To feel flattered by this

[DoctorTwo]

Today I delivered some items to a company, and whilst the owner was writing a cheque his assistant signed for the goods. I looked at his surname and asked if it was Romanian. He looked shocked for a second, then broke into a big smile. We spoke for a couple of minutes and then he asked how long I'd been living in England. He did the face again when I told him I was born here.

Tbh, this isn't the first time an Eastern European has assumed I'm an immigrant. But every time it does it makes me feel good about myself, something I don't often do.

[Onlyicanclean10]

anyFucker

[stopfuckingshoutingatme]

People often think I am German

[SukeyTakeItOffAgain]

This is a peculiar thread.


Sorry OP but it's not hard to recognise a Romanian name as opposed to a Polish one. Don't want to piss on your chips or anything.

[ElectroStallion]

Surely Polish names tend to end with 'ski' for men, 'ska' for women, and Romanian names have more 'u's at the end?

[SukeyTakeItOffAgain]

scu.

[Tessticklesyourfancy]

MrsSpecter you forgot the Blankerty Blank cheque book and pen
Anyfucker

[tibbawyrots]

🤔 my name (ex's surname) indicates I am a different race. I've got that name because it didn't matter enough to pay to change it. I'll change it when I remarry.

Guessing someone's heritage from their name is often just a good guess.

🙂

[MrsSpecter]

Oh so I did tess!

[Pollyputhtekettleon]

Told someone I was 34 today. Thay said 'oh! I thought you were about 26'. Now THAT was flattering!

[BeckywiththeGoodHare]

at what your English must be like, as 'an Englishman', if he did a face when you said you were born here.

[Scribblegirl]

Nah, I get it. It's like when we go abroad and all the locals come up to me talking the native language because they think I look well exotic.

Then DP turns up behind me, everyone clocks his sunburn and 'Brit on holiday' looks and revert to English with us

[Hassled]

Romanian is very similar to Italian, isn't it - to the extent that (I think) a Romanian would understand written Italian. So why people have assumed this man is Polish is baffling - although there is that Slavic bit thrown in there as well. Languages and their development and overlaps are fascinating.

[MrsSpecter]

I want to know what the name was now.

[Gide]

A guy once turned up to collect something we'd sold on eBay. He handed over the money, I thanked him in Polish. He nearly fell over, bless him, wanted to know how I knew. He totally had the look and there was an influx of Poles at the time, plus we had Polish neighbour's when I grew up. My dh can spot Eastern Europeans a mile off. He says it's the trainers, jeans and jumper. I know what he means.

I was flattered last week when a foreign guy told me I had no accent when speaking his language.

[EverySongbirdSays]

I correctly identified the cleaner at works name as Nigerian (I'm White Irish) and he was delighted and now he does a little bow whenever he sees me - like he appreciated that I SAW him.

But none of that was either flattery or flattering or particularly at all worthy of it's own AIBU thread

It was a nice moment between two people who work in the same building.

That's all, YABU

[MakingJudySmile]

Russians often think I'm Russian and talk to me in Russian. I'm not Russian at all. It's weird.

[scatterolight]

Well aren't you the cosmopolitan wunderkind. Have a biscuit

[girlinacoma]

I get what you mean OP

A woman with a North American accent approached me in ASDA recently and asked if I knew where the loos were.

Clocking her accent, I asked her whether she was American or Canadian and she was MOST grateful that I added Canadian as an option and didn't just assume she was American.

She actually said "oh my gosh, I'm Canadian, thank you. That is wonderful, made my day" .

Bless her. Anyway, was it something along those lines?

[Ilovetorrentialrain]

I have gained an extra furrow in my forehead from reading this thread. Baffling. :)

[PresidentCJCregg]

This thread is both confusing and hilarious. Confularious, if you will.