How long did it take you to feel at home in the US?

[Pooky 3,680]

Accents. I have decided to try and loose my Ulster Accent or at least try to tame it. Make it less harsh and develop a more American one. Unfortunately I was 41 when I arrived. I have been here fours years and my accent is as still a broad as it was when I arrived. Don't think I will ever loose it.

I don't ever intend losing my accent. It's a bigger positive than it is a negative.

It breaks the ice in conversations, captures peoples' interest and acts as a differentiator. As long as you speak clearly, so that people can hear the words, your accent will, more than likely work to your advantage.

On a related note, I stayed in a guest house on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls a few years ago and noted that the owner had a thick Glaswegian accent. So I asked him how long he'd been this side of The Big Pond. He told me. 29 years, working in the oil industry.

They say the Scots accents are the hardest to lose, and I can see why.

[rjm_cmyk 75]

I only carry quarters. I really can't be having a faff over anything less. I've been coming here for 20 years and I still don't get nickels <sp?> and dimes. I empty anything less than a quarter into my saving jar. Notes aren't much better. Has no-one ever thought of making them look different ?

[Beestonia 4]

I normally dump my change on my other half. My last visit though I came back with a lot which subsequently got mixed up with my UK change, felt a bit special wondering why the coffee machine at work wasn't taking my 5p's...

[S-C 21]

I only carry quarters. I really can't be having a faff over anything less. I've been coming here for 20 years and I still don't get nickels <sp?> and dimes. I empty anything less than a quarter into my saving jar. Notes aren't much better. Has no-one ever thought of making them look different ?

Yeah same here. Whenever I go over I always just dump anything under a quarter on Chelsea. She seems to think I am missing out on a fortune.

[Hotter Otter 1,211]

I don't ever intend losing my accent. It's a bigger positive than it is a negative.

It breaks the ice in conversations, captures peoples' interest and acts as a differentiator. As long as you speak clearly, so that people can hear the words, your accent will, more than likely work to your advantage.

On a related note, I stayed in a guest house on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls a few years ago and noted that the owner had a thick Glaswegian accent. So I asked him how long he'd been this side of The Big Pond. He told me. 29 years, working in the oil industry.

They say the Scots accents are the hardest to lose, and I can see why.

I'm glad that I live in a decent sized city so people don't bring up my accent all the time! Sometimes I forget I have one and tell people I'm not from the area and they are like "um yeah we can tell by your accent". What accent do you have Pooky? Would say that some English accents might be well received but some like Geordie may be hard for Americans to understand!

[2ndMessiah 184]

My accent is starting to be a weight. It puts a drag on conversations with new people I have to interact with.

It start by lengthening the interaction. I it adds the dead weight of dealing with "I love your accent?", "Where are you from? Ireland?". It is a pain to have to describe the whole two countries on on island thing. Then it is "Oh I have been to 'insert some BFE county or town here" in Ireland, do you know such and such that lives there?".

It was fun the first two hundred times but all this and I only wanted to order a burger and frigging fries.

Edited August 27, 2014 by 2ndMessiah

[Sabrina_T 22]

I'm still waiting on my NOA2 for k1 visa and am from Luton, Bedfordshire. My accent isn't quite cockney but still very common. I'm already SICK of being asked if I know the QUEEN and that I sound "JUST like Adele". I'll be moving to Decatur, Georgia where English accents aren't common at all. It does my nut in lol

[Pooky 3,680]

I'm glad that I live in a decent sized city so people don't bring up my accent all the time! Sometimes I forget I have one and tell people I'm not from the area and they are like "um yeah we can tell by your accent". What accent do you have Pooky? Would say that some English accents might be well received but some like Geordie may be hard for Americans to understand!

My accent is hard to place. My home town is Portsmouth, but I don't have a "sahf coast" accent, as my Dad made sure I went to a good school, after my local comprehensive got barbecued. So I'm best described as well-spoken, with a tinge of Lancashire. Mind you, I have been described as the Geico Gecko, by an Owner's rep, Australian, Irish and even Scottish.

But I work with a couple of Jocks, a Geordie, a Tyke and an army of Micks, so what do I care?

My accent is starting to be a weight. It puts a drag on conversations with new people I have to interact with.

It start by lengthening the interaction. I it adds the dead weight of dealing with "I love your accent?", "Where are you from? Ireland?". It is a pain to have to describe the whole two countries on on island thing. Then it is "Oh I have been to 'insert some BFE county or town here" in Ireland, do you know such and such that lives there?".

It was fun the first two hundred times but all this and I only wanted to order a burger and frigging fries.

Don't let it become a weight.

I've been here for more than eight years and, no matter how many times it comes up, I smile when people comment about my accent, because, when they do, the ice has already been broken. Even if I'm in a hurry, I try to make the time to chat, because you never know what the outcome might be. Most of all, people will remember you, a valuable edge that one day may work in your favour.

[S-C 21]

My accent is hard to place. My home town is Portsmouth, but I don't have a "sahf coast" accent, as my Dad made sure I went to a good school, after my local comprehensive got barbecued. So I'm best described as well-spoken, with a tinge of Lancashire. Mind you, I have been described as the Geico Gecko, by an Owner's rep, Australian, Irish and even Scottish.

But I work with a couple of Jocks, a Geordie, a Tyke and an army of Micks, so what do I care?

Don't let it become a weight.

I've been here for more than eight years and, no matter how many times it comes up, I smile when people comment about my accent, because, when they do, the ice has already been broken. Even if I'm in a hurry, I try to make the time to chat, because you never know what the outcome might be. Most of all, people will remember you, a valuable edge that one day may work in your favour.

I am Australian, so obviously have an Australian accent, but I would also consider it to be a "well spoken Australian accent". I have been told I sound Scottish as well. it was the first time I have ever been confused to be a scotsman hahaha

I totally agree on not letting it weigh you down. I always get asked what my accent is, and I say Australian, and they all say I thought you would sound like Steve Irwin. But I don't let it bother me. Like Pooky said, it's an ice breaker.

[2ndMessiah 184]

I am Australian, so obviously have an Australian accent, but I would also consider it to be a "well spoken Australian accent". I have been told I sound Scottish as well. it was the first time I have ever been confused to be a scotsman hahaha

I totally agree on not letting it weigh you down. I always get asked what my accent is, and I say Australian, and they all say I thought you would sound like Steve Irwin. But I don't let it bother me. Like Pooky said, it's an ice breaker.

Funny, I have been accused of being Australian here. To tell you the truth, it is probably me becoming a grumpy old man more than anything else.

[Hotter Otter 1,211]

When I was in the south I was asked if I was Aussie a lot. I like the perspective on it being an ice breaker Pooky, I hadn't thought of it that way. Hopefully not a disadvantage in my job search lol

[S-C 21]

Yeah I think in the South, unless you have an exaggerated accent, it's harder for them to pick up what it is. I don't think it should be an issue for job searches. Hopefully anyway!

[Anna Grant 169]

My accent is RP, pretty much like the Downton Abbey lot. I get comments on it at least once a day. Last night, we stopped into a Sonic to get one of their ice-cream milkshakes and I ordered via the tannoy system at the entrance. The person taking my order said over the tannoy 'Just to start, I love your accent!' Everyone around laughed.

I don't find it an issue face to face. And I also look at it as an ice-breaker. I sometimes have trouble being understood over the phone. We live in Kansas at the moment and will be moving to Texas soon.

[MacUK 983]

My accent is RP, pretty much like the Downton Abbey lot. I get comments on it at least once a day. Last night, we stopped into a Sonic to get one of their ice-cream milkshakes and I ordered via the tannoy system at the entrance. The person taking my order said over the tannoy 'Just to start, I love your accent!' Everyone around laughed.

I don't find it an issue face to face. And I also look at it as an ice-breaker. I sometimes have trouble being understood over the phone. We live in Kansas at the moment and will be moving to Texas soon.

I was accused of having a 'fake English accent' at Sonic.

[Anna Grant 169]

I was accused of having a 'fake English accent' at Sonic.

I'll be going to a Renaissance Fair next Sunday where most of the staff will be trying out their fake English accents!