Things I've had to explain about the U.S.

[mandolinv 0]

thesnowman-- what is undertake? I'm the USC and I'm lost.

[scottyj36 0]

This is all really funny and educational. I have had to explaine a few things to my Irene. Once when she

was driving she told me she passed a school bus and when she did everyone looked angry at her. I asked

her if the stop arm was out. She said yes. I said you had to stop for that. They don't really have school

buses in Malaysia. I adv she was lucky a cop was not around.

I have also had to explaine he funky weather here in Indiana. I had to explaine, hail, freezing rain, and sleet.

When I get in her car she says she moved the chair back"electric seat". I had to learn what a car park

was, also a car porch. She also uses the "full stop" when writing a sentence.

She was also surprised and shocked about how much tax they took out of her pay check.

She also uses British terms sometimes such as boot, bonnett.

It has been alot of fun though. She does want me to tell her the way Americans say things.

It is funny though.....

[ChristinaM 0]

LOL

Undertaking is just like overtaking, but on the other side! So here in the US, if you pass someone on their right, you would be "undertaking" them.

[pj1959us 0]

This is all really funny and educational. I have had to explaine a few things to my Irene. Once when she

was driving she told me she passed a school bus and when she did everyone looked angry at her. I asked

her if the stop arm was out. She said yes. I said you had to stop for that. They don't really have school

buses in Malaysia. I adv she was lucky a cop was not around.

Actually, a cop doesn't even have to be around...the driver can note the license number of the car and report it to the police, who could issue a ticket anyway!

[meauxna 15]

LOL

Undertaking is just like overtaking, but on the other side! So here in the US, if you pass someone on their right, you would be "undertaking" them.

heheh.. as I suspected. For the Brits who don't know why we think it's a weird word.. an undertaker here is the guy who buries you when you're d e a d.

[ChristinaM 0]

We have undertakers too, ya know.....

[Yodrak 7]

scottyj36

How'd she pass her written driver's test? (Or hasn't she yet?)

Yodrak

.... Once when she was driving she told me she passed a school bus and when she did everyone looked

angry at her. I asked her if the stop arm was out. She said yes. I said you had to stop for that. They

don't really have school buses in Malaysia. I adv she was lucky a cop was not around.

...

[john_and_marlene 162]

Marlene had never driven before in her life. I let her get behind the wheel at a rest stop on the interstate and see how felt about driving. In a very short time I thought we were both going to need an undertaker. She didn't drive far before we thought better of it and I helped her ease to the shoulder of the road and let me take the wheel again. She's going to need lots of practice with her steering!

Edited May 5, 2006 by john_and_marlene

[meauxna 15]

We have undertakers too, ya know.....

yeah, but you prolly have some funny British name for them, like DBR (dead body removals) or some such...

[mrswooten4ever 0]

Oh Heck no Royal Mail wouldn't know what it was to begin with. I get at least 3 other peoples post besides mine

We have undertakers too, ya know.....

yeah, but you prolly have some funny British name for them, like DBR (dead body removals) or some such...

Also known as funeral directors

The expression that always gets me is "I dont mind " and " I dont care". Took me a while to figure out that when Mike said !I dont care" he wasn't being rude he meant he didnt mind LOL My poor kids would sit looking totally confused when they asked to use something and Mike would say " I dont care" eventually I had to explain that in the UK when you say " I dont care" it is considered rude and we say ! I don't mind"

The other one that made me laugh this morning was when I said my daughter was writing an English exam. Mike's response to this was "She writes in English at School?" Nooo She's writing an exam you know like doing a test? OH you mean taking an exam? No Mike she takes English as a subject and today she it writing the exam LOL

Adele

[meauxna 15]

Oh Heck no Royal Mail wouldn't know what it was to begin with. I get at least 3 other peoples post besides mine

We have undertakers too, ya know.....

yeah, but you prolly have some funny British name for them, like DBR (dead body removals) or some such...

Also known as funeral directors

The expression that always gets me is "I dont mind " and " I dont care". Took me a while to figure out that when Mike said !I dont care" he wasn't being rude he meant he didnt mind LOL My poor kids would sit looking totally confused when they asked to use something and Mike would say " I dont care" eventually I had to explain that in the UK when you say " I dont care" it is considered rude and we say ! I don't mind"

Adele

How much do I love this thread?! Adele, I'm so glad you said that bit about the 'don't mind'---from the US side, I *hate* that phrase! It always seemed the ruder version to me... isn't it weird how our perceptions twist things around?! Anyway, I've just about broken him of the 'I don't mind' habit

As for the funeral director, unfortunately, I got first hand experience with the Uk death market

[mrswooten4ever 0]

Oh Heck no Royal Mail wouldn't know what it was to begin with. I get at least 3 other peoples post besides mine

We have undertakers too, ya know.....

yeah, but you prolly have some funny British name for them, like DBR (dead body removals) or some such...

Also known as funeral directors

The expression that always gets me is "I dont mind " and " I dont care". Took me a while to figure out that when Mike said !I dont care" he wasn't being rude he meant he didnt mind LOL My poor kids would sit looking totally confused when they asked to use something and Mike would say " I dont care" eventually I had to explain that in the UK when you say " I dont care" it is considered rude and we say ! I don't mind"

Adele

How much do I love this thread?! Adele, I'm so glad you said that bit about the 'don't mind'---from the US side, I *hate* that phrase! It always seemed the ruder version to me... isn't it weird how our perceptions twist things around?! Anyway, I've just about broken him of the 'I don't mind' habit

As for the funeral director, unfortunately, I got first hand experience with the Uk death market

that's because its mind over matter - I dont mind and you dont matter! LOL

I just thought of another one off license /liquor store Mike calls it the package store or packet store? That totally confused me. What on earth do you need a package store for? LOL

Adele

Edited May 5, 2006 by MrsW2B

[meauxna 15]

I just thought of another one off license /liquor store Mike calls it the package store or packet store? That totally confused me. What on earth do you need a package store for? LOL

Adele

That's a state-specific thing; they are liquor stores where we live.

It's to do with the way the state licenses liquor sales.. maybe google can find a decent answer for you?

[karem12 0]

LOL, this topic is really funny... Im Colombian married to a american citizen and he had to explain me some stuff to hehehehe I shouldnt be making fun of myself or my country but here it goes...

1-He explained me that if you send a check or money in a envelope trou mail it wint get lost.

2-He told me I had to obey the lights, green is green and red is red, even if theres no one around or if its really late and no one is around.

3-He had to explain me that when you get a ticket, there is no way you can convince a cop from writting it.

4-You dont need to make 2 hours lines in a bank, you stay inside the car.

Ill be back if I can remember more....

[mrswooten4ever 0]

I just thought of another one off license /liquor store Mike calls it the package store or packet store? That totally confused me. What on earth do you need a package store for? LOL

Adele

That's a state-specific thing; they are liquor stores where we live.

It's to do with the way the state licenses liquor sales.. maybe google can find a decent answer for you?

I find that law were you can't buy liquor on Sundays really odd seeing as you can go to a restaurant and buy wine?