Embarrassing moments living in the UK
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- Опубликовано: 29 ноя 2021
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Who knew life would be so awkward as a foreigner living in England lol Here's some of my latest awkward moments and embarrassing situations as a Canadian living in the UK!
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Hey! I'm Alanna - a twenty-something documenting my life as a Canadian living in England.
I share the ups and downs of an expat living abroad and what it's really like living in the UK. It's not always easy, but there's been so many wonderful experiences, too. I post a RUclips video every Tuesday and an additional video every Saturday on my Patreon account. I also livestream every Wednesday and Sunday at 6:30pm GMT on Twitch.
Alanna x
The fake text turnaround is a very English thing to do. You are now officially one of us Alanna!
Doctor's secretaries are a unique breed, almost always unhelpful to everyone not just you!
Thanks for another great video!
Thanks for watching!
In the UK they are universally referred to as the Gestapo.
not true. my daughter is one. they have to follow protocols that said practise enforce +gdpr dictates what info can be divulged to people
@@ashorty21 gdpr (General Data Protection Regulations) refers to discussing personal information with only the person that the information refers to.
What Alanna was talking about was that the receptionist wasn't at all helpful in generally guiding Alanna through the process of changing to the new practitioner's office.
Alanna was made to feel awkward in that situation when in fact the receptionist failed to provide help in their public service role.
@@RiverMersey my reply was not aimed at Alanna but Mark. Hence replying to this thread and not starting a new one
Embarrassment is a British pastime...welcome to our world Alanna, we're so pleased to have your company 🤭
😂
As a fellow Canadian How dare anyone suggest you might be American.
You're very willing to make fun of yourself. You're definitely Canadian.
I love your sense of humor.
It always puts me in a good mood.
That willingness to make fun of yourself is also a British trait.
I’m British and still have awkward moments, including all kinds of form filling out and receptionist’s.😂😂. Good watch.👍
Thanks for watching!
I recall going to a burger restaurant in Houston and having to ask the server repeat the words “potato wedges” 3 times before I was asked/told “do you even know how to speak English?”
It was kinda nice to say “yes, I am English and I don’t know what language you’re speaking”
I’m an USAmerican, and I never really thought about it until this video in this question. But I guess I have anxieties for basic USAmerican things as well like ordering. I only feel comfortable if I’ve been to a place multiple times and I know exactly what I want and have my routine down. Let alone which establishments allow me or my adult children or my minor children to enter as well.
Great reply!
@@NewCastleIndiana gotta agree.. once I have a comfort zone range of places to eat, I lose interest in exploring any more.
Accents and appearance can work to one's advantage. My wife is British, of Indian descent. She is used to people trying to speak to her in Hindi, Punjabi, Sindhi or Urdu. Best of all was holidaying Greece. The locals, assuming she was Greek would chatter away expecting her to understand. She would smile politely and nod. The result, Free Drinks or Free food. Bloody Lovely.
A telltale sign for the Canadian accent is that they say words that sometimes sound Scottish particularly the word 'about' and also 'anyways' instead of anyway. Jordan Peterson is always saying 'anyways'.
@@sebastianguerre6868 Wonderful advice. Excellent. Thank you. It reminds me of the job Gerry Anderson had to do when editing the Voices of the Canadian Character Actors while making Thunderbirds. In order to create the impression that they were US North Americans he had to focus on words like Aboot and Eh?
Where in Britain is she from?
@@manchestertart5614 Midlands
If someone asks where in America you're from, say "a really cool place to the north, it's called Canada, heard of it?"
And when they ask which country you prefer, say something completely different.
The doctors receptionist, otherwise known as the dragon on the desk. It is there job to not make patient appointments and be as unhelpful as possible.
as you asked: private dentistry is common, and more people use it than private healthcare. the main difference is with private dentistry you get a lot more time spent on you for each appointment
I think part of the reason I love this channel is because it helps me to feel better about my own awkwardness. It feels good to know I'm not the only one!
Ditto.
Some things Alanna will not experience is the anxious times I've had worrying about what the women I'm walking down the dark street behind thinks or entering a lift etc.
( Cross street stuffing shoe even if place I'm going to is that side)
I've inherited my late mom's ability to determine accents and I could tell you're a Canadian, not an American, as soon as I first found your channel and started watching your uploads. To me it's obvious where you're from but it matters not one jot. My family brought me up in the firm belief that the world is big enough for everybody
How do you know you're at a good dentist? Buy the yellow plaque on his wall 😬🤣
One time at school shortly after emigrating I called a path a sidewalk, I was henceforth known as "Sidewalk" for the duration of my secondary school years, yep it's just your boy Sidewalk coming at ya with red hot facts
When I was studying in the UK back in the 1990’s I also got this question a lot. My favourite response to “Where in America are you from?” was “Nowhere”. Usually that would result in a funny look from them and end the conversation. A few times I would get a followup question where I ended up explaining I was not American but rather Canadian and then I always got the apology.
Hi Alanna,I have on occasions started to walk into town from home…and being a senior citizen ( forgetfulness)half way down the street i realise I have forgotten something and have to turn around and go back…now I can deploy the phone trick to cover my mistake..thank you for that..the British people have trouble understanding our own various accents,so you have nothing to worry about..cheers. Roly🇬🇧.
HAHAHA! You have 143 THOUSAND subscribers and you expect them not to think you're crazy when you get turned around. You are positively golden Alanna. lol
7:45 "Getting put on the spot". Definitely a southern English twang showing there.
Fun vid !
Canadians are family! Even we have a problem with some accents!
Such a fun video! Love ya!
Another winner! Thanks so much Alanna, your videos always make me laugh and brighten my day 🌞
'If you go 50 miles, you're gonna get a new accent. You go another 50 miles, you're gonna get a new accent.' You go another 50 miles, you're gonna drown! lol. ;) We do live on a tiny island, it's true. :) I was born here, some accents still require me to ask them to repeat themselves on the phone. :) I actually think a huge part of comprehension is being able to see the person speaking to you. The mouth and facial movements, along with any gesturing limbs, I'm certain, subconsciously at least, help a great deal in understanding what a person is actually saying. I've never been a fan of phone conversations with anybody other than my family or closest friends. :)
Body language and watching their mouth helps me tune in to a difficult accent but hate phones putting off things so I don't have to use the infernal device.
Tip Alanna: Whenever someone asks you which country is your favourite just say, "Wherever you go some things are better and some things are worse. For this reason I love Canada and the UK equally."
very funny video glad it's Tuesday again.
Great vid Alanna, and respect for your honesty - I've done the 'looking at my phone' one quite a few times rather than let anyone see I'm about to turn around for no obvious reason - it just feels wrong somehow! I used to have to run training courses around the UK and coming from South East England I certainly found some accents hard on my travels - I'd expected Scotland to be tricky but actually it turned out to be Northern Ireland which tripped me up most, though luckily my group there were a great bunch and they mostly took pity on me.
Great Vid as usual Alanna.
I have started knocking gently on open stall doors, just in case.
When we see you turning round with your face to the phone , we’re thinking - she’s looked at the map and realised she’s gone the wrong way. 🤣. No shame getting lost btw, that’s how to find new places.
I love it when you say something in confidence to your 120k subscribers.... :)
Your hair is simply marvelous🥰
Alanna, finding an NHS dentist is comparable to winning the lottery, just find a local private dentist, check out their reviews and phone them to book.....also you should ask them if their loo door locks! 😉
I don't know where you live Jeff Graham, but I have a large choice of NHS dentists and there are some really good ones around. The dentists' contracts with the NHS were revamped about 8 years ago so many of the dentists who had left have returned to the fold.
To pick a dentist I use the pain scale. The higher the number I base it on the clock.
If the number is low then I can take the time to check my wallet.
@@2000globetrotter ...South East
I've been waiting 5 years to be accepted by the NHS dentist.
@@tomgruitt6563 why?
I think your general awkwardness is good. It is part of why I enjoy watching your videos.
Lol. This was great Alanna You are soo fun to watch! 🇨🇦 👏👏
Thanks so much!!
Alanna, I only live less than ten minutes away from Bluey! So….if you are ever in need to “spend a penny”; visit the “restroom” (that always confuses me!) visit the “bathroom” (confuses me even more! 😳😵💫) or visit a “comfort station” (no… that sounds vulgar! 😲) then give ME a tinkle on your answer to solving the ‘I have no idea of where I am going…’ problem and I will guarantee you being able to have a tinkle in comfort and private without fear of barging in on someone already doing so 🤣🤣 in my home (even stop for a cuppa too!
) . I just find it so funny that out of all of the public loos on the first floor - and there must be at least 30 cubicles! You had the misfortune to pick an occupied one, even though you didn’t know! Sorry to laugh, but it really was funny to hear! 😂😂
Really enjoyed this, made my day a little better, not been feeling great.
I have the same problem with accents myself, the amount of times I go along with it & act like I know what’s been said I couldn’t count. Glad I’m also not the only one who does the act like I’ve got a text to when I’ve gone the wrong way, not that I’ll ever admit it, except here that is
Ahh hope you're doing OK pal!
Another great video. Many thanks.
Thanks again!
Yep dentists are confusing - sometimes they will accept you as an 'NHS patient', other times they won't. And either way, you still have to pay - it's just less money if you are NHS.
Thanks so much for your content. It really helps me learning English, although that's not the main reason I like your videos. Keep continue 😊
Happy to hear that!
Hi, I just wanted to tell you thank you for your RUclips channel you have. It’s very informative and I really appreciate having seen your videos and how in depth you explain stuff on moving abroad. I’ve wanted to for a long time and since I’ve found your channel it’s just been so much help :D love the content and congratulations on 6 years in the UK
Thank you so much, I really appreciate it!
@@AdventuresAndNaps your welcome:D
Cheers, Alanna! Yes, the thing with the toilettes happens in Bulgaria as well... Every door has a locker, they can lock it but they are just to lazy af. So it is them who ought to feel ashamed for making you feel awkward! Also your British accent rules, love, seriously! Much love and hugs from Buglaria! XOXOXO
Re accents, here's a tip that was given to me by an elderly lady with a scientific background. When someone is speaking to you with an accent you're not used to, listen the same way you would listen to a piece of music. Focus on the cadence, and the lilt, rather than the words. You will find that things clarify magically. It really works!
The amount of times I sing the wrong words to a song would make this impossible 🤣
@@lucasdale572 "Get dressed you merry gentlemen, let nothing new dismay!" xD
@@Nosmo90The way things are going, they're gonna goosify me.
Tip..........when the weather is more conducive wear a T-Shirt with... "I'm a Canadian" written on it.
We experienced the same scenario touring around America, where roughly 90% who heard us speak, asked if we were Australian......we sound nothing like an Ozzie. We have solid south London accents.
Re' the T-shirt, we actually saw some people wearing them with....."'I'm not an Australian" printed on them.
I drove a black cab around London for 30 years, lots of Americans and Canadians who I would pick up would ask where in Australia I was from! I am born and bred in Hackney in east London!
1:13 "Ohhh, I'm so sore-ee" haha
Great video as always Alanna. I have the same awkward moments you do and yet I was born here! You are not alone. 🙂
Thanks for watching!
I would have written this, so I agree wholeheartedly
Oh Alanna, your sense of humour is class. Those idiots slating you on social media should be ashamed of themselves. Bunch of heathens.
I do the turning around thing too! Unless I'm at work and have forgotten to do something /went the wrong way and then I sigh, quietly call myself an idiot out loud and quickly turn around haha
I love the comedy series Still Game and it took a while but I finally understood the Scottish accent and was so proud of myself. That is, until I met a Scottish bar tender here in Canada and I had no idea what he was saying to me. I felt so bad that I couldn't understand him.
Love your channel ❤️
Thanks so much!
You’re not alone! When I get lost in a strange town on foot and need to turn around I’ll sometimes point up as if I’ve just remembered something before turning 😳 😂
As islands go, Great Britain is huge
Yep, definitely a Brit now!! We all know the frustration of GP administrators assuming you know the ‘process’. …and we’ve all had our own “oh I got a text” moments. …and the struggle with accents is real. Seriously Glaswegians take pride in it!
The giveaway with a Canadian accent is how you say "about, out, shout"
Already looking forward to the "Anecdotes from an English Dentist" series 🤣
So Alanna, most dentists these days offer both NHS and private treatment and when you get a check up, they’ll give you the price breakdowns for both, then you can decide on a case-by-case basis whether you want to go for the NHS or private option in each individual situation. Depends what it is and what you can afford as to whether you decide the private option is worthwhile.
Another great video everybody has awkward moments even me and I was born here, toilet stall was hilarious 😱😂😂
as an Englishman that has moved to Wales" I find it hard to understand the welsh accent! but even worse! I find it very difficult to pronounce the Welsh place names.its all very embarrassing
The north east of Wales, to me they sound like Scousers.
Great video 🙂
Thank you 😁
Dentist from all the sweets and snack videos and beer 🍺 🤣
fingers crossed you get a dental appointment asap! keep up the great videos my friend! big love to all people :)
Thanks for watching!
There's an old Dave Allen joke: "That is a very big cavity, cavity, cavity."
Rest assured, indigenous Brits have just as hard time understanding accents we're not used to. When I moved to live in Scotland as a kid, I worked in a local pub and was totally lost for weeks!
Adorable !
The "American/Canadian" confusion is our fault Alanna. Our default question should be "what part of *Canada* are you from?" Any Canadian will be pleased with us and Americans will be flattered that we think of them as Canadians!
Awkward social moments are part of our lives Alanna. I've lost count of the animated conversations I've had in the streets with people who obviously know me & I know them, but can't remember *who* they are....😳
As always Alanna, love your Canadian outlook on life amongst the British. BY-EEE!
It’s really super easy. The vocabulary is very similar but Canadians only have to say one word that ends in “OUT “, and they are done for. It for all intents and purposes is the Canadian version of the shibboleth. So the common phrase out and about on a boat, is the proverbial dead giveaway. As I listen to her, she sounds a lot like Jordan Peterson‘s accent if there are such things as dialects within Canadian provinces.
Hi Alanna - persist with finding an NHS dentist, as the fees are low and fixed, whereas private dentists just want you to help them buy their next Ferrari or Holiday Villa, if you get my drift.
The receptionist is always high & mighty - but you’re entitled to NHS dentistry, as long as they can fit you in.
If you’ve got a whole bunch of work to get done, they’ll count it as one large job and charge you once with the largest standard fee.
Good Luck!
You are very good at advertising! Also I am so glad it's not just me who pulls out their phone before turning around in the street 🤣 Hopefully it doesn't catch on too much otherwise people will figure us out 😭
Ahhh, another great video! I've done that - imaginary calls or texts because I seem to think people will be monitoring me and questioning why and where I'm going. Bonkers!! 🤪
I also had an occasion when I went into a mixed male/female single cubicle in an old public building (I'm a guy by the way) and a the door was unlocked so I swept in and inside was a woman with everything round her ankles! I've never back peddled so quickly as she screamed!!! I felt quilty to the point of criminal, but as with your incident at Blue Water - it was there fault!!!
I have family who live in Ontario so your accent is familiar enough to me that I think I'd ask if you were Canadian as it is a lot softer than any American accent I know of. 😀
I'm a Londoner but have lived in Oregon the last 10 years, and when people guess at my accent they almost always say Australian, so go figure.
Without sounding too sycophantic or patronising Alana I think that you have done amazing well despite the social anxieties that you have been honest about . Social anxiety can stop people leaving the house and you have changed countries ! Well done you !
Ps Ease of using the phone is now regarded as a blunt measure of introversion/ extraversion. You know this people in public spaces talking loudly whilst on the phone - they ain't introverts ! Who knew 😅!?
People are so hateful towards Americans online! Up in the north of England I have the opposite reaction when I tell people I’m from NY. They always seem intrigued and ask, wait why are you here then? 😂
One of my most embarrassing moments is not pressing the button to exit trains and trams. On several occasions I just stood like an idiot waiting for something to happen!
Hi alanna love the content as always i hope you stay here in the uk forever except for holidays home from time to time ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Oh yes! As an Aussie - (who also has anxiety), those getting lost moments in UK! Either walking or driving. Miss Google & I have a difficult relationship at best of times. Standing on a corner in a city or town, not recignising a thing, north from south, worse still, having a time & place to get to...panic. I have had to run to hit the side of a departing bus as it takes off without me, or not knowing how to call a taxi in Monday morning traffic when Uber fails & I need to be on the other side of town for a Tour bus.
Waiting in a bus stop in outer suburb of Edinburgh, a man speaks but I have no idea if he is commenting on the westher or asking if the bus is late, or what? What does one do? No speaka da englishi? If you happen to look like a local but have no idea where or how or what - THAT is an adventure that often requires a nap.
Oh how much I can relate to the texting and changing direction technique... I tend to do that a lot, even in my home country... 😀
😂
11:28 Don't think that's down to your Canadian-ness - it's more likely age ! 😋 I do that when I'm coming out of the supermarket and I've forgotten what area I parked in....
🇨🇦 Travelling in the UK or anywhere overseas I got the “What part of America are you from ” question. Answering “I’m from Canada” usually prompts total disinterest and end of the conversation. I didn’t feel things were awkward as much as people just didn’t care anything about Canada and weren’t interested in hearing any more. Of course people with family here, or who have been here it’s a different story. Now If I’d travel again, I’d be more bold and tell them exactly on the map where I live…(the west), and how beautiful it is, and not just let them get away with their lack of interest!!
I hadn’t thought about things like having to go to the dentist in a new country! Hope everything with the dentist goes well, I’m sure it will be fine! I do the pretending to get a text thing to change direction so much lol, I even do it at school a lot😂 This video was great! you’re genuinely so funny!
Thanks for watching!
The definition 0f terror, going to a dentist in Bulgaria, I don't speak Bulgarian, He didn't speak English. He smiled, shrugged and pointed to his chair. It went ok but I lost 10 pounds in panic sweat.
Great video, Alanna! Don't worry about not understanding how things work - by the time you've worked it out they will just go and change the system anyway!
So true!
Dr Phil eh?
hows that working for ya 🤣
Hi Alanna. Great video. I'm liking the new backgrounds you are using in your scenes. Also, while you might not know sometimes how things work in the UK i suppose at least you have your British partner to rely on and ask which i'm sure helps.
You are not awkward at all , your amazing 😍
"The British way...is the RIGHT way, and is IN FACT...
THE ONLY WAY"
YEP.
Never forgotten that quote!
So true...and so funny.
😂
Hiya Alanna, When I was at school,(this was 30 years ago), I told my Mam we were doing sequence dancing in P.E (you may call it gym class), when the music played (my Dad turned up thinking we were playing soccer), accidentally walked through the girls changing room, He was following where the music was playing, keep up the good content, from Choppy in Whitehaven ,Cumbria
I also try to "blend in" if I'm lost or sometimes end up taking a longer way when it isn't necessary.
Awkward moments, the title of my life story 😂 I generally don't do leaving my house cos it doesn't matter what I do something awkward will happen!
Walking, get distracted, realise I'm going the wrong way, I'll do the phone thing but I'll also keep walking & take a longer route, just so I don't look dumb! I know people say no one cares but its still difficult to overcome that in your head lol
I've luckily never had a problem in Bluewater but I'm definitely gonna be cautious when using the toilets from now on 😂
😂 I'll never open a bathroom stall again!
@@AdventuresAndNaps > "I'll never open a bathroom stall again!..."
You might see someone having a bath (in a bathtub!)...😮
@Adventures and Naps Top tip, if you ever have to use a loo with a broken lock. Keep your foot against the door, or sit and whistle if you have short legs 🤣😂
Doctor's receptionists are notoriously difficult.
Great video as usual Alanna. Happy St. Andrew's Day!🙂
When I'm on the phone speaking to a person with a broad accent, it helps if you can say - "I'm sorry, this is a terrible line. I can't (crackle - ssss) ear at ou sai . Can you epeat tha pleas ?".
In my local pub, South coast of England, the chef was from Glasgow. The manager was a Geordie (Northerner) They spoke to us Southerners with a toned-down accent so we could understand, thanks guys ! But when they talked to each other, it was a struggle for us bystanders to catch one word in ten. "Bonnie lads, laike, burr a cannae oonnerstahn uh fookin wurd theey's sayin !"
I do the phone thing and turn around all the time I also do it when it looks like a stranger will be going to ask me something lol
Alanna, I know that I must sound like a broken record, but I just love watching your videos (even when you do the advertising of products).
Just say "sorry" every 20 seconds, it's worked for us Brits for centuries. It doesn't matter if you right or wrong, just say sorry.
In most countries the first word babies learn is momma or dada, in Britain, it's "sorry" .
That's right, cuz. "Sorry" is the get out of jail card for everything, so are the hazards - you use them whenever/wherever you fancy to park/stop at your own convenience.
This why we love you, cute cuddly quaint vulnerable loveable and this why weappreciate you. Thanks for the insight.
Doctors receptionist are a law to them selfs. They think there the doctor. .Being awkward in front of folks doesn't matter because people don't care ..As soon as you are out of sight there will forget you ..So why worry. .At the end of the day you are what you are ..Just yourself that's what is important. ..
That's very true!
@@AdventuresAndNaps Watch the TV series Thermoman. The receptionist is hilarious and very very true!
Thanks for sharing Alanna. Social Anxiety sucks (I know), but it sounds like you don't let it hold you back. When you get around to it, a good time to book the dentist is tooth hurty 😂.
😂
As a brit dentists confuse the hell out of me as well!!!! If you can find one that takes NHS, you still have to pay!
An appointment with a NHS dentist, now there is a person with lots of optimism
Loved the vid,funny & informative,but miss,so without further adieu let’s go,please bring it back,it always cheers me up.with the dentist,NHS is a lot cheaper. stay safe & well.
Congratulations Alanna, you actually said 'go to the shops' and not 'the store' although you did lapse and say 'mall' later. You'll need a few more years. 😊
Haha! Your phone trick for turning round when you've taken the wrong way reminded me of what I did once when I was in a public parking area and I opened the car door on the passenger side. I didn't really forget that I was driving that day, it was just kind of automatic because I'm more often the passenger than the driver. 😳😳🤭🤭
Instead of just closing the door and going round the other side I made a big display of looking for something on the floor of the car and in the glove box and all around as if I'd opened the door for that specific reason. I suppose other people have done it, especially if they share a car with a partner and are sometimes a passenger and sometimes the driver but I just felt so stupid. 🤣🤣
What I missed from Canada when I lived in Cheshire? Kraft Dinner .... make THAT your new default 😀
I'm an east-coast Canadian living in the UK and most of the time people guess Canadian - I actually get asked if I'm Irish more often than American, I guess I have a strong accent 🤪
NHS dentist? I remember those!