I am a UK trained nurse who has been fortunate enough to come and work in the USA, just over 3 yrs ago. Lots of different experiences have occurred during this time here are a few of the funniest things which have happened.
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I was working as an admit nurse which involves helping out the RN's admit their pts to the floor by undertaking the paperwork involved, which can be a timely event. I have a strong British accent which involves daily explanation of where I am from, why I am here and do I like it or not. I truly enjoy these conversations because it breaks the ice and they tell me lots of information they don't always tell others. Most pts guess correctly that I am from England, some try other areas in Britain but sometimes they guess Australia, New Zealand, and even Germany.
One particular pt often springs to mind a lady in her 70's not been a frequent visitor to the hospital and was very upset that her family thought she needed to be there. I spent a long time with this lady reassuring her, we discussed her independence and how important it was to her. We laughed at funny stories from her past, we talked about tests she would be getting whilst she was an inpatient. She was very concerned that her family wanted her placed in an 'old peoples home' but for this pt, it really wasn't a possibility as she was able to manage her own affairs and was very independent. We said our goodbyes and she thanked me for being kind and I went on my way to carry on with the rest of my work.
Later on in the evening her nurse called me over and said you won't believe what that little old lady said about you. Expecting praise and good comments you can only imagine my surprise when the nurse told me her exact words which were "That nurse who was in before taking all my details-well she was very nice but do you think she is a terrorist?" When asked why she replied, "well she had a very strange accent".
I was speechless and then we all dissolved into fits of laughter and giggles.
Another time I was asked by one of the transporters at work where I came from I told her England to which she replied: "Oh and what language do they speak there?" I was tempted to say Japanese but I refrained and said " I am from England we speak English there' I honestly thought she was joking.
My son was in school and he was asked what was his first language "English" to which she replied ' No I mean what language did you learn as a child' "English' he replied. To which she said 'I don't think you understand I am asking what language did your parents teach you' !!!!!!!!!! He actually didn't know what to say when he was speechless LOL.
One of my British friends is from Scotland and it will come as a surprise that many people don't actually know that it is a country in Britain along with England Ireland and Wales. So he often gets asked 'where do you come from?" and when he tells people Scotland he then gets asked, "So whereabouts in England is that?"
Now you would be indeed surprised that it is very offensive to Scottish people, or Welsh people or Irish people to be asked where about in England are you from!!!!
People from Britain are fiercely proud people who are very patriotic to Britain but even more patriotic to the part of Britain they derive from.
The common saying is anybody can be British but not everybody can be English, Welsh, Scottish or Irish.
