I was asked “Are you from America?” four different times last week in London. This is funny for a few reasons.
The first is the most obvious- I am from Canadia, after all. Perhaps luckily, I am not one of those Canadians who gets miffed when mistaken for an American. I mean, let’s face it: my regional accent is mostly indistinguable from the variety of English spoken in American films and television. Apart from the fact that I tack “eh” at the end of all some of my sentences and frequently sometimes do the whole “oot” and “aboot” thing, no one would be the wiser as to my Canadian origins. Besides, most Americans think I am from California anyway.
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| Last Saturday night in Central London |
But as usual I digress. The second reason: who knew that I’d be so exotic here? In multicultural, cosmopolitan London, where I hear more unidentifiable foreign languages on the Underground than I can even begin to count, it is my flat “American broadcaster” English that garners attention. It brings smiles to people’s faces, and further probing as to from whence this traveller came. My response of “umm, no, actually, I’m Canadian” has elicited emotions ranging from mild embarassment to robust laughter.
Even though many American travellers would protest that the anti-American sentiment is still strong in Europe, my limited experiences in London would counter that. Just today, my accent softened the man in the shop who sold me an umbrella. His gruff demeanor with the other customers seemingly melted away when he heard me speak. “That’ll be 7 pounds, lovey”, he offered after I innocently asked how much it cost. He used another term of endearment when I left the shop and I swear he even winked at me. The reaction has been the same in the many places I’ve been since touching down in the UK almost two weeks ago. People first seem startled to have a North American among them, then engage in conversation until the inevitable, “Are you from America?” question.
As I said, I really don’t mind. Call me vain, but I love the attention, and it’s probably one of the reasons I’ve lived abroad for as long as I have. I love being a foreigner in a foreign land. It’s just quite unexpected really, as I never would have thought that I would be exotic here. But it’s all good. This American Canadian in London ain’t complainin’.
Have you ever used your foreign accent/nationality to your advantage while abroad?
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79 Comments
That's funny, I'm glad you don't get upset. But believe me, the anti-American sentiment is still strong, it's just different for black Americans. We're not seen as a threat, at least women aren't. I remember kids gazing up in wonder when they heard my accent in London too. I guess it's not what they were expecting. I've never consciously used my accent and am actually rarely mistaken for American, even in America!
You are too cute. The only time I took advantage of my Canadian accent was when I was in Germany. For example, when I was in Koln, while visiting some site, a little boy screamed out, "you speak perfect english!". I was like, wha? I looked up to see his mom smiling a great smile on her face. It was a smile that said she enjoyed it also. I spoke so they could hear me more and they seemed to love it more. It was nice. Most times Germans didn't really say they liked my Canadian accent (was mistaken a lot for American also) but oftentimes, they would just smile and watch my mouth. I didn't mind.
ok this is going to sound weird….
But I have used a foreign accent here in NYC. (keep in mind I am american) I was headed to the airport via train & wanted to see just how rude New Yorkers would be to a lost foreigner in Penn Station? So I created a psuedo hybrid African/french accent. (it was bad) And was completely surprised @ how helpful New Yorkers were! ….
I've said too much haven't I 🙁
I like it too! Although people always ask if I'm Canadian! I'm never sure if it's because they've had canadians be hurt people think they're American or if they genuinely hear some canadian in my accent!
Hey globetrotter,
We are very helpful despite popular opinion. I think there's just too many of us New Yorkers in a small space so when we are trying to push past each other, we are being rude.
Yet when push comes to shove, I think most people will try to help you in NY.
this is so funny. Yeah, I have used my skin color to get extra attention.
These people are suckers for foreigners, so why not get a little pampered, even though sometimes they are more interested in cheating you.
HECK YEAH!!! When traveling people think I am non-American (because I am black) and like Fly Girl said it's different for black Americans. Although, I do like to blend in when I travel the attention is inevitable. You are so cute! I don't care for all the attention. When I was in Armenia this summer the attention WAS CRAZY!! Oh, you and your boyfriend should go there. YOU will be such a celebrity–trust me!!Oh and the attention you are getting is cuz you are HOT!! Werk it gurl!!
haha, yes…I use the foreigner/accent thing to my advantage all the time 😉
I agree, I actually haven't experienced ANY anti-american sentiment anywhere I've gone. Maybe I've been lucky…but after visiting Turkey 6 times among other places, I get nothing but smiles when people see that I'm a foreigner. Really, I do the same to foreigners here. I find that the world is more accepting than stand offish, and we all should embrace it.
That's is not nice. But good you take it with a smile.
http://www.thoughtsofpaps.com
yep when I was in South Africa people went crazy when they found out I was Jamaican
I DEFINITELY love being "Exotic". I think I have a really hard time with that now that I am back home. It has done a number on my self esteem to simply be me again. Which is hilarious because in France I always complained about not being able to express myself and not feeling like myself.
I guess I am never happy. lol
Loved this post. Wish I was in France so I could come across the pond and visit you!
I am nearly six feet tall, blonde and blue-eyed. (Read: Not exotic in the least.) Wherever I travel people assume I am from California. Los Angeles to be precise (and, I am; I was even born in Hollywood). But I always wonder if the world actually believes that every Californian is tall and blonde. Apparently, not! It's much simpler. American/Canadian English = Californian! That's pretty funny.
Since I have a lot of family in London, I've been able to meet friends and I am shocked by the love of American accents on Black people especially. I agree with Fly Girl that there is a certain element to the fact that you are Black. Black people with American/Canadian sounding accents are still fairly uncommon to most people traveling abroad. In South Africa, people were in awe of me and treated me soo very differently than I think I would have been treated had I had a South African or even an English accent (many of the very well-educated Black people in South Africa sound English). People are just not used to interacting with Black people from North America (or Black people in general) in many countries that your American sounding speech is downright thrilling.
Love it! I find that my American accent is a great conversation starter with people in London. If nothing else, they can ask where I'm from and ease the awkwardness of an initial meeting.
This is a great post…people always think I am from everywhere but Ghana!! My friend in grade school was like "why don't you have an accent!"
No, in answer to your question.
Off topic: I love how the British tend to tack on lovely, love, dear, etc on the ends of their sentences. Makes for a warmer exchange.
Great post! It's awesome being a Canadian abroad, eh?
The French (as you know) love Canadians, and I've used my accent/origins to score free drinks, decent customer service, and discounts at the marché. Sometimes I just want to blend in and not always be known/seen as the "foreigner", but most of the time I'm proud to announce I'm from Canada.
I met a lovely British girl from Essex the other night (Blogger meet up, holla!) and her accent was so charming! I kept asking her questions just to hear her talk. She just sounds so refined and posh. I love it!
So funny, glad you aren't upset. I remember during the dark days of the Bush adminstration have friends who went to Europe, lie and say they were canadian as the whole world hated him, at that point. I will say after while in Australia it went to my head, its fun being the "foreigner" and having people admire my "accent".
I have to agree with Fly Girl, being American/Canadian and black is sort of a different experience. It does remind me of a story, when I went to Dublin, Ireland, me and a friend from Germany took the bus and I remember not having coins. The bus driver got pretty mad, until he heard the accent and started to tell me about his trip to Texas and how much he loved it. I ended up not paying.
Well, geographically speaking, you ARE an American. LOL! What I find interesting is that whenever I'm in Europe, Africans think I'm from Ethiopia while Europeans think I'm from France. NEVER am I taken for an American…and I am indeed from the USA.
I wonder why I'm French and you're American, when the opposite (language-wise) is true??
I stood out as an American when I was in Europe last year, big time. I think some places the anti-American thing is out there, but not in all areas.
I'm not sure I've used my accent to 'help' but I'm thinking I have…haha
Emily w/Amazing Grapes
When I lived in New Zealand people always thought I was Canadian. Because apparently more Canadians visited usually. They had an interpretation that Americans never traveled. xo
@FlyGirl: So funny because I think a black person with a British accent is so exotic!
@Rhona: lol at them watching your mouth!
@Globetrotter: OMG! I have been thinking of doing a London accent here to see if I could "pass"…
@Deidre: Now that's a switch! Usually the reverse is true!
@Natural Hair: Makes sense- I have used the same argument for China and Hong Kong!
@'Lara: I agree!
@kvowel: Aww, thanks, chica! Wow, Armenia, sounds like such a cool experience! I wanna hear more about that!
@Ashley: It's so lovely when locals recognize and embrace your foreignness, no? I found the Turks very welcoming as well!
@PAPS: I figure that I might as well.
@kimvan: Choruses of "Bob Marley" and "Rasta" all around, no? That happened to me in Tanzania lol.
@Evolutionary Revolutionary: I LOVE having my ego stroked so I am a big fan of the attention for being exotic LOL. It's a pity you're not in Paris anymore because I have been reading your blog for years and would love to meet! At any rate, let me know when you and hubby are due for a visit to France and maybe we can do a big meetup 🙂
@Teresa: I guess that's the image of Americans that's mass-marketed abroad!! And at six foot tall, blonde, AND blue-eyed, you would be SUPER exotic in China or India!!
@Terri: It's so funny because I am enthralled by black people with British accents- I'm so used to black folks sounding like me or having a Caribbean accent- I guess it depends on what you're used to!
@Lady: I agree that we can use our accents here to bridge the cultural divide. 🙂
@Mrs. Pancakes: LOL! I love the Ghanaian and Nigerian accents, though! So melodious!
@Aritul: I know! It's soo warm.
@Crystal: I'm terrible, I have to actually physically stop myself from imitating some of the accents when I talk to people here!!
@B: When I studied abroad in France in 2004, I met a group of Seattle-ites who pretended to be Canadian and even had the flag sewn on to their backpacks!
@Kourt: Awesome!!!
@Black Planeteer: Funny! I think the confusion mostly comes when I speak English, though! In France people always thought I was Senagalese and I was told that I look very West African. 🙂 Yes, *technically* I am American since I live on the North American continent BUT I'm very strongly and proudly Canadian (at least when I live abroad)! 🙂
@Emily: It's true that it could have been unconciously helping you!!!
@Alexa: Yikes! At least you had the opportunity to prove them wrong. 🙂
I always love to try and copycat the British accent, and it amuses me to think that my American accent sounds just as foreign and funny to them! To me, it's just flat, plain ole' English. So nah, I have never (knowingingly) taken advantage of it, mostly because I have never considered that I have one!
I definitely throw on a gringa accent sometimes here. Usually sounding Chilean is the best bet, but for something like asking policemen if we can park our moto near them so they watch it, Rodolfo will send me off to do my best "lost little gringa" act since they're more likely to be sympathetic and helpful to me than to him.
I'm so late on this post, but wanted to chime in! In France, the way guys would swoon over my heavily accented French would have me laughing. Seriously? My Valley-Girl California accent was enchanting to them? They must be crazy. Being back at home, however, I totally miss it. I've never blended in, no matter where I live, but feeling special is always nice. Oh and @FlyGirl, I agree that Black Americans rarely suffer the brunt of the anti-american sentiment abroad. It's a nice luxury 🙂
@Claire: I am the same, I can't help myself- I always imitate the Brit accent, it's just so interesting!
@Emily: I've done that in France before!
@BebeJardin: I'm such an attention whore that I miss the attention when I'm home in Canada!
It's been about 6 years since I've been to the UK but I agree I was extremely surprised to at how much people reacted to my american accent. I was still a self conscious teenager back then so I made sure not to talk to much when I was on the tube because people would start staring at me. It was when Bush was in office and alot of people would ask me if I hated him too. When I told them I was from Texas some would ask if I knew him. I figured it was from the infiltration of American movies/tv.
Saw a twitter post, I see you posted a throwback but just wanted to add to the conversation. I’ve come to realize that everyone is ‘exotic’ to everyone. I’m American, I’m from Maryland and people swoon over New York accents just as hard as so many other places and New York is in the U.S. but that’s ‘exotic’ to non-New Yorker Americans. As Americans we LOVE the English(no british because it’s really just England lol) Accent. I don’t think the English even understand how serious it is. I’ve been fortunate enough to travel to Germany and France and in both countries while meeting black/minorities I got so much love! This one guy in the Louve(who worked there, interesting a lot of black people work there LOL) was excited I was American “Oh! What part are you from!?” Shocked me lol! I find it funny and embrace it because for whatever Anti-American sentiment is out there people still love this country, like LOVE lol. Oh, I can tell a Canadian accent, if one has a very distinct one and there are variations, I’d noticed some from Toronto has this caribbean/Canadian mix.
I’ve had mixed experiences with being an American living in London (I’m white, but I only mention that to contrast my experience) – some people love Americans, some people love Americans but hate the American ‘establishment’ (politics, etc), some people don’t like Americans or America. I’d say that people typically don’t have issues with Americans themselves, but mostly with the issues (like guns, etc) and Trump currently. It can be hurtful though when people take their frustration with your country to be mean to you and make fun of you – especially when a lot of time its wrong or doesn’t apply to you. Especially with politics and the election this November, I’ve been tempted to pretend to be Canadian so I don’t get asked about it!! I’m so glad your experiences have been positive though!
haha! Yes, it’s important to distinguish between the political side (which some Londoners seem to despise) and the cultural images and mores that America exports!
Forget to add – it was surprising to me that I’m considered ‘exotic’ in England though, considering there are lots of Americans that travel to London especially. I guess its because not as many live there.
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