Expanding Your Vocabulary...or Maybe Shrinking It

When I moved to the UK I expected to pick up new words. What I didn't expect was to start actually using them in conversation, a lot. What I have found is that it is a lot easier to use "British" words when talking to people around here. First off, the Brits understand when I use words they are familiar with. The Americans here have also adapted and are used to hearing these words as well, so you don't have to explain to them either. Thus, more effective, especially in mixed company. By mixed company I mean both Brits and Americans.

This whole phenomenon has also lead to another quirky thing. I am forgetting American terms. Well maybe not as much forgetting, but when I am talking to an American in the States sometimes I have to search for the right word. I can't very well tell them I am having chips with dinner when I clearly am talking about french fries. They will think potato chips or crisps rather.... I tell my kids to "bung it in the bin". Yeah that means "throw it in the trash". Oh and rubbish is trash. I yell "OY!" at the kids when I want to get their attention instead of "Hey".

OK, so I just looked up in the first paragraph and saw that I used the term "as well"; very British. If I was talking to an American I would have said also. Or the word "proper". I say proper all the time. I just can't even help it. It has permeated my life. I am not complaining by any means. I am just looking for a few strange looks when I visit the States in a few weeks.

Oh and there is one word I will NEVER say here. Bloody. It just sounds really wrong coming out with an American accent. But I can bloody well type it!