Compliments and cultural stereotypes

[jccub1]

 I have brief lull in my work day so thought I'd jump on here and throw some random thoughts down from the week so far...

Rare compliment for Clarkie!
I had a couple of random strangers stop me in the lobby of my office building yesterday and comment that I "always wear awesome T-shirts"...!!! Yayayay! Firstly a compliment *grin*, from complete

Comments

[jccub1]

Lol, even I have a "fond" perception of elderly plump British women and chaps in coattails and top hats - possibly because I have seen both with my own two eyes. Although that Jam and Jerusalem image is pretty extreme these days.

I have found that there are traces of truth in each stereotype but there certainly are variations of each :)

And I'm sorry to burst your bubble on the Aussies - I haven't met one person who could live off the bush since moving here...that said I haven't been to the bush myself yet!

[cuboz]

So,

THAT'S all I am... just a token. A TOKEN!!?? *cries* LOL

You're opening up a Pandora's box of worms (to quote a Roy-ism) asking about cultural differences.

But I have to admit - I often heard that Brits didn't wash that often, not because of the cold, but that most houses only had baths, and not showers... and it's only within the last few decades that houses have been built with showers in them.

And I can tell you - when I was flatting in a house in Wellington in the late 80's the only had a bath, having a bath at 4 in the morning on a cold winters day for a morning shift at the James Cook Hotel was NOT a very nice way to start the day!

[pawthos]

HUGS Token, we still loves ya

[jccub1]

Is it International Be Nice to a Kiwi day?! ;-)

[pawthos]

nope just stroking Dom's ego, until he close enough for me to stoke some other part of him ;-)

[jccub1]

You're right in that I've developed some thick skin - I'm the only Brit so I do get a fair amount of ribbing - and I give as good as I get now ;-)

Love that you end up debating cheese of all things! And you clearly haven't tried the local cheeses of NSW's Hunter Valley! Best cheese on earth!

Wow - you lived in Harrogate? I always thought that's where miserable Brits went to die, lol?

I do laugh at how many variations there are of the stereotypical Brit; particularly from the North. For such a small country, its people certainly seem to make an impact on Johnny Foreigner.

I'd just like to point out that I have always brushed my teeth AND clean regularly in all the nooks and crannies :-)

[jccub1]

Crikey, that makes two compliments in one week!
Best. Week. EVER! Lol
;-)

[kybearfuzz]

Americans masquerading as Canadians? I don't know what you mean... :)

[jccub1]

Lol, this I know for a fact!
Two American friends of mine in the UK regularly introduce themselves as Canadian. Until I point out in public that they're not.
Often got me into furry trouble :S

Come clean...have you? ;-)

[bluebear2]

There are stereotypes that people have about other people but then there are stereotypes that people have about their own people. Look at how South Park shows Canadians, the two brothers on TV who have some sort of English accent as opposed to Bob and Doug MacKenzie on SCTV. One is a stereotype made by foreigners and the other is a stereotype made by Canadians about some of themselves

[jccub1]

That's a good point - the stereotypes that people place on their own nationality can often be the strangest stereotypes of all...

I have to say that I've never been able to tell the Canadian and American accents apart. That said, before I moved to Australia, I couldn't distinguish between the Aussie and Kiwi (NZ) accents - now they're like chalk and cheese. I do an AWFUL impression of a NZ accent.

And the blended accents you mention - of which some people say I'm beginning to develop (:S) - still throw me sometimes, they're the most confusing of all.