Okay so it's stating the blatantly obvious but being an English Girl, I am classified as a foreigner in this town. Even worse than that I am described for all official purposes as an alien - but that's another story. Obviously I know this and, as I have alluded to, I try to prepare the general public when I am out and about in my new adopted town. However, from time to time, I forget that I speak "a bit funny" in the minds of the general Los Angeleno population.
So, for those of you who don't know me, I don't have a strong regional accent, in fact I don't really have an accent other than an English one - and admittedly I smile when I'm told that they "love my accent it's so cute"! But imagine my surprise when, quite often and usually when I am being my most polite, whoever I am speaking to looks at me quizzically. Seriously! I don't know if anyone else from my homeland finds this but, more often that not I could be speaking the language of the martian (that I am categorised as) rather than the good old Queen's English. It has even got to the point where I have had to ask my better half to translate in order to get a glass of water. True story and I think I can manage to order that in most European languages.
Whilst occasionally annoying that I can't make myself understood when speaking English in America, it does slightly amuse me, especially as I have mentioned that I am trying to keep as much of my English language and accent as possible. However what makes me laugh out loud is the responses I get when I am asked where I come from. For some reason Americans love to make a guess. Often, as I am sure others are, this English Girl is asked whether she's from Australia. Now don't get me wrong, I have lots of Aussie mates and am by far from offended that someone would think I am from the glorious land down-under. But after I shake my head and am just about to confirm my Englishness, it's the next guess that gets me:
"No - Oh you must be German then!"
