00:00.65
vdaute
Hi Amber how are you I'm good. Thank you? So um, where are you from and where did you move to.
00:00.81
Amber
Hi I'm good. Thanks how are you.
00:10.76
Amber
I'm originally from a very small town in Ohio it's like an hour north of Cincinnati and now I live in Birmingham england.
00:20.50
vdaute
And when did you move to england okay, so you've been there. Um for a long time almost or I would say 13 years you already, um, picked up a little bit on the.
00:21.85
Amber
In 2009 like yeah 13 years yeah
00:36.36
Amber
I Did oh no, that's what my parents said I I don't hear it. But oh.
00:37.10
vdaute
British accent.
00:46.41
vdaute
I think you adapt right? So you're not. It's not that obvious? Yeah, and um, so how do you compare yours small hometown to Birmingham.
00:50.62
Amber
Ah, yeah, okay oh well.
01:01.41
Amber
Well I've lived lots of different places in America like I was in San Diego California before I moved here. But um I guess comparing anywhere in America to here. It took me oh god it took me like.
01:07.36
vdaute
Um.
01:18.28
Amber
2 years to adjust to being here like I I kept feeling like I was missing out on things back home and that was really tough for me.
01:19.35
vdaute
Okay.
01:25.58
vdaute
Because of all your friends who are still at home or why would you say that.
01:30.23
Amber
well well yeah if it like friends family even stuff that was like on Tv at the or on the radio sounds dumb I know but.
01:43.88
vdaute
Um, ah you can watch it on the Tv there too right? or on now.
01:46.50
Amber
Well back in 2009 you know that wasn't really available but it is now so I'm fine I don't feel like I'm missing out. Yeah.
01:53.61
vdaute
That's true. Yes, but that was like prior to Netflix and yeah for sure. So and um I don't know probably now all the american shows are.
02:08.47
Amber
Yeah, now I can just watch whatever I want So I'm all good.
02:09.19
vdaute
Streaming there too. Yeah yeah, okay and you said small town.
02:19.14
Amber
Yeah, um I when I was growing up one one time when I couldn't sleep when I was in high school one night I counted 150 people in my my town I went house my house counting. So.
02:28.31
vdaute
Okay, oh okay, like small town small all town. Yeah.
02:36.21
Amber
Yeah, and now and you know I've lived in big cities in America and I live in a big city here. So where I live now is is kind of like considered a suburb I guess like yeah.
02:41.13
vdaute
Yeah.
02:48.15
vdaute
Okay, um, and what made you move to England.
02:55.29
Amber
Well what happened was it was I'm gay and it was before gay marriage was federally recognized and I'm I I met somebody funnily enough this this shows how long ago it was on my space and and we.
03:03.22
vdaute
Ah.
03:15.24
Amber
We were good friends for over a year before we got together and she came out to San Diego to see me twice and then it was like all right. It was easier for me to move over here because she owned a business so that's.
03:19.76
vdaute
Um, ah home. Okay.
03:29.42
vdaute
I see yes so she wouldn't need to give it up. Mm.
03:35.70
Amber
Yeah, so that's what happened and that's how I ended up here in that relationship that marriage lasted about 5 years and then I just decided to stay here because the quality of life overall is better.
03:42.54
vdaute
Okay.
03:52.10
Amber
I Don't think I could live without the nhs anymore the National Health service or system. It's our it's our health care system here.
03:53.20
vdaute
What is the NHS okay I see okay sure that's understandable I mean unless you have a good employer. It's not a given.
04:10.74
Amber
Yeah, but other reasons I mean it's the quality of life over here is overall better I mean I do complain about it. But I think I think I'm better off here to be honest with you and my my parents think I'm better off here as well.
04:10.86
vdaute
That you have good health insurance. Yeah for sure.
04:18.86
vdaute
Yeah.
04:28.31
vdaute
Okay, um, so just so ah jump back a little bit. Um, okay I lost my point but have you visited England before I before you. Ah, decided to move there. No.
04:45.69
Amber
That's a funny story actually I um I did in two thousand So nine nine years before I moved here and I actually said.
04:52.63
vdaute
Um, okay oh.
04:59.00
Amber
The people here are so rude I'm never ever coming back now I live here so you never say never because you don't know what's going to happen.
05:00.58
vdaute
You know god and then nine years later you move there? Yeah exactly you never know what's going to happen. True um to you and then you move. To Birmingham because your partner had a business.
05:19.94
Amber
Yeah, exactly well we were in Coventry first and then we were in solid hole and then um I met somebody um my girlfriend that I'm with now and she lived in Birmingham. So.
05:26.32
vdaute
Ah, okay.
05:33.11
vdaute
Um.
05:35.28
vdaute
Okay, and how do the brits usually react to you when they find out that you're from America because your accent is really not strong anymore probably because.
05:35.57
Amber
Eventually moved in with her.
05:49.39
Amber
Oh I They tell me that it is actually so ah.
05:53.96
vdaute
I'm used to the American accent. That's why I don't hear it but probably others people from England they they used to the English accent right? so.
06:02.67
Amber
Yeah, that's true I didn't realize how many people here don't like Americans and it. Um, yeah I get I get made fun of a lot. Um, just.
06:09.60
vdaute
Um, that was yeah that was a reaction from right? The start or.
06:17.40
vdaute
Ah, like what for example, is it like something to go.
06:18.46
Amber
In any situation. Um, you know how Americans Americans don't pronounce their T's they sound like D's like if I say water.
06:27.59
vdaute
Yeah.
06:30.51
Amber
Yeah I get made fun of a lot about that. But then I impersonate their accent and they don't think it's funny. Yeah, like I was outside at a pub 1 time and some lady asked to borrow my lighter.
06:37.98
vdaute
The only one of things that spot me. Yeah, ah.
06:50.80
Amber
And I gave it to her. She goes are you American and I said yeah and she goes water and I looked at her and I said what the hell at least I make an effort to throw something in there. You guys leave the teas out altogether so I went what a bottle.
07:04.89
vdaute
Yeah.
07:07.37
Amber
Ah, at her and she just looked at me gave me my lighter back walked back over to her friend and said do I sound like that and I could hear her say water over and over again. It was funny. But my friends sitting at the same table say it the same Way. So I accidentally offended everybody hey.
07:27.65
vdaute
But well I think it's funny though and but so um, so they give a joke but they can't take 1
07:35.70
Amber
Yeah, yeah, that tends to happen quite a bit like when Trump was president. Um I got made fun of a lot for that or like little digs and then I started making fun of Prince Andrew and they didn't like that at okie.
07:45.80
vdaute
Yeah, ah woo. Yeah well, that's because they love to talk about the Royal family is that true or is this just fiction.
07:51.82
Amber
Um.
07:56.21
Amber
Um, some people do some people actually don't like the royal family at all and think it's really dated but Prince Andrew did some really bad things. Yes, so that's the way to shut down that conversation.
07:59.56
vdaute
Yeah, yes, they he did some bad things That's true.
08:12.90
Amber
But during that time during that time when Trump was president I was telling a lot of people I was canadian because I did I just didn't want to deal with it I didn't want to deal with the comments and a lot of british people have been to Canada so I picked Saskatchewan because there's nothing there.
08:14.26
vdaute
Oh yeah, oh really need to are ashamed or you oh you didn't want to? yeah understandable. Yes.
08:32.77
Amber
So if they asked me I was clever about it I went that far. Yeah, 1 lady asked me before this is when I was working at a pub I really got it working at a pub.
08:36.22
vdaute
Um, it's like most so so and they can't even pronounce it So it's like all righty discussion's closed.
08:52.34
Amber
Morningley asked me what's what's in Saskatchewan and I said bears and she left me alone. Yeah, there's nothing there.
08:55.68
vdaute
Oh okay, it is good. There's nothing there so when you first came to Birmingham Birmingham. What did you work as or how did you start? How did to set your foot into the door like yes, it's.
09:14.80
Amber
Um, like workwise. Um well I I was living in Coventry and then I we moved to noll soly hole which I can't pronounce correctly, it's it's a tiny village. And so because I was new I used to work security in America and security here is completely different and I think a lot more dangerous so I had to start um, finding other things to do um.
09:33.82
vdaute
If.
09:48.10
vdaute
Um.
09:48.37
Amber
So I was working at a pub I was working retail so things like that now I got a good job working for a global company which I won't say the name because don't want to get in trouble for any reason. But yeah.
10:02.98
vdaute
That's like okay I see I know that.
10:08.26
Amber
But sorry I was just gonna say it was tough starting out in a new country and then trying to do another a different kind of job than what my profession usually was so yeah.
10:23.30
vdaute
For sure for sure. So um, everything was new and were there also like different um like different work work ethics in England.
10:24.89
Amber
Yeah.
10:35.73
vdaute
Then in the us.
10:36.21
Amber
But um I think what I found overall working here is that there is a lot of there's ah, a lot of clicks and bullying. Um which it seems to me like it's.
10:48.30
vdaute
Oh.
10:54.32
Amber
Bad behavior that was never corrected when they were younger and um I've been bullied I've seen other people be bullied and it just wastes. Everyone's time. Um H R has to get involved and it just gets just gets stupid.
10:58.29
vdaute
Um.
11:04.79
vdaute
Um, for sure firstwar.
11:11.65
Amber
But um, people do get away with it. You know at my last job. Ah, one of my colleagues bullied both me and our supervisor and we both had to go to HR together and yeah you got a final final warning for that.
11:15.95
vdaute
Ah, have.
11:22.16
vdaute
The supervisor did wow so that is worse than in America you think.
11:29.96
Amber
So yeah I mean I know there's bullying in America but people seem to like get away with it more it to me I see it happening more like I said not just to me but to other people.
11:42.98
vdaute
Um.
11:46.33
vdaute
Yeah.
11:49.50
Amber
And I had to I had to go to HR once because my supervisor this was years ago kept making fun of my accent like she kept. Yeah, she kept repeating yeah repeating what I was saying but in a fake american accent.
11:56.75
vdaute
Your oh no, what really your supervisor that is not professional, but.
12:08.14
Amber
And go into me. She would see me and go hey Amber in a fake american accent. It is so stupid like it sounds so stupid. But I would tell her to stop and she just wouldn't then.
12:15.56
vdaute
Um, it is.
12:21.93
vdaute
I'm bad.
12:23.34
Amber
In the h r meeting she was going. Why didn't you just tell me and I said I've been telling you for nine months you don't listen. So yeah, yeah, um, nobody bothers me at my current job though. So it's cool.
12:31.29
vdaute
Okay, sounds a little bit frustrating and okay, good. So at least that's a nice change. Yeah, ah.
12:42.45
Amber
Yeah, sorry I Just rambled there for a bit. Okay.
12:48.20
vdaute
Fine. That's totally fine. Um, and would you say you totally adapted now after ah 15 years almost but
12:59.32
Amber
Yeah, it Well it's yeah I feel like yeah you know a weird thing about being an immigrant and I don't know if you feel the same is that you feel like you don't belong anywhere.
13:12.31
vdaute
Um, yeah, yeah.
13:14.27
Amber
Like if when I've gone back home to visit I feel like I don't totally belong there. Um, people always point out here that I'm an immigrant So I feel like I don't totally belong here either? Um, but I do feel completely adapted I um.
13:19.34
vdaute
Um, yeah.
13:31.65
Amber
I Go to Cricket matches I go to pubs I mean I I go eat full English breakfast I I eat beans on Toast I Yes, yeah I'm ah.
13:33.95
vdaute
Nice, Yeah, okay, um, yeah I've never tried it but only because it looks so disgusting.
13:45.00
Amber
It looks disgusting but it's amazing and it's like total comfort food like I don't think I I could live without Heinz beans now I would be sad if I had to.
13:51.89
vdaute
Ah, no funny I mean the other beans in a can they all look disgusting. So I mean we eat the other can't or the other beans. You know So it's probably not much different.
14:06.77
Amber
What? yeah ah oh I Love refried beans I Love Mexican food.
14:07.10
vdaute
And Mexican you know the refried beans that looks looks not so.
14:18.86
vdaute
Um, did you always like the English food or.
14:25.87
Amber
No I still don't like a lot of it. there's there's um a lot of it I think is bland because I'm used to having more seasoning on my food. Um, but yeah, some of the food I like like I like roast dinners because they remind me of thanksgiving.
14:32.83
vdaute
Who.
14:40.93
vdaute
Okay, but they do a lot of roast dinners because I I read that that it's a typical thing that they have a lot of roast roasts.
14:43.10
Amber
There Yeah and then.
14:50.60
Amber
So they try people some people try to every Sunday but all I'll go out to a restaurant and get a roast dinner or my girlfriend makes 1 sometimes but not every Sunday I'd get so I get tired of that every sunday.
14:54.54
vdaute
No.
15:02.57
vdaute
Um, yeah sure I mean that's understandable. Everybody gets tired of the same food over and over and is there. Oh go ahead.
15:09.42
Amber
Yeah I I was just gonna say I Love full English breakfast I think they're way better than any American breakfast you can get anywhere.
15:22.80
vdaute
Um, I am not I'm not a fan of the typical american breakfast either I don't like pancakes I don't have have I don't have to have eggs for breakfast and then that already is like almost 90% of all the.
15:39.58
Amber
Yeah I don't I don't like how they how Americans mix pancakes and like bacon and eggs together sometimes that doesn't make sense. Yeah yeah I know I never went for that when I lived there.
15:40.30
vdaute
Breakfast There is I feel like.
15:49.18
vdaute
Right? right? That's weird right? Well here does make sense So um, is there something you really miss.
15:59.51
Amber
Ah, um, ah I'll try to think because I get homesick a lot and I think about you know I Really miss this. Oh you know what.
16:09.30
vdaute
Oh.
16:17.44
Amber
I miss being able to go into a store and they have everything that I need like Walmart or target. No you if you want like say if you wanted to buy.
16:23.57
vdaute
Really they you don't have that.
16:36.20
Amber
Clothes that are decent right? it and but then you wanted like potting soil for your garden or you know you'd have to go to several places.
16:38.17
vdaute
Ah I understand now I see I see Yeah ah I Okay I understand.
16:50.11
Amber
And I just end up ordering a lot of things online. That's just that's the lazy way to do it? yeah.
16:55.96
vdaute
Because I know in Germany they have like some um, compartment stores. Um, so you have ah it's more like a Macy's but Macy's doesn't have what you just said decent clothes for a good price and potting soil.
17:12.84
Amber
And groceries.
17:14.80
vdaute
But they would have like they have like ah pots and pans and silverware and clothes and makeup or something like that. We have some. Ah yeah.
17:25.53
Amber
We have those we have those but I mean talking like buying groceries at the same time like everything all like ah you've probably been to a Walmart or a target right? yeah.
17:33.71
vdaute
Yeah, yes I want to target more often for sure. Um, first um first I was like a target must be so shitty and then when I set foot in a target I was ah very surprised I was like oh this is actually pretty cool and then I.
17:41.28
Amber
Targets better.
17:53.49
vdaute
I was a um repeating customer like go there all the time. Yeah, but I'm not I'm not a fan of Walmart.
17:57.35
Amber
Um, targets cool the way we I don't think anybody really is. It's like a convenience thing really.
18:05.33
vdaute
Yeah, and I think a lot of people just go there because it's the only supermarket that's around I mean here there are like all the all um here are a lot of other supermarkets too. But.
18:13.78
Amber
Yeah, if they don't want to.
18:23.60
vdaute
I Think in general yeah and um, do do you have like a lot of American things there.
18:23.58
Amber
Yeah out of laziness.
18:38.64
Amber
Not really um I'm trying to think we have we have Tgi fridays yeah, we do we have Kfc and Mcdonald's.
18:39.10
vdaute
No no.
18:45.80
vdaute
Really all things mm.
18:54.90
Amber
Um, yeah I mean British people complain a lot about everything's being Americanized but not really if I'm still missing things that they do have.
19:04.18
vdaute
Yeah, yes, do you do anything typical american though I mean I don't know if there is would you celebrate for example, thanksgiving.
19:13.54
Amber
Do I um I personally don't I have in the past and there was one year I just went out and got a roast dinner for Thanksgiving. So.
19:21.42
vdaute
Mm.
19:26.20
vdaute
Just by yourself or did you take your friends with you like ah okay.
19:28.62
Amber
Oh it was with my girlfriend at the time. Yeah, but I don't I I guess the only typical american thing I do is like cook mexican food and bring it to work I don't watch I don't watch British Tv shows either. So if people talk about that I can't.
19:40.21
vdaute
Okay.
19:48.26
Amber
Join in um, adult.
19:49.83
vdaute
Um I wouldn't even know what is there I watched the British baking show that's about it though and the office used to be right? but.
19:56.96
Amber
Um, yeah, yeah, there's a lot of different. Yeah they they that used to be on Tv it's not anymore. But I don't drink tea and that seems to offend people.
20:06.16
vdaute
Yeah, that's a long time ago.
20:14.35
Amber
And then because.
20:15.60
vdaute
So you did not adopt fully if you did if you don't do T interesting. So.
20:21.32
Amber
I've tried it and I don't like it and then I decided I I noticed that people tried to get other people to make tea for them and I thought well I'm not going to be a part of that I don't even drink this.
20:30.45
vdaute
Yes.
20:36.31
Amber
So I purposefully do not know how to make tea and never learned because I don't want to make everybody tea I don't drink it myself. Why do I want to make tea for people.
20:42.40
vdaute
I see so but if you what if you host people then they would expect from you that you have tea for them.
20:54.69
Amber
Yeah, but I offer a Pepsi max or a bottle of water and that's what they get because I don't know how to make tea because once you learn how to make tea here. You're stuck you stuck make a tea for people.
21:09.44
vdaute
Ah, but maybe then you are 100% british
21:12.22
Amber
No I don't want to cut you don't know how many cups of Tea. They drink a day you know I'd constantly be running around my my girlfriend doesn't drink tea if she did that would probably be different but she's she only drinks it when she's sick. When she's Ill yeah.
21:31.40
vdaute
Ah, okay, okay, and um, what is there that you really like.
21:38.33
Amber
I Like going to the cricket matches is probably my favorite because I like baseball and it's very similar and it's so much fun. The atmosphere, everyone's happy. Everyone's cheering. Um, there's good food there and.
21:43.39
vdaute
I.
21:51.11
vdaute
Mmm.
21:55.40
vdaute
And is it different to a baseball game. So.
21:55.34
Amber
Yeah, drinks. Yeah, it's different. They don't have bases. They just have the the 2 wickets so they run in a straight path you know and ah.
22:06.15
vdaute
Um, what I would what I meant was um, like the atmosphere like if like the crowd is.
22:13.90
Amber
Oh I think they're rowdier at Cricket matches than at baseball games definitely and they do singing. They do chants And yeah.
22:19.38
vdaute
Okay, oh that's fine right? because yeah for sure that sounds a little bit almost like a soccer match.
22:30.18
Amber
Oh it's better soccer matches are really messy I don't go to those but I don't like soccer them. that's that's that's 1 thing that I really like here and I already mentioned.
22:38.50
vdaute
Fair Yes I have never been to one. That's fine. Um.
22:49.67
Amber
Some of the food. Um I Love the pubs. The pubs are fun. The pubs are a lot of fun. It's It's the only time really that because British people are pretty closed off. They're not very open to speaking to people that they don't know.
22:51.53
vdaute
Mm.
23:08.94
Amber
Unless they're at a pub and then they'll talk to anybody. It's really weird I guess so I don't know or they're just happy to be there and I don't I don't know what it is but must.
23:08.98
vdaute
Mm. Is that the alcohol speaking.
23:19.67
vdaute
Because because the breads have a reputation of drinking hard as drinking.
23:25.40
Amber
Yeah, the drinking that I I don't do a lot of the drinking culture here like I don't drink during the day on the weekends like some people do like some people go out and have lunch and have drinks with it. But I.
23:36.70
vdaute
Mm.
23:43.57
vdaute
Um.
23:44.39
Amber
Don't I don't feel right doing that and it doesn't sit well with my stomach either for some reason.
23:47.81
vdaute
Yeah, okay, that's fine. But I think that's an american thing too at least um when I first came here. Um I noticed that they do a lot of. Breakfast or brunch cocktails and a lot of daytime drinking. Um because we don't do that in Germany I think like usually you have you have a yeah you start drinking after dinner.
24:04.90
Amber
Yeah.
24:20.18
Amber
Yeah I I never did the lunch and the brunch drinks like bottomless mimosas and stuff that they did in America I never did that. But um, also you don't see people getting completely wasted at lunchtime.
24:25.30
vdaute
More.
24:37.49
Amber
And America but here they will do yeah here. They'll just get completely completely wasted during lunchtime and then they'll keep drinking through the evening into the night and I'm just like I don't I don't know I don't.
24:38.58
vdaute
Okay, so that's the difference.
24:50.11
vdaute
How are they still standing.
24:56.96
Amber
I Don't know they're they're definitely not okay sometimes when they do that. But yeah.
25:02.46
vdaute
Funny One good and then a lot of training I Guess um and do you have a lot of American friends or do you.
25:05.00
Amber
Yes, yeah.
25:17.10
vdaute
Dick to the crowd.
25:18.78
Amber
No I I have 1 lady that I just started to be friends with is american but um, she lives kind of far away. So it's not easy to get to her but I do we met up once? um.
25:31.13
vdaute
Mm.
25:34.36
Amber
And I do want to hang out with her again. She's really nice, but and even all of my friends are british. Yeah oh yeah, people complain about it here.
25:42.40
vdaute
Yeah, is it. Um is Birmingham very international or is it very? yeah oh good. Oh no, oh.
25:52.15
Amber
Yeah, there's ah oh know if you've seen in the news. Um, ah about.
25:57.70
vdaute
Yeah, well you don't have the the most liberal government.
26:04.50
Amber
No I don't know how that works the tories have been in power for like 12 years it's like when are they going to change it off I don't even know how that works I don't know i.
26:16.00
vdaute
Ah, so India have elections.
26:21.19
Amber
There are there are general. There are elections but I don't know when there's an election that lets the public in I don't know how it works. It's really weird the tories who are in power now.
26:32.60
vdaute
And I mean you have the labor party and not.
26:39.85
Amber
But I don't I don't know I don't understand it I've tried to I don't get it I'm just like hope one day the tories aren't in power that would be cool, but um, no Birmingham is known for um, having a lot of immigrants. Um, from.
26:53.79
vdaute
Okay, okay.
26:59.71
Amber
Countries that ah a lot of people don't like let's just say um so yeah, but then um, we have a big Indian population here and I never had Indian food until I moved here.
27:02.48
vdaute
Oh.
27:09.73
vdaute
Yeah, you never hading Oh until you moved there? Okay, sorry yes.
27:18.89
Amber
Yeah, and and I love it I can't have anything too spicy. But um I Love a good curry just like any British person here. So.
27:28.41
vdaute
For sure when um I went to school and we started learning english in fifth grade and in our english school book I think in eighth grade there was um. There was ah um, a recipe for a typical english food and it was like a curry.
27:45.95
Amber
Yeah, that that sums it up pretty much especially in Birmingham Birmingham is known for its good curries. Yeah, like our our look our local pub.
27:58.18
vdaute
That's nice I wouldn't mind it.
28:03.68
Amber
That's just up the road from us is what's called a Deci Pub. So it. It serves Indian food and it's a pub and you get all kinds of people in there like it's got such a diverse a diverse crowd. So it's It's Cool. It's It's a Indian pub. It's it's normal British pub that serves Indian food but it's Indian owned. Yeah, it's really good.
28:22.60
vdaute
And what and what is it does seek pub. What does it mean? Ah, okay.
28:35.53
vdaute
Okay, interesting. Um and what would you say when did you adopt.
28:49.43
vdaute
To the British accent because you say you don't have one but I think you do but I've been right away.
28:52.23
Amber
I Don't know see it's a mystery to me I'm not I'm not even putting it on like I don't even I'm just talking normal. So I don't know. But yeah.
29:06.10
vdaute
Yeah, it um I lived in the south of Germany for a while when I was studying and the the people in the south they speak different and I also just started to ah saying some.
29:22.23
vdaute
Different words for certain things and my friends at home. They were like this is not how you say things you know and I was like it. It's just it just happens. You can't control it I'm not doing it on purpose. Yeah, and you also do them.
29:29.96
Amber
Um, a.
29:33.62
Amber
Yeah, exactly. So.
29:40.25
vdaute
The tone in the end goes up a little bit that's very british. Yeah I.
29:43.17
Amber
Oh no. Ah.
29:47.40
Amber
Ah, ah, at least I don't have a bromi accent that the bromi accent is considered brommi meaning Birmingham brami and short for Birmingham you probably knew that though. But um, it's considered some people here. Consider it the worst accent in England so.
29:54.41
vdaute
Mm.
30:01.30
vdaute
Oh no.
30:04.42
Amber
If I if I pick that up That's when I would be freaking out like for real I would not want that.
30:13.25
vdaute
Um, so are you planning on staying or would you consider moving back.
30:16.60
Amber
Yeah, um, I'm not moving back to America I decided so I'm eventually going to look into getting dual citizenship. Um I don't I don't like the gun culture in America.
30:24.58
vdaute
So.
30:32.55
Amber
Um, I'm actually pretty happy about not having to worry about getting shot because in 2008 there was a shooting at my job that I worked at in San Diego and 3 of my co-workers got shot and I I figured out I have ps.
30:32.59
vdaute
Ah, ah.
30:39.27
vdaute
Which that. Oh my god.
30:49.90
Amber
Ptsd from it like I can't handle loud bangs or fireworks. It.
30:54.96
vdaute
Ah, that is probably a normal reaction to it I would have it too probably.
31:00.25
Amber
I was I could have gotten shot I was outside when it happened as well. So um, yeah, so I'm enjoying not having to worry about getting shot I'm enjoying the health care system here.
31:05.98
vdaute
Ah, um.
31:08.82
vdaute
Yeah.
31:14.27
Amber
It can be boring here sometimes I have to admit and it rains so much like up until yesterday it rained for three months three months ah like I'm not joking I'm and.
31:30.38
vdaute
Ah, okay.
31:32.75
Amber
There were two days where it snowed so that day that mixed it up a little bit but yeah and some some days. Yeah, the sun would be out for a little bit but it would have rained in the morning and.
31:37.13
vdaute
Ah, okay, I'd like see something's coming from this guy.
31:44.56
vdaute
Okay, and does it. Do you think it gets or would you say you get a little bit depressed from it.
31:51.82
Amber
You know what's funny I said on Friday I said to my boss I was like in the 13 years I've lived here the weather hasn't gotten to me but I'm I'm starting to get really upset now because I'm constantly cold and it's constantly raining. Since January and I said I'm done with that and I wonder when it's going to get warm and stop raining so the sunk.
32:16.54
vdaute
Okay, yeah I mean if you can compare it to San Diego weather then that's a big difference right? Not raining would be nice. Ah well you can't wish for that I think.
32:22.10
Amber
Not even comparing just like not raining for a bit. Yeah yeah, well it started um, clearing up yesterday and it didn't rain at all today. So something's happening.
32:39.40
vdaute
Um, sorry I keep you in so high. Um, yeah, um because I mean you hear that a lot that people get depressed from the weather. Yeah.
32:39.73
Amber
Which is nice and look ah so pale because I never see the sun. Yeah, it got to me this time. So I'm glad that it's It's started to clear up now.
33:00.11
vdaute
For sure. Yes, um, um, and have you adjusted to any of the other typically but British things.
33:11.57
Amber
Um, yeah I mean it was hard learning how to drive here. Definitely I took um, everything's on the other side of the car as well I don't know if you've experienced that.
33:14.40
vdaute
Yeah, right? because that's on the other side. Yeah you at youth that I drove in Australia and when you don't pay attention and you only. You are the only driver on the road you end up on the wrong side because you're used to it. That's what happened to me.
33:33.56
Amber
Oh I don't see I'm scared to drive in America if I go back to visit because I'm used to driving on the left hand side of the road now. But yeah, there's the road signs don't really tell you like what lane.
33:41.60
vdaute
Um, right? Yes, for sure.
33:53.12
Amber
You should be in if you enter a roundabout. It's it's spread. It's painted on the road. So if a car is on top of that you don't know where you you don't know which lane you're supposed to get in if if it's a larger roundabout now typically.
33:55.42
vdaute
Ah.
33:58.90
vdaute
Yeah, yeah.
34:10.86
Amber
Normal roundabout rules would would apply. But if it's a larger roundabout Sometimes I Just don't know which lane to get in if I'm yeah, it's it's people They don't.
34:23.45
vdaute
Yeah, it's roundabout surroundabouts are hard sometimes I think for everyone at least that's um I mean it's nice. Ah.
34:25.52
Amber
Yeah, there's no need for him you like them.
34:34.56
vdaute
I Think it makes sense if it's not too much traffic. You know if it's not if the intersection isn't too big, but if it's um, too crowded then it's I don't know I get nervous you know and people and people honk at you all the time.
34:41.16
Amber
Yeah.
34:49.17
Amber
Yeah, people cut you off? yeah.
34:54.42
vdaute
Because nobody's especially here people are not used to them I think like in in Europe you have them more often.
35:02.50
Amber
Yeah, but I had to take driving lessons for I could only afford one one a week so it took me a year I did I failed the I failed the um.
35:12.30
vdaute
Um.
35:20.49
Amber
Provisional test 3 times and then even though I had been driving since I was 16 right? but I didn't start driving until 5 years after living here because I had to save up for my next visa to stay here so all my money went towards that.
35:20.51
vdaute
Oh no.
35:35.65
vdaute
I Wanted to ask you so you are still on a visa.
35:43.60
Amber
I have a UKResidency called indefinitely to remain so I can come and go as I please and I'm considered a u k resident but I can't be out of the country for a certain amount of time. Ah.
35:45.28
vdaute
Yeah, yeah.
35:57.60
Amber
Don't know how many months but I'm never away for months so I never worry about it. yeah yeah I think you know the Sarah Madonna I think that's how she lost hers. It's a random random fact.
36:01.12
vdaute
Yeah, but you would lose it though right? um.
36:09.50
vdaute
Oh I didn't know she lost it but but but I know I know I thought I thought she would still live in London honestly.
36:16.41
Amber
But but.
36:20.26
Amber
No, she can't she went back to America and lost her visa yeah I'm not either. No we we don't need her here anyway, it's fine. Yeah.
36:26.60
vdaute
Oh well I'm not sorry for her sorry but I'm sorry oh you have enough crazy people.
36:40.70
Amber
We've got aussie Ozzie Osborne is moving back to Birmingham that he moved back already.
36:43.37
vdaute
Ah, he moved back actually I think yeah, a few months ago and he looks so bad. He's so old but he goes on tour so you must be okay.
36:50.99
Amber
Yeah, he had to he had to cancel his tour because of um health issues. But he's from Birmingham. Yeah, no, he's from is he or is he from Aston.
36:58.11
vdaute
Yeah, he is from Birmingham I know and I think he's also from soly hole isn't he.
37:08.18
vdaute
I Don't know I don't know I'm not buddies with so well. Um, um I'm a foot.
37:08.28
Amber
I Can't remember I don't know why not I'm kidding. Ah.
37:25.88
vdaute
Did I want to ask and what about like what about like other customs. Do you the thing like in I Want to say like British behaviors. So like something that is still hard for you to comprehend.
37:40.13
Amber
People walk into each other I don't know why they do this like they yeah like I've had so many times where people I'll be walking like either you know outside or in the supermarket or at work.
37:44.49
vdaute
Like but bumping into each other.
37:59.80
Amber
I'll be walking in a straight line and they will just gravitate towards where I'm walking and start walking straight to me and I've seen other British people do this. They do it to each other and then they do this stupid little dance like oh oh to try to get around each other.
38:16.48
vdaute
Then you.
38:18.17
Amber
So I refuse to do that So I'll just continue walking and just not look at them and at all until they move or I'll just stop so they have to go around me. Yeah, it is weird I don't get it in a supermarket. It's so frustrating.
38:28.48
vdaute
That's funny I never heard that.
38:36.32
Amber
Is ah yeah.
38:38.12
vdaute
Ah, so maybe they're just what like staring or dreaming.
38:41.97
Amber
I don't know they do it to each other too. So it's not just me you know, but I've heard other people say that as well other americans like in this Facebook group that I'm in they talk about it sometimes like why do people want to walk into me and into each other's walk in a straight line.
39:01.10
vdaute
I Never heard that before I never heard that before.
39:01.22
Amber
It is like Zigzag it's weird I don't get it. Yeah, that's probably my the thing that gets on my nerves the most. Ah yeah.
39:13.20
vdaute
Well, that's understandable. Um, and how often do you visit? Yeah yeah, oh really in 13 years okay
39:21.25
Amber
Um, I've were America I've only been back once? Um, yeah I it's too expensive. And yeah I haven't I haven't.
39:30.86
vdaute
And.
39:34.58
Amber
I'd rather spend the money going somewhere that I haven't been um ah to go home in 2014 I had 3 family emergencies at once and I was like oh god I'd better. Go. But we're.
39:38.84
vdaute
Um.
39:45.35
vdaute
Okay, otherwise you would not have you wouldn't otherwise.
39:52.13
Amber
Um, no, um, but I'm going back home to visit to spend Christmas with my family in 2024 not next year but no yeah.
40:01.67
vdaute
Okay, next year well that's a long planning ahead. Yeah I know that's like it's almost still two years ago it's almost two years ahead
40:10.72
Amber
That is next year isn't it. Yeah sorry.
40:18.69
Amber
Yeah, it's it's because um, my girlfriend That's when she could get off work because she's normally not allowed to take the holidays off because of the nature of her job but it gives us time to save. But yeah.
40:26.52
vdaute
I see Okay, um, and you would visit for a longer time than oh.
40:36.91
Amber
Um, we're so we're gonna be staying with my mom and dad. So I don't know how long we would be there or not so we haven't we haven't worked out the logistics yet. But yeah.
40:42.98
vdaute
Yeah, are you looking forward to a reverse culture shock.
40:53.32
Amber
Um, you know what? you know what last time I was there and every time I talk to my family on the phone. It sounds bad but their accents hurt my ears like I don't.
41:08.39
Amber
Like every time they say an R I'm just like oh it's It's just so Thick. It's weird because I grew up having the light hearing that but now it just sounds so different to me after hearing British accents all the time. The American accent like the really thick, especially Midwestern accent like where I grew up is is really, um, it's really a lot.. Let's just put it.
41:27.22
vdaute
Ah, you know I still don't hear different accents I mean I'm here 10 years but um I mean I know a few words that.
41:40.14
Amber
Right.
41:45.42
vdaute
People say and okay I hear the texan the southern accent I know that one and the Massachusetts in New York but everything else sounds the same to me.
41:53.46
Amber
Yeah, that's okay because most of the british accents here sound the same to me except the Birmingham accent. But yeah I can't I can't tell the difference either. So don't worry about it. The um.
42:05.37
vdaute
Ah, nice I don't I don't have like sleepless nights about it. It's okay.
42:08.87
Amber
Don't worry about it. Ah, that's good. You're laying a bed going what now? What? What do I think that accent is where are they from.
42:20.77
vdaute
Like do they have an accent I don't know also don't hear like the canadian I could I mean for me, it's all just 1
42:29.53
Amber
Yeah, it's understandable Canadians I don't think sound very different. So.
42:35.56
vdaute
Yeah, apparently they have that o but I.
42:39.10
Amber
Yeah, he's I had a canadian roommate in San Diego and he didn't sound that different to me. So.
42:46.40
vdaute
Yeah, yeah, um, okay so let me just like look at um, all the questions. But I think we almost got it. Um yes, um so what was ah, an example for you like a.
42:54.17
Amber
Okay.
43:04.24
vdaute
You have like a funny experience that you want to share like that was a total culture shock for you.
43:06.75
Amber
Um, aut, um, oh yeah, let's let's try my first day in England and I I get to my partner's house and I go to wash some clothes right.
43:16.27
vdaute
Ah, yes.
43:25.94
vdaute
Um.
43:26.50
Amber
And the washing machines in the kitchen which I wasn't used to and then when the clothes are done I'm like where's the dryer and she's like we we don't have one and I was like how do you dry your clothes. We hang them up outside I'm like it rains.
43:28.56
vdaute
Oh yeah.
43:34.42
vdaute
So.
43:44.91
Amber
It rains it rains a lot like what are you guys doing you know so she handed me a bag of of clothes pegs and um, told me to go outside and hang them up.
43:57.77
vdaute
Yeah.
43:59.97
Amber
And it wasn't raining but it wasn't exactly warm. It was like September when I got here and I didn't even know how to hang them up correctly and she didn't help me and I think about that now like she's kind of a jerk because she didn't tell me there was no dryers. She knew that we used dryers.
44:03.16
vdaute
Yeah, yeah.
44:19.47
Amber
In America because she's she's used them before in America so there I am like.
44:21.97
vdaute
And you think she Wast I think probably for her. It's just normal. Don't you think I mean I'm fine without a dryer. But.
44:31.16
Amber
Ah, well I'm fine without it I just didn't expect it so that was I didn't expect it at all I'm used to it Now you know I don't know they don't they don't fit in the houses here.
44:38.75
vdaute
Fun. Do you have one now.
44:48.29
Amber
Like all the all the um rooms in the houses are small. So.
44:51.25
vdaute
Yes, american has are in America the houses are very spacious. Yeah, they love. There's a do you miss it though that you have more space.
44:57.55
Amber
Yeah, that's 1 thing I miss I yeah but the reason that the the rooms are so small is so it stays warm in the winter.
45:13.83
vdaute
Um.
45:14.46
Amber
But we had a heat wave last year took everybody out because the because the houses are small rooms insulated no air conditioning and it was terrible.
45:22.94
vdaute
Ah, oh it's course. Yeah, so um, so it was very dense in this in the rooms. Yeah yeah, we I mean um.
45:35.84
Amber
Yeah now.
45:42.60
vdaute
But the houses are made of break right? So they stay colder for a longer time.
45:44.70
Amber
Um, yeah there there I guess you'd have to experience it. It is not okay in a heat wave where it's over a °F
45:59.71
vdaute
Yeah, and yeah, but they have that like what like one day a year or something except last. ah yeah ah sorry
46:00.57
Amber
With no air conditioning in here. It feels like you're suffocating. It's Awful. No this one. Not this one lasted a week are my poor cat. My voor out was just all stretched out like a gift. We Add the curtains close to the sun. The heat couldn't come in and it.
46:25.43
vdaute
Yeah, well we have that here. Um I mean we have air conditioning. But I think we would need way less if the houses were built differently. Yeah.
46:34.40
Amber
Yeah, probably. But yeah, the the funniest thing was the thing where I was like where do you where do you hang up your clothes or where what? what do you do with your clothes and we have a.
46:44.45
vdaute
But and how long how long did it take until they were dry if it was raining.
46:54.11
Amber
We had to it wasn't raining at that time. Um, so I hung them outside but it wasn't warm but I ended up having to bring them in and hang them up anyway because they weren't dry so on the close close horse they call it.
47:03.59
vdaute
Yeah.
47:10.81
vdaute
Nope.
47:11.96
Amber
So yeah, it doesn't bother me now I Just you know I'm just used to it I don't miss having a clothes dryer. It also shrinks your clothes doesn't it.
47:19.44
vdaute
Yeah I mean that's convenient, but. Yeah I think so if you're not careful I think it does but also it makes him softer because I know when I don't put mine in the dryer. It's like really hard. Yeah, tell us.
47:29.35
Amber
Yeah, yeah, it does.
47:40.90
Amber
Yeah, the the the towels the towels start. Not yeah they did.
47:45.63
vdaute
Ah, stand by themselves right? Okay Denise I thank you for ah sharing your experience. That's fun. That was her fun story. Yeah, of course.
47:57.22
Amber
Yeah I had a good time. Thanks for having me.
48:03.43
vdaute
All right? Um, let me push the record button. Yeah um, I'm not gonna kick you out though.