The UK and US are, as everyone knows, divided by a common language. We mainly use the same words, but often mean something different. This is old news to the Girl. She had an American exchange teacher for 2 weeks in 2005 and therefore knows all there is to know about sweets being 'candy' and trousers being (tee-hee) 'pants'.
But for the Boy it's a whole new area of study. He comes sidling up:
Boy: Mu-um?
Albaniana: Ye-es.
Boy: What's 'chair' in American?
A: That'd be 'chair'.
Boy: What's 'table' in American?
A: 'Table'.
Boy: What's 'ceiling' in American?
And so on and on and on (what's 'wind-up artist' in American?) until you can stand no more and hurl him over the back of the sofa ('couch').
The children of our British friends, who've been here about 6 months, already sound like little Americans. The Girl and Boy will start school here soon - how long before the Boy is asking "Mommy, what's 'chair' in English?"
Watch this space.
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