Is it American or English I am speaking.

Sep 19 '02    Write an essay on this topic.


The Bottom Line Thought this would be a cute place to write this.

I was in Busch Gardens yesterday, and it was full of English on vacation. Len and I started talking to them, and I just had to smile. Am I now speaking English or American.

Here are a couple of examples.

In England you fill the car with petrol. Here, you are pumping gas.

A car park, is a parking lot.

I put the rubbish in the dustbin for Dad, and put it on the pavement. Over here, the garbage goes in the can, and out on the sidewalk.

In England I wear tights, not pantie hose. I get to wear the suspenders, not the man in the house.

Going out to eat, I would have Fish-n-chips, here it is fish and French fries. We love gerkins with them, not pickles. Use cutlery instead of silverware. Have a serviette, not a napkin. We eat crisps, which are potato chips.

If it is dark, get out a torch to see where you are going. Still can't get used to the flash light. If you smoke, it is a f*g, so we quickly forgot that one.

Pants are your underwear, not over your underwear. We only have pants, not long pants or short pants. Gee, I would love to see those English long pants. Can you imagine.

My accent has changed. I do not pronounce my 'D's and 'T's all the time. I am starting to get that "Southern drawl".

It really hit home as to 'what I speak', when English visitors in Busch Gardens, thought Len and I were Americans.

Language can be a real funny thing, but not knowing which I am using now, can be even funnier.

Written by this Resident Alien, with a green card, that is pink, and she doesn't know what the hell she is doing.

Thanks guys and gals.
Susie.


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