Any other immigrants here?

[Senshi1]

I was wondering how many of you good folks are immigrants, or have been at some point. Where were you born and where did you move to? Why? How did you find it? Was the transition easy? I'm really curious to hear from you.

I was born and raised in Wales and have been living in the USA for a little over a year now. I've enjoyed it, it's been a blast, but it's a strange experience. Not a sad one - as I said, I love it here - but kind of surreal. I often try to quote what I believe to be a famous TV show and it falls on deaf ears because all the shows are different. The same with songs, although not to the same extent.

Even though both countries speak English, the language barrier is bigger than I expected too. Words like trousers, dual carriageway, constable (and truncheon), fire brigade, and headmaster/mistress sound old fashioned and even comical to some people. My English teacher here told me I had a Victorian way of writing (and speaking), though he may have just meant I was long-winded.

Props to TKLVR18, though - she's the only person for thousands of miles who, after much listening, now gets jokes from shows like Father Ted, Gavin and Stacey, and Men Behaving Badly, and doesn't ask me to clarify what "Deirdrie glasses" (of Coronation Street fame) are.

So I know there's at least a couple more immigrants from and in various countries here. How have you found it?

 

[tickle_fan031]

I'm not surprised about the language barrier. But oh no does that mean you have to spell the American way when you right? That's gotta be confusing-coz you'll automatically write with the British spellings. But Woot Woot to TKLVR18- glad she knows/understands the quotes from such awesome tv!lol.

Are you starting to pick up an American twang yet? Bet it will be strange if you ever visit Wales again-you'll probs be so used to the American way of saying things i.e the different kinda slang you'll automatically come out with it as opposed to what you were saying as you were Wales.

 

[Senshi1]

I'm not surprised about the language barrier. But oh no does that mean you have to spell the American way when you right? That's gotta be confusing-coz you'll automatically write with the British spellings. But Woot Woot to TKLVR18- glad she knows/understands the quotes from such awesome tv!lol.

Are you starting to pick up an American twang yet? Bet it will be strange if you ever visit Wales again-you'll probs be so used to the American way of saying things i.e the different kinda slang you'll automatically come out with it as opposed to what you were saying as you were Wales.

Yeah, I do have a proper twang. And yes, I also have to write with the USA spellings. And sometimes choosing what word to use is a bit weird. I can always say trash can liner, but it sounds so unnatural coming from me - but then when I say bin bag, nobody knows what I'm trying to say. I get a lot of stick for tomay-to tomah-to (working in a cafe [which I wrongly say as caff-ee] I need to say it a lot). The worst is water, though. I say woh-tuh, and people here are listening for wah-durr, and so they look at me daft unless I put on this phoney baloney accent which feels unnatural but people can understand.

Meh, it's kinda funny sometimes. I asked somebody the other day if she was Mary, and she looked at me all stern and showed me her wedding ring and said "yes, I am". :lol

 

[tickle_fan031]

Yeah, I do have a proper twang. And yes, I also have to write with the USA spellings. And sometimes choosing what word to use is a bit weird. I can always say trash can liner, but it sounds so unnatural coming from me - but then when I say bin bag, nobody knows what I'm trying to say. I get a lot of stick for tomay-to tomah-to (working in a cafe [which I wrongly say as caff-ee] I need to say it a lot). The worst is water, though. I say woh-tuh, and people here are listening for wah-durr, and so they look at me daft unless I put on this phoney baloney accent which feels unnatural but people can understand.

Meh, it's kinda funny sometimes. I asked somebody the other day if she was Mary, and she looked at me all stern and showed me her wedding ring and said "yes, I am". :lol

Ye.I see trash can liner does seem strange. Glad you're picking up the twang though- it'll help you fit in more-less hassle. But I can imagine it being funny though.

I hit language barriers at work- one applicant for a job was Polish i asked what shoe size was she and she said sorry i don't understand and then i was trying to think of different ways of saying it,so I just said things that you were on your feet...I felt like I was playing 20 questions.haha.

So to make this more on topic...when Polish people have moved over here and work they struggle- we would be lost without our translator at work-otherwise we wouldnt get anywhere,i.e. if they wanted to have a job or sort out any issues whilst they are working there. They pick up "sorry I don't understand" quickly-which kinda helps us out, so that we know that there is no point trying to speak English coz they won't understand a word we are saying. :lol

 

[Frost King]

Yeah i don't know if this is off topic but i have two friends that are from other places. my one friend is originally from london and she moved to the US and i met her a long time ago in school. and i actually was her first friend here in the us and i helped her try to fit in. but she still speaks with her accent she wanted to try to lose it but i said no keep it. and i went to london to visit with her and she showed me around it was interesting. and my other friend she was born in norway but her parents moved to the us. but she taught me how to speak norwegian. and i have alot of family who came from other places too my grandfather was born in poland and he moved to the US when he was young.

 

[TKLVR181]

He's actually getting on (hey, 'getting on' is a Brit-ism I picked up. Isms never hurt anybody...😀 ) much better than he thought he would. It's really sweet of you to say that I'm getting everything well...I try ^_^ Keep truckin' along hon, you'll figure everything out--and I'm right here beside you

....poking you to make sure you're still smiling *pokes him a few times in the ribs* 😀

~K

 

[Journia]

I'm an immigrant.

From Tickle Hell.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT