The problems with being English ..

Question

1. This site is very lonely in the mornings
   1. You don't understand some of the posts - I mean, who ARE the Jeffersons?
   2. You've never heard of the New York Yankees
   3. You tend to spell at lot of things wrongly
   4. You have to check the translations on the flashcards - over here we wear our pants inside our trousers, and keep our purses in our handbags

But it does have it's good points too - It's a lot easier to get to Spain from here!

• i love the new york yankees and im english - ScreamForARi Nov 7, 2009

Answer 1

Ah, but my English friends, we all still put our pants and our trousers on one leg at a time! And, really we Americans are the ones who can´t spell! - your version of English was around first.

• and by the way, I love, love, love British humour - it´s far more intelligent! - aloshek Nov 7, 2009
• You have a parrot on your head? Is it dead? (Monty Python joke!) - 00515f39 Nov 7, 2009
• jejeje, no - it´s alive, and it's technically a lorakeet (I guess that's a type of parrot though isn't?) - aloshek Nov 7, 2009

Answer 2

Ah, but you English are intrepid travellers...The best books journaling travels are written by the English.

We'll overlook your Queen's English if you will overlook our nasal twang!

Answer 3

One good thing about being English, sorry British is that we have a "wicked" sense of humour (sorry humor). Just think about Monty Python, the Office, Benny Hill!

The other thing is that "the early bird catches the worm". Whilst we are up and about, learning all sorts of new things, our American friends are still sleeping!

• One foot in the grave, Mr Bean, Ronnie Barker ... - sheila-foste Nov 7, 2009
• ah, but not all of us are sleeping... - aloshek Nov 7, 2009
• Mr Bean - famous on every airline all over the world! - 00515f39 Nov 7, 2009
• Magic! - Izanoni1 Nov 7, 2009
• Don't forget Red Dwarf. Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast! - jeezzle Nov 7, 2009

Answer 4

Here´s a funny side note...my boyfriend is from Mexico and when I speak English, he asks me to use a British accent because he understands it better!

Answer 5

"the early bird catches the worm".

Unfortunately, the early worm gets eaten by the bird.

• The second mouse gets the cheese. - Seitheach Nov 7, 2009
• Not if you have mercy and use a live trap. - aloshek Nov 7, 2009

Answer 6

The other thing is that "the early bird catches the worm". Whilst we are up and about, learning all sorts of new things, our American friends are still sleeping!

I love your humor Mortimer. But I do want to point out that while you are on your third or fourth dream, we are still awake learning our Spanish!! We all have to sleep sometime.

You guys are funny. We lovingly refer to it here as that "strange British humor", but we all still laugh along with you.

Answer 7

I always feel bad when I have to talk with the soldiers and contractors from the UK because I always have to make them repeat themselves. It makes me feel stupid. I was able to get a Scottish flag (the small velcro sleeve patch) from one of them though.

• I always have to ask people from the South (as in Dixie) to repeat themselves. - Nicole-B Nov 7, 2009
• You probably wouldn't understand me then. jajaja! - Seitheach Nov 7, 2009
• This is a reminder as to why we shouldn't get freaked out if we can't understand everyone in Spanish... - mountaingirl Nov 7, 2009

Answer 8

I run a hardware shop, and the "four candles" sketch still haunts us - we hear bits of it 20 times a day.

And it is mandatory to reply to "Mrs Foster, are you free?" with a bright falsetto "I'm free, Mr Peacock!"

• I loved that show. - Seitheach Nov 7, 2009

Answer 9

really we Americans are the ones who can´t spell! - your version of English was around first.

Your aun bok yee can noght spell if þis sie your logyke. For verraly, I saye that þis spellynge to londe kem fyrste. –Old English

• jajaja - you didn´t get me on that one! I studied Chaucer in the original language in high school (yeah, I'm basically nuts) - aloshek Nov 7, 2009
• and you´re right Old English spelling did come first - aloshek Nov 7, 2009
• I should have been more precise and said "your version of English came **first** - aloshek Nov 7, 2009

Answer 10

I like British humor as next as the next person, but does anybody really like Mr. Bean?

• Yes...and the Black Adder series wasn't bad either - Izanoni1 Nov 7, 2009
• "The tv series "The Office" was originally a British comedy as well - Izanoni1 Nov 7, 2009
• and also "Who's line is it anyway?" - aloshek Nov 7, 2009

Answer 11

Mr. Bean rocks!

Answer 12

I'm a brit myself and before I begin to agree wth you sheila, I have to agree with aloshek first- british humour is great! If you look at classic examples such as Life Of Brian or One Foot In The Grave (Victor Meldrew (Richard Wilson) was just great with his 'I don't believe it' pessimistic views on life!) or even Blackadder, these just show how excellent british comedy is.

As to your post, Sheila......I feel restricted in being English myself. I want to help others with their questions but sometimes I cannot because I simply do not have as much knowledge as Moe or Heidita would (the two superbeings in this vast cybersite of learning). But, learning is valuable and until I do not learn every single word, phrase, idiom in spanish, I will not abandon my attempt to learn. Also, I don't understand most of the things the Yanks here talk about- as in the world series (I mean what's the hype all about anyway???) and the way certain words are spelt- such as colour in america (color) is completely ludicrous.

• jeje - I can't help but laugh at your statment about spelling color - it's not like we changed it to kuhler or something - aloshek Nov 7, 2009
• And don't worry, I don't get the hype over the world series either... - aloshek Nov 7, 2009
• It's even more humorous to think that the spelling comes from the Old French variation of the original Latin word "Color" - Izanoni1 Nov 7, 2009
• Meanwhile, in Spanish the spelling remained faithful to the original Latin version "color" - Izanoni1 Nov 7, 2009

Answer 13

Along with British Comedy - who could live without "Dr. Who"?

• Ahh - but America gave us Star Trek - sheila-foste Nov 7, 2009
• And the muppet show gave us "Pigs in Space" - Izanoni1 Nov 7, 2009
• Live long and prosperous! - Jason7R Nov 7, 2009
• As a sci-fi fan I am obligated to believe that Star trek rules, but Dr. Who, in my opinion, deserves legendary status above all else.. - aloshek Nov 7, 2009

Answer 14

I am amazed that the likes of Morecambe & Wise and Ronnie Barker have not had a mention whilst talking about british humour.

• There will never be another Ronnie Barker - Porridge, Open all Hours - and what about David Jason and Fools and Horses? - sheila-foste Nov 7, 2009
• All of them- great examples of comedy!!!! - Seb79 Nov 7, 2009
• There is also the cult-classic Ab Fab (Absolutely Fabulous) - aloshek Nov 7, 2009
• Yes agree with all above and we have FrencH & Saunders, Wood & Walters and what about Victoria Woods "Dinner ladies" a great laugh. - kenwilliams Nov 7, 2009
• And while we're talking about the women - Vicar of Dibley (and the carry on films?) - sheila-foste Nov 7, 2009
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Answer 15

I have a friend from England that says the biggest difference between Americans and Brits is that Americans actually like Benny Hill.

• I would say SOME Americans like Benny Hill, and some don't - aloshek Nov 7, 2009
• But I think he was implying that no Brits like Benny Hill. I'm sure that's an overstatement, but I don't see his name popping up on this thread. - jrey0474 Nov 7, 2009
• Well he did drive the fastest milk cart in the west. - kenwilliams Nov 8, 2009