to wonder what American-isms people actually like?

[DragonWithAGirlTattoo]

just been watching the forum, and noticed that a lot of people dont like 'prom' (even though i think its just a leavers disco with a different name)

or baby showers (totally agree here!)
or halloween ( )

what about gifts for teachers? is that an american import? i'm pretty sure when i was in school in the 70/80s we didnt do that....

Me, Maid? I'll eat a few tomorrow at the BBQ. :) I'm bringing this

Ffs phone!

It froze and I thought it didn't post. Suffice to say, there will be hot dog consumption. :o

Oh and walk in closets - I fuckin love my walk in closet.

Manners
Customer service and lack of jobsworths
Drive through Starbucks
Wholefoods and Trader Joes
Buttermilk biscuits
The feeling that the sky is the limit
The words "y'all", "fixings" and to "love on" someone
(I live in Texas)

Agree, my walk in closet with shoe shelving is a thing of beauty, along with my walk in pantry.....

Cheerful, hi! Quick question. We've got friends coming over for a barbecue tomorrow. DH wants pulled pork, but I think we should fire up the grill. There's only a few of us do I don't want endless amounts of food. Would you find it odd to be offered pulled pork if you were expecting grilled food?

And being proud of your country. I'm British but I love the fact that Americans are proud of their country (rightly or wrongly, that's another debate). I'm English and you can't even display the cross of st George because it's been high jacked by the far right. Here, they put flags out to celebrate everything, creates a great sense of pride and nationality.

Patriotism
Friendly service
Fabulous food
Coffee
Rest rooms (toilets) in every store

Pizza delivery. Had to wait DECADES for the UK to catch up with this particularly brilliant American idea.

Ice.

Ice used to be a treat, perhaps a few cubes swimming around in a black bucket of cold water on a bar.

Now I expect ice to be freely available anywhere that I order a drink.

I do like American Sayings.
Current favourites:
Not my circus, not my monkeys.
This is not my 1st rodeo.
I LOVE American cop dramas/police procedurals/Forensic investigation shows.
America does them brilliantly.
Eg. Southland, Law & Order, CSI, Chicago PD, Baltimore life on the streets, NYPD Blue all fab.

Awww.. I'm missing home so much today being the 4th and you all have cheered me up!

Whomever mentioned Target won the thread. If there was only one thing for the UK to adopt I would want it to be Target.

hackmum "I like "gotten". And "You're welcome"."

Is "You're welcome" an Americanism then?

Having lived in the U.S. For nearly 7 years, I find the idea of moving back to the UK increasingly hard, mainly because of:
More space. I live in the mid west. I have a huge house with an acre of garden and it costs less than a 2 bed flat in my home town.
sunshine. I love my American summers. Endless days of sunshine spent by the pool or at the beach.
3 month summers. I'm a teacher, although I also do summer camps
summer camps
all the seasonal stuff, like fresh cider in the fall, people decorating their house for each holiday like Halloween
Winter. We get snow and freezing cold and I'm sick of it by the end but love the change in seasons.
All the outdoor stuff. Yesterday I started the day walking with a friend, then went cycling with DD and DH in the afternoon. We have huge parks with rivers and lakes, and miles of trails.
Customer service. Returning to the UK to visit takes some adjustment.
In comparison to the UK I earn more and spend less as cost of living to salary is much better.
Beautiful and dramatic countryside.
Wildlife. Not all of it is pretty, but it is very diverse and I'm used to seeing deer and chipmunks now.
Not getting stuck on the M25. In fact, rarely getting into heavy traffic or waiting in a queue.
Space, did I mention the space?

Huge, gas guzzling cars. Completely over the top V8 engines. I know it's not environmentally friendly but I just don't care. I love the sound of a big V8 !

I like that people are polite and friendly here, it took some getting used to as I wasn't used to the person next in line to me in the supermarket starting up a conversation with me. I still err on the side of miserable Britishness in my interactions with strangers but I smile more now :)

Oh and I do respect the patriotism of Americans. We have season tickets for an NFL team and it's quite awe inspiring to see a whole stadium of people with their hats off, holding their hands to their hearts while the star spangled banner is sung before every game. Even this cynical Brit gets a little tear in her eye at this on occasion.

Although Halloween isnt inherintley American, i do like much they get into it it and how in like the last 5 years its become much more mainstream over here, its a big deal in our house!

I'm a little teary-eyed reading this thread about my country. Surprised though that so many like American fast food.

Here's what I like about Britain:

Customer service: British servers are polite without having to interview you about what your plans are for the weekend etc. and don't try to take your plate away because you've put your fork down for two seconds.

Television dramas: I love that dramatizations of classic works of fiction are popular--can't imagine that happening here. I can't bring myself to watch a single American drama (sitcoms can be good though).

The possibility of getting a properly made cup of tea in a restaurant.

Gorgeous green landscape (I live in drought-stricken California)

Gun control!!!

Pret a Mange and similar

Pubs: especially the old, atmospheric ones

British wit: it's half the reason I read Mumsnet threads

And there's a lot more. Thank you for your kind words and Happy 4th of July!

Train horns. Love the sound of them in the background at night.

Camel, I love the pledge of allegiance in schools and I think it is one of the ways US manages to incorporate emigrants easier than other places - you can access the culture immediately. You don't have to have any history in the country you just have to believe in one nation indivisible (although my son thought that meant invisible for a couple of years) and liberty and justice for all. I can go for that.

the only bit I don't like is the "under god" which is relatively new and please god some day will be gone :)

Poldark has started on PBS (PBS - another thing to love about the US) so lots of americans are probably very hot on Cornwall and the UK at the moment :)

Kickassangel, you should look up the Brecht poem "Coal For Mike" the poem has, for me, the sound of those train horns in the background.

Really good manners, and being called 'ma'am' like I'm the queen! And them all squealing 'OH MY GAAAD I LOVE YOUR ACCEEEEENT!

susiella

sorry but "not my circus, not my monkeys" is a Polish saying (IIRC!)