More tomatoes - conclusion

My original thought on starting this blog was to record the differences between living in the USA and England. To a degree I think I have achieved this, albeit with many deviations along the way.

Now well into our sixth year living in the beautiful state of North Carolina, I've come to realize how many things are similar while, thank goodness, many things are very different, even within this state.

Twenty years ago I asked a visiting technician installing new equipment at my workplace where his work took him. "Europe, North America and occasionally the Far East," he replied. "That's interesting, you must see a lot of sights and experience cultural differences?" His answer made me aware of this changing world. "Do me a favor mate, one Holiday Inn is exactly the same as another!"

That's probably simplifying the global world, or rather the economy we live with, but apart from the language and the prices, that statement rings true. I find it somewhat sad, that any Main Street / High Street / Alameda Principal or whatever, can look very much the same wherever you are.

One branch of one of my many interests is the study of transit buses. I view many photographs of these from the world over. What is more noticeable as each year passes is that not only that the vehicles are becoming so similar looking (even the individually owned, unique and quirky buses of Malta have been replaced overnight by the corporate giant of "sameness"), but the street furniture and the store fronts could be anywhere - one KFC, Best Buy, Starbucks is the same as another. There are exceptions of course . . . . . . . . . . .

 A typical Starbucks strip mall location in the US

This Starbucks is located at the Imperial Palace in the Forbidden City, Beijing.

Bringing the peoples of the world together to work in harmony must be a good thing, but can individualism survive on Corporate Earth? 

I for one hope so.

Footnote - I have nothing against Starbucks, believe me (well perhaps the prices). I just prefer a strong regular at say, a Waffle House (no, that does not make me a redneck)!

You say tomato, I say tomato

Yesterday, I was asked to fill in for an absent church member to read the fourth lesson at our annual service of lessons and carols. I, in turn, found another willing member from "the bench" (or should that be pew?) as I was reluctant to commit. I have to say that Maria, who is of Austrian birth, read the lesson beautifully, as did all the other readers.

The reason for my reluctance is that I am aware of my English, very English, pronunciation of Isaiah. I've always been used to saying "ai-ZIRE-uh" and it has always sounded strange when read in church here as "ai-ZAY-uh". Now I would be the last to say which is right or wrong - now there IS a novelty - and to be fair, our wonderful vicar, who is Canadian by birth, has always encouraged me to "be myself" when reading and indeed was quite happy for me to use my English pronunciation if I decided to read the lesson.

This lead to a discussion on the different ways we English pronounce, never mind spell, common words. As usual food played a significant part - in which the Americans got full marks for saying PAR-sta, it is Italian after all, while us English say PA-sta, emphasizing the short "a". I was reminded of my embarrassment when on my first visit here I ordered a fil-LET steak and emphasized the "t", as any Englishman would. I got the same reaction from the American server (and my American family) as I would have done if I ordered a cod or plaice fil-LAY in an English "chippy" (fish-'n'-chip shop)! Understandable from the American point of view as even the English don't say bal-LET, but bal-LAY.

To-MATE-toe I do say now rather than to-MAR-toe (probably the only American pronunciation Gail can't, or won't, say). Another great food example is AP-ricot as opposed to English APE-ricot.

Of the non-food differences there is, of course SKED-ule as opposed to SHED-ule (the American version does make sense, no one pronounces school "shool"). Syllable emphasizing is another part of the language that takes some getting use to. IN-surance as opposed to in-SUR-ance, warran-TEE against warran-TY and sem-EYE versus sem-EE, are examples that come to mind.

Thank goodness we do understand one another. Even if we do pick up the pronunciations of our new home and alter our spellings, we are still of English stock. As our very talented choir director tells me, "be proud of your heritage", just as she is of her Filipino roots.

Dress sense

A chance remark had be thinking on our "separated by a common language" theme again. I was talking about shoes and mentioned that so many people of all ages nowadays wear trainers. What are trainers?
Okay, let's have another session on American English and [British English]:
Sneakers or tennis shoes [trainers]
Pants [trousers]
Vest [waistcoat]
Tee-shirt [vest] as in underwear
Windbreaker [windcheater]
Suspenders [braces]
Cuffs [turn-ups]
Slicker [anorak]
Coverall [boiler suit]
Tuxedo [dinner suit]
Robe [dressing gown]
Sweater [jersey, jumper, sweater]
Panties [briefs, knickers]
Turtle neck [polo neck]
Panty-hose [tights]
Galoshes [wellington boots, wellies]
Purse [handbag]
Pocket book [purse]
and finally, a more delicate one:
Fanny pack [bum bag]