I just cried in Morrisons...

And then, there's all the signs that say 'TO LET'...and if you've a puerile sense of humour like me, you want to take a black marker to all of those & add in an 'I'. 

HEHEHEHEHHE me too!!!!!!!

 

Me too! 
When our 9 yr old was in Reception they asked some of the Mums to come in and read a story. I brought in 'Chicka Chicka Boom Boom'.   We hadn't been over all that long and I read out 'zeee'...and there was a part in the story about one of the letters 'dusting off his pants'.  Got some funny looks from that as well. 

It's taken me the longest time to remember that silly 'Zed' & I still forget sometimes! 

I have the opposite problem: when I'm typing in subject headings and go to add a country name I think "zed France" or whatever. Have to remember to translate to "zee" if I'm training someone 

And then, there's all the signs that say 'TO LET'...and if you've a puerile sense of humour like me, you want to take a black marker to all of those & add in an 'I'. 

I always seem to pass by them when I have to go badly and my hopes go up and then are crashed.

Everytime I see a sign that says "Female Toilet" I wonder if it's some new species of room brought in from the Serengeti and if at night they mate with the Male Toilets.

And then, there's all the signs that say 'TO LET'...and if you've a puerile sense of humour like me, you want to take a black marker to all of those & add in an 'I'. 

All the time! 

Just a mini-update- Things are really looking up for me as far as settling in. I'm making new friends and I start work (trial basis and it may not work for either parties) on Saturday. I've started to speak up and ask for what I want, and have found it to be no deal at all. My classmates are always saying how much they like my accent too, which makes me feel less self conscious. I think listening to the advice of everyone here, and having in person support from lovely ladies like Andee and Mrs. R have really made a difference in my settling. Not to say there won't be rough bumps in the future, but it's nice to know that I have the support system and coping skills to make it through. Cheers.

Just a mini-update- Things are really looking up for me as far as settling in. I'm making new friends and I start work (trial basis and it may not work for either parties) on Saturday. I've started to speak up and ask for what I want, and have found it to be no deal at all. My classmates are always saying how much they like my accent too, which makes me feel less self conscious. I think listening to the advice of everyone here, and having in person support from lovely ladies like Andee and Mrs. R have really made a difference in my settling. Not to say there won't be rough bumps in the future, but it's nice to know that I have the support system and coping skills to make it through. Cheers.

Good to hear!

Just a mini-update- Things are really looking up for me as far as settling in. I'm making new friends and I start work (trial basis and it may not work for either parties) on Saturday. I've started to speak up and ask for what I want, and have found it to be no deal at all. My classmates are always saying how much they like my accent too, which makes me feel less self conscious. I think listening to the advice of everyone here, and having in person support from lovely ladies like Andee and Mrs. R have really made a difference in my settling. Not to say there won't be rough bumps in the future, but it's nice to know that I have the support system and coping skills to make it through. Cheers.

Yay! 

Sarahjoyhappy,

Glad things are looking up for you.  All the best!

I'm happy for you Sarah! 

Glad things are looking up Sarah 

Yay Sarah!  Good luck & keep us posted, keep in touch. 

Thank you so much for posting that Sarah because I've experienced so much of what you described and I've felt so stupid for it. I know it's all part of adjusting but it doesn't make me feel much better.
I've also found that I get really shy around Brits and without trying I talk differently, not so much with a British accent, but the way I phrase things, more like a Brit would do and it makes me stumble over my sentences sometimes.
When talking to other Americans I feel so much more comfortable and just say what I want how I want but I always feel a little inhibited when talking to Brits. It can be exhausting sometimes! But I've found that a lot of times when I just talk in my usual American way I'm not understood or I get a very confused look for a few seconds while they figure out what I was trying to say.
I think the answer is just to be yourself and not be afraid to look stupid!

You do get to be "bi-lingual" eventually.

Saying toilets sounds so crude to me. To me, its like announcing that I need to take a pee.

I felt like that at first but I realised that for many Brits asking where the "toilet" is, is a polite alternative to announcing that they need to take a pee, that is they feel relaxed with only two stages of euphemism in many cases.*

(Take a pee/dump) -> (use the toilet)

whereas over there (N America) they have three

(Take a pee/dump) -> (use the toilet) -> (visit the restroom)

* Not all, my Somerset neighbour sometimes "powders her nose".