If you’re ever in doubt about your heritage, or your
background, or your nationality, go spend an entire year surrounded by
patriotic, nationalistic American’s. If you don’t feel a sense of pride or rather,
dismay, about your home country then perhaps you haven’t been experiencing the
true feelings of being abroad.
I’m trying to decide whether living in the States has made
me feel more British or just simply, ‘foreign’. There’s definitely been moments
where I’ve caught myself being stereotypically British, and had to just laugh
at how ridiculous I sound! From pronunciations such as ‘tomarrtoo’ instead of
‘tomaaatoe’ and having sudden urges to drink gallons of Twinnings English
Breakfast tea. I’ve always had people make comments such as “Alice, you are so
incredibly British”. Perhaps, it’s the silly old sayings that have been
engrained into my personality, such as; “spend a penny” or “Gordan Bennet!” The
looks I receive off anybody and everybody are always ones of utter confusion,
and I realise that to them I’m speaking utter gobbledy gook.
Spending so much time amongst Americans, whether in the
classroom, at rehearsals, swim training or socialising, almost made me forget
that I stood out and sounded different, with my so called ‘Prime Minister Posh’
accent. It always takes me by surprise that every server in Starbucks notices I
say “Mocha” with exaggerated vowels and then persist on asking a million and
one questions as to where I’m from, how long I’ve been here and what I’m doing.
It got to the point during last semester where I just couldn’t be bothered to
be cross examined every time I needed coffee, so I would just ask one of my
American friends to order for me or fake a rather obnoxious accent. Neither
worked particularly well.
Perhaps it’s my dry sense of humour that makes me feel more
British. Travelling around the country and staying with some of my friends from
University at home has made me realise the difference in our sense of humour.
We’re incredibly sarcastic and continually ‘take the piss’ out of one another,
to the point where it’s basically bullying. In the same circumstance,
American’s would tend to get defensive, whilst us Brits, take it with a pinch
of salt and know we’re only joking. So tongue in cheek!
The worst is when you’re texting someone. Half the time the
messages I receive come across as super blunt. Which I like, to some respect. I
can remember when I first arrived in the States that I was kind of shocked when
I never received any kisses at the end of messages. If I just sent a text
message to my friends at home saying “Where are you?” it may come across as
hostile, so we tend to add kisses at the end to soften the blow. Lindsay earnestly
asked me once, “why do you put all those x’s at the end of your texts?” so I
had to explain why. Gosh, it’s difficult sounding sarcastic all the time and
not wanting to add a silly emoticon to show I’m only messing around.
So whilst I’m not trying to lay claim that every American is
loud and blunt, and all British people have a sarcastic sense of humour. I
guess I’ve just realised that these obvious differences have made me feel all
the more British; saying my pleases and thank-yous, apologising for almost
everything and realising that if I don’t speak up, at least ten people will
speak over me because almost everyone is vocal and to the point. I like it. I
like it a lot. And I think I’ll be taking this new found confidence to speak up
and be heard right back over the pond with me!
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