I'm sure we have all heard of Fish and Chips back in the States and most of us were ready to order chips, not fries. But certainly that's not all one needs to know.
Before I left, I prepared myself for the inevitable "culture shock". Though Great Britain shares more similarities with the United States than most countries, that doesn't mean certain differences cannot be debilitating.
I can't say I was traumatized by such miscommunication but I have experienced an awkward moment or two because of my ignorance of the lingo. Take our trip to Turf Tavern, for example. I was starving and failed to order an appetizer. I went to the bar to order my Diet Coke and some potato chips. I already knew Diet Coke was actually called Coca-Cola Light over here so I was ready to impress the bartender with my new found knowledge. "I'll have a Coca-Cola Light, please." He cocked his head and smirked at me before responding, "You mean a Diet Coke?" What!?! How could this be? I am assimilating to your culture and using your terms for a Georgia born soft drink! Whatever. "Yes, a Diet Coke," I said. "Could I have some chips, as well, please?" Wrong move, Katherine. "Chips? No, here we call fries, chips." At this point, I was getting a bit frustrated. "Okay, then what are chips?!" "Crisps," he said. "Fine, I'll have some crisps." A few patrons were smiling. A little snicker here and there. But it's okay. Now I know.
I could go on for at least another couple of paragraphs. The time when I said at least four different variations of "Excuse me, what was that?" when a girl asked me if I went to Uni in Georgia (University). (I thought she was asking if I was in a Union. What, like a worker's union? I just told you I was a student!) Or the time a couple of British guys made fun of me for at least 10 minutes straight about my pronunciation of "garage" and "tomato". I will spare you all the details. The point is...As hard as I try not to be a stereotypical, obnoxious American, I can't know every bit of slang before I arrive or within my first week here. It will take some time. Until then, I've accepted the fact I may have an awkward moment or two and I may get laughed at once or twice because as much as I try to blend, I'm still an American!
Katherine
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
It definitely is unusual to try and learn all the lingo here, especially given the fact that we all speak English. I was used to the chips are fries, biscuits are a type of cookie, and Coke is definitely not the same here as it is in the States. However, I had a huge culture shock last night when I was at the Purple Turtle, and a British guy was explaining to me the meanings British slang, such as bollocks, bugger, bloody, and a slew of other words. When I told him what I thought were their American equivalents, I was laughed at and told their real meanings. In reality, those British words are a lot dirtier (sexually charged) than I had expected. My first-impression of the British seeming "classier/smarter" with their accent has really turned around with the actual meanings of their slang. Not only do they have their own slang, as I found out, they use our cuss words in addition to everything else. And now, because of a single ten minute conversation about lingo, my perspective on cultural differences between America and Britain has definitely changed.
I have had some awkward miscommunication issues myself. I was waitng in line to go and see the Whigs play. And this woman in front of me said "oh i'm not queueing, i'm just having a fag", which almost made me laugh. She was speaking English to me, but it sure didn't seem like it. I had to decode that. Apparently she wasn't in line, she was just having a smoke.
While I was in Bath on Friday, I saw a sign that said no fly tipping. Well i had no idea what that meant. Apparently it means no littering. The lingo here is certainly different, sometimes like a foregin language. But I am enjoying picking up new vocab.
Post a Comment