- I will now run down the street for public transportation... though I rarely catch it.
- I frequently use the word "quite" as a qualifier. As in, "That is quite lovely."
- I have serious cravings for marmite.
- I can translate the sentence, "I was sat here 10 while 2."
- I can also translate the sentence, "You're having a giraffe."
- And I know what "Take the piss" means.
- Not to be confused with the phrase, "I'm pissed" which does NOT mean you're angry.
- I no longer leave the house in sweat pants, a hoody and gym shoes (unless I'm walking the dog)
- I can watch British sitcoms and actually get / laugh at the jokes.
- I can use British coins without thinking too hard.
- The volume at which I speak has decreased exponentially, and I realize when I slip back into my "American volume."
- Forget about the weather, the best way to strike a conversation up with a British person is to have a common complaint. The bus late? Works every time.
However, I still can't...
- Hang the laundry out to dry like a real Bitish wife without it getting rained on. (Truth be told I gave up on this and we bought a tumble dryer.)
- Speak Yorkshire-ish enough for bus drivers to understand me.
- Pronounce my name in a way so that people don't think it is, "Kerry" or "Kylie."
- Make British style jokes. For some reason my sense of humor is completely lost in translation.
- Example : Today at work (note : I work on the cash register in a little university convenience store) every time someone purchased a pop and a candy bar before 10 am I called it "The breakfast of champions." Never even got a smile. At least I think I'm funny....
- Understand thick Yorkshire accents, especially those of old men.
- Get used to the grey/rainy/SAD inducing weather.
- Find a decent restaurant outside of London. (British food just sucks. Sometimes stereotypes are true.
- Be politically correct enough.
Thats all I can think of for now
For those of you living away from "home", what little milestones have you reached?
And what milestones are you still trying to reach?
I love this. I want some translation!! I'm Canadian and say pop instead of soda even though I've lived in the US over 10 years. Then at Christmas in Canada I said soda and my family was all, "first the accent and now SODA??" what-ever family!!
ReplyDeleteI do still say quite though - God save the Queen!!
Okay what is having a giraffe mean?? I was sat here 10 while 2 ?? You need to translate!! Pretty funny though???
ReplyDeleteI miss you so much!! Just have to say..
I love this:) Whenever I visit my mom I always get a few jars of marmite for home!!! I love it
ReplyDeleteKisses and hugs, darling
whew all caught up on your blog! i'm playing major catch up today it is crazy. this waas funny to read and i was thinking of ways i could become swiss...i'm just not sure i can, haha!
ReplyDeleteHave a giraffe = have a laugh = make a joke
ReplyDeleteI was sat here 10 while 2 = I was sitting here between 10 and 2.
Krystal I'll never be properly English, but I am getting more English - I bet u are more swiss too!
I talk to cashiers in the grocery store. And not just, "please and thank you." Like, I have a whole freakin' conversation...
ReplyDeleteI say, "yes, sir" or "yes, ma'am."
Beyond that I don't know if I'll allow myself to become more southern.
Your "american volume" comment made me laugh. And I laughed super loud!!!! American style.
I am getting to be a real warm weather snob....for example the other day it was in the mid 50's and Nate pointed out that I was complaining how cold it was all day....woops!
ReplyDeleteLove reading your blogs....even if I'm a month late!:)