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Something happened to me last week, not a big deal at all, but nonetheless the instance puzzled me greatly (and even amuzed me). I have been chatting away with a lady during my daughter's iceskating lesson. The lady was telling me how the lady and her daughter were in the Guinness book, and then she said "Do you know what the Guinness Book of Records is?". "Of course I do!", I said.
I have been in the UK for 10 years now, but I have a Russian accent. Not too big a deal too – it has been more than 3 years since a stranger kept asking me to repeat what I said and now I get by fine. Previously I had ideas about going to speech therapist and getting rid of my accent, but at some point I decided that it doesn't really matter, that everyone around here has an accent of some sort, that it is a part of what I am, etc. etc.
But some things are puzzling :
1. I almost always get asked by complete strangers "Where are you from, then?" . I usually say "I am from ** city I live in ** " which usually produces quite a funny effect of the person who asked the question trying to think really hard "How come?" at which point they say "oh.. but I mean.. your accent..". I say "Do you mean where I was born?", it amuses me to tease them a bit.
The puzzling part is – I wonder how often other people (not Russian-or-other-accent-bearers) are asked a similar question? Also a puzzling part is – why do people think it is a pleasant question to make a conversation with?
2. I get asked things like "Oh, do you know what the Guinness book of records is?" quite often too. Why?
3. Many times, in all seriousness, people were surprised that Russia doesn't have subzero temperatures all year round, and in fact, has some summer too.
I have been in the UK for 10 years now, but I have a Russian accent. Not too big a deal too – it has been more than 3 years since a stranger kept asking me to repeat what I said and now I get by fine. Previously I had ideas about going to speech therapist and getting rid of my accent, but at some point I decided that it doesn't really matter, that everyone around here has an accent of some sort, that it is a part of what I am, etc. etc.
But some things are puzzling :
1. I almost always get asked by complete strangers "Where are you from, then?" . I usually say "I am from ** city I live in ** " which usually produces quite a funny effect of the person who asked the question trying to think really hard "How come?" at which point they say "oh.. but I mean.. your accent..". I say "Do you mean where I was born?", it amuses me to tease them a bit.
The puzzling part is – I wonder how often other people (not Russian-or-other-accent-bearers) are asked a similar question? Also a puzzling part is – why do people think it is a pleasant question to make a conversation with?
2. I get asked things like "Oh, do you know what the Guinness book of records is?" quite often too. Why?
3. Many times, in all seriousness, people were surprised that Russia doesn't have subzero temperatures all year round, and in fact, has some summer too.
