Teaching in England - Lesson 1
As a teacher in England, do not ever, ever, ever, ever, EVER ask a female student to, 'Sit on your fanny!' and think she will assume you mean 'bottom' or 'bum'.
Why?
Evidently, when asking such you are in fact asking them to 'Sit on your vagina'.
I may just be referred to as 'that perverted american professor' for the remainder of my career.
Moving to England from America should come with a manual of some sort or a life line....
hahahahahaha! As a UK gal that really tickled me! I can just imagine the looks you were given! Oh, and be careful with "pants" too ... to you they're trousers, to us they're our knickers! Tee Hee
Posted by: jellybelly*jellybrain | May 17, 2008 at 11:39 AM
Whoops, LOL! :D
What are some other words/phrases that should be avoided?
Posted by: Janice | May 17, 2008 at 04:23 PM
FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!! Brit girl here! Love your blog - candid honesty is fab! Must giggle or else we cry hey!!!!! I haven't a clue as to what words we use over here either! Just say 'em and smile and hope it's right!!!!
Posted by: Amii | May 17, 2008 at 08:28 PM
Amanda -- I don't live in the UK and probably never will, but if it is any consolation -- I enjoy hearing stories about how friends of mine do what I do best -- open mouth and insert foot. Miss you my friend ... talk soon. Ray :)
Posted by: Ray | May 18, 2008 at 03:26 AM
Good to know....
Posted by: Cherry Tree Lane | May 18, 2008 at 04:25 AM
Hi.I'm an Aussie, and we had an American exchange student at Uni here, who we had to educate against saying to or about women, after grabbing an eyefull of their backside, that they had "a nice fanny". Sorry mate, different meaning here.
Posted by: p.t. | May 19, 2008 at 02:07 PM
ahahahahah and for some reason I think only a southern girl such as yourself would even use the word "fanny"!
God love ya!
Posted by: Jen | May 19, 2008 at 03:28 PM
I don't even have to comment, you know me well enough to imagine my reaction. I do thank you very very much ;)
Posted by: gwen | May 19, 2008 at 07:29 PM
Eeek! I would giggle but I know this must have been embarassing. I completely hear you, when I hear my relatives from England talk sometimes I am at a complete loss. Just chalk it up to the learning curve.
Hope the week goes well,
Dy
Posted by: Dyan | May 20, 2008 at 01:47 AM
Oh no! Who would have known! :) It is like their term for a cigarette. That one always gets me.
BTW I want to read Julie Andrews' book. How do you like it? And you should join Goodreads.com I love it. I can keep track of everything I have read and wish to read and trade good books with friends. Let me know if you decide to get on there.
Posted by: Vegas Princess | May 20, 2008 at 05:10 AM
Hahaha, how crazy!! Yes, someone should have warned you about that one ;)
Posted by: Holly | May 20, 2008 at 06:54 AM
Another one to avoid : Pissed to you means "cross, annoyed" , to us it means drunk! (And being pissed off is quite rude, probably best not stated in front of students) xx
Posted by: jellybelly*jellybrain | May 21, 2008 at 06:37 PM
Lol, it is hard to grasp new sayings and languages.
I'm a Cali girl and I thought living on the east coast of the U.S was a twilight zone moment it's even harder trying to pick up french in Montreal where I reside now and understanding the whole culture.
But one thing I have picked up easily is the french cuss words, funny how that quickly assimilated to my vocab ;P
Posted by: LadyYing | May 21, 2008 at 08:37 PM
Oh my, it's so interesting they use the same slang, with a different meaning... I never heard that before. You must've been horrified!
Posted by: Kathleen | May 24, 2008 at 10:29 PM
That is very true!! Made me smile at least!
Posted by: Di | May 29, 2008 at 10:06 PM
that is so funny
Posted by: mandy sutcliffe | May 30, 2008 at 06:35 PM