tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18905398.post8751986846197540777..comments2023-04-16T03:57:13.850-04:00Comments on Witterings & Wanderings: And this is what Americans think a Scotsman looks like...?Cursed Teahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11887314545308348100noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18905398.post-43309564913596581542008-01-27T11:50:00.000-05:002008-01-27T11:50:00.000-05:00I'm an English as a Second Language teacher here i...I'm an English as a Second Language teacher here in the US. I've been here over 20 years now and my accent is a little confused. People almost always seem to think I'm from New Zealand or Australia. Rather than simply asking "Where are you from?", most people will say something along the lines of "I think I detect a slight accent?" Recently I've begun starting my answer with, "Well, I've lived most of my life in the United States . . ." and manage to work into the conversation that I am a US citizen. That really throws them for a loop! <BR/><BR/>If they really annoy me, when I'm telling them what my job is I'll explain that they had to hire someone from England to teach "proper" English!Almost Americanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17865905831387595915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18905398.post-58954150494286455372007-10-13T18:11:00.000-04:002007-10-13T18:11:00.000-04:00This is funny -- I am an American living in Scotla...This is funny -- I am an American living in Scotland, so I can picture what you're going through over there, in a way.<BR/><BR/>I was fairly ignorant about Scotland before we moved here, but at least I KNEW I was ignorant. It is people who don't know it and aren't upset when they find out that irk me.<BR/><BR/>Amusingly enough, I've lived in this town for six years and whenever I go to a shop I haven't frequented much, people tell me to have a good holiday. You'd think they'd be tipped off that I'm a resident owing to my muddy gardening clothes, wellies, frequent and accurate use of 'wee,' 'smidgen,' and 'so I do' as a tag, -- and 'ya ken?'<BR/><BR/>I am always amused when visiting Americans want to know where Braveheart took place, though. I always tell them 'Hollywood' and irritate them no end.Mary Witzlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06458299046574564155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18905398.post-11646743519185027922007-10-03T15:29:00.000-04:002007-10-03T15:29:00.000-04:00I remember my mum telling me a story about an Amer...I remember my mum telling me a story about an American visiting Scotland in the 60's and saying (imagine American Accent here) "Oh wow I didn't realise that you had electricity and runnning water in Scotland!"Gwenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15695613095959659034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18905398.post-82623204328986483392007-09-29T18:53:00.000-04:002007-09-29T18:53:00.000-04:00When I first decided to come to Scotland to study ...When I first decided to come to Scotland to study English literature, I can't tell you how many people asked me, "How can you study English in Scotland? Do they speak English?" Sigh.<BR/><BR/>And yes, in my experience Irish people like Scottish people - it's the English that they have a problem with!Squirmy Popplehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04457645483645107653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18905398.post-16228882216070186802007-09-28T13:24:00.000-04:002007-09-28T13:24:00.000-04:00Erm...well, I know who Rabbie Burns and William Wa...Erm...well, I know who Rabbie Burns and William Wallace were.<BR/><BR/>Oh! And Graeme Obree. Does he count? :)Caithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18240367149017147237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18905398.post-6687994826217431492007-09-26T07:59:00.000-04:002007-09-26T07:59:00.000-04:00LOL Oh I love this! This is not an attitude I ru...LOL Oh I love this! This is not an attitude I run into in Morocco. Here they all think we are football heros! Can you believe that. Apparently we beat them some years ago in a big match, and they remember! I love it. In America what I get, is questions about Braveheart! Hence the title of my blog..<BR/><BR/>Very nice blog. I enjoyed my visit. Nice to know your English is improving... ;-)lady macleodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12830048414719866472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18905398.post-8490805861805532922007-09-25T17:33:00.000-04:002007-09-25T17:33:00.000-04:00Just popping back here to say thank you for your c...Just popping back here to say thank you for your comment on my blog (can't find an email address for you). I promise, it's not usually that depressing at Blooming Marvelous. I'm also sorry to hear that you have personal experience of that type of loss. I feel like mine is 'second hand' experience, and I'm sometimes at a loss at this time of year on what to do or say around my husband, I'm acutely aware that there's likely nothing I can do to make him feel better.Anniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07387168103798629268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18905398.post-86151800456946306892007-09-25T15:03:00.000-04:002007-09-25T15:03:00.000-04:00Personally, the day I could understand every Hamis...Personally, the day I could understand every Hamish Macbeth episode without captions stands as a milestone in my understanding of "English".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18905398.post-75693008063023157742007-09-25T14:43:00.000-04:002007-09-25T14:43:00.000-04:00I love this - I could replace every 'Scottish' wit...I love this - I could replace every 'Scottish' with 'Irish' and that would pretty much sum up my experience in the US also!<BR/><BR/>I've lost count of the number of people who've told me they're Irish - then proceed to explain that they are Irish because their next door neighbour's great, great grandma's dog came over from Ireland to escape the Famine. HA!<BR/><BR/>And yes, the Irish love the Scottish, and in my experience of living in Glasgow, the feeling is generally mutual, unless you reveal that you support the wrong football team! ;)Anniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07387168103798629268noreply@blogger.com