[Closed] Being Married to a Non-Brit

I think they got annoyed at the way nobbers confused english and british and used them as interchangeable terms

My Mrs [Italian] still - after 27 years with me - needs reminding on a regular basis that I don't have 3 hours lunch break each day.

And she's a bit perplexed why we seem to be more bothered about the state of the Italian economy than they are.

I've got mine drinking builders tea, but she still doesn't get custard.

Other half gets irate at UK people saying they're going to Europe as they're already there!

My other half posts on here too, she has a hankering for stalking my posts, so might have to watch what I say on this one...

Love u Teresa, go on, say hi 😉

😆

my wife does concede that if Brazil had got their act together and been more organised then their economy probably wouldn't be so far behind the "1st world"

our weddage was in Brazil - started almost 2 hours late ... that'd never happen here, we Brits can't cope without a meticulously adhered-to precise timetable events.

[i]we Brits can't cope without a meticulously adhered-to precise timetable events. [/i]

I think we can, but only if it's a planned absence of such a timetable.

Spontaneous non-timetable adherence is what causes problems.

Her favourite one is the English obsession with time, schedules, planning ... to her it seems like everything must be planned weeks in advance with a very specific start and end time and very specific details of who's invited ... cracks her up and drives her nuts at the same time.

this. My OH needs everything locked down well in advance, and flat refuses to just drop in on people if we're in the area. Thinks it's rude- she's not even keen on calling them up and saying we're close by.

And she's a bit perplexed why we seem to be more bothered about the state of the Italian economy than they are.

My Chinese wife doesn't get puddings but she knows Brits like them. So when my Mum came over she bought cake and custard thinking that's what she'd want.

She isn't very sentimental. Many Mums like collecting bits of their babies - hair the 1st time it's cut or whatever. She just bins everything and I had to rescue the 1st paintings my son came home from nursery with as wife thought them a bit rubbish and can't see why we'd keep them.

She laughs at people who get annoyed by people inter-changing the words english and british.

I think they got annoyed at the way nobbers confused english and british and used them as interchangeable terms

As if anyone else in the world cares.

Mrs Mugsy (francaise)does not understand the need to set a time if we invite people for dinner. When in the UK she would specifically go out of her way to not mention a time if inviting.

However she loves the British for their sense of humour and eccentricity, mostly taking the mickey out of themeselves and not taking themselves too seriously.

I love Mrs Mugsy, can't wait to see her tomorrow after 6 weeks apart as I've been working overseas.

She laughs at people who get annoyed by people inter-changing the words english and british.

Indeed, my mrs calls everyone from the UK English
If I corrected her on anyone in particular, she'd just shrug and carry on, so I don't bother

mugsys_m8, you forget how I just don't get that people can ignore the elephant in the room and how most people seem to be so strung up about how much money they have and can show.

and you forgot how I don't understand why you wash the car at weekends.

...but I love you and can't wait to see you 😉

Sometimes, I don't get you at all. You lot can be a bit odd with some stuff. Not bad odd. Just different odd. To me.

Otherwise you're alright.

x

My Mrs [Italian] still - after 27 years with me - needs reminding on a regular basis that I don't have 3 hours lunch break each day.

Perhaps its these 3 hour lunch breaks that are the reason their economy is in such a state ? 😉

mugsys_m8, you forget how I just don't get that people can ignore the elephant in the room and how most people seem to be so strung up about how much money they have and can show.

There are many things to be annoyed about you French, but these are two of the reasons I like you all so much..!

In France:

"How much was your new house"
"500,000"
"Pff. You paid too much"

In Britain:

"So, do you mind me asking how much you paid?"
"Well, the market was so strong that everyone was going in at least 20% over the asking price. It's the only way to get Timmy into the right school."
"Tell me about it, it was the same when we bought the new Range Rover - why wait, we thought. Let's just put it on the remortgage"

Mrs 10pmix is Spanish. She thinks that the British are all incredibly anal and rule focused. I can live with that after spending too many times queuing at the Spanish Embassy trying to get someone to even give us the time of day (we made the mistake of getting married in New York which they didn't like at all).

What I can't live with is her complete hatred of all British comedy. She called Monty Python "70's rubbish" and just last night said Blackadder was "for old people". Its grounds for divorce.....

We have Spanish TV in the house. If you've even seen that Fast Show Channel 9 entertainment show spoof where the host is dressed as a sailor, Paul Whitehouse comes on a comedy painter and decorator saying "slippy slop" over and over to rapturous applause... that is Spanish tv.

My mail-order bride just doesn't understand English.

My mail-order bride just doesn't understand English

I do a lot of my shopping online, including for my wife (dating website)

😆

My mail-order bride just doesn't understand English.

You probably forgot to install the random phrase generator before you inflated her

Mrs Leku (Basque) regularly used to use the expression 'I can't be asked' to clients.

It was then pointed out that it was actually 'I can't be assed' and not one to use at work.

I had to rescue the 1st paintings my son came home from nursery with as wife thought them a bit rubbish and can't see why we'd keep them.

Proper made me giggle, that.

"Why've you thrown these out?"

"Well obviously, the composition is all wrong, he's gone outside the lines, he's spelt 'mummy' with one 'm', and the logos on the tyres are misaligned. I just don't know where we went wrong with him."

It was then pointed out that it was actually 'I can't be assed' and not one to use at work.

"Arsed," ITYF.

My eastern European friend is somewhat perplexed by why we don't use our women more. "It took me ages to get around to the fact that I couldn't just tell my female flatmates that I wanted a sandwich and have them bring it to me" 😯

my wife's Cornish, she does'nt get why so many of the english who come on holiday down this way are such rude tossers to the locals.

My wife's Polish. She freaks when she sees Brit girls going out in their 'knickers', even when it's snowing.

She thinks we should be more direct in conversation as well, Poles can be incredibly direct!

Matt

Mrs O is from the Philippines – the attitude to time there probably makes the Brazilians look quite uptight! To her absolute credit though she has adapted well to my endless terror that I might one day be 2 seconds late for something, although she is amused by it. We’ve got to the point now where going back home for her can be quite frustrating.

She did ask me early on in our relationship why I bothered stopping at roundabouts in the car and didn’t just continue regardless; I made her have lessons!

But importantly she regularly quotes bits of Python AND finds Father Ted hysterical. So that’s all good.

She did ask me early on in our relationship why I bothered stopping at roundabouts in the car and didn’t just continue regardless; I made her have lessons!

She's right though, there's no requirement to stop at most roundabouts, just give way 🙂

my wife's [s]Cornish[/s] English, she does'nt get why so many of [s]the english who[/s] her country folk come on holiday down this way are such rude tossers to the locals.

Well the trips to the passport/immigration office in Croydon are a bit of a downside. It's a hole, people must really want to be here to put up with that place.

Mrs Macgyver still isn't used to the weather in Britain after 7 years here. That comes from an upbringing in the warmer climes Texas and the Bahamas I guess!

Sadly I do get caught out in front of englanders when I use americanisms such as "filling up the car with gas! Damn this bilingual conumdrum.

Ive just lernt Thick-ism? 😐

Other half gets irate at UK people saying they're going to Europe as they're already there!

Most people in Germany call anyone from the UK 'Englander' My gf is German and she hates the way that English people never say what they really think. Or is it just me that does that? 😳

CountZero - Member

No, we're an island nation off of the coast of Europe.

If you think that the brits don't say what they're really thinking then you should try scandinavia. nobody ever says what they really think for fear of causing some sort of conflict.
conflict must be avoided at all costs (hence the high suicide and divorce rate if you ask me!)

ah Mrs_Mugsy. I'm crying....

What Elephant?

When presented with a roast dinner a Dutch girlfriend I had put a roast potato on her fork and asked " what it this?" The bloody heathen then needed to know what a Yorkshire was as well.
And this from a girl who had hundreds and thousands on toast for breakfast
My mates Spanish girlfriend told her neighbour that she could hear their faeces plopping. She always has had trouble saying fishes.

I don't get how Mugsys mate is having it off with Mrs Mugsy. Isn't Mugsy bothered that his mate has got very familiar?

MrsMugsy - Member
mugsys_m8 can't think of anything he does.... well he pretends to be his stuffed monkey (which he keeps in his undy drawer) and talks from the stuffed monkey's point of view.

I've threatened if with 'oxfam' or 'rags' but the look of hurt on his face everytime....

What I can't live with is her complete hatred of all British comedy. She called Monty Python "70's rubbish" and just last night said Blackadder was "for old people". Its grounds for divorce.....

We have Spanish TV in the house. If you've even seen that Fast Show Channel 9 entertainment show spoof where the host is dressed as a sailor, Paul Whitehouse comes on a comedy painter and decorator saying "slippy slop" over and over to rapturous applause... that is Spanish tv.

😀

Efefefefefe, Pefefefefefe Chris Waddle!

[i]Disco baby sexy baby HOT! [/i]

😆

My ex thought British are pen pushers.

I advised her to duplicate her statement to remind me and BCC to all her friends.

From Mrs Grips:

1) the weather in spring. She was baffled that it could be raining then sunny again within a few minutes; even more amazed that it could be both raining and sunny AT THE SAME TIME

2) it took her forever to remember that shops close at six and close at four on Sundays.

3) it took about three years for her to stop saying 'dollars' when she meant pounds.

4) she thinks we're very whiny and negative, which I didn't realise but she's quite right. Everyone in the US (where she's from) is a lot more cheery and positive all the time. Quite refreshing there. I now get very annoyed with people who are pathalogically miserable all the time and never say anything nice - of whom there are quite a few.

5) Driving - she had a year's grace on her US license, which led to some interesting moments. Roads are very very narrow here apparently 🙂 And there were a few hairy moments at roundabouts. "Go straight on here" "What?" "Go straight on!" "I CAN'T GO STRAIGHT ON!" "Why not?" "Cos there's a roundabout there!"

6) She's thoroughly disapopinted with not being able to get decent crafting supplies or weaving equippment.

She's thoroughly disapointed with not being able to get decent crafting supplies or weaving equipment.

Mrs Ratadog, a Kiwi, heartily endorses this and says that she appears to be marooned in the only country in the world where "wool" is not as far as she can tell a natural product produced by sheep.

This is also related to her view of the climate as she feels this is a country where the wearing of wool is essential on at least 365 days of the year in order to be slightly comfortable.

The marmite is also a pale imitation of the original, the beer is crap - although supplies of decent stuff are available from a small number of enlightened businesses catering to the marooned market - and as for the lamb well don't get me, or her, started.

It's a nightmare. I have had to explain what a normal suit is, what dental health involves, we've had many discussions about 'jobs' but she's just not getting it and while it's not really my forte, 'fashion' is something I've had to bring her up to speed on more than once.

Still, it's my own fault for marrying a scouser.

😀
very good samuri, do you do bookings?

MrsC is Cantonese and just can’t get her head around the humour despite having good English skills, I think British humour just does not translate sometimes?

Proper made me giggle, that.

"Why've you thrown these out?"

"Well obviously, the composition is all wrong, he's gone outside the lines, he's spelt 'mummy' with one 'm', and the logos on the tyres are misaligned. I just don't know where we went wrong with him."

[img] [/img]
"Ding Ding! Here comes the shit-mobile. I've never seen a fire truck that needed to be shaved. I would rather be burned to death than be saved by this hairy piece of shit. F"

http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=irule2

The marmite is also a pale imitation of the original, the beer is crap

Ummm.... British Marmite is the original and crap beer!?

My brother is married to an American, she's half Lebanese and half native American and as mad as a box of frogs. Last year he brought her and her brother Stan over for a holiday. Stan insisted on sharing a room with them - this is true. They were so frightened by our roads that they flinched every time a car went past and kept asking if they could go back to Michigan early. It was not a successful holiday.

Mrs Face of a pig is Swedish and finds somethings really funny, when seeing a pub called Ye Olde Cocke she giggled for hours. Thinks that curry is very overated, cant get a handle on driving over here and thinks we all go way to fast.

The weirdist thing is her love of UK houses even hideous estates send her into raptures of how cute they look, it is all about being built out of stone.

Mrs Tee will shortly be marring a Saffa..

I find her love of Wigan RLFC a bit odd, but other than that..

🙂

British Marmite is the original and crap beer!

Depends on your viewpoint. Mrs R much prefers the NZ Marmite which is prepared from the waste products of the brewing industry and from her point of view is the one she was brought up on. Mrs R isn't averse to the occasional Black Sheep ( its the wool thing again ) but would prefer a Black Mac given the slightest opportunity.

FTFY

proved the point exactly wrecker, well done that man.

We have Spanish TV in the house. If you've even seen that Fast Show Channel 9 entertainment show

Na but have seen Night rider in translated Spanish which was rather funny
Just found this on YouTube LOLOLOL

You're welcome gav. Easy mistake to make.

That's a South American version, no?
Muy funny.

Mrs R much prefers the NZ Marmite which is prepared from the waste products of the brewing industry

What do you think original (UK) marmite is made from??

What do you think original (UK) marmite is made from??

Apologies, I should have said [i]their[/i] brewing industry and hoped you picked up the reference to the comment on black sheep/black mac.

Frankly, I don't care what Marmite is a by product from on either side of the world as to me it all tastes vile BUT the NZ Marmite, even to me, tastes differently vile and has a different consistency etc. It's closer to Vegimite, also vile. Please note the OP started this thread by saying

What did other peoples better halves think of our English-isms?

and I answered his question. For the record, both myself and my other half are, however, united in our amusement at the response of the STW branch of the Marmite (UK) Appreciation Society, although I still struggle to understand how it being

original (UK)

Boozing. My missus is Spanish (Catalana, sorry...) and she thinks all brits are raging alchoholics. She could have a point...

The future Mrs CD is Danish and has been here 12 years so is mostly aclimatised to the British ways but still corrects anyone who says Europe when they actually mean continental Europe. She also constantly reminds me of how good the holidays and general health and social care is in Denmark and how we in Britain don't look after people. She has a point.
If Latin other halves think that the Brits are too organised they should try living with a Scandinavian.

[i]Edited to make slightly more sense[/i]

Mrs. mogrim is Spanish, and she's as completely useless and chaotic as I am. Just polished off a bottle of rioja together, so not much better on that front either.

cheers_drive - Could you ask her to organise the sentences in your posts to make sense?

How about what your other halves from foreign climes think is delicious.

Mine thinks that sour milk on what I can only describe as sawdust is the ideal breakfast 😯 and the propensity to binge on salt liquorice that tastes like what I imagine gnome snot to taste like 🙁

If only they all had "the propensity to binge on salt liquorice that tastes like what I imagine gnome snot to taste like" 😉

Surely the best part is hearing them say vaguely rude things in a not-from-just-down-the-road voice?

My wife is Polish. This elevates the inedible food angle to new heights. The raison d'etre of Polish cuisine appears to involve the creation of food that looks like it's been regurgitated but tastes normal!

Mrs Face of a pig is Swedish and finds somethings really funny, when seeing a pub called Ye Olde Cocke she giggled for hours.

This from a person from the land that has toilet paper called KRAPP ??

Anyway, the second, and current, Mrs J is Greek, as was, by some strange coincidence, the first Mrs J, so I am in no position to be acting superior!!

For the record, both myself and my other half are, however, united in our amusement at the response of the STW branch of the Marmite (UK) Appreciation Society

I was just correcting your (or your wife's) factual inaccuracy of claiming that the NZ Marmite was the original.

The marmite is also a pale imitation of the original

[img] ?1282626490[/img]

I was just correcting your (or your wife's) factual inaccuracy of claiming that the NZ Marmite was the original.

I think you have missed the point.

I know how the good Captain feels.

By the way, according to Wikipedia, and UK Marmite's own website, the product that would become Marmite was actually first seen by a Dutchman, Antonie van Leeuwenhoek AKA the father of Microbiology, first identified as a yeast by a Frenchman, Louis Pasteur, and first concentrated into a foodstuff by a German, Justus Liebig.

It's European?

I think you have missed the point.

Another way of saying 'I was wrong but don't want to admit it'. 🙂

By the way, according to Wikipedia, and UK Marmite's own website, the product that would become Marmite was actually first seen by a Dutchman, Antonie van Leeuwenhoek AKA the father of Microbiology, first identified as a yeast by a Frenchman, Louis Pasteur, and first concentrated into a foodstuff by a German, Justus Liebig.

Where's the bit where it mentions New Zealand? 😉

Surely ratadog was making that comic somewhat ironically - i.e. I don't think he's suggesting British beer is crap either, but it's what his Mrs thinks. That's what made the post funny.

Another way of saying 'I was wrong but don't want to admit it'.

No, No, No, NO

Surely ratadog was making that comment somewhat ironically - i.e. I don't think he's suggesting British beer is crap either, but it's what his Mrs thinks.

YES

That's what made the post funny.

You are too kind.

Mrs T, thinks that we drink too much, and that all beer tastes the same (she even thinks lager and beer is the same pffttt
Can't understands our need to being prompt and punctual to everything.

What she does love, is the general courtesy the British have (opening doors, cars stopping to let her cross the road with pram etc)
And Cider and Perry.
She also thinks that British fathers (although, can only compare by observation) are more family orientated than men from other countries.

If you think that the brits don't say what they're really thinking then you should try scandinavia. nobody ever says what they really think for fear of causing some sort of conflict.
conflict must be avoided at all costs (hence the high suicide and divorce rate if you ask me!)

Get them drunk or put them behind the wheel and that changes I reckon.

My wife still doesn't understand most shops not opening until 8 or 9 am, and closing at 5/6pm ... this would class as being massively lazy in Brazil 🙂

She's quickly got the impression that workers in the UK will take any opporunity or use any excuse to do as little work as possible.

And 'customer servce'. It's terrible here. Apparently.

Having spent some time in Brazil, I'm inclined to agree to a certain extent.

She also thinks that British fathers (although, can only compare by observation) are more family orientated than men from other countries

Mrs Grips also makes the same observation. I was on a train the other day and there was an American family who looked very Mid Western. The mother entertained the kid full time for the whole two hour trip, and the dad sat with his iPad. I thought perhaps he was working but no, he was watching movies, playing games and all. Mrs Grips said that's perfectly normal. Her sisters have commented on how nice it is to see dads playing with kids, looking after them, looking after them solo during the day and so on.

I think the Marmite argument is a bit like Rugby - Brits might have invented it, but we made it better...