How are you feeling?

As I live in an English speaking country, I tend to forget that some things said, are not what they mean. I have been doing pretty well so far. I can understand everyone and they seem to understand me....sometimes.

My most difficult challenge came last week while in a pharmacy. I was looking for band aids. Simple enough. I walked the entire store and could not find them so I asked a clerk for help. "Can you tell me where you have band aids?" A look of confusion. Maybe they didn't hear me. "Band aids, do you have band aids?" Another look of confusion. Okay..... I then said "cut" and acted like I was cutting my hand. The clerk said "Oh" and held his hands about a foot a part. Dear god, that's a flesh wound....I would need a hospital not a band aid for something that big. I said "smaller" and smiled. He walked me to an area that had first aid items and I thanked him. Now wonder he was confused. They call a band aid a "plaster" in the UK. Never would have got that one.

I also had a similar issue with trying to locate a jacket. As it is in the low 60's here every day, I need a light weight jacket when I go out (yes, no summer here). I was in a store and the sales person looked at me like I was crazy when I asked if she had jackets. While it is the wrong season, I quickly remembered my Australian days and said I was looking for a "jumper". She quickly pointed me in the right direction. Funny enough, the jumper I bought had a tag on it that said jacket! Come on people.

My last name seems to be of confusion as well. They pronounce "z" as "zed". The other day, a women asked me 3 times how to say my last name because she was trying to put a "zed" at the end of Lipsitz. It sounded really funny.

I also still get confused with surname and forename. Who uses that! First and last name are so much easier to remember.

Last, "how are you feeling?" I have been asked this twice (talking to recruiting agencies). I was completely confused because I thought I did not sound okay. I said I was feeling fine. I have since been informed (by my American friends here)...this is the same as "how are you" or "what's up". So strange!