Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Where Are You From?

I got his email today after you heard my accent and it got me thinking...

"I'm so confused now....thought you were British???????????????
You soound SOOOOOOO American on your Appam video and nice to catch a glimpse of you!
:-) Ozoz (Kitchen Butterfly)"


I am a yellow belly, that's what you call a person Born in Lincolnshire England, I am proud to be a Brit and count myself part of the UK's rich heritage. I moved a lot growing up around the UK, doing my high school in Glenrothes Fife in Scotland and University in Aberdeen in the North of Scotland. In school I was often teased for being English, there is a very long history of issues between Scotland and England. My name was Rebecca Johnson in Scotland its spelt Johnstone so I got the nickname Rebecca Johnson no t son!

Anyways when you move a lot growing up your accent takes on a little of everything, and now its getting specks of American mixed in but I am OK with it, I love this country and life is good for our little family.


But I am a Brit in my heart I know this to be true as I hunt down wheatabix and Heinz baked beans and only want British tea, I have satelitte radio in my car and listen to radio one and BBC news, I laugh at British jokes and watch BBC America. I even used to read British history books to Jasmine when she was a newborn!, I must confess I can't find much time now! I get homesick when I hear a British accent or read of food bloggers and their trips to the UK.

I was listening to Radio One today and they got a sample of cheese curry from Japan, the host Scott Mills was calling his co worker at home as she was off work with food poisoning telling her he was saving it for her and playing the catchy music.
Here's an advertisement, it may actually be good, as both are good on their own, but it cracked me up anyways!





So where do you come from and what does it mean to you?

40 comments:

  1. Oh, how fun that video. Back in the 80'ties, when we lived in Asia, Cup Noodles had wond a best Ad award .. I love this one!!!!

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  2. Rebecca, that is a funny commercial. I was in London for an extended period of time for work, and I miss the humor as well! I LOVE Ricky Gervais, he's my favorite British humorist.
    About the accent, my American friends in the UK get quite a bit of flack from both sides. Their British friends often correct their pronunciations, while the friends back home criticize that they are pretentiously putting on a British accent. Oh well, this should is a good story on preconceived notions!

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  3. I'm just from here. Nothing too exciting!

    Speaking of Wheatabix, I bought some to try. It sure does get mushy fast! Is there a trick to it?

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  4. Lol, I could talk for hours about the changes in my accent.
    When I was a university student, noone was able to tell which part of the country I came from, because my accent either sounded totally neutral or it changed depending on people I was hanging with in that period.
    Same happens now in Italy. I picked up a little of my husband's Napoletan accent, and a little here and there from our friends. People usually don't notice at all I'm a foreigner or they ask me if I'm from this or that Italian region, because my accent sounds just like that.
    Among the foreigners in Italy those that never lose their characteristic accent when speaking Italian (not even after a lifetime in Italy) are Americans and Germans.

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  5. LOL!! That's a funny commercial :D I was born in Southern California, but lived in the easter Midwest for most of my life. I've often been told that I have an accent...I don't speak with the "typical" Indiana dialect which sounds a bit more southern & lazy, I suppose...probably because most of my "speech formation" part of life was spent in Michigan. AND since my husband is Mexican, alot of people think that I am because I think I pick up Spanish inflections from time to time. Occasionally I'll have people come up to me and just start speaking in rapid-fire Spanish. To which I give a blank look, LOL!! I'm learning, but I don't always catch it all that quickly :D Good question!

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  6. Nice recap on your background. I am from Baltimore originally and I have a serious Baltimorean accent. Oh yes, it is bad, but I did lose some of it when I moved out west. Stick me back on the east coast and it comes right back.

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  7. I was born in Australia but lived in Paris for years in my 20s worked with a lot of Brits at the British Council. Met my husband in Morocco and moved to Canada nearly 10 years ago. Can you say "mélange" of an accent??? Most people here think I am English, though my parents think I sound North American... When I was back home in Australia last summer, I actually had a hard time understanding some people (especially on TV) and also people had a hard time understanding me. As they do here sometimes. Sigh.

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  8. Laura: Oh I remember pot noodles when I was a kid as well lol
    Fresh local and Best: oh Ricky Gervais is so funny, accents what a topic he he he
    the ungourmet;oh yep you just have to eat it fast!, its good for babies when it gets mushy though lol
    Dajana: thats cool that you can blend in with the locals, lol
    Girlichef: wow Mexican hubby thats why your mexican food rocks lol, have you been there?
    Melinda: keep it girilie
    eat live travel and write:wow exciting to live in different places, like your description lol and thanks for stopping by Rebecca

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  9. My family settled in the Willamette Valley in Oregon 150 years ago and we're still here. Can't think of any place I would rather live. Love to travel but always want to come home.

    Love the commercial.

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  10. Cathy will have to visit your area then lol

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  11. I am a southern country girl traveling, and people tell me all the time how cute my accent is, but I really do not have one; unless sitting around with friends from Texas, and then it comes out...I guess we all do...

    That was truly a 'Cheesy' commercial! but theres are funny like that!

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  12. I am a southern country girl traveling, and people tell me all the time how cute my accent is, but I really do not have one; unless sitting around with friends from Texas, and then it comes out...I guess we all do...

    That was truly a 'Cheesy' commercial! but theres are funny like that!

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  13. Rebecca, although we haven't met in person, yet, I can still tell that you're very British, haha.

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  14. I grew up in Queens, but now live in Ohio. Most of my accent is gone, but some words like coffee bring it out. When I'm talking with my mom and sisters, it gets a lot stronger.

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  15. Chef E love your Southerness lol
    Kenny: thanks don't want to lose it lol
    Diana H: i love the New York accent yep and coffee is a word for it smiling

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  16. Just a Canadian prairie gal living now on the west coast of Canada. We prairie stock were the backbone of the very rough central part of Canada in the late 1800's and early 1900's...mostly being immigrants from Europe. Both sides of my family were from Prussia if you want to go back far far far... But as pacifists, they were always seeking farmland where they could raise their family in religous and political freedom I guess. The big open space of the prairies appealed to them and as hardworking farmers they survived.

    We Canadians don't recognize our accent but we do seem to pull alot of laughs with our lingo....eh?! Grin. Never had the opportunity to travel lots but fell in love with Paris when I was there...sketching absolutely everthing in site! Love that we can all relate through the medium of food and sharing of recipes.

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  17. I'm from all over, but mostly Idaho. We're living in Philly right now, but will only be here for three years for school. I don't really consider myself an Idahoan, as much as someone who just moves around a lot!

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  18. About the accent depends where your house parents are form I have a Midwestern accent with parents from Spain go figure and my German birch husband ... LOL :)


    Thank You for sharing I love it :)


    Have a great day !

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  19. Trish: love Canada, thanks for sharing interesting history
    Foodcreate: smiles, will wait and see how our daughter talks!
    Sam: my pleasure

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  20. Rebecca, I thought of you. I went into an African market and they were selling Heinz baked beans! I only knew what they were because you mention them on your blog. I know what you mean about where are you from, lol! I'm always caught between 3 worlds, American, Mexican, and Spanish...It's a headache, lol!!

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  21. :-)Thanks Rebecca. I guess my accent depends on who i'm talking to. If I'm with the Nigerians, then I'm really Naija. When I'm with the Europeans, they assume I'm English (I grew up 'on' English, my mum's an English teacher and I schooled in the UK, never mind that I went to Liverpool). When I speak to English people some know I've lived in the UK but perhaps detect a trace of Naija. I love me just as I am (most times...)

    Forgve me for butting in but Ungourmet but what you need is cold milk, loads of it...and then don't put the whole weetabix in at once. Put maybe a half, gobble that up and follow with the rest.

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  22. Rebecca, speaking of British humor, I thought you might enjoy a clip of Ricky Gervais on the Ellen show. It was really funny!

    http://soulfoodsister.blogspot.com/2009/09/man-most-women-secretly-fancy.html

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  23. Ha, I've never heard of the phrase yellow belly before - thanks for sharing!

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  24. haha... funny commercial. I know accents especially with Asian ones. I've seen both sides of the spectrum. Even though I was raised here, once in a while there's a trace of a Filipino accent in me. But not much.

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  25. Ozoz; cool liverpool great city, I know as long as we know who we are inside and love and respect all folks its cool lol
    Diane: oh but it makes for fab blog lol
    fresh best and local will check it out thanks so much

    Rebecca

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  26. simply life: he he thats me
    Jenn you sure know filipino food though thats for sure lol

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  27. Hi Rebecca. Well,you know where I come from...I love coming by here at your blog. If you were my neighbor, I know Purple and Jasmine are gonna be playmates..

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  28. Funny to see this type of emails and video, for a Brit.
    As a Latinamerican there's a confusion mixing different countries of my continent…which all are different…

    Cheers!

    Gera

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  29. Peachkins: oh i know I bet they would me lol
    Gera: not sure what you mean, i think its great to enjoy a mixture of all cultures, I have friends from all over the globe and my husband is indian so its very naturally for me, deep down we are all the same. i love my mum in law (she's Indian) like my own mum.
    Rebecca

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  30. @Rebecca May be my English wasn’t perfect, but you understood right what I said! All we're a mix of cultures…now I see why you've wonderful Indian recipes :)

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  31. You're your own little melting pot - now that's American! ha ha I still think you need to do more videos/audios so we can hear you talk - you know we love it!! ☺ Have a great evening ~ ♥

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  32. I was born in Kiev Ukraine when it was still part of Soviet Union, but never really felt at home there and grew up with an idea that someday I will go to America. So, now I definitely consider myself American although I do still have a bit of a accent leftover :)

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  33. 5 star foodie so nice to learn about you lol

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  34. The UK is one of my all-time favorite counties. If I had to move anywhere in Europe, it would be London, hands down.

    I am from Chicago, currently living in the south. What Chicago means to me is diversity. Especially after being in Oklahoma for some time, I really appreciate the melting pot of cultures, cuisine, and activities a large, diverse city like Chicago has to offer. I also love the close proximity of attractions in large cities, like Chicago, and using public transportation. I also feel like a character in Sex and the City, I guess!

    I do love Chicago, though. Especially the Cubs, the Bears, and great dining and entertainment!

    Nicole

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  35. That is so funny!! I'm from NY!! And I have an accent. I love NY!

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  36. Nicole: oh I love Chicago as well
    Reeni:love NY and the accent

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  37. Love your accent Rebecca! I was born in Malaysia, brought up in Vancouver, Canada (eh?) and now live in New Jersey with my New Yorker husband (fugghedaboutit!). I think I still sound pretty Westcoast (think valley girl) but I can't help but cringe when my friends tell me I'm starting to sound like a Jersey girl (I definitely fit in with my big hair LOL)

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  38. Phyllis: he he too funny, you and your hubby are a match match made in heaven lol

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