[Emaemmaemily]

(Original post by prog2djent)
I honestly don't care about anybody's accent its just when the english language is messed up that grinds my gears.

For example, being from a Town where, instead of "are you going to the pub", or "are you off to the pub" which is OK I guess, you hear ... "you off't pub tonight" . Like I say, I don't care about accents as long as someone can understand you. The way people from essex say "like" or "girls", being "loiyk" and "giws"

The English language is quite funny, and the many dialects and accents. I personally just find it quite amusing.
I have a friend who shortens EVERY word she can manage... I'm finding it hard to think of an example now. Like: "totes" (totally)... She doesn't some really obscure ones that I just can't think of now to be honest, which is a shame because I'm sure you'd find them ridiculous.

[llessur123]

(Original post by Christianlady)
To all the kind people on this forum,

Thanks for your polite conversation, and thanks so much for those who answered the question of this thread. I wish I could write each one, but I really have to go. I spent too much time as it is.

I am still interested in going to the UK, particularly Northern Ireland, to study for a short period. I would like to see how it is. I would also LOVE to study Gaelic!!!

It is true that oftentimes, some people are more rude anonymously online than others are in real life. For those who are offensive and call me troll and so on, I forgive you. I won't cruel and mean to you however, and I have just decided to no longer respond to anyone who is rude.

Take it from someone who lives here, there isn't much to offer in Northern Ireland. It's ok for a short break but studying here isn't great because even in QUB everyone knows each other from school before since most people at the uni are from Northern Ireland. Everyone goes home at the weekends and it's dead. It also has terrible weather and although they have made efforts to do up the place I find it quite grim. Another problem is there can be a lot of very bitter, angry people regarding political issues and from reading this thread your opinions will not go down well with some people. If you can help it just avoid talking about the issue completely. Ireland and Northern Ireland aren't what they are cracked up to be, especially what some Americans view them as. I have to admit the rural areas are beautiful but it's no fun living there either.

Go somewhere else. People will disagree with me but if I was from outside of here and looking to move I'd like people to be honest with me.

[boba]

I really don't think you should go to Northern Ireland unless you keep those opinions about it quiet.

[Tabzqt]

I'm sorry, but if you were over here you would really irritate me. The constant references to Christianity/Jesus and GOOD OL' AMERICA would absolutely do my head in. I'd probably go insane.

I'm not saying all Brits would react like I would, but certainly a lot of us.

Also in my family if you prayed at the table before dinner you'd get a lot of funny looks

[cl_steele]

(Original post by Christianlady)
Another poster asked about me studying in England. I would like to study in the UK someday, but not exactly in England. As a descendant of British immigrants, the UK does intrigue me. I would love to learn Gaelic someday, but the study of the English language also fascinates me, since it is the official language of the USA (although the dialects in the USA are different than the dialects in the UK).

So I am curious. How are Americans treated in the UK? I personally have never been. My Mom and sister went, and they fell in love with Ireland. They did not get to go to Scotland. My Mom found people with her maiden name, which she loved, and felt right at home. She said the people were very friendly and nice. She said she did not experience the same friendliness while touring London, England. Is it possible that she did not because she is American?

How are Americans who study at universities around the UK treated? If they mind their own business, are they accepted? If they are patriotic to the USA, are they condemned/made fun of/despised?

It is fascinating to me how I personally have felt a lot of hostility against me on this forum because of my beliefs, as well as because of the country where I was born. It would be cool to know if those who are hostile are mainly residents/citizens of the UK. That would be a good thing to study.

Since I love to study and write, I am going to write about my findings to the responses both on this thread, and the one about what the people in the UK nowadays think about the US's Independence Day, because they are topics that personally interest me.

People are naturally diverse, and it is interesting to see who is friendly, and who is hostile, and why.

Thanks.

Nope its just the fact its london ... nasty city slickers and all that

[blackgold]

To be honest, in london, we hate american tourists cos they're very annoying so that's the "unfriendliness" explained

[MancStudent098]

You do seem a bit like a caricature of an American, keen on Jesus, 'your heritage', patriotism and rather phased by anything that requires a passport to visit.

From that point of view most Brits would probably laugh a bit and then stay at a polite but safe distance. The Irish will piss themselves laughing, particularly when you say you want to learn Gaelic and get in touch with your roots. The laughing may end abruptly when you suggest that Ireland rejoins the UK.

[Tabzqt]

(Original post by MancStudent098)
You do seem a bit like a caricature of an American, keen on Jesus, 'your heritage', patriotism and a bit phased by anything that requires a passport to visit.

From that point of view most Brits would probably laugh a bit and then stay at a polite but safe distance. The Irish will piss themselves laughing, particularly when you say you want to learn Gaelic and get in touch with your roots. The laughing may end abruptly when you suggest that Ireland rejoins the UK.

qft

[Pink Liquid]

London is a tourist attraction and financial district. To be frank, people are too busy working and do not have the time in the world to be friendly with anyone, let alone international people. People have a lot on their minds, try to make a living where costs for living standards are higher than the norm. London is the place where a lot of people are grumpy, flustered and it's also statiscally the worst place to meet a love-match.

The Americans like the English accent and do not mind it, however, the English tend to find the American accent annoying. At the beginning it's fine, but it then takes it toll. I know at my university this was the case.

Regarding your religion, this isn't a problem. There are many students of Christian faith and there is the Christian Society where you can socialise and participate in regular activities and socials together.

[rawragee]

Honestly, even without being American, your constant references to Jesus and Christianity would annoy me far too much. From what I find Britain is a place where we tend to leave each other to whatever we believe and leave it at that, but when it's constantly referred to/brought up in conversation it annoys us. It doesn't matter what religion/beliefs it is, I frequently get fed up of an Atheist at my school banging on about Atheism in every conversation we have.
Additionally, you may want to brush up on your knowledge about Britain in general before you arrive (if you do). For example, would you want to learn Scottish Gaelic or Irish Gaelic?
And also, constant references to America by Americans are annoying. There's a girl in my class who constantly talks about her life in America before she moved and how everything was bigger and better than here etc.

[Ryan_94]

In London people will be unfriendly and hostile, but saying that, you'll find that in any capital city.

Northern Ireland is in the UK but southern Ireland isn't and many people would consider Ireland as the south part. Scotland and Wales are cool, but England is the most diverse and biggest territory.




This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

[Bubbles*de*Milo]

(Original post by MancStudent098)
You do seem a bit like a caricature of an American, keen on Jesus, 'your heritage', patriotism and rather phased by anything that requires a passport to visit.

From that point of view most Brits would probably laugh a bit and then stay at a polite but safe distance. The Irish will piss themselves laughing, particularly when you say you want to learn Gaelic and get in touch with your roots. The laughing may end abruptly when you suggest that Ireland rejoins the UK.

Rep if I could!

[Psyk]

(Original post by Christianlady)
I just asked them and they went to Belfast, which is Ireland (though called Northern Ireland) and is a part of the UK.

It is fascinating how some people think Northern Ireland is not actually Ireland.

It's like saying North Korea isn't actually Korea, though North and South Korea were originally Korea. Some South Koreans hope soon Korea will be reunited again, with democracy for those trapped in Northern Korea...

Hmm. I wonder if that's similar to the situation between "Ireland" and "Northern Ireland"? However, my friends in South Korea insist both South and North Korea are "Korea", even though the North is trapped by a dictator. I wonder if the Irish people in Ireland consider Northern Ireland to be "Ireland", even though it is part of the UK?

Really there are two different things called Ireland. The island of Ireland, which obviously includes Northern Ireland, and Ireland the state which doesn't. People often call the state the "Republic of Ireland", but its official name is just "Ireland".

[Rhadamanthus]

Typical British anti-Americanism rarely gets hostile and it's never actually directed at Americans, only between silly jealous Brits making jokes about weight in what is a very overweight country on average. You'll be fine.

[boba]

(Original post by Rhadamanthus)
Typical British anti-Americanism rarely gets hostile and it's never actually directed at Americans, only between silly jealous Brits making jokes about weight in what is a very overweight country on average. You'll be fine.

I wish is was plausible to deny this and that we weren't actually as bad as america in respect to fatness but unfortunately as a whole we are.

[Marlena002]

To be honest I moved to the UK from the US and I haven't really enjoyed being here. I was worried about being treated with hostility and my fears weren't unfounded. I've been nothing but polite, friendly, have stayed away from all talks concerning religion or politics and generally refrain from talking about America unless I'm directly asked questions...I even refused a friend's suggestion to throw a 4th of July celebration for my new circle (she wanted it as an excuse to drink, but I was worried about being seen as obnoxious so I nixed the idea).

But, upon hearing my accent, people have still taken it upon themselves to be rude or immediately go off on a rant.

My experience might be in the minority but I don't find the UK to be as nice a place as I thought.

[Cool Cat]

(Original post by Christianlady)
I just asked them and they went to Belfast, which is Ireland (though called Northern Ireland) and is a part of the UK.

It is fascinating how some people think Northern Ireland is not actually Ireland.

It's like saying North Korea isn't actually Korea, though North and South Korea were originally Korea. Some South Koreans hope soon Korea will be reunited again, with democracy for those trapped in Northern Korea...

Hmm. I wonder if that's similar to the situation between "Ireland" and "Northern Ireland"? However, my friends in South Korea insist both South and North Korea are "Korea", even though the North is trapped by a dictator. I wonder if the Irish people in Ireland consider Northern Ireland to be "Ireland", even though it is part of the UK?

I'm from near Belfast and I would never call NI Ireland but then I consider myself British and am a complete UK unionist

Personally I get offended if people call me Irish and say I'm from Ireland. A lot of people have the opposite views however

just letting you know

[Cake Faced Kid.]

I'm sure there's a place for your incessant preaching in the slum areas of Glasgow.

[Emaemmaemily]

(Original post by Marlena002)
To be honest I moved to the UK from the US and I haven't really enjoyed being here. I was worried about being treated with hostility and my fears weren't unfounded. I've been nothing but polite, friendly, have stayed away from all talks concerning religion or politics and generally refrain from talking about America unless I'm directly asked questions...I even refused a friend's suggestion to throw a 4th of July celebration for my new circle (she wanted it as an excuse to drink, but I was worried about being seen as obnoxious so I nixed the idea).

But, upon hearing my accent, people have still taken it upon themselves to be rude or immediately go off on a rant.

My experience might be in the minority but I don't find the UK to be as nice a place as I thought.

Where in the UK are you?

[Cool Cat]

(Original post by Christianlady)
Ok,

That's sad.

I for one hope that eventually, Ireland will be reunited peacefully, if the Irish people (both in Ireland and Northern Ireland) desire.

Most of us in Northern Ireland are completely happy with being part of the UK and would hate to be reunited with Ireland. What's wrong with this set up as it is?

also, please stop referring to us in NI as Irish. Most of us are British

also, if you want to learn gaelic, go to the Republic of Ireland ffs