A funny story

Yesterday we ran into the same realtor we first met a couple of days ago. She was delighted to see us, pulled me aside, and said, "I just have to ask... is that a southern American expression? I have it stuck in my head now! I even called my American friend to ask her about it."
Which expression? "You're standing in the way; the cows eat you for hay"
I am not sure where I got that from. Is it a southernism? A Michigan thing? Something from a book? I have no idea!

Realtors seem, inevitably, to be running late so yesterday evening we were talking to 2 cute boys while we were waiting. When they found out we were from Georgia, they were very disappointed by our accents. Apparently there is some vampire TV show that they like to watch and the actors have southern accents and the boys loved them.

All of this, combined with our experience yesterday, reminded me how important first impressions are. When you are visiting a foreign country you are an ambassador for your country -- for some people you meet you will be their impression of an "American". Likewise the people we meet and interact with these first days start to form our impressions of what "Ozzies" are like.

The sun is shining this morning, we have 5 open houses to go to, I have a cup of coffee with sweetened, condensed milk in my hand, and Spongebob is on TV. It's a good day.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

So the sponge-bob is truly global phenomenon!
Glad to hear that you are having a better day.
Hope you will find a nice apartment today.
Olga

Anonymous said...

i think the show is true blood.. takes place in louisiana

L

MoscowMom said...

I'd never heard that expression before :-)

Katya said...

Found it! It's from a traditional children's song called "Daddy's Whiskers"
http://www.lyricstime.com/wee-sing-father-s-whiskers-lyrics.html

Joe Ganci said...

I thought of True Blood immediately and the character of Sookie, played by Anna Paquin. Yep, it takes place in Lousiana and it involves vampires living (living?) out in the open now, at night naturally, because there is an artificial blood that satisfies their needs, even if it's not quite as good as the real thing.

Joe Ganci said...

I've never heard the expression "You're standing in the way; the cows eat you for hay." I looked at the lyrics for "Daddy's Whiskers" and I don't see that phrase in them. I'm son confused!

I'm so glad you're having a better day!

Katya said...

The chorus has a line:
"They're always in the way;
The cows eat them for hay"

Which, I guess, I modified to:
"You're standing in the way; the cows eat you for hay."

Elle said...

and how the heck did you slide that phrase into normal conversation? i'm so curious!!