Comments on: The older they get…. my three cross cultural kids

By: Meg

Meg — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 05:52:42 +0000

Hi Kasia, I’m so sorry. It sounds like you’ve had nothing but negative experiences with British people and yes, from the outside looking in, they may appear to be as you’ve described and perhaps you’ve met one or two who were like this. But really they are not at all that way! I’ve made some wonderful friends here and I also know a lot of people through work and mostly I’ve found them to be extremely kind and friendly. They are mostly reserved and that can sometimes seem to be unfriendly. It does take time but once you get to know them, they can be truly loyal and truly friends for life. My children represent what is great about British culture and also what is great about American culture. I think there are good and bad people everywhere and you sometimes encounter the bad. But please don’t be judgmental about British people because what you say is not true.

By: Kasia

Kasia — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 12:50:45 +0000

I really hope when I and my partner have children here they are not going to become “very British” as you described your 12 year old – but then my experience of Brits is that they are insufferably judgemental, closed minded and unfriendly to the core.

By: Meg

Meg — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 15:59:53 +0000

My husband makes fun of me when I try and do the British accent. I really can’t do it at all, BUT my accent has softened and my intonation has changed and of course I use way more British words and expressions now. It’s funny because someone I’ve know for a while through my business didn’t realize I was from the US and exclaimed very loudly – You’re AMERICAN??!!! It was as if she was outraged by the discovery that I wasn’t British. Too funny Thanks for your comment. I bet they had moved around a bit and also moved to England after all the kids were born.

By: Sarah Turley

Sarah Turley — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 13:58:40 +0000

When I was a teenager in England, I knew an American family. The eldest daughter had a slight American accent, the middle one had a very pronounced Southern (American) accent and the much younger ‘baby’ of the family also had a slight accent. I don’t know if they moved around much while they were still in the USA, with the middle one learning to speak while in a different part of the country, but I think it also has a lot to do with how musical you are and how good an ‘ear’ you have. Personally I don’t pick up accents easily, but a very musical friend of mine is a great mimic and can adapt her accent very quickly.
Visiting from the #ExpatLifeLinky.

By: Meg

Meg — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 04:57:14 +0000

Thanks Cathy! I wonder why your son’s accent hasn’t become more British? And I wonder if it will in the future… interesting! My friend and co-author Heidi has 3 kids who were all born in England. They moved to the USA a few years ago and they all now have American accents. I remember when her eldest was a toddler and she called Heidi ‘mom’ instead of ‘mum’ and that was when they were living here. I find it all so fascinating.

By: Meg

Meg — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 04:55:11 +0000

I think yours will be very smart, speaking several languages and very worldly. What an amazing experience for them!

By: Cathy

Cathy — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 11:20:51 +0000

Meghan
Love this post. I find it really interesting to read how your children behave/ react. My daughter has a strong British accent after being here 3 years, my son not so much. Given they have 3 countries they are more complicated in their view. Apparently my daughters’ friends love my Aussie accent!

By: TinyExpats

TinyExpats — Fri, 19 Jun 2015 13:44:22 +0000

Such an interesting read! My girls are 5 and 2, half Russian/half Ukrainian, the older one lived in 4 countries so far. Have no idea how they will be like in 5-10 years!
I think, that it’s nice that your kids found some way to identify themselves, whether it’s British or American, instead of just being confused about it.