Today's my wedding anniversary. I have been married 19 years.
Going with one of the main themes of blog the last few weeks, I will mention that I am in an intercultural marriage. I am an American of European extraction. My husband is English. We met at church while I was teaching at an international school in London.
Most people wouldn't really think of us as being a multicultural family, I suppose. I remember attending a lecture in London on teaching third culture kids. The speaker told us that families usually figured that England would be an easy transition from the U.S., but it never was. Parents and kids still need to get used to a new school system, a new medical system, a new bed, and, yes, a new language.
Seriously, if you compliment an English woman on her "pants" she'll take offense. "Pants" in England are men's underwear. Then there are zebra crossings, smart clothes, flats. A "store" is a closet; you go to a shop. Tea isn't just for drinking, it's also the evening meal.
Oh, and if a six year old asks you for a rubber it's fine. They just want to erase a mistake. Etc, etc, etc.
English and Americans think about money differently. English people will wait longer in line without getting impatient. Different sports (how does cricket go again?) different ways to look at holidays (is Valentine's Day for kids or isn't it?). The differences go on and on.
So, I will say I am in an intercultural marriage. And I love it.
Going with one of the main themes of blog the last few weeks, I will mention that I am in an intercultural marriage. I am an American of European extraction. My husband is English. We met at church while I was teaching at an international school in London.
Most people wouldn't really think of us as being a multicultural family, I suppose. I remember attending a lecture in London on teaching third culture kids. The speaker told us that families usually figured that England would be an easy transition from the U.S., but it never was. Parents and kids still need to get used to a new school system, a new medical system, a new bed, and, yes, a new language.
Seriously, if you compliment an English woman on her "pants" she'll take offense. "Pants" in England are men's underwear. Then there are zebra crossings, smart clothes, flats. A "store" is a closet; you go to a shop. Tea isn't just for drinking, it's also the evening meal.
Oh, and if a six year old asks you for a rubber it's fine. They just want to erase a mistake. Etc, etc, etc.
English and Americans think about money differently. English people will wait longer in line without getting impatient. Different sports (how does cricket go again?) different ways to look at holidays (is Valentine's Day for kids or isn't it?). The differences go on and on.
So, I will say I am in an intercultural marriage. And I love it.
Congratulations on your anniversary! Pretty funny cultural differences. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you! Some of them are pretty funny!
DeleteHappy Anniversary - and congrats on making it to 19! That's an awesome accomplishment and shows your commitment.
ReplyDeleteI always knew that tea was more than just a drink, but I had always thought it was more like the German Kaffee und Kuchen (Coffee and Cake at 4 pm). I did not know it was your evening meal.
Thanks!!
DeleteI think in some parts of England tea is more equivalent to an after school snack than to supper, but not in London where I lived over there.
Congratulations, Melinda! And yes, you have a multicultural family. What planet is your son from again?
ReplyDeleteNow that's a good question!!
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