British Expatriate Network

..of people visiting the US for the first (or second) time...

Please not political, just humorous..

Andrew )

Like when they go to pick up their rental car and are asked if they would like an upgrade, they think they are getting it for the same price and think.' How nice and polite these American chappies are!'. Furthermore credit card gets charged.. one duped British person... mad

That San Francisco is hot in July. lol

That, in the great melting pot, people would be familiar with the pronunciation of names from all around the world.

I was quickly disabused on the ride in from Phila airport, when I saw a sign for the Schuylkill Expressway. I pronounced in the Dutch fashion, only to be told "Nah, its the Skookle.

Van Nuys in California is like that - I always thought of it as the Dutch way but it's just "Van Eyes."

Like Tripoli being pronounced TRY-POELEE
Maybe the Libyans really pronounce like that but I doubt it.

one misconception I encountered from a British tourist was that all Americans were artificial and insincere, because surely not EVERYONE actually wanted her to "have a nice day". I thought, live in the South a few more years and you will begin to realize that the folks there actually do want you to have a nice day! 8)

Yes thats true. You think initially they are false but really they are taught from birth to be overly polite therefore it makes people feel and act more poitive!

That "How ya doin'?" is a question when, in reality, it turns out to be a greeting. lol

For the longest time, I had a job to hold from answering the question.

It wasn't long before there were explainations all round (there were other Limeys) and all was understood. But it got them thinking, and then, "How ya doin'?" would get replies, such as, "Who wants to know", "What you wanna know for?, and "Hey, you writin' a book?"

Played basketball in chinatown on Friday, it was 89 on court, not hot enough for you...

If visiting on March 17th, one could be forgiven for believing that the United States is populated almost entirely by the Irish. Then again, maybe that would be a correct assumption. wink

When my husband first visited the States as an exchange student, he noticed that a lot of Americans introduced themselves to him stating that they were Irish. As in "Well, you sure talk funny - where you from, boy? Welsh, huh? I'm Irish."

What's so special about St. Patrick, anyway? Now, St. David - there's a man worth celebrating! lol

Aw come on, it's not normal. That's probably the heat from the nearby fires. And what's 89F anyway. Bloody 106F here today. Mind the pool's lovely.

I was in an antique shop the other day and overheard a guy say to someone "I hope the day treats you well", and he explained that had he said "have a nice day," that would put the onus on you. Instead he thought it more apt that it be a passive thing.

My parents particularly liked being called 'Sir' and 'Ma'am' in Georgia...

Same for 'Whats up?'. When I first came here I thought I must look sick or sad or something.