10 March 2011

Edinburrrrrrgh

If Atlanta is Hot-lanta then Edinburgh is definitely Edinburrrrrgh.  I'm freezing today -- sweater, slippers, and .... wait for it .... SOCKS, which I've worn every day since our arrival.  My feet had forgotten what they felt like.  My flip flops are stashed on a top wardrobe shelf looking forgotten & forlorn.


Edinburrrrrgh not just for the cold, but the lovely way they burr an r here.  I've been on the phone several times lately with a lovely lady, Rose, in Aberdeen (north of Edinburgh) about our air shipment's arrival this week.  I had to listen to her first voice mail three times just to figure out that she was saying her name was Rrrrrose.  Long burr-y hit on the "R," short on the "se."    And you should hear how they say "Daryl."  Doesn't sound Southern or like the Newhart Daryl-Larry brothers.


Sometimes the pronunciations have a hint of upper midwest/plains in the "good" or "OK, then."  I have a wee bit of trouble understanding people giving me instructions on the bus or in the store if I'm not paying close attention and if there is any other conversation/background noise.


I think yesterday when we bought uniforms the clerk helping us might have wondered if English was MY first language, I asked her for clarification so many times!  And I kept calling Janie's sleeveless dress a jumper.  I've got to remember that.  The jumper is a dress and the sweater is a jumper.  But Janie doesn't wear a jumper, she wears a cardigan with her dress.  Janie got a funny look when she asked if they ever wear pants to school.  Yes, they do, that's undies.


Our big news is that the girls are starting school next week instead of April.  I'll write a separate post with the details for that.

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