Being British in America
About Sally Wright
If you need to find Sally she is usually looking after her kids, walking, shopping, or relaxing. The fact that she lived in America might come as a surprise because she doesn't talk about having lived in America.
How did it feel when you first moved to America?
When we first went to America it all felt very strange and very big. Everything was big and overwhelming. Actually, it was a very new experience and nothing was very familiar to me so I missed home. I missed England when I first moved but it was also a little bit exciting because everything was like an adventure.
You said everything was big. Can you give me an example?
So, at that time when I moved to America, the world was bigger than the roads and looked bigger than England. England had very small cars and I think things have changed a little bit now. It's more real cool but at the time they had a big highway in America with lots of lines and big skyscrapers. You know we didn't have that anyone we had old school buildings on everything like that thing big and even even.
the packets of crisps you know when the supermarket with huge and England's you had little bags of crisps
How important was living in America to you?
It was very important, Alex. It was a big part of my childhood and it definitely shaped who I am today so I think it's a great question that you're asking. I think it made the world smaller to me than all the other people who I went to school with.
What stereotypes of living in America didn't fit you?
that's a hard question I think I'm not sure what stereotypes particular about America I necessarily identify to I suppose there is probably a bit of a stereotype that Americans are quite confident and maybe a little bit more expressive in their feelings… [and] language… and at the time I was very shy and even now I'm probably… I'm still [a bit] shy.
What are some stereotypes that fit you?
I guess at the time that I moved. It was it was it was fairly disposable you know everything was kind of disposable away which I guess was a little bit the time in the ear of other than just the US but I'm probably becoming a lot less disposable than I ever was but certainly in my twenties I was probably a little bit selfishly disposable in my approach to life and need to be a lot more conscious end you know I'm supportive of the environment.
Do you feel proud having lived in America?
yeah I left my time there and I still have a big Affinity with the country and I had some great experiences at school with my friends and I'm still in contact with some of these people now so yes I'm none of my childhood memories about things like family holidays and family Christmases and Thanksgiving. These are a big part of my childhood so yes I do feel proud and I feel very happy that I experienced it.
Do you think having lived in America impacts the way you see the world around you? so I think what's important is that having lived in another country is Diversity and the need for any experience is in the cultural backgrounds of different people and that. I think it makes you a bit more bold and a bit more accepting of others than perhaps if you need to come from one place.
“When we first went to America it all felt very strange and very big.”
-Sally Wright
When you left America were you sad or happy to go back to your own country?
At the time I was quite sad because I was saying goodbye to my friends and you know when you have to say goodbye it's never easy so I was very sad actually and I was quite Young when I left England so I didn't really remember it enough to feel like I was going home it felt like America was time that you adapt that's another life lesson that I learned from it you no reason study quickly adapt to a new school and new set to friends and so yeah.
“ I had some great experiences at school with my friends and I'm still in contact with some of these people now ”
