Silly questions asked by yanks

johnam

Raging_Ninja wrote: »

When working in a hotel I was asked by an Irish woman: "Could you unlock the door to my room. My husband usually does it and I don't know how to".

Ignorance is universal, not just limited to Americans. For instance, how well do you know the geography of North America or Africa?

I work in a hotel in Clare, and was asked by a young woman from Kildare if it was true that on a clear day you can see New York city from the Cliffs of Moher. I of course told her that it was, but now that the twin towers were no longer standing, it was a bit harder to recognise. Off she went....

kylith

Overheal wrote: »

You know the dialects in Spain and Mexico aren't the same don't you? I thought every European knew this, because Europeans are apparently well-cultured.

No, the dialects aren't the same, but they are mutually intelligable. It's not as though the inhabitants of Mexico speak a distinct Mexican language derived from an Aztec tongue.

Well, maybe they do in some areas because apparently there are 62 official languages besides Spanish in Mexico, but none I can find is called Mexican.

Downlinz

Use of the term "yank" as a derogative in itself is pretty ironic given that you're refering to the entirity of USA when "yank" only refers to those from New England. :rolleyes:

Latchy

Downlinz wrote: »

Use of the term "yank" as a derogative in itself is pretty ironic given that you're refering to the entirity of USA when "yank" only refers to those from New England. :rolleyes:

It's ok ,they get their own back by calling the brits '' Limeys '' and the Irish '' Mick's '' .

Overheal

kylith wrote: »

No, the dialects aren't the same, but they are mutually intelligable. It's not as though the inhabitants of Mexico speak a distinct Mexican language derived from an Aztec tongue.

Well, maybe they do in some areas because apparently there are 62 official languages besides Spanish in Mexico, but none I can find is called Mexican.

I accept your apology

charlemont

The amount of irish people who think the Baltic countries are Russian (Ah sure they'll all the same) always surprises me or those who still think Eastern Europe is communist or that all the Blacks came from the Bush.:pac:

kylith

Overheal wrote: »

I accept your apology

You'll accept nothing!

Toby Take a Bow

Mike 1972 wrote: »

Someone mentioned a Northerner not knowing where Cork is. I find Northerners generally (regardless of of how insistant or not they are of their Irishness) tend to be very fuzzy in their knowledge of the Republics geography. Im assuming its down to exposure to (mostly) UK or local media and the Schools having a UK centric geography syllabus. On the other hand they probably have a better knowledge of UK mainland than those of us from the Republic.

I worked with a couple of girls from Northern Ireland over Christmas, and after a good few drinks at the Christmas party, and apparently a common term for people from the Republic (or as they'd say: southerners) is Mexicans. There's a lot going on there in that term, I reckon.

whytek

tenchi-fan wrote: »

That's not so dumb. Google the exchange rate on your phone, inflate it by 2.5% and lodge it to the bank account with the rest of the day's takings. Why would anyone turn down good money?

Now that's dumb. I would go for 7.5% minimum. Hell, make it 10%.

Why charge less commision than the bank?

El Siglo

Mike 1972 wrote:

Someone mentioned a Northerner not knowing where Cork is. I find Northerners generally (regardless of of how insistant or not they are of their Irishness) tend to be very fuzzy in their knowledge of the Republics geography. Im assuming its down to exposure to (mostly) UK or local media and the Schools having a UK centric geography syllabus. On the other hand they probably have a better knowledge of UK mainland than those of us from the Republic.

Don't tar all Northerners with the one brush on this one. It's one of those things that's politicised so it is. Nationalists (especially from rural areas) will know or tend to have a better knowledge of the geography of the South. People from unionist backgrounds won't have a clue. They'll know Dublin, Cork and maybe Galway and that's it. The ones from Derry ('Londonderry') will know Donegal. It's unfortunate but that's the way it is. I'm doing a PhD in Geography here and the amount of times I've had to explain where I'm from to people from the North is staggering. I mean any other discipline I would make an exception, but researchers and academics in geography, that's pretty piss poor in fairness.

Toby Take a Bow wrote: »

I worked with a couple of girls from Northern Ireland over Christmas, and after a good few drinks at the Christmas party, and apparently a common term for people from the Republic (or as they'd say: southerners) is Mexicans. There's a lot going on there in that term, I reckon.

Yeh I've been called a Mexican and a Free Stater etc... I wouldn't take offence to it. I jokingly refer to the North as the "occupied six" and if anyone of them are going to Dublin etc... that they should take it easy breathing so as to "not choke on the sweet air of freedom". There's nothing malicious, it's more banter than anything else.

Toby Take a Bow

El Siglo wrote: »

Yeh I've been called a Mexican and a Free Stater etc... I wouldn't take offence to it.

Oh, I didn't take offence, I found it amusing as I had never heard it before. It is interesting though.

Sardonicat

A couple of years ago got on a bus in Dublin city centre at the same time as a load of american girls laden down with luggage. We were the first on the bus and they blocked the aisle with their bags.

Most people who got on after us just took one look at the blocked aisle and headed up the stairs. When they noticed people heading upstairs one of the girls explained "wow, there's an upstairs on this bus!" Considering they had been standing at the stop looking at the bus for 15 minutes prior to the driver letting us on you would think they would have noticed it was a double decker.

Eventually the driver roared at them to stow their luggage on the luggage rack. One of them sat in the single seat reserved for the elderly/diasabled. A blind man got on and headed to the seat and asked her very politely to let him sit there, to which she replied very earnestly and sweetly: "Sir, there is an upstairs on this bus, you could go up there"

Agricola

Sardonicat wrote: »

A couple of years ago got on a bus in Dublin city centre at the same time as a load of american girls laden down with luggage. We were the first on the bus and they blocked the aisle with their bags.

Most people who got on after us just took one look at the blocked aisle and headed up the stairs. When they noticed people heading upstairs one of the girls explained "wow, there's an upstairs on this bus!" Considering they had been standing at the stop looking at the bus for 15 minutes prior to the driver letting us on you would think they would have noticed it was a double decker.

Eventually the driver roared at them to stow their luggage on the luggage rack. One of them sat in the single seat reserved for the elderly/diasabled. A blind man got on and headed to the seat and asked her very politely to let him sit there, to which she replied very earnestly and sweetly: "Sir, there is an upstairs on this bus, you could go up there"

This reminds me of the time I queued behind two American girls at an airport check in. Basically it involves oversized luggage, liquids, and missing passports. That was a long wait. I know its a bit of a generalization, :pac: but young Americans are so clueless its unbelievable. They even seem to revel in it.

Overheal

Why would they call you Mexicans exactly?

kylith

Overheal wrote: »

Why would they call you Mexicans exactly?

I'd assume it's cos we're south of the border. "Down Mexico way", as the song goes.

El Siglo

kylith wrote: »

I'd assume it's cos we're south of the border. "Down Mexico way", as the song goes.

Spot on!

VenomousFish

"Have you ever seen a Lepreeshin?"

civis_liberalis

My Grandfather while loading some turf on the side of the road got to talking with some Yanks that were wandering around admiring the views.

They were intrigued by what he was doing so he explained.

They sort of looked at each other after and said, "So you go to all that trouble... cutting, stacking, drying, transporting and storing it... and then you just burn it?

Botched_Job

my girlfriend (who's american btw) used to work as a receptionist. One night an american rang her at reception and told her their phone wasn't working.

Tayla

This is off topic but I once worked in a newsagents and a Canadian came in and bought a lottery ticket and told me if he won that he'd fly me over to Canada so I could shovel snow from his driveway....prick :mad:

valm

I worked in a Jewellers shop and some Americans came in. The weather was awful and it was raining. (Thats how they pass their time when raining) We had a bad spell of wet weather so I said pity about all the rain to which they replied yes it has not stopped since we arrived. I replied but at least we have the lovely green pastures to show for it. Then one said well if we had this lovely little country in the states we would put a roof on it. I smiled and said good idea. They must think the Irish are very stupid because we will not waste our breath replying to stupid comments.

Mike 1972

Forgive the O/T but.......

El Siglo wrote: »

Don't tar all Northerners with the one brush on this one.

I DID say "generally"

El Siglo wrote: »

People from unionist backgrounds won't have a clue.

You were saying something about tarring with the one brush ?

If you were to talk to a few more People from unionist backgrounds you might be a little surprised at how many of them are regular visitors to the Republic (Not just when the exchange rate/Diesel price differential happens to be favourable) and how fondly many of them will speak warmly about the place. Doesnt necessarily make them any less Unionist mind.

Mance Rayder

kylith wrote: »

No, the dialects aren't the same, but they are mutually intelligable. It's not as though the inhabitants of Mexico speak a distinct Mexican language derived from an Aztec tongue.

Well, maybe they do in some areas because apparently there are 62 official languages besides Spanish in Mexico, but none I can find is called Mexican.

Ah thats because "Spanish" is Mexican for "Mexican" .:D

Richard

Stained Class wrote: »

Why aren't the IRA cool anymore?

They came in from the cold.

Richard

Years ago, when I was in Germany:

American: Where are you from?
Me: Northern Ireland
American: Wowwwwwwwwwww (as in elongated Wow. If I'd said the moon, I don't think she would have been more amazed)

American: Do you use Deutsche Marks in Ireland?
Me: no, we use Pounds.

Richard

annascott wrote: »

Isn't it Gaelic? Gaelic football and 'they are speaking Gaelic' Please enlighten me. Being a non Gaelic speaker, what else should I call it?

Afaik, it was known mainly as Gaelic (or Erse) but in the early days of independence the name "Irish" became more prominent as part of an independent identity.

sunflower27

Botched_Job wrote: »

my girlfriend (who's american btw) used to work as a receptionist. One night an american rang her at reception and told her their phone wasn't working.

Maybe she couldn't get an outside line?????

Richard

Flesh Gorden wrote: »

BARE International require Irish nationals to take an English test

As do Australians, apparently - http://www.austmysteryshoppersforum.com/cgi-bin/forum/Blah.pl?m-1282183598/

I wonder whether UK nationals have to.

Richard

Mike 1972 wrote: »

Someone mentioned a Northerner not knowing where Cork is. I find Northerners generally (regardless of of how insistant or not they are of their Irishness) tend to be very fuzzy in their knowledge of the Republics geography. Im assuming its down to exposure to (mostly) UK or local media and the Schools having a UK centric geography syllabus. On the other hand they probably have a better knowledge of UK mainland than those of us from the Republic.

That's true. Before I moved to Athlone to work, I couldn't tell a Cork accent from a Dublin one and I didn't know which provinces were where (apart from Ulster, of course). Shockingly ignorant, really.

Solair

The best one I've come across was a US exchange student placing a freshly stamped parcel in the large bin marked Litter outside the GPO in Cork.

She assumed Litter was Gaelic for letter. Close enough!!

I also remember a Canadian lady shouting at a night porter in London because her curling tongs had caught fire. She couldn't understand why they did not provide the correct voltage!