Well, we both speak English, but we definitely do not always speak the same language. This is a running list that I have compiled over the course of the 1 year and 25 days that I have been living and interacting within English culture:
Canadian English vs English English
Canadian: Hi
English: Hiya
Canadian: Thanks
English: ta
Canadian: Trunk of the car
English: The boot.
Canadian: Hood of the car
English: Bonnet
Canadian: How are you today?
English: You alright? (Pronounced: ya'aight?)
- How are you? Is meant to be a casual courtesy. The courteous response is "Fine Thanks." Ya'alright? is the English version of this, and it confused the hell out of me for months.... In Canada you only ask someone if they're "alright" if you are concerned about them. Like the you've-found-them-crying kind of concerned. Not a casual greeting. Weird.
Canadian: Diaper
English: Nappy
-Disgusting in both languages
Canadian: Soother/Pacifier
English: Dummy
Canadian: Baby stroller
English: Push-chair/Buggee
Canadian: Slut
English: Slag
Canadian: Disgusting
English: Mingin'
Canadian: Breakfast, Lunch/Dinner and Supper
English: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner/Tea
-You can't call it supper, they do NOT know what you're talking about. And tea-time does not mean you will necessarily drink tea. It means mealtime.
Canadian: Elevator
English: Lift
Canadian: Rubberboots
English: Wellies
Canadian: Tylenol/Advil
English: Paracetamol/Nurofen
-Ibuprofen is cross-cultural.
Canadian: Underwear/Panties
English: Pants
Canadian: Pants
English: Trousers
Canadian: Hoody/Sweater
English: Jumper
Canadian: Soccer
English: Football/Footy
Canadian: Football
English: American Football
And I'm sure the list goes on....
To conclude: I don't think I've developed an English accent, but I've certainly adjusted my use of the English vocabulary.
Saturday 30 June 2012
Friday 15 June 2012
Year 28, Day 73: The Nanny Retires
Well folks.... the time has come for Courtney-the-Nanny to hang up her running shoes, finger-paint-stained khakis, and snotty t-shirts. That's correct. My foray into mother-hood is DONE!!
And get this. Everyone survived.
And get this. I was actually good at it.
Yes, yes... there was that ONE TIME that Nanny Courtney accidentally left the sleeping baby in the bank. But don't hate on a girl... it just kind of happened. He was asleep, the teller distracted me, I walked out... I'm simply not used to accessorizing with children.
Regardless! It was a great experience!! I am no longer afraid of holding babies. I now know which way a diaper goes on. I can change a nappy without gagging involuntarily. I have learned of the importance of nap-time. I can deal with picky-eaters. And have learned to closely monitor playdates when "lets play doctor!" goes naked. (THAT HAPPENED. And I was properly appalled like an 80 year old!) I have learned a million new nursery rhymes. Have an endless array of cute memories of learning to walk, ballet lessons, and hide-and-seek games. And my patience was repeatedly tested, and proved worthy.
I also got to impart some life wisdom on the little gaffers. I taught the baby his 4th and 5th words: "more" and "BOOM!" I instilled a love for flowers in the little girl - unfortunately resulting in her picking very large and inappropriate flowers from the neighbors gardens - but a passion none-the-less! And much to the mother's dismay, the little girl was starting to pick up my drawling, lazy, Canadian accent: "What are ya up to?" "How are ya doing."
Thus, the end of my wide array of English employment. I have been a bartender, a street promotions flyer girl, a pub supervisor, a waitress, a social worker, a women's clothing store worker, and a nanny. Whew.
So. To reward myself for successfully keeping the children alive and myself sane, I am off!! As of tomorrow I will be relaxing on a boat while sailing the islands of Croatia, then learning about the 1990's Sarajevo Seige in Bosnia, and finally ending off in Istanbul, Turkey to explore the mosques and sample the dirty street kebabs.
Life is good!!!
And get this. Everyone survived.
And get this. I was actually good at it.
Yes, yes... there was that ONE TIME that Nanny Courtney accidentally left the sleeping baby in the bank. But don't hate on a girl... it just kind of happened. He was asleep, the teller distracted me, I walked out... I'm simply not used to accessorizing with children.
Regardless! It was a great experience!! I am no longer afraid of holding babies. I now know which way a diaper goes on. I can change a nappy without gagging involuntarily. I have learned of the importance of nap-time. I can deal with picky-eaters. And have learned to closely monitor playdates when "lets play doctor!" goes naked. (THAT HAPPENED. And I was properly appalled like an 80 year old!) I have learned a million new nursery rhymes. Have an endless array of cute memories of learning to walk, ballet lessons, and hide-and-seek games. And my patience was repeatedly tested, and proved worthy.
I also got to impart some life wisdom on the little gaffers. I taught the baby his 4th and 5th words: "more" and "BOOM!" I instilled a love for flowers in the little girl - unfortunately resulting in her picking very large and inappropriate flowers from the neighbors gardens - but a passion none-the-less! And much to the mother's dismay, the little girl was starting to pick up my drawling, lazy, Canadian accent: "What are ya up to?" "How are ya doing."
Thus, the end of my wide array of English employment. I have been a bartender, a street promotions flyer girl, a pub supervisor, a waitress, a social worker, a women's clothing store worker, and a nanny. Whew.
So. To reward myself for successfully keeping the children alive and myself sane, I am off!! As of tomorrow I will be relaxing on a boat while sailing the islands of Croatia, then learning about the 1990's Sarajevo Seige in Bosnia, and finally ending off in Istanbul, Turkey to explore the mosques and sample the dirty street kebabs.
Life is good!!!
 |
| Good luck and goodbye to 2 of the cutest bambino's I know! |
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