New Like Me

Having lived for considerable periods in Ireland, England and America, my accent is a confusing mix of the three. Until recently it was just Irish/English, but since becoming a full time resident here, I've been finding the American influence sneaking in and I can't seem to stop it.

More than the accent, it seems to be the words and phrases I'm picking up on. In Dublin, I use turns of phrase that only make sense to the people there, who use them too. Some of these do make sense, but it would just be an unusual or quirky way of saying something, and people here find it strange. But sometimes, they are completely indecipherable. I am regularly faced with confused or blank expressions in response to something I've said. It doesn't help either that my name seems to be impossible to pronounce or remember for anyone who is not from Ireland.

Since moving here, I have picked up so many new words and phrases, just because of the influence of the people around me. My friends back home make fun of me relentlessly for this. Awesome? Sidewalk? Cell phone? None of these were a part of my active vocabulary a year ago! Now I say them all the time. Then there's the inevitable 'like'...try as I might, I don't seem to be able to get through a sentence without it these days.

What about you? Do people look at a loss when you say something that is completely normal where you're from? Do you find yourself picking up new words and phrases? And are your friends at home giving you hell over it?!