Still Have an Accent After 30 Years

I’ve been in the States for almost 30 years now, and I still have an accent. At least, that’s what people tell me. And, just to be clear, I don’t have an accent in my head. I think absolutely fluently and accent-free in English. But apparently, I have an accent when I speak English out loud (as opposed to just conversing with all the other voices in my head).

What’s worse, they — as in all those mean other people that claim to be close friends and family (traitors and backstabbers, all of them, by the way!)— also say (probably to mess with me) that I now have an “American” accent when I speak German and Swedish. What!? That means I now have nothing but accents. How is that even possible?

Anyway, this week it was confirmed yet again that I apparently have a nice accent when I speak. Two different very cute baristas in two different cities and in two different time zones said so. I know, I’m such a sucker for compliments. Anyway, it seems my accent is vaguely non-specific Northern-European-ish. That means I’m always the “not-from-‘round-here” guy, and that’s OK. After all, it’s true … and there doesn’t seem to be much I can do about it.

After 30 years in the States, I still sometimes (or very often if you ask my not-so-subtle and definitely mean-spirited family) stumble over V’s and W’s, and apparently “the” is not pronounced “duh” … duh! Also, it turns out that “windshield wiper” will forever be a real tongue twister for me.

Oh well, at least I don’t write with an accent … I hope 😉