Foreign accents, and feeling more at home

Last week, on two separate occasions, I was complimented on my "beautiful" American accent. Hmm. I have to admit there are certain accents I find attractive; others that make a person sound uneducated or lazy (even though they may not be that way at all). But the British accent, even after being assaulted by it for 4+ months, is still beautiful to me. I always think I sound like an American hick with my nasal vowels and flat, non-musical speech ... but I guess some people appreciate it.

Occasion #1: Two teachers at Natalia's school (one British and black, the other Polish and white, both with fantastic accents, in my opinion) told me that the British accent, to them, is "stuffy and too polite." And that Americans have a "simpler" way of speaking that sounds more honest and forthright. Hmm! The black lady (I am learning not to use the word "woman" here because it's considered derogatory) said she has family in Brooklyn, New York, and they are all fascinated by her speech when she visits. Other people, she said, are shocked to hear a black person speaking with a British accent. I guess if you're from the States this is understandable; but London is such an international city that pretty much anything goes. You never know where someone is from until you ask them point-blank. And, walking the streets of London proper, you're much more likely to hear a hundred different languages before you hear someone speaking English!

Occasion #2: A guy on the street with a broken-down car stopped me as I was rushing home pushing Natalia in the stroller. He asked to borrow a mobile phone, but I had forgotten mine at home; so I apologized and wished him good luck. He then asked another passerby for a mobile phone, and when that person also said no, the guy called down the street to me: "Are you American??" And I turned and said, "Yes, as a matter of fact," and he said, "What a lovely accent you have!" I told him I thought *his* accent was lovely. I guess the grass is always greener.

Another thing that happened a few times last week: We ran into people we know. It may sound like a small thing, but if you've ever moved to a new place -- especially a new country -- you know how difficult it can be to make friends and to feel as if you fit in. We ran into people at various times throughout the week: at Starbucks, on the riverfront, and just walking along the street. Not bad!