Inconvenient Annoyances

I definitely don't have a different accent. I studied as an actor and have excellent diction and pronunciation. (And they do train out vocal fry but that story is great!)

Found out when the bartender he said it to reported it to me (I was he manager that day). I had asked if she was ok because she looked super upset. I was 50% glad it wasn't about one of my staff and 50% about to cry.

I definitely don't have a different accent. I studied as an actor and have excellent diction and pronunciation. (And they do train out vocal fry but that story is great!)

Found out when the bartender he said it to reported it to me (I was he manager that day). I had asked if she was ok because she looked super upset. I was 50% glad it wasn't about one of my staff and 50% about to cry.

That really sucks.

I was working with a girl I thought might be American, but I didn't work directly with her so I didn't ask.

Someone else (a manager) brought up that she was Canadian and I said I had almost asked her if she was American. The manager said something like 'oh, good thing you didn't... that wouldn't be a good thing to ask'.

He didn't realise I was American and he basically suggested I'd have insulted her if I'd asked if she was American.... which in turn was an insult to me.

I (stupidly) just said 'I'm American' because I didn't know what else to say. Cringe.

It was super awkward after that whenever he and the other supervisors were around (I'm guessing he told them all), but luckily it was only a short contract. It was actually made a few days shorter than originally planned and I still wonder if that had something to do with it. The rest of the job and everyone else I worked with there was great!

Thankfully our experience has been totally different.  Hubby has a fabulous voice and people are always commenting on it.  The joke, "has a face for radio" - well, he really does have a voice for radio.

Ignoring that, though - family and friends love his accent. When we go into shops or whatever people love to talk to him. 

The immigrant thing - he has been welcomed by people who are delighted he is coming to live here.  I don't think people regard him as an immigrant.

We might be just lucky because we are not in a big city.

It makes me sad to think that people are not welcoming to others coming here.

It makes me sad to think that people are not welcoming to others coming here.

Ours has also been a great experience. Not even a sniff of anything nasty. 

My personal experience is much like Blossoms, my accent is very strong and people are super nice to me.  I get the occasional snide anti American stuff but I just pretend not to understand and don't give it a second thought. I also ignore that dumb "Are you from Canada thing" but will usually talk slower because they might not be the sharpest tool in the box.  I'm sure it's way harder for others.

When I first moved here, I remember SIL making a joke about 'wah-der'. I hadn't even asked for water, or even said the word.

After that moment when I had no good come back, I came prepared with an aghast 'is that really how I say it?!?'

My IA at the moment - I'm on the Tube and someone is eating a smelly meaty sandwich. I'm hungry and I'm vegetarian and I'm very conflicted.

Stay strong to your principles!  Go over and cough on them!

That really sucks.

I was working with a girl I thought might be American, but I didn't work directly with her so I didn't ask.

Someone else (a manager) brought up that she was Canadian and I said I had almost asked her if she was American. The manager said something like 'oh, good thing you didn't... that wouldn't be a good thing to ask'.

He didn't realise I was American and he basically suggested I'd have insulted her if I'd asked if she was American.... which in turn was an insult to me.

I (stupidly) just said 'I'm American' because I didn't know what else to say. Cringe.

It was super awkward after that whenever he and the other supervisors were around (I'm guessing he told them all), but luckily it was only a short contract. It was actually made a few days shorter than originally planned and I still wonder if that had something to do with it. The rest of the job and everyone else I worked with there was great!

Ahh, the struggle when there's another North American around!  Every time I've accidentally asked a Canadian if they're American they're like GOD NO UGHHHHH or similar.  I find that if Americans are asked if they're Canadian, though, they're just like Oh no I'm American! 

That really sucks.

I was working with a girl I thought might be American, but I didn't work directly with her so I didn't ask.

Someone else (a manager) brought up that she was Canadian and I said I had almost asked her if she was American. The manager said something like 'oh, good thing you didn't... that wouldn't be a good thing to ask'.

He didn't realise I was American and he basically suggested I'd have insulted her if I'd asked if she was American.... which in turn was an insult to me.

I (stupidly) just said 'I'm American' because I didn't know what else to say. Cringe.

It was super awkward after that whenever he and the other supervisors were around (I'm guessing he told them all), but luckily it was only a short contract. It was actually made a few days shorter than originally planned and I still wonder if that had something to do with it. The rest of the job and everyone else I worked with there was great!

I've come across people who have flat out asked me if I was offended because I was asked if I was Canadian....I was like "umm..no?" and they have genuinely responded with "Oh, because a Canadian would be offended if you asked if they were American, wouldn't they?" .......I was like "uhhh......no idea? I wouldn't have thought so?" It makes me question who taught them basic manners.

You could always ask them if they are from Gibraltar. 

I've come across people who have flat out asked me if I was offended because I was asked if I was Canadian....I was like "umm..no?" and they have genuinely responded with "Oh, because a Canadian would be offended if you asked if they were American, wouldn't they?" .......I was like "uhhh......no idea? I wouldn't have thought so?" It makes me question who taught them basic manners.

As a Canadian there is a little bit of disappointment there when people ask if I am American. It's hard to explain why as I'm not exactly insulted? I've heard that New Zealanders get upset when they are mistaken for Australians and I think it has to do with just being lumped into one geographic region.

We were in London a few years ago and had a weird interaction with a lady in a pub. My husband mentioned we were Canadian and she said "Oh that explains it, I could tell you weren't American" whaaaa?

When I lived in the US, I had people guess just about every possible accent from 3 of the 4 home countries (don't remember ever getting Welsh) to Eastern European, Scandinavian, Australian, South African.. you name it. 

It was a little boring having the same exchange time and time again but it never bothered me.
I always felt that it was nice that they were taking an interest.

The boiler at the rental is fixed!  Hallelujah!

I knew a Canadian who  would always claim to be American because she was "North American".  She went on and on about how Americans couldn't appropriate the name for ourselves. 

I knew a Canadian who  would always claim to be American because she was "North American".  She went on and on about how Americans couldn't appropriate the name for ourselves.

....But who specifies that they are "North American" when asked about nationality? LOL "Who is the issuer of your passport?" "North America!"