Survived first year.

[Amby 490]

people stare at me blankly when they wonder what neil is saying to them. he tries to speak slower but it still doesn't work. after almost a year here my family is finally starting to understand him. other people still have no clue

[Jenn! 918]

I remember being in a bar and asking for Nachos and was promptly thrown a box of matches.

My mother is on a personal crusade to teach my husband to say "nachos", "taco" and "pasta" like a proper American!

How does he say them?

Edited December 3, 2007 by Jenn!

[no name 1]

I remember being in a bar and asking for Nachos and was promptly thrown a box of matches.

My mother is on a personal crusade to teach my husband to say "nachos", "taco" and "pasta" like a proper American!

How does he say them?

My hubby says Taaaaaaco instead of tahhhco. And mell instead of mall.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

I remember being in a bar and asking for Nachos and was promptly thrown a box of matches.

My mother is on a personal crusade to teach my husband to say "nachos", "taco" and "pasta" like a proper American!

How does he say them?

My hubby says Taaaaaaco instead of tahhhco. And mell instead of mall.

It's a very short "a" -- like the "a" in bat, just as devilette says above. And the boy says mall just like yours, too. But he's been much better at using the American words for things than I have, I'm still calling that thing what goes up and down in a building a lift.

[Lizzy 0]

There have been many a time when i have asked for a coke.... only to have a disgusted look thrown back at me. I never understood it until my husband explained they thought i was asking for a coc*

[Mary Lou 681]

Even though Gary has been here almost 2yrs, he is still uncomfortable speaking at times. When we go to a restaurant he tells me to order, cause no one understands him He doesn't like to make appointments for himself either over the phone, hence the same problem. People think he's saying his name is Guy, not Gary

Funny thing though, i hardly hear his accent anylonger, guess i am use to it.

Nice post Lansbury!! Thanks for sharing.

Edited December 4, 2007 by garyandmarylou

[catrocks 0]

Mmm blank stares are fun.

A couple of years ago when I was visiting my H, I was at the airport and somehow got talking to this businessman dude. We were talking for like 10 mins about different random things when he says to me... "you know, you speak very good English!" I was a bit shocked so I just thanked him. Then he asked where I was from. When I replied "England" he suddenly looked shocked, made excuses and left. It was hilarious.

Same thing happened to my dad when he was visiting his wife's family in Texas - some lady told him "you speak English real good" to which he replied "why thank you, I've been practising"

[JenAlex 0]

Nice post Lansbury except for one part GO DUCKS!!

My husband has me order for him when he's here. He's Scottish and hates having to repeat himself. I told him he's going to have to get used to that over here.

[ric 0]

people stare at me blankly when they wonder what neil is saying to them. he tries to speak slower but it still doesn't work. after almost a year here my family is finally starting to understand him. other people still have no clue

My dad is somewhere between hard of hearing and mostly deaf. Generally, when discussing Pete I get the following response. "Well he seems like a great person, but I have no idea. I've never heard or understood a word he said.

To make things better, my fiance says that he cant' understand my dad, because he has a deep gravelly mumbly voice.

... it works all around.

Do you guys get your accents poked fun at? Pete makes me repeat things while he snickers from time to time.

[StillThePrettiest 3]

great post, Lansbury

of course, it deepens my trepidation ten-fold, so thank you for that

[Sister Fracas 5]

One thing you come to appreciate is that there is no such thing as a universal American. The US is so vast that there are many different Americans depending on where they live.

One thing I have learnt from this forum you cannot assume just because something is done one way where you live it is done that way in the whole USA.

I wish this got said a whole lot more...

As for bangers... check out this thread....

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...l=british+foods

[Welshcookie 17]

I really enjoyed reading your post! Congrats on your first year anniversary!

Oh don't get me started

....from a Dawn

Well when i met my Fiancee she (and all the other locals that i introduced myself to!) originally thought my name was Don, even though i said it was Dan! Ever since then i always say my name is Daniel and not Dan, for that one reason!

[SusieK 3]

I really enjoyed reading your post! Congrats on your first year anniversary!

Oh don't get me started

....from a Dawn

Well when i met my Fiancee she (and all the other locals that i introduced myself to!) originally thought my name was Don, even though i said it was Dan! Ever since then i always say my name is Daniel and not Dan, for that one reason!

LOL great post and my husband will luv it. Thanks for sharing and congrats yes on your first year - now if I can teach him to keep the "h" in his words lol - oh heck, who cares,

Cheers and still lol

Susie

[Lansbury 19]

great post, Lansbury

of course, it deepens my trepidation ten-fold, so thank you for that

No need for trepidation just bring a sense of humor or should that be humour

[Lansbury 19]

As for bangers... check out this thread....

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...l=british+foods

Thanks I had seen some of those. Problem is with the shipping cost. One of those places will only ship meat next day air, which is understandable, but $16 dollars of sauages cost $75 shipping on UPS.