Hello
Guest

Sponsored Links


Topic: Assimilating... it's the little things  (Read 3969 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

  • *
  • Posts: 6174

  • Liked: 1327
  • Joined: Aug 2012
  • Location: End of the M4 and then a bit more.
Assimilating... it's the little things
« on: January 17, 2019, 03:07:38 PM »
Last year, I was added to a Facebook group for my "hometown" (the small city I lived in before I moved to the UK, and where many of my extended family live), and I didn't immediately remove myself because it's been interesting to see the group members talk about changes in and around the city, and ask for recommendations for services, or whatever.  But today, someone posted a diagram showing where a restaurant was going to be moving to, and one of the points of reference had me muttering to myself, "There's a T.K. Maxx?"  Then I realized what I said, and corrected myself.  As we all know, it's T.J. Maxx there!
9/1/2013 - "fiancée" (marriage) visa issued
4/6/2013 - married (certificate issued same-day)
5/6/2013 - FLR(M)#1 in person -- approved!
8/1/2016 - FLR(M)#2 by post -- approved!
8/5/2018 - ILR in person -- approved!
22/11/2018 - Citizenship (online, with NDRS+JCAP) -- approved!
14/12/2018 - I became a British citizen.  :)


  • *
  • *
  • Posts: 1041

  • Officially a UK Yank!! Established 2002
  • Liked: 38
  • Joined: May 2002
  • Location: East Sussex
Re: Assimilating... it's the little things
« Reply #1 on: January 17, 2019, 03:12:09 PM »
I notice that I’m pronouncing adult and water the English way. I guess what can I expect after living here for almost 17 years now
My home for 18 years since June 2002. Became a citizen 2006


  • *
  • *
  • *
  • Posts: 16305

  • Also known as PB&J ;-)
  • Liked: 844
  • Joined: Sep 2007
  • Location: :-D
Re: Assimilating... it's the little things
« Reply #2 on: January 17, 2019, 03:20:47 PM »
It really catches you in the strangest of ways!
I've never gotten food on my underpants!
Work permit (2007) to British Citizen (2014)
You're stuck with me!


  • *
  • Posts: 17754

  • Liked: 6110
  • Joined: Sep 2010
Re: Assimilating... it's the little things
« Reply #3 on: January 17, 2019, 03:28:16 PM »
Going in the other direction, for me the big moment was when I realised that I knew my SS number by heart!  ;D


  • *
  • Posts: 6174

  • Liked: 1327
  • Joined: Aug 2012
  • Location: End of the M4 and then a bit more.
Re: Assimilating... it's the little things
« Reply #4 on: January 17, 2019, 03:47:59 PM »
Going in the other direction, for me the big moment was when I realised that I knew my SS number by heart!  ;D

The ever-so-important number in the US!  It's funny how you need it for everything, and yet you're not supposed to give it to anybody.
9/1/2013 - "fiancée" (marriage) visa issued
4/6/2013 - married (certificate issued same-day)
5/6/2013 - FLR(M)#1 in person -- approved!
8/1/2016 - FLR(M)#2 by post -- approved!
8/5/2018 - ILR in person -- approved!
22/11/2018 - Citizenship (online, with NDRS+JCAP) -- approved!
14/12/2018 - I became a British citizen.  :)


  • *
  • Posts: 5659

  • Liked: 674
  • Joined: Sep 2015
Re: Assimilating... it's the little things
« Reply #5 on: January 18, 2019, 08:32:27 PM »
The language - I'm going "native." The other day I was talking to an American visitor who asked me for directions to a grocery store. I pointed out the way to "the shops" and how they'd turn at the street where "the bins" were by the sidewalk.  I was talking to the Daughter about our online shop for the week and couldn't remember the American term for loo roll for a sec. French Fries are now chips. When I hear chips, I think "french fries." Etc., etc., etc.


  • *
  • Posts: 6734

  • Liked: 1260
  • Joined: Oct 2012
  • Location: Berkshire
Re: Assimilating... it's the little things
« Reply #6 on: January 18, 2019, 09:53:31 PM »
Going in the other direction, for me the big moment was when I realised that I knew my SS number by heart!  ;D

I don't even know my own SS# by heart! hahah well done!

I think my brain just kind of automatically switches my version of English depending on who I'm talking to...but it's always an odd feeling when I have a slow moment/brain fart and can't do the "translation" quick enough and i'm like "uhhh..ermm...ehh....what's the other name for...." lol
My, how time flies....

* Married in the US and applied for first spousal visa August 2013
* Moved to the UK on said visa October 2013
* FLR(M) applied for  May 2016. Biometrics requested June 2016. Approval given July 2016.
* ILR applied for January 2019 (using priority processing). Approved February 2019.
* Citizenship applied for May  2019
* Citizenship approved on July 4th 2019
* Ceremony conducted on August 28th 2019

'Mommy, Wow! I'm a legit Brit now!'


  • *
  • Posts: 4174

  • Liked: 533
  • Joined: Jul 2005
Re: Assimilating... it's the little things
« Reply #7 on: January 19, 2019, 08:18:43 AM »
I caught myself thinking of getting a flat cap.
I just hope that more people will ignore the fatalism of the argument that we are beyond repair. We are not beyond repair. We are never beyond repair. - AOC


  • *
  • Posts: 18235

  • Liked: 4985
  • Joined: Jun 2012
  • Location: Wokingham
Re: Assimilating... it's the little things
« Reply #8 on: January 19, 2019, 09:10:44 AM »
I caught myself thinking of getting a flat cap.

My boys. 



  • *
  • Posts: 1314

  • Liked: 424
  • Joined: Nov 2015
  • Location: Inverness Scotland
Re: Assimilating... it's the little things
« Reply #9 on: January 19, 2019, 09:14:14 AM »
My boys. 


What a great picture!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk


  • *
  • Posts: 180

    • Tea And A Butty
  • Liked: 14
  • Joined: Jan 2015
  • Location: Austin, TX
Re: Assimilating... it's the little things
« Reply #10 on: January 20, 2019, 04:39:22 PM »
Going in the other direction, for me the big moment was when I realised that I knew my SS number by heart!  ;D

I think it was that, saying things like "On accident" instead of "By accident" I'm about 40% Yank now!


  • *
  • Posts: 6734

  • Liked: 1260
  • Joined: Oct 2012
  • Location: Berkshire
Re: Assimilating... it's the little things
« Reply #11 on: January 20, 2019, 05:47:45 PM »
I think it was that, saying things like "On accident" instead of "By accident" I'm about 40% Yank now!

Nobody should EVER say "On accident"! haha :p
My, how time flies....

* Married in the US and applied for first spousal visa August 2013
* Moved to the UK on said visa October 2013
* FLR(M) applied for  May 2016. Biometrics requested June 2016. Approval given July 2016.
* ILR applied for January 2019 (using priority processing). Approved February 2019.
* Citizenship applied for May  2019
* Citizenship approved on July 4th 2019
* Ceremony conducted on August 28th 2019

'Mommy, Wow! I'm a legit Brit now!'


  • *
  • Posts: 438

  • Liked: 114
  • Joined: Sep 2012
  • Location: Austin, TX -> Salisbury, UK
Re: Assimilating... it's the little things
« Reply #12 on: January 21, 2019, 05:54:00 AM »
Nobody should EVER say "On accident"! haha


Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk



  • *
  • Posts: 6734

  • Liked: 1260
  • Joined: Oct 2012
  • Location: Berkshire
Re: Assimilating... it's the little things
« Reply #13 on: January 21, 2019, 08:09:52 AM »


Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

Lmao that gif is always excellent


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
My, how time flies....

* Married in the US and applied for first spousal visa August 2013
* Moved to the UK on said visa October 2013
* FLR(M) applied for  May 2016. Biometrics requested June 2016. Approval given July 2016.
* ILR applied for January 2019 (using priority processing). Approved February 2019.
* Citizenship applied for May  2019
* Citizenship approved on July 4th 2019
* Ceremony conducted on August 28th 2019

'Mommy, Wow! I'm a legit Brit now!'


  • *
  • Posts: 3754

  • Liked: 585
  • Joined: Feb 2012
  • Location: Helensburgh, Argyll
Re: Assimilating... it's the little things
« Reply #14 on: January 21, 2019, 11:02:26 AM »
I pointed out the way to "the shops" and how they'd turn at the street where "the bins" were by the sidewalk.

You're nearly there... if only you'd said pavement instead of sidewalk!  ;)


Sponsored Links