Expats - What Has Changed? What Won't Change?

[NotQuiteCockney]

As an expat (Canadian in the UK), I'm very aware of what I've changed. I now say "mum". I like queueing. I use lots of British constructions. My accent has even drifted a bit (although only DH can tell. Other people say my accent is still quite strong).

But - I will not drink tea. I will not listen to the Archers. I think that doing either of these would mean I have "gone native", and it would be time to go home.

Do any other expats (to anywhere, from anywhere) have similar lists?

SP - totally agree. London in particular has the most amasing world cuisine restaurants, much better than any other country I have been too. I lived in Paris and Vienna for many years - neither had the range of restaurants you have here in the UK.

I am a total food "whore" as I like to cook and experiment with different world cuisines !!

Personally I think it's rude to live in someone else's country and not learn their language or mix with the "natives".

In fact I wouldn't mind if someone emigrated to my country and kept saying "I think your weather is shit, your food is crap, and you have some very, very strange habits" so long as they spoke my country's language well, respected my culture (I say "respect" I wouldn't expect them to adopt my way of life), and mixed with my countrymen !!

I think that would be absolutely fine as I would also respect the fact that they are immigrants and should not have to like everything about my country !!

You're obviously not Spanish then, ghollam!!

(not that Spanish food is crap - it's great. weather is crap in summer though)

I agree re expats who do not bother to learn the language. very rude.

"I hate cricket, I hate the English weather, I hate the idea of sitiing in a pub for hours and hours after work, etc ?"

That describes me too, ghollam. Hm. Wonder what nationality I should be?

(Thanks for nice comment btw epk )

Jahn - how about the South of Spain ?

I asked my dad about this (Spanish but lived in UK since he was a child, even survived British Public School!) and he reckons the only thing he doesn't "get" is having carpet in kitchens and bathrooms.....

BTW I work with an Afghan guy called Ghollam. So I'm guessing Iran/Afgahnaistan/Syria kind of region!

Can you think of yourself as a 'Londoner' and not as 'English' Dinosaur?

Maria - good guess but wrong again !!

In fact "Ghollam" is a name, but not mine, no where near my real name in fact !! It is purely my nickname.

"Ghollam" is a character in a book that I loved

Keep guessing !!

Not Gollum?

No, most certainly not. I am not into the Lord of the Rings (that's where it's from isn't it ??)

In fact I suspect the character of "Gollum" has been "ripped off" the book I refer to, because the book I am referring to is over 200 years old. Not many people know that !!

The book I am referring to has not been translated into English, so don't ask me which one it is so that you can rush off to Blackwell's and buy it !!

It isn't from Bangladesh, is it?

Noooooooo !

We will have to get an atlas and go through all the countries in that part of the world! It must be from one of the -istans, surely...???

No, not an -istan, I think Maria has led you up the wrong path by talking about someone she knows from Afghanistan !

I read all sorts of literature, most of it NOT from my country of origin. Yes, "Ghollam" has Middle East origins. But, apart from English, I speak and read 3 other languages fluently.

My husband is from the ME (no, ghollam isn't his name either !), hence my interest in the ME.

I could be a native American Indian or Maori, couldn't I ? Both very old cultures. You are restricting yourself to countries, rather than "nations".

Any way, I am sure NQC is quite bored with this guessing game about my origins. I don't think that is what the thread was intended for !!

Lebanese

No, no, no.....Lebanon is a "country" - not a "nation". There is a difference, believe me !! Arabic is not one of my languages either !!!!

Any way, I am going off now, as I really, really do not wish to say more about my origins.

Thanks all for the interest though !!

Dinasaur - excellent guess ! You are getting the "nation" concept better than the others ! But no, wrong again !!

Bye, bye all !

Iroquoi
Cherokee
Swazi

come on woman throw us a bone here

gold star for dinosaur then

tut
spoilsport