UK and America are two countries separated by a common language, UK and US Q&A cont'd

[mathanxiety]

Started another one in case anyone wants to do it again...

Thanks, math! Here's a link to the previous thread.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/a2162449-UK-and-America-are-two-countries-separated-by-a-common-language-UK-and-US-Q-A?msgid=49200460#49200460

Thanks

I should add that I meant the interiors, not the exteriors. Also to reiterate that I'm not assuming that everyone in the US paints the inside of their houses varying shades of brown, just that I've seen a lot of films where they have. I wondered if it was the US landlord's version of magnolia.

Hello again I was wanting to ask when I was in the US i tried to order my usual tipple a gin and fresh orange, the waiter had no idea what i was on about, i tried for a gin and juice too but again he had no idea finally dh said gin and oj and it worked. Is what we call fresh orange juice not oj? I was rather confused by the end so was the waiter.

Comito i found that when watching Neighbours, the interiors to all their houses were always dark shades of brown, i thought it was an Oz thing but i was younger and had not learnt to look at real estate websites yet to see otherwise.

Just out of interest how much was the Ribena?

That beige is 'Realtor Beige' and there's carpeting the same colour. Usually used in hopes of allowing potential buyers to project their own colour ideas on to a property that is for sale.

Often in an apartment you find the walls white or cream and afaik you would not be allowed to repaint except with express written permission of your LL.

Most people around here who are younger than 65 have interiors that are fashionable reds, greens, and pastels. Older people tend to cling to the equivalent of Magnolia.

(I never start threads and it's really weird to see my posts highlighted in green )

As a result of my vast experience of the US,(one week in New York ) why is steak not served with fries as the default option? The idea of having mash with steak fills me with horror. Or is this just New York?

NCIS Americans don't actually eat as many chips as English people, and mashed potato is more common. I would rather have mash than chips with a steak, and my perfect starch with steak is a baked potato with sour cream.

Nooooooo. Think I've spent too much time in France, steak au poivre with frites is my favourite food in little traditional french restaurants. I love mash just not with steak.

Was there not an option to have fries? I was a vegetarian for most of my adult North American life but the few times I've had steak in restaurants, I could choose my side. I guess since I don't like fries much I never noticed whether it was an option.

It wasn't an option on the menu, I normally like to go with whatever is usual in the country I'm in but I was just really looking forward to my steak and mashed potatoes didn't cut the mustard.
I loved everything else about New York and can't wait to visit other cities, really want to do Boston next.

Ooooh do people really only go to jail for a few days at a time? Like 2 days before getting released?

Also, do children have exams / tests in early grades? Like in our Y6 (age 10-11) or standard national assessments in Y2 (age 6-7)

Thank you for answering these questions!!

Ps. Is everyone bored of American Idol? Hadn't it been on for like 20 seasons and why do you think The X Factor failed?

Ime,americans confuse dcottish accent with irish accent
But plenty scots doin well o'er there and craig ferguson,gerry butler are huge
Chips meaning potato crisps always throws me

Snafflepants

The Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test® 2.0, which measures student success with the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards, includes assessments in reading (grades 3-10), mathematics (grades 3-8), writing (grades 4, 8, and 10), and science (grades 5 and 8).

I do think that there is a shade of brown that has become a decorating cliche in the US. It's darker than beige and lighter than chocolate. (DH calls it baby-shit brown.) I have some friends who painted their family room that color and then talked about knocking out a wall and putting in more windows because it was so dark in there. Uh, what about a lighter color of paint, y'all?

Just out of interest how much was the Ribena?

$4.99 It was the smaller of the two bottles they had. It says it's concentrate, but I didn't see any instructions on it; are you meant to dilute it?

I bought other things, too, Jaffa Cakes, Aero Bars, and Cadbury buttons, but I always get those.

Ime,americans confuse dcottish accent with irish accent

I agree. My husband and I are pretty good with these, but we watch a lot of British television. Even so, we sometimes have an "Irish or Scottish?" moment.

When I first went to the US with my south Dublin accent, almost everyone I spoke to asked me if I was Australian.

The DCs in RC elemetary did Terra Nova tests every two years beginning in first grade, for a total of four nationally RC-school administered standardised tests. In 8th grade they took the state and public high school-administered Explore test along with public high school placement testing for streaming purposes, and anyone who wanted to go to private HS did entrance exams for each one they were considering. They all had weekly tests - give or take - every year from first grade to the end of high school, because of the continuous assessment required in order to yield a grade point average (GPA)

In the public elementary and middle schools they take a state standardised test every year from grade 3 to 8 plus in-house tests.

In high school here they weekly tests plus in-house midterms and semester finals, and also external exams --
*the PLAN test in 9th grade (first year of high school) which is supposed to be 'a comprehensive guidance resource that helps students measure their current academic development, explore career/training options, and make plans for the remaining years of high school and post-graduation years' and give a middle of freshman year snapshot of progress when measured against the Explore test --
*the PSAT/NMSQT taken in 11th grade (junior year), which measures critical reading, maths problem solving and writing. This exam is the basis of the National Merit Finalist scholarship eligibility selection. Students are ranked nationally --
*the PSAE taken in junior year, a local state exam designed to rate students' progress in achieving state-mandated standards --
*The ACT, also taken in junior year, a nationally administered general university admissions test that measures maths, science, English and reading ability. Scores are sent to universities a student applies for. Students are ranked nationally.
*SAT and SAT individual subject tests in junior year and/or beginning of senior year (national exams externally administered and ranked nationally)
*AP subject tests -- national exams done whatever year the student takes the AP class; students ranked nationally

Sorry for not starting a new thread chaps. I was busy watching Doctor Who and knitting.
I've not yet managed to MN whole knitting.

Another question for Americans.
I was just watching Walking Dead and it made me think, do Americans not notice when English people play Americans?

I was just watching Walking Dead and it made me think, do Americans not notice when English people play Americans?

I find that English people have varying degrees of success when emulating an American accent. Jamie Bamber and Tom Felton are both excellent. James Frain is also really good. Usually we can pick out one or two words the person says that tips us off that he/she might be English. That's how it was for us with Damian Lewis on Homeland and Jason Isaacs on Awake. Although how I didn't immediately recognize him a Lucious Malfoy I'll never know; I have many inappropriate thoughts about Lucious Malfoy...

Most of the time we don't, Pip! Usually I think we just notice when someone does it really badly and the accent slips. Like Gerard Butler. He can't concentrate on anything else but his accent. But it think a lot of people didn't know Hugh Laurie was English after only seeing him on House, or Andrew Lincoln on TWD as you mentioned. (Also speaking of TWD, if you love Carol we can continue to chat nicely, if you don't we Shall Never Speak Again. )

My walls are tan, some of them! Eeeek, am I old?!

When James MacAvoy was American in Penelope I noticed on words with an "ur" sound, like "sure" and "curse". There was the slightest sort of bend (for lack of a better word) to the sound that Americans don't make.

Thanks for the new thread Math :)

Ahhh yes Jamie Bamber was great!

CrazyNest did you say "orange juice" together or just juice?