. After he'd cooled down a bit I asked him what the Americans were doing, for example, around the time that Henry VIII was beheading wifes left, right and centre. Silence.
They were Europeans then ;)
We aren't all so ignorant! I swear! (okay I am ignorant about a lot of things, but I never assumed that anyone but Americans celebrated Thanksgiving and 4th of July....thats a step up from some, right?)
I read Garps statement about Americans not having a long history of their own and trying to claim whatever they can, and I agree. One of the downers about being a Caucasian in Hawaii (besides the racism) is that many friends are much more closely linked with their family history. My best friend is half Chinese and they celebrate all the Chinese holidays and cultural things, and it makes me kind of jealous!
If I trace my lineage far enough I'm ethnically mostly English and Welsh and Swedish, but it's not like looking back a few generations gives me a sense of my heritage, you know? I do envy that about you folks who have castles and 900 year old churches and the like.
Anyway....Happy 4th of July. It was probably a great day for your country when you got rid of us ;-)
Justsomebloke
04-07-2009, 21:49
I get called a Cock-A-Knee by Yanky Doodle Dandys. :(
And a happy 4th of July to you too.
I know plenty of Americans who know enough about the world to know that only they celebrate their independence. Most, if not all of those that I personally know have travelled outside the US (including the contingent from here), so obviously they're going to know about things like that.
It's rare that I find anyone that isn't helpful though. Whether that's because most of those I've come across on my numerous visits have been in the service industry (hotels, restaurants, taxis etc.) where their livelihood really does depend upon it (much more so than in the UK), I just don't know.
It's rare that I find anyone that isn't helpful though. Whether that's because most of those I've come across on my numerous visits have been in the service industry (hotels, restaurants, taxis etc.) where their livelihood really does depend upon it (much more so than in the UK), I just don't know.
People in stores and stuff do seem to put a lot more effort into being cheerful than those in the UK.
Knipples
05-07-2009, 08:52
One of the memories of going to Florida as a kid was people asking my parents
"Oh you're from Eeeeenngland, do you know the queen?" Like everyone was her personal friend or something. ;D
NokkonWud
05-07-2009, 09:27
I just reply with "I've heard of her, why?" It seems their most common question to the Englandish.
Del Lardo
09-07-2009, 15:21
Brilliant! I'd hire him (http://www.dontevenreply.com/view.php?post=45)
Despite growing up in the true bumpkin land of North Somerset, I speak 'well' and when in America had people commenting on my "hugh grant voice"...
Although speaking in the manner I do attracted lots of jokes / attention at times, in America it was almost entirely positive and I enjoyed meeting most people. I've heard that comparing NYC to America is a bit like London -> England, so I can only imagine the courtesy of those in the 'Deep South' etc :)
Knipples
09-07-2009, 16:36
Dont you mean Narf zummmmmerzet! :p
Dont you mean Narf zummmmmerzet! :p
Well if I wasn't brought up by the strictest of non-accented parents then I imagine I would be in the 'gert lush, cheers drive, where's it to, ear where'd ee get they, look out there windel' category of linguism.
I guess we'll leave the zider-talk to you Knips :p
I've picked up some of those phrases from Picky. That, mixed in with weird things my Dad says as a Gordy (in a non gordy accent), mixed up with confused sayings in my head and I come out speaking in jibberish! :D
Our family has developed it's own gibberish/cornish/irish mix of colloquial terms and slang also- sitting around the table with friends is hillarious as they try and interpret the mixture of several languages & dialects! :D
Blackstar
09-07-2009, 20:48
Pheebs you've always sounded down West to me, maybe its because i've grown up hearing it on holiday. My accent gets misplaced a fair bit, even by people in my home town. I have a very soft Edinburgh accent.
I
I love America though, many are terribly educated about the outside world, but i tend to find they're always eager to learn and don't mind appearing dim for asking questions. Many of the friendliest people i've ever met are from America.
Just to add another thing in - it's not just foreigners that don't always get the context/language! I just read your post above and thought it said 'many are terribly educated about the outside world', and then the rest of it didn't make sense. I was thinking 'terribly educated' as in 'ever so much so' rather than badly ;D
Pheebs, you sounded exactly like I thought you would.
They love Leo's accent in the States. And mine. Always giggling and telling us we have such cute accents & asking us to repeat things wherever we go :D
Paula, you sound like a yank ;)
Always giggling and telling us we have such cute accents & asking us to repeat things wherever we go :D
Argh, I know how that feels. I was staying in California with friends a few years ago and we all went to a birthday party for a friend of theirs. One of the girls at the party did little all sodding night than ask me to say stuff. I'm a bit shy around groups of people I don't know so felt so uncomfortable about it!
I have the most awesomely awesome accent in the history of accents ever.
Corrected for you :)
Kell_ee001
09-07-2009, 23:02
Tho it has to be said I think some Brits are Australian - specifically people from Surrey...
That might explain why it took so long to convince people I wasn't Australian when I moved up here :)
I had a call yesterday. I got on the phone to let the young lass know I was on the way. This delightful accent comes through my phone and I smile, thinking of this thread.
I get to her car, introduce myself, then dig out the jumper cables to get her car started.
In the process I ask her, "Pardon me, but Essex right?"
This beaming smile comes across her face and she confirms my suspicions. She is indeed from Essex. (I lucked out)
I then challenged her to name my accent. She had absolutely NO idea. I let her off the hook by telling her it was a mix of Vancouver Canadian, Southern Mississippi and North Carolina from the Navy, a little Texas from my boss in the TSA, a healthy dose of "Yeah, sure ya betcha" from Minnesota mixed in with 17 years of living with a SoCal wife...
Oh, and to top it all off my mum was from Glasgow and my dad's father was from Dublin. And we lived in Australia for 3 years. So yeah. A little hard to pick mine out...
Absolutely delightful girl to talk to, though.
Blimey, that's one hell of a mixture you've got there Darrin.
Argh, I know how that feels. I was staying in California with friends a few years ago and we all went to a birthday party for a friend of theirs. One of the girls at the party did little all sodding night than ask me to say stuff. I'm a bit shy around groups of people I don't know so felt so uncomfortable about it!
they call Matt 'Hugh' and ask me to repeat John Lennon quotes :p
they call Matt 'Hugh' and ask me to repeat John Lennon quotes :p
Hahahahaha!
Indeed. Was discussing this with a mate only a couple of weeks ago and we realized the (old) renovated farm house his family live in was built before America was even independent. Makes you realize how little time the country has existed for.
I love America though, many are terribly educated about the outside world, but i tend to find they're always eager to learn and don't mind appearing dim for asking questions. Many of the friendliest people i've ever met are from America.
Couldn't agree more. Love the American people as individuals, as a nation they get a little overwhelming though.
This is not linked to the Americans as they all think I sound "like, oh my god, sooo British". However a lot of Brits seem to think I'm South African when they first meet me :s
the Americans as they all think I sound "like, oh my god, sooo British". However a lot of Brits seem to think I'm South African when they first meet me :s
I thought I saw you at the tennis last week on the tele!
BB x
This is not linked to the Americans as they all think I sound "like, oh my god, sooo British".
A bit too British for a waiter in a certain restaurant in San Francisco ;D
Always giggling and telling us we have such cute accents & asking us to repeat things wherever we go :D
That gets irritating. Thankfully isn't happening quite so frequently out here compared to mainland, but sometimes when I'm speaking you can see it in their eyes. They're not necessarily listening to what I'm saying, but more the accent.
Gave the message the other week at church, and the number of comments I got about my accent and how they could "listen to it for hours" was unbelievable.
Blimey, that's one hell of a mixture you've got there Darrin.
What I would call a "buggers muddle"!
That gets irritating. Thankfully isn't happening quite so frequently out here compared to mainland, but sometimes when I'm speaking you can see it in their eyes. They're not necessarily listening to what I'm saying, but more the accent.
Gave the message the other week at church, and the number of comments I got about my accent and how they could "listen to it for hours" was unbelievable.
Had something similar something when I stopped for breakfast at an ihop in North Carolina, after eating and on the way out the waitress stopped me and told her friends I was English and asked me to say something. That's the worst thing, when someone asks you to say something, I never know what to say.
That's the worst thing, when someone asks you to say something, I never know what to say.
Agreed, I've taken to just quoting Shakespeare
To be, or not to be: that is the question:
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them?
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