oh, for heavens' sake

[winterbadger]

as seen on brits_americans

As a US citizen living in London, Christian Cox says she is shocked at the amount of abuse she receives because of her nationality.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4881474.stm

Comments

[thespis-mellie.livejournal.com]

I've actually not run into any problems -- most people just think it's cool and interesting that I'm American. I usually have to put up with some Bush ranting but that's fine with me since I think he's a twat too :) I also have to answer 0986798769876 questions (Why did you move to England? If I moved to the US, I'd never want to leave! Is it hot there? Are there lots of black people? Do you know lots of famous people? Is it like it is on TV? etc. etc. etc.)

The only time it might have been an issue was at parents evening, when a couple of Y10 parents asked me how I could teach English since British English wasn't my native language. I just laughed and said that I knew where the extra 'u's go.

[winterbadger]

I've actually not run into any problems -- most people just think it's cool and interesting that I'm American. I usually have to put up with some Bush ranting but that's fine with me since I think he's a twat too :)

Even a lot of Americans who asre staying in America think that. ;-) By 2008, I think it will ba almsot as hard to find people who admit they voted for Bush as it was in 1945 to find Germans who would admit to having voted NSDAP. :-)

I also have to answer 0986798769876 questions (Why did you move to England? If I moved to the US, I'd never want to leave! Is it hot there? Are there lots of black people? Do you know lots of famous people? Is it like it is on TV? etc. etc. etc.)

Those are good ones! There are all sorts of creative answers to some of those...

The only time it might have been an issue was at parents evening, when a couple of Y10 parents asked me how I could teach English since British English wasn't my native language. I just laughed and said that I knew where the extra 'u's go.

Yes, if I ever got an editing job there, I'd anticipate authors who didn't like my changes pulling out that card. :-)

[pusscat.livejournal.com]

The UK v. US English thing works both ways - a couple of years ago I went to see one of my favourite (children's) writers, Lauren Child, at the book festival. One of her books is called "My Uncle is a Hunkle, Says Clarice Bean" and she was told she would have to change the title in America because the word "hunkle" doesn't mean anything there. Wonder what those same people would have made of Dr Seuss?