Just looking for fellow Americans in the UK who I can talk to:)

I used to be like that every time I heard an American accent! It used to drive my first husband mental. He really didn't get my need to relate to a total stranger.

Then, one day when we were in LA, we were in a camera shop and he heard a guy with a British accent. I could see him going through all the same emotions and finally made some remark to the guy about "poms sticking together" and the guy just glared at him and said, "I'm Australian, ACK-shullyyyyyy" LOL

  We have been looking at Partick as one possible area.

I live in Partick.   
(well, in Thornwood, at the western edge of Partick.)

I used to be like that every time I heard an American accent! It used to drive my first husband mental. He really didn't get my need to relate to a total stranger.

Then, one day when we were in LA, we were in a camera shop and he heard a guy with a British accent. I could see him going through all the same emotions and finally made some remark to the guy about "poms sticking together" and the guy just glared at him and said, "I'm Australian, ACK-shullyyyyyy" LOL

Hahahaha.... DH found some bloke from Essex at the pub in Dallas last month and invited him over to our table and we ended up hanging with him and his wife all night. 

I don't really get overly excited to hear other American accents since this one American guy calls us at work and he's a heavy breather and awkwardly tries to flirt with me over the phone and he is sooooo annoying! LOL! There have been a few other calls come through from Americans and half the time I don't even notice for a good 5 minutes and then think "Wait - they're American!" Though I never usually say anything because you just know as soon as I say something about them being from the US, they will actually be Canadian. (Some Canadian in London was very insulted that I asked if she was from the US, so now I try to avoid!) 

So true LOL I fish and drop hints until I know for sure LOL

There's a guy here that I was sure was Canadian. We were talking about the weather (very British) and I was saying how, being from SoCal, I love cold winters and 4 distinct seasons etc. Turns out he's from North Dakota and doesn't miss the snow at all LOL No wonder he sounded Canadian LOL

and half the time I don't even notice for a good 5 minutes and then think "Wait - they're American!"

I do that too. Mainly on the telephone or TV. Unless it is a southern drawl or Boston twang or distinctive American pronunciation of certain words. I have done that with Scots as well, unless it is a heavy brogue.

Regards the Canadian thing, it happens. Ever since I had a Canadian lay into me offshore, I usually ask where's your accent from? But in my defense, the guy was a driller working for a US company, chawed chaw and spit in a Styrofoam cup and dressed as an American (his work clothes - jean bib overalls and boots were not the standard issue as worn by 'locals' and his accent was distinctly North American. Sometimes it just hard to tell.

But I knew he was truly a Canadian as he later apologised for his outburst. I have never seen an American driller dude ever apologise. Ever. In fact, I saw an American tool-pusher once lay into a guy for saying sorry when he bumped into him. The TP ranted about it being unmanly to apologise. 

Well angelique, it's still a mild culture shock.  I mean, for me.. it's mainly been food.  There's so much the same, and yet, so much -not-, and my tongue gets confused.  I think when I do go back to the States next, I'm going to likely find everything much too fatty and salty...

One of my husband's old co-workers at the Tesco we shop at is a Virginia 'boy', himself; he was over here with the Air Force down at Chicksands, married a British gal, and has been over here ever since (some 20-30 years now, I think?).  The first time I spoke to him, he'd this fakey Brit accent on that suddenly melted into this Southern accent, and my brain melted with it.  We sorted it out in time; I think neither of us were expecting the other to be from back home.  But yeah, it does take me a bit to pick up on people having 'American' accents now, though I've definitely been stopped by passersby who were relieved to hear someone from back their way. *giggles*

Raeyn, I know exactly what you mean by your first post. I'm 23, currently a master's student in my fourth year living in the UK (and if I have anything to do with it, I probably won't be leaving at the end of my studies ). I'm a Floridian, and one of the few people who were genuinely born in Florida to parents from Florida. I'm something like sixth generation Floridian, and *true* Florida natives have a slight southern accent called Florida Cracker, quite similar in most respects to Georgia. Alas, not me. I've always had a very neutral accent, with extremely neutral phrasing. I don't think I've used the word y'all once in my life. I remember being a child, watching British dramas and comedies on PBS - however, it was a bit different. Instead of thinking "that's where I ought to be", it was more the case of "that's where I *am* from". Like I had been separated from my home in some previous life. I've always felt like a stranger in my own homeland, and jumped at every chance I could get throughout my teenage years to come here, live for a few months at a time and see the sights. My mum's family is originally from Norfolk/Suffolk, and my dad's from Kent/Sussex (I think), so it's no great surprise I'm a slight believer in genetic memory. The first time I ever went to Norfolk, as I drove through the countryside I kept thinking "I know this place. I've been here before", knowing very well that I hadn't.

It's come to the point now where I effectively sound British without trying. In fact, I tend to get those same questions and strange comments about my accent for the exact opposite reason as most people. They hear me, then ask me where I'm from, and the two don't correspond at all, and that then becomes a talking point. However, a colleague of mine once remarked that I was more English than anyone who I worked with, and I managed to draw a strange sense of pride in that. I feel like I'm back where I belong. I don't know any American expats here, and most of my friends are British or Iranian, so I tend to notice Americans in a crowd because I'm no longer used to hearing the accents. The main problem I suffer from now is communication with my family (does anyone else get this?) - I have a hard time understanding them, especially my younger sister, and my parents have an extremely hard time understanding me, so I've noticed that I've started to pick and choose my words very carefully on the phone when I'm telling a story.

BUT, your second post hits the nail on the head. Honest to god, I sometimes wake up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat dreaming about Sonny's barbecue (a southern thing), Dunkin' Donuts, Olive Garden breadsticks, Philly cheese steak sandwiches, hot dogs with chilli and that fake yellow cheese goo, and tacos with refried beans. I tend to go back to see my parents every Christmas, and we all end up organising our schedules around which restaurants we can fit into so much time in a day, so I can get my fix of horrible food that will take years off my life. My tongue also gets confused as well. I'm perfectly happy with British food, I have a new-found appreciation for mayonnaise and salad cream that I never thought possible, and when I go back to America I hate the food for being too salty and sweet and fatty... and then hate it for being so delicious, and then hate myself for giving in to those urges  Sorry about the long post, I just wanted to vent about the food thing and to say that your situation sounded quite similar to mine. Even though there have CERTAINLY been ups and downs over the last four years, I think I've made the best decision I'll probably ever make, and I can't really imagine living anywhere else at this point. Bring on my passport!

angelique - I'm way down here in Oxford, but if you ever find yourself in this area and want someone to chat with/show you the sights, I'm all ears. I'll be here until next September at the very earliest (barring no major problems with my dissertation!)

Ah see, my first trip to the UK was with my fiancee visa in hand; I took the plunge hardcore. *grins*  But generally, yes - I completely dig what you're saying about being British regardless of origin.  I DJ (well, I'm on hiatus right now due to the little one being due this month) on an internet station, and the other Brits tune in to listen because, in their mind, I'm one of them regardless of accent!  When it came out I was immigrating, they all took it as a matter of course that it was completely accurate and appropriate, so I was rather pleased.

But as for accent... been here for two and a half years~ now, and I just can't seem to pick it up.  Some of my vowels are a bit rounder, but otherwise, I sound pretty much as I ever did.  Though I definitely am not making an effort to pick up the accent either; I think it's a bit naff to come around faking it!  I figure if it comes, it'll come, but as it hasn't yet.... not forcing it.

My main problem with family back in the States is realizing just how freaking American they are in all the ways I didn't like about American 'culture'.  They're loud, they're pushy, they're extremely demanding and entitled-acting, and it drives me batty.  As the person who was doing most of that giving and niceness, I'm sooo freaking relieved to be across an ocean and relieved of -that- burden. ><

You guys fricken rule   It makes me feel so much better just knowing that I have others who can relate to the little things!  I have not picked up the Scottish accent at all, but I have picked up the Scottish/British words rather well.  My mom still doesn't understand why my son calls his "sweatshirt" a jumper. 
Genau, we will have to get together when I get back there!  I rather liked Partick!  It has a bead shop that I liked.  I think it was right by the train station, if I remember correctly.  Nice little area though.  Hoping that my husband will find a flat we can afford in that area.
When my husband came to Minneapolis to visit me once we went to see a local Irish/Scottish style band called the Wild Colonial Bhoys and there were two other Scotsmen there and ended up talking to us for quite a while.  And even the guys in the band (who were American, but had spent time living in Ireland) were happy to hear my husband's thick Scottish accent.  I don't know if I will ever get over the excitement of hearing American accents over there though.  I just want to be able to make Scotland my home and try to fit in a bit. 
I have a an American friend who is living in the UK and she actually smuggled home a whole bunch of Chipotle burritos in her luggage when she came home one time!  That still makes me laugh when I think about it!

I rather liked Partick!  It has a bead shop that I liked.  I think it was right by the train station, if I remember correctly. 

The bead shop is up near Partick Cross, which is nearer to Kelvinhall subway station than it is to Partick station... unless there's another bead shop nearby that I don't know about!

My mom still doesn't understand why my son calls his "sweatshirt" a jumper.

Ack, that's another annoying one - people going 'z0mg, you're speaking British!'  Erm... well yes, I do live here, after all, and really, I was splitting the difference between US and UK even before immigrating, so why would that have changed?!  Though thankfully, not heard anyone bust out that line in over a year...

Buckeyejenn, I completely relate.  Taco Bell and Chipotle are my two faves.  It seems like a small thing, but unless you have had to live without it you have no clue how much it can mean to you.  And always feeling like an outsider is exactly how I felt.  I could never feel at home.  And everyone thought I was Canadian.  And when you get a room full of Scots, talking fast, I can't understand a word Embarrassed  It was so hard.  I will be in Glasgow when I get back so I would love to meet up!!!!  What area are you in?

I live in East Kilbride, it's about 15 miles southish of Glasgow.  Pretty much just a quik train ride, or not so quick bus ride up there. 
I was just in the States a few weeks ago for Thanksgiving and like someone else said on here we planned our schedules around how many different foods I could get in.  Wendy's, TacoBell, Steak-n-Shake, my Dad's famous biscuits and gravy (Which freaks the crap out of scots when I explain my dad makes this, they imagine cookies with a beef stock  ) 
I am always up for meeting more people as I still don't know many people here.  And where as I love my DH he's not exactly the social type.  He's the computer kind, haha.   Let's meet up and be really American and go eat at TGIF's.  Plus they have some of the best cocktails around

Genau, I think you are right, it IS by the subway station!  I remember my husband telling me that is the subway he uses to get to work.  But yeah, it is the ONLY bead shop around that I could find!  I will be visiting it again when I get back!
Raeyn, when I first got back from Scotland I was using many more British-isms.  I have dropped most of them because people look at me like i am insane when I say Crisps or biscuit.  I still use cuppa and wee'uns sometimes though.  My son still uses biscuit sometimes though.  He picked up a lot of the lingo!
Buckeyejenn, I know where East Kilbride is!  I remember all the places that the train goes through on the way to Glasgow:)  TGI Fridays sounds like a plan!!!!  I don't know if there is more than one around, but I remember seeing the one in Glasgow and I just thought it was so cool!  They don't serve haggis there do they???     lol  That would just figure!  Oh and I laughed at the Scots thinking biscuits and gravy is a cookie and beef stock!  For some reason that struck me as exceptionally funny!  My dh isn't exactly social either unless it involves football or the XBox!!!!!  Is your husband a football fan?

Hee, I've not been back 'home' yet; we popped over to Phoenix for our honeymoon//visit friends, but not been back to Texas since leaving it in May of 2007.  And while I converse with my mother on the phone every other week or so, I don't know what expectations the rest of the fam have as far as accents and idioms are concerned.  Obviously, we all know that accents aren't mando; one of my sisters taught in France for a year and came back sounding the same, and another spent a summer studying in Perugia (same time as the Knox bollocks.. blech!), and definitely didn't pick up any sort of accent to note.  No, immediate family (I fear the idiocy of my stepfather's relatives, should I have to cross their paths) has been fairly understanding of the duality - just been friends that have been a smidge obnoxious thufar.

angelique where in Minneapolis are you from?  My father lives in the burbs in Prior Lake (Burnsville) and I have lived in mult. places downtown.  I am dating a Scotsman from Glasgow but we are down in Preston (by Manchester).  Are you in Minneapolis now?  I just talked to my dad and after the storm and cold temperatures they just got, I am glad to be in this not so cold weather.