I’m a Hick

My job counterpart lives and works in Sweden. She’s just arrived here in the US to visit for a week.

She and I have communicated daily through instant messenger, email, and telephone for three weeks, since I started this new job, but until yesterday, I had never seen her. We’ve had good rapport, and I was anxious to finally meet her in person.

We spent all day at the same desk, working on the same material, getting me knowledgeable with all the corporate procedures and rules for our job. She’s a great coworker, and she’s very personable. But, I feel like a total hick.

She speaks at least three languages — her English is impeccable, with a British accent, so it has an air of sophistication. I speak one language — in contrast, my speech sounds like some hillbilly with a fourth grade education.

My accent and drawl are not bad at all compared to many people I’ve known here in the South, although it gets more pronounced when I’m home among my folks. But next to someone with a “proper” British accent, I sound downright hick. And then to remember English is not her native tongue, it makes me seem like an uneducated bubba.

Before we quit for the day, I got her to say, “Y’all.” (I had to explain the meaning.)

I’ll hav’er speakin’ rat ‘fore she goes back ta yur-up.

Bullgrit
bullgrit@totalbullgrit.com