Things that Americans find odd about the UK

I'm getting used to things like "You alright?" and the simple "Right" instead of "Ok".  "Summit, Gerrin and Nar" still make me cringe a bit, but they are ok.

However. I can't get over three things so far...

3.  Twat.
2.  Duck.
1.  How everyone keeps spelling it "cum"

::bangs head on desk:: I just .... "CARNT!" LOL

I'm getting used to things like "You alright?" and the simple "Right" instead of "Ok". 
1.  How everyone keeps spelling it "cum"

This is done by teens and adults near me and I flinch each time!

I still wonder when my neighbors ask "Hello. Are you okay,then?" if that is their way of saying "How are you?" and not saying "Are you ill?"
I keep wondering if I should put on some make up for a change or something!

I've finally settled into a routine with "Hi, you alright?" from people. I just say "doing good, you?" and don't get any strange looks the majority of the time. Even though I knew it was a common greeting, I admit for the first month or so I lived here, I still had the thought of "oh sh*t, do I look terrible or sick or something??" every time I heard it. It is like the American "hi! How ARE you?!", a routine question that nobody really listens to the answer to.

...
However. I can't get over three things so far...

...
1.  How everyone keeps spelling it "cum"

::bangs head on desk:: I just .... "CARNT!" LOL

It comes from Latin. Think about in the US, college degrees have honors such as cum laude.

That said, living in Chorlton-cum-Hardy always makes me giggle when I see/write the whole name (instead of the commonly used Chorlton).

He's right. One of my mother's sisters in Wales married into an Italian family and there are about three ice cream shops in Tenby bearing their name that have been in the family since they came over from Italy!

Cool!

Our ice cream van has "Italian-style gelato" written on the front, but it plays Greensleeves!

I've heard one that plays Greensleeves when I was in Cornwall years ago--thought that was odd, too!

It comes from Latin. Think about in the US, college degrees have honors such as cum laude.

That said, living in Chorlton-cum-Hardy always makes me giggle when I see/write the whole name (instead of the commonly used Chorlton).

It's partly an age thing I believe. When I was young and the interwebs weren't invented, the only written accounts of and references to orgasms were in printed books and magazines and the verb was spelled "come" (and sometimes had "off" added). See Stephen King for example. This nasty modern ugly "cum" spelling is quite a recent variation. It is alleged to have originated in the California porn industry. I would be far more likely to giggle at "Chorlton-come-Hardy".

It's partly an age thing I believe. When I was young and the interwebs weren't invented, the only written accounts of and references to orgasms were in printed books and magazines and the verb was spelled "come" (and sometimes had "off" added). See Stephen King for example. This nasty modern ugly "cum" spelling is quite a recent variation. It is alleged to have originated in the California porn industry. I would be far more likely to giggle at "Chorlton-come-Hardy".

I'm in my mid 40s, and remember the spelling cum from my teenage years...

I'm in my mid 40s, and remember the spelling cum from my teenage years...

There has been a California porn industry since the 1920s if not before, and, interestingly, the first recorded useage of the c-u-m spelling dates from that decade, apparently. But I'm sure it didn't get its current widespread use until quite recently.

There has been a California porn industry since the 1920s if not before, and, interestingly, the first recorded useage of the c-u-m spelling dates from that decade, apparently. But I'm sure it didn't get its current widespread use until quite recently.

What do you consider recent?  I am in my mid-30s and this spelling has been around since my early teens at least (20+ years ago) and I can assure you I have no links to the California porn industry.

i know its been said, but switching on the outlets. its taken me more times than i want to admit to find myself going "ohhhhhhh yeah".....

that and the aggressive nature of everyone on the tube. Yesterday this poor woman was trying to get her baby stroller up the stairs and people were swearing at her and shoving her around. i got in front of the stroller and helped her lug them up the stairs.

poor gal. i feel bad for mums on the tube.

He's right. One of my mother's sisters in Wales married into an Italian family and there are about three ice cream shops in Tenby bearing their name that have been in the family since they came over from Italy!

Our local ice cream vans are from a company called Rossi and have been around since the 60's. We went to a new Italian restaurant in town a few months ago and a group came in and started talking in Italian to the owner, later speaking to the owner he said "that's Mr Rossi, he helped me open the restaurant"

Cool!I've heard one that plays Greensleeves when I was in Cornwall years ago--thought that was odd, too!

Not as odd as the one that comes round here and plays the theme from The Good, The Bad and The Ugly! I keep expecting a gunfight when I go out for a '99'!

that and the aggressive nature of everyone on the tube. Yesterday this poor woman was trying to get her baby stroller up the stairs and people were swearing at her and shoving her around. i got in front of the stroller and helped her lug them up the stairs.

poor gal. i feel bad for mums on the tube.

Yikes, I have never seen anything like that before. The only aggressiveness I would see were people piling and shoving themselves on the tube and crowding the entrance/exit of the tube without any regard to the people needing to get off.

I did see an act of kindness on the tube that moved me- a couple of gentlemen helped a blind man off the tube, as well as to where he needed to go.

Though, I have seen a couple of drunk American girls behaving incredibly obnoxious and were harrassing a poor young man with an electric guitar. They kept pushing for him to get it out and start playing, even though it was on the tube without an amp. Then, they began to sing obnoxiously, making an ass of themselves. As an American, I felt embarrassed that people like these girls are abroad representing our country.

I did see an act of kindness on the tube that moved me- a couple of gentlemen helped a blind man off the tube, as well as to where he needed to go.

Wow! Thanks for sharing that story! It is really good to know that there is still some good out there!

Though, I have seen a couple of drunk American girls behaving incredibly obnoxious and were harrassing a poor young man with an electric guitar. They kept pushing for him to get it out and start playing, even though it was on the tube without an amp. Then, they began to sing obnoxiously, making an ass of themselves. As an American, I felt embarrassed that people like these girls are abroad representing our country.

I know exactly what you are talking about! It feels like every young American has to go to a pub and just get drunk. It is embarrassing for me as well. I think that going to another country requires some responsibility. Especially with the general opinion about Americans it is even more important for each and everyone of us to be an ambassador and at least do a little for the reputation of our country.
OK, wow that what quite a speech...but that is not the first story of that kind that I heard so I needed to vent a little!

I've lived in London since 2000 and have gotten used to most sayings, except this one: "revising for exams".

To me, revise means to edit/change something, studying means to prepare oneself to take an exam.

If anyone knows why "revise" is the commonly used term here in that context, it might help me get used to it (finally, after all these years!)