ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
United KingdomHelp my language please !!!
Someone on Facebook just said "I have took".

:crying:
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-06-08 16:51:00
United KingdomHelp my language please !!!
Hey Alan.

Last night, I said "BLOWED".

As in, past tense of "blow". As in, should've been "blew". The moment it left my lips, my husband had a seizure, and so did I.

You can shoot me if you like. :unsure:
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-06-08 16:43:00
United KingdomHelp my language please !!!
My husband hates that us English say "in/to Hospital" (i.e. "I had to go to hospital") because the Americans say "at/in the hospital" (i.e. "I visited her at the hospital").

I do get some enjoyment out of him now speaking British though. So when clients call him, he often corrects them on their English, and uses me to back it up. :D

Edited by Gemmie, 04 June 2010 - 04:26 PM.

GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-06-04 16:25:00
United KingdomHelp my language please !!!

"I could of..." I could *have*.


:angry:

That's the worst.

I pretty much hate how Americans turn their T's into D's. And make words with A's sound like E's.

Having said that, most of the awful language I've encountered have been said by English people. At the risk of sounding like a complete snob, I do judge others based on their grammar. For instance:

My brother's girlfriend is always saying "you've made it worse-er" and it takes every muscle in my body not to reach out and slap her.

In turn, my brother says "air commas" to describe the infamous air quotes that you do when quoting someone in speech.

I see people type versions of the English language that seem impossibly stupid (for example, "I fought" instead of "I thought"), and it makes me think.. is that actually how they've been saying it their whole lives?

Argggghhhhh...
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-06-04 12:40:00
United KingdomNaturalization wobbles
Yeah Alan, I don't think you can claim that you know the beliefs of the entirety of Europe.

I think we're all guilty of facing situations with stereotypes in mind, and then finding that it fits within the criteria, and the stereotype continues. Since being in the US, people have asked me silly questions about life in the UK, and some of them ARE true (someone asked me if it's true that we have so much teenage pregnancy and binge-drinking). I've even been asked about dentistry in the UK, and yes, our dentistry services are seriously screwed in comparison to the US, hence the stereotype. Obviously that doesn't mean that all Brits are emotionally-distant and toothless. But in general, I can see why other nationals perceive it that way. And like I said, I do think there's an element of truth to most stereotypes, including the one where America has an over-exaggerated sense of self-importance, but I don't believe that can be generalized to all nationals living in that country. H!ll, look at Steven Colbert. He makes a living off playing up this stereotype of conservative extremists, which is how the world views the average American, and people love that because that's not how everyone REALLY is.

There is nothing wrong with loving your country. I love the banter between states in the US and between sports teams, and the national pride that people have here. I don't appreciate the notion that it's the best country in the world, when admittedly most Americans haven't traveled or seen the rest of the world for many reasons. When I DO come across that attitude, I try to correct it by showing that it's not the only country that has those aspects. For example, with the "Only in America" argument about freedom of expression. Or during the health care debate, I didn't appreciate people mocking the systems in the UK and Canada when there are so many flaws in the US system. Whenever people criticize my "socialist" country, I just believe you can't have it both ways... hating high taxes whilst hating late retirement and limited maternity time, etc.

Having said that though, when I discussed the portrayed US nationalism with my husband, he said "you should've seen what you British were like during the Empire. You were Braggart Central" :whistle:
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-06-17 15:41:00
United KingdomNaturalization wobbles
True, but I don't know of anyone who has been offended by the word "alien". I wouldn't attribute that to America attempting to look down on other nations at all.
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-06-17 14:27:00
United KingdomNaturalization wobbles

I prefer the clinical term "Limey #######." :mellow:


:thumbs:
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-06-17 14:16:00
United KingdomNaturalization wobbles

If I go to most town centers (or centres) in the UK on any given weekend after the pubs close down you will usually find packs of marauding drunks, fights, throwing up, aggression, etc. Is this an aspect of UK life? Unfortunately, I think it is.....does it define the British people? That would be a very negative way to look at things and I would prefer not to filter my experience of Britain with the more negative elements.


The thing is, people get overly emotional when people criticize their country. If I were to take a step back and view what you said objectively, I would say you're completely right. The UK has a drinking culture that is unlike any other - it's not unusual to drink alcohol every day in different circumstances as to us, it's a social practice. We have more binge drinking than anywhere else in Europe. And we also take football extremely seriously. Put those together, and you get the stereotype about our violent hooligans. It wouldn't be fair to say that all British people are alcoholic hooligans, but there is an element of truth to it.

In the same way, most people around the world view Americans as extremely patriotic - not in the good way of being proud of their country - but in the ignorant and cocky way. And even though not every person is like that, there is an element of truth to that as well. Never in my life have I seen so many flags on a street, so many references to the country and its greatness, such a lack of awareness about the world, such a separation between laws and country, and I live in New England which is supposedly not so bad. Every time I hear someone over here saying that America is great for freedom, I always speak up and point out that there are plenty of other countries that have MORE freedom. The response is always to compare it with Middle Eastern countries, but there's nothing new there. Canada, every country in Europe, Australia, NZ, Japan, etc... these all have the same freedom (if not more), yet the only country that boasts about this is America.

I'm not trying to put Americans down, and there's nothing wrong with being patriotic. But there is a difference in being proud of your country, and being ignorant to other ones, and I think the concept of America to most around the world is that they have issues with the second. Whether you take that stereotype as valid or not is up to you. Excuse me while I go back to my vodka and run through the streets screaming with rage at England's performance last week. :lol:
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-06-17 10:19:00
United KingdomNaturalization wobbles
Alan, I have to say that I was quite surprised at some of the things you've said here. Happy Bunny stated her reasons several times for her beliefs, and they're fair statements too. Yet every time you responded to her, there were moments of aggression and accusations. Her general point was that she personally could never become a UKC because she feels her allegiance is with the US, and that she doesn't see how anyone can become a USC when they feel the same way about their home country. Americans DO become British citizens all the time. I only know of one personally, but I'm sure if you went to the US-UK equivalent of Visa Journey, you would find a forum dedicated to this there.

Personally, I'm still torn about whether or not to go for citizenship. I would like the benefits of avoiding USCIS forever, and returning to the UK without the worries of 'what if we move back'... BUT I'm a very honest person. I don't say things that I don't mean, and at this point in my life, I would find it hard to genuinely pledge allegiance to America. I'm here because I married an American and want to give it a shot in his country - and for that, I supply endless paperwork about my health and background, and will pay taxes while I'm here. Having said that, I'll always be British first and foremost, and I'll always have values that are probably considered 'working-class British' in comparison to over here. I guess I have a sense of patriotism myself and part of that goes deep into my beliefs. I'm liberal, and believe that everyone deserves health care, housing, education, and free thinking. I think everyone should live as they choose. as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else. I support gay marriage, the choice for abortion, pro-immigration, helping those that genuinely need it. I disagree with so many policies and attitudes in the US that making a promise to break my ties with the UK and 'side with America' would be distressing for me.

ETA: I guess my reasons are more political, and there are political aspects that I dislike about the UK as well, even though I'm a citizen there. Maybe I'll learn to separate the country with the policies in the next 3 years.

Edited by Gemmie, 16 June 2010 - 03:25 PM.

GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-06-16 15:23:00
United KingdomNaturalization wobbles

I DO recall seeing something in the press over there before he had emigrated stating that certain post codes in London now had British born 'whites' as an official ethnic minority. But to find that now would take some searching.


You find that in the US too though, right? Like in Detriot, or in New Orleans, etc? They're just areas that are occupied by more black people, just like we have areas in the UK that are occupied by mostly Asians. The last time I checked though, the UK still had a 96% White majority or something.
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-06-14 12:15:00
United KingdomNaturalization wobbles

The Oath of Allegiance requires you to kiss goodbye any and all allegiance to Merry Old England. Forget the Japanese; imagine that we're entering a war against Great Britain over the horrible, man-made oil catastrophe BP caused, after thousands of Americans got poisened, the wildlife got extinct, and the economy destroyed for a century to come. The big man (or Sarah Palin) got all the votes in 2012 and once again there's a draft and they ask you to bomb the living sh*t of your British hometown.

If you don't think you're willing to do that, you're not ready to become an American.


Hmm, but we're allowed to keep our British citizenship. So I think of it more as gaining another passport, not losing my old one.

Also, about the above post, I don't think anyone, USC or otherwise, would be happy and willing to bomb the sh*t out of their hometown but it doesn't mean they're denying their American-ness. Or if they had family living in another country and they weren't comfortable blowing the town to smithereens, they're not denying their American-ness there either. In fact, I don't think I could ever bring myself to bomb a nation, no matter where it was. I know there's a chance that I could be drafted to do such things, but that alone doesn't sway me to not apply for the citizenship. If Americans had the option of not being American anymore if it meant that they couldn't be drafted in war, would they? I doubt it.

Just because you're choosing to apply for US citizenship doesn't mean you take on the values of the government.

Edited by Gemmie, 11 June 2010 - 05:08 PM.

GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-06-11 17:07:00
United KingdomQuestion about the medical
Read some of the medical reviews on here, they're quite helpful.

They check your eyes, blood pressure, heart, stomach, breasts/genitals (very quickly, nothing to worry about). The blood test is for HIV and perhaps Hepatitis B as well? Not sure.

No urine tests for me, but I wouldn't have anything to drink the night before just in case.
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-06-18 16:59:00
United KingdomKnitting Crew!
:luv: :luv: (L) (L)
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-07-04 10:28:00
United KingdomKnitting Crew!
Yeah Lisa, it's totally addictive when you go to a yarn store. I get mine from JoAnne Fabrics but Walmart does it too. So many COLOURS. And FLUFFINESS. :D
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-06-17 17:04:00
United KingdomKnitting Crew!
That's OK, I haven't picked up a knitting needle since Christmas.

I do have some though, so maybe I should give it a shot while I'm unemployed.. how hard can it be, right?
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-06-17 15:57:00
United KingdomKnitting Crew!
This is awesome.

I have to say, it does take me about 16.8 weeks to knit a simple scarf if the needles/yarn is small, so it would be more like giving Lisa Jr. a Christmas present. :unsure:

But I look forward to seeing Maven make a cute hat!
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-06-17 15:48:00
United KingdomHepatitas B Vaccine
I wasn't aware there was a Hep B vaccine that MUST be taken.

Are you thinking of the HPV vaccine (for the HP virus)? If so, that's no longer a requirement.
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-06-29 13:34:00
United KingdomFunny misconecptions from your country or state!
You know the one.. when you say something, and they stare at your lips, and go silent for a few seconds, before confirming what you said.

And I have a generic Southern English accent. :D
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-05-26 11:19:00
United KingdomFunny misconecptions from your country or state!
No one has mistook me for an Aussie yet. I still just get the stare of doom. :)
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-05-25 09:36:00
United KingdomTracyTN, where are you?
Yay! Congratulations Tracy! I want to see a pic of baby Emily too... hope everything went well. :luv:
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-07-04 10:27:00
United KingdomTracyTN, where are you?

she was on facebook yesterday so at that point she was not yet in labor.....I believe she is due July 4?


And I'm guessing she's not one of the crazy people that update their Facebook WHILE in labour. :mellow:

Serious, I've seen it happen at least 3 times.
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-06-28 12:09:00
United KingdomTracyTN, where are you?
Yikes, she's probably in labour or with the new love of her life.

Hopefully she's happy and well.
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-06-28 10:21:00
United KingdomA question
Personally, I would keep the comments on, because you admit you want to get feedback and viewpoints from things that are going on in your life.

Solution to the horrible comments; 1- Don't react to them at all. You'll notice that as soon as you posted how upset you were about the comments, they came in BUNDLES. If you blank them entirely, people will get bored. 2- Shrug them off when you do get them. I don't even find them funny. Jokes about being gay or sex with animals or whatever? Boring, and silly.

The only thing I don't understand is that you say you want this feedback from outside your perspective, but then whenever gives you some that doesn't fit with how you see things in your life, you quickly defend why your view is the right one. It might be, heck it's your life. But if you feel certain that you know yourself and the people in your life are the way you perceive them - why bother about what others think? Seems like a contradiction, and I think that's where people are accusing you of attention seeking.

For example, "I just bought these jeans, what do you think?"
"Hmmm, I think they might be a little too small for you."
"Well they're not, and I can't believe people think that! They're perfect for me."
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-07-21 19:32:00
United KingdomHow to deal with the down time
Could be something tiny like a missing signature or a missing copy of something. Worst case, they'll need a few more pieces of evidence like letters/photos/receipts.

Don't panic too much, these things are always settled quickly.
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-06-28 15:30:00
United KingdomHow to deal with the down time
What for?
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-06-28 15:02:00
United KingdomHow to deal with the down time
I know.

My MIl is a teacher and wanted me to help out at the school with a few things. When someone mentioned that I needed a background check, she was like "oh she's BEEN checked. She's had medicals, injections, criminal record checks, FBI checks, everything!" No one said anything again. :lol:
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-06-28 10:23:00
United KingdomHow to deal with the down time
When I'm feeling sh1tty that I can't find a job and move out of the in-laws, my best friend tells me something that helps:

You have the rest of your lives to live together and enjoy every moment on your own. So look at the big picture and feel lucky that you've found the person you want to do that with already, because when all of this is over and you get what you wanted, you'll probably end up wanting to get away from him! :lol:

Also, I went for counselling for a few years when I was a teenager, and she used to say that when you're stressed about something, ask yourself if it's really going to matter in 6 months or a year. Chances are, you're worrying about something that will be over by then.

Hope that helps a little.
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-06-24 09:33:00
United KingdomHow to deal with the down time
We also waited 2 years before we could file the petition (due to finances, school, etc) and then 9 months for the K1 to be granted, and you know what, I bitched and moaned about the wait a lot while I was going through it. Now when I look back, I thank my lucky stars that our case didn't really suffer any problems.

I wish I could give a big hug to those of you are who still waiting to be with your fiance/spouse. :luv:
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-06-23 19:25:00
United KingdomHow to deal with the down time
I feel the same way, Lisa. I also don't like hearing of couples that plot to overstay on the VWP so that they can apply for AOS and stay together, for that exact reason.

I just read some of the Waiver thread and I'm deeply saddened by what happened to JustJ. Reading her moments of pure joy followed by that horrible news was like a shot to the gut. Especially since they completely disregarded all of the medical notes and then used a traffic ticket as evidence that he's some kind of criminal. How do those people sleep at night? It really does put it into perspective when you think you have problems.

Edited by Gemmie, 23 June 2010 - 12:06 PM.

GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-06-23 12:05:00
United KingdomHow to deal with the down time
All I can say is 'you lucky things'.

I would love to choose a house based on how big the garden is, rather than how many utilities are included in the rent. :unsure:
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-06-18 16:50:00
United KingdomHow to deal with the down time
How come you're looking for four/five bedrooms, Melissa?
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-06-18 16:02:00
United KingdomHow to deal with the down time

What makes it even worse is that all I can seem to do in the few days before he leaves is cry. Silly and childish as it seems.....it is what it is.


I'm crazy and childish too, I cried non-stop during the last few days together. He would always tell me not to focus on the leaving part, but the being together again part... but I never listened. ;)
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-06-07 10:13:00
United KingdomDumb stuff Border Control does
It's crazy how often they mess these little things up.

When I went to get my SSN sorted out, they said they couldn't find me under the K1 status, and that when I went through border control, the guy processed me under a Student visa. I have no idea how this happened, because we had a lengthy talk about my visa. So I made an infopass appointment to get my status changed back over, but when I got there, they told me I was entered under a Tourist visa (B2). They said they couldn't do anything about it, because they were "immigration" and not "border control". So I had to go back to the airport I entered at, and get them to change it on their systems, and then wait 2 weeks and go back to the SSO.

:bonk:
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-08-10 11:14:00
United KingdomWe got our NOA2!
If it says NO TRACE, you don't need anything else. It means you have no court record to find.

And I remember the form that you couldn't sign. I think it has to be signed at the interview. I just printed them off again and made sure I signed everything but that specific part.
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-07-28 08:37:00
United KingdomUK entry stamp question
Hmm, I'm not too sure about that.

When I went through the US one time, after a particular hard grilling session, he wrote a huge 'A' on my customs form. And then my bag was 'randomly chosen' to be searched. I still have no idea what it means though.
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-08-11 11:44:00
United KingdomRound-up of yesterday - Visa in Administrative Processing!
Really sorry to hear that. It's good that you haven't booked a ticket yet, the last thing you need is more stress.

I hope it gets sorted out as quickly as possible. Some people are only in AP for a matter of days or a couple of weeks.
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-06-18 11:46:00
United KingdomCan American visit UK without problems?

Precisely my point when correcting the above. I will NEVER and I mean NEVER EVER go through Manchester again. After traveling for something in the range of 12 hours, with a sprained back, and cramps, the last thing you want to deal with first thing in the "morning" is some jacka$$ immigration guy throughly quizzing you about why you are or are not coming into the country. Saying you're visiting your FIANCE caused more grief than if I had just said "I'm a tourist". Those guys got through johnny on the spot. I told the 100% truth the whole time I was questioned.

With all of that being said...to the OP, just bring A LOT of proof...a return ticket, make sure you know the exact date you're going back to work, all the contact info on your employer, proof you have your own money, and things to tie you to home, and it SHOULD be ok.


Agreed, my then-fiance went through Heathrow and was given trouble once for saying he was visiting his fiance. Nothing to write home about, just an extra grilling on how he was able to afford a month away, and what not.

But personally, I would say US border control are WAY worse, at least they have been in our experience. I was always 100% honest and told them that I was visiting my boyfriend/fiance/whatever-he-was-at-the-time, because I didn't know how to get through by saying "I'm just a tourist, seeing the sights, and my friends" when I had been over every other month. But yeah, it wasn't always easy.
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-08-10 11:08:00
United KingdomLondon is scheduling the last half of Sept!
All of the above.
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-08-19 09:28:00
United KingdomLondon is scheduling the last half of Sept!

gemmie - check out englishporkpiecompany.com. Excellent bacon & sausages, and sausage rolls and pork pies. Pasties are OK. There right here in Buffalo & I highly recommend them. No minimum purchase, either. :star:


I need a drooling smiley.

Thank you!
GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-08-19 08:55:00
United KingdomLondon is scheduling the last half of Sept!
OMG I love you.

I'm ordering some right now.

The last time I had some was in February. My best friend's boyfriend made me a bacon butty right off the plane.

Edit: "To checkout you have to purchase at least:$89.00" :crying:

Edited by Gemmie, 18 August 2010 - 04:47 PM.

GemmieFemaleUnited Kingdom2010-08-18 16:46:00