tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29874674.post740903815445430216..comments2023-10-22T08:22:22.325-04:00Comments on Almost American: Another expat interviewUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29874674.post-86593207329607086352009-02-20T11:18:00.000-05:002009-02-20T11:18:00.000-05:00I'm in my 25th year here, never planned to stay mo...I'm in my 25th year here, never planned to stay more than a few months!! I get very homesick, and like you, I wish we'd been able to go home more often so my kiddos could know my country better. I still have my Aussie accent, but I'm able to think in and speak American as necessary :) <BR/><BR/>Interview me - I'm game for an interview if you're still open for volunteers.Sue McGettiganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18006807015011119262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29874674.post-29817865806862856752009-02-17T04:28:00.000-05:002009-02-17T04:28:00.000-05:00Hi again, sorry couldn't figure out your email add...Hi again, sorry couldn't figure out your email address....but you can email me at jeangenie60 @ hotmail.com. Look forward to reading the questions! ThanksJeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00124374747737466986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29874674.post-73531297244628724772009-02-15T11:44:00.000-05:002009-02-15T11:44:00.000-05:00Oooh, this looks like it could be fun! Interview ...Oooh, this looks like it could be fun! Interview me please.Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00124374747737466986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29874674.post-28752386438025464042009-02-15T07:43:00.000-05:002009-02-15T07:43:00.000-05:00America needs its own NHS? Right on! What is true ...America needs its own NHS? <BR/>Right on! What is true freedom if you can't be and do what you want to do for fear of an illness that will leave you bankrupt?<BR/><BR/>When I lived in the UK I think the "sense of possibility" is what I missed most about the US. There is a perpetual cynicism that hangs in the air over there and it can bring you down after a while, if you're not used to it. If I could change anything about Britain I think that would be it. With everything they have done to contribute to the world, Brits of all people should know that they can do anything they set their minds to.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29874674.post-8355181545885997082009-02-09T14:03:00.000-05:002009-02-09T14:03:00.000-05:00It is so hard for me to answer what I miss most ab...It is so hard for me to answer what I miss most about the UK. Obviously my family and friends. The pub culture. The familiar shops. The repeats of old TV shows. Everything! But America has been kind to me so far, so I'm happy here. But it'll never be home. - LimeyLHAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09762107075253162805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29874674.post-57714472185906654192009-02-08T21:33:00.000-05:002009-02-08T21:33:00.000-05:00ROFL Prodigal Tourist! Not quite that way. Almos...ROFL Prodigal Tourist! Not quite that way. Almost American seems to manage to turn the accent on and off almost at will. It's kind of eerie. We were in a British foodstuffs store when these things were hard to find here in the US. (This was before we got married, so it was quite some time ago...) AA and I were the only two people in the store with the exception of the clerk. Another woman and a man came into the store and I heard her speaking with a thick Scottish accent. Then I heard this other woman speaking and was amazed that when I turned around to see who it was, it was Almost American!Canoezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06159367625637366095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29874674.post-50648377669749047492009-02-08T18:20:00.000-05:002009-02-08T18:20:00.000-05:00Do people speak slowly (and loudly) to you when yo...Do people speak slowly (and loudly) to you when you're in England? They do to me... Looks like we have a lot in common.The Prodigal Touristhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08334946081603232068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29874674.post-60674251230932916652009-02-05T20:01:00.000-05:002009-02-05T20:01:00.000-05:00Sadly I think I agree with almost all of that. I'...Sadly I think I agree with almost all of that. I'm just debating if I'm brave enough to request an interview? We go back every year for between a fortnight and a month. I dread it and long to go at the same time.<BR/>CheersAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29874674.post-70658868208650436272009-02-04T21:47:00.000-05:002009-02-04T21:47:00.000-05:00you are very kind!! i was almost 20 actually!you are very kind!! i was almost 20 actually!Mmmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16379020705220234984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29874674.post-67506287144701937322009-02-04T01:42:00.000-05:002009-02-04T01:42:00.000-05:00The 'can-do' attitude is my absolute favourite thi...The 'can-do' attitude is my absolute favourite thing about the USA. That, and people smiling and being friendly all the time. When I first got here I was suspicious of the 'have a nice day' culture and felt resentful, as if people couldn't possibly mean it, but now I really enjoy it - how nice to be greeted cordially and wished well instead of scowled at! At the -hello? DRIVE-THRU-BANK- the other day, the very nice teller spotted my kids in the back of the car through the cctv camera and sent all of us a lollipop through the vaccuum deposit thingy completely unasked. I don't see that happening at Natwest, Catford..<BR/>I'm interested that you lost your accent. I lived in the US between the ages of 12-18 and again now for the last 5 years (I can be found anywhere between age 4 and 90 now, depending on the day) but still sound completely English. And peculiarly, I sound like my old headmistress when I tell my children off - who knew?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29874674.post-88877941580818845862009-02-02T20:47:00.000-05:002009-02-02T20:47:00.000-05:00Very interesting as you have been here so much lon...Very interesting as you have been here so much longer. Totally agree with you on #'s 3 & 4Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09542425639950850366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29874674.post-5277987474672929352009-02-01T19:37:00.000-05:002009-02-01T19:37:00.000-05:00Mmm - you must have moved here as a small child th...Mmm - you must have moved here as a small child then to judge by the photos of you I saw on your blog this weekend!Almost Americanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17865905831387595915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29874674.post-2471334271383452212009-02-01T19:17:00.000-05:002009-02-01T19:17:00.000-05:00I relate to number 1 and number 3 is sooo true. He...I relate to number 1 and number 3 is sooo true. Hey, we've been expats for the exact same amount of time!Mmmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16379020705220234984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29874674.post-29941301551457586262009-01-31T12:58:00.000-05:002009-01-31T12:58:00.000-05:00My Spanish husband noted the exact same thing abou...My Spanish husband noted the exact same thing about the can-do attitude of Americans. Before we left for our move to the states he talked about starting up a business there was discouraged by everyone here in Spain. Once we got there and told people of our plans they were very encouraging. I miss that a lot about home.Bluestreakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07350399171607670916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29874674.post-14231892336513008622009-01-31T08:26:00.000-05:002009-01-31T08:26:00.000-05:00As a language teacher it was almost inevitable tha...As a language teacher it was almost inevitable that I would pick up the accent. I started by very deliberately changing the way I pronounced some words because I had an academic advisor (who should have known better) who was constantly making fun of my accent - by using a very bad Cockney accent when he spoke to me. I'm not from London. I certainly don't have a Cockney accent, and he didn't either. It was really annoying!<BR/><BR/>Over the years, my accent, spelling and vocabulary have all become more American. Americans still hear the English sounds in my voice even when I think I sound very Ameerican. And even though DH says I can switch off the American accent at will, British people hear the American sounds even when I'm doing my best to sound English again.Almost Americanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17865905831387595915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29874674.post-73185330170356723872009-01-31T03:55:00.000-05:002009-01-31T03:55:00.000-05:00I have a question to ask you:Do you still talk wit...I have a question to ask you:<BR/>Do you still talk with your British accent, or did you catch the accent of the State you live in?Isabellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17941076675305356648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29874674.post-91030494772785006242009-01-30T22:53:00.000-05:002009-01-30T22:53:00.000-05:00Interesting. Yes, it IS more 'can do' over here. P...Interesting. Yes, it IS more 'can do' over here. People admire you for having a try at something ("Go, you!") In the UK, having a try is not respected, and success is sometimes begrudged ("Who does she think she is, some fancy author or something?").Iota https://www.blogger.com/profile/08507184283437057648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29874674.post-72877203687539164852009-01-30T15:08:00.000-05:002009-01-30T15:08:00.000-05:00Interview me please?Interview me please?Daffodillyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02604680101891968889noreply@blogger.com