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ANY YANKS OR KIWI'S ON BOARD?

(41 Posts)
lonjay Fri 30-Aug-19 21:48:13

I just joined today and am a Yank living in Fresno, California.
I spent 26 of my retirement years living between NZ & the U.S.

Greenfinch Fri 30-Aug-19 21:52:48

Welcome lonjay.There are quite a few"Yanks" here and probably some from NZ too.

BradfordLass72 Fri 30-Aug-19 21:58:49

Kiwi here.

I thought 'Yank' applied only to people from the northern States?

janeainsworth Fri 30-Aug-19 22:26:57

Well maybe Lonjay did originate from the northern USA Bradfordlass

Esspee Fri 30-Aug-19 22:32:17

BradfordLass you are of course quite correct but most British (since the war) use Yank to refer to all U.S. Citizens.

Welcome lonjay, you seem to be enjoying a long retirement. Looking forward to hearing from you.

lonjay Fri 30-Aug-19 23:44:23

Southerners refer to all non southerners as Yanks.

rosecarmel Sat 31-Aug-19 02:55:40

I'm a yank, born and raised in Jersey- I've lived in several states since, currently in the rust belt- Traveled the country, for a while on the back of a motorcycle- But there's 4 states I've never been to- The northwest was my favorite- The rocky shore of New England second- Right now I'm eating canned pineapple ..

sukie Sat 31-Aug-19 04:21:56

Yank here. Originated in the north but have lived in the south (Gulf Coast) for many years.

BlueBelle Sat 31-Aug-19 05:43:28

I was told never to call an American a yank as it was derogatory I ve avoided that term for years

Greenfinch Sat 31-Aug-19 07:58:45

Exactly BlueBelle and that is why I put it in inverted commas.It jarred somewhat to write it.

Anja Sat 31-Aug-19 08:10:51

Me too BlueBelle and Greenfinch

ninathenana Sat 31-Aug-19 08:33:31

Same here

janeainsworth Sat 31-Aug-19 08:33:48

Here’s an article about the term Yankee.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yankee
It’s not usually a derogatory term, but has been in the past and now depends on context.
This is from the section in ‘Damn Yankee’

“ In an old joke, a Southerner alleges, "I was twenty-one years old before I learned that 'damn' and 'Yankee' were separate words". In fact, the spelling "damnyankee" is not uncommon. Another facetious saying is that "a Yankee is someone from the North who visits the South. A damn Yankee is one who moves here." “
grin

Sukie where on the Gulf Coast do you live?
In the last year MrA and I travelled by boat from Mobile, Alabama to Charlotte Harbor, FL
We loved it.
I hope you stay safe in the hurricane if it’s heading your way.

Grammaretto Sat 31-Aug-19 08:41:19

My DF, DS, DDiL and DGS were/are Kiwis.
Where in kiwiland did you live and what made you settle for CA?
Welcome lonjay .

GabriellaG54 Sat 31-Aug-19 08:46:44

I too was a bit taken aback.
Always deemed it derogatory. hmm

Stansgran Sat 31-Aug-19 11:29:11

We should have an international section of emojis with little flags

GabriellaG54 Sat 31-Aug-19 11:35:10

That's a really good idea, although there are flags in your emojis.

GabriellaG54 Sat 31-Aug-19 11:36:01

...emojis on your mobile phone.

BradfordLass72 Sat 31-Aug-19 13:01:06

lonjay Some memories for you.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWhAoZZh8fc

midgey Sat 31-Aug-19 13:11:18

My sister lives in Port Charlotte Florida.

janeainsworth Sat 31-Aug-19 17:17:28

A beautiful place Midgey

Barmeyoldbat Sat 31-Aug-19 18:15:20

Why should the word Yanks be deemed derogatory, the Aussies call us Noms.

Anyway welcome to GN and I hope we hear from you a great deal. Also think its a great idea about the flags, but please can we include a Welsh and Scottish one.

BlueBelle Sat 31-Aug-19 18:24:08

barmyoldbat I didn’t say it WAS derogatory I said I was told that Americans hated the term and saw it as an insult I m not sure about Yankee but I once years ago wrote something about ‘yanks’ and was pulled up sharply for it and because I would not intentionally offend I stuck by what I was told which was that Americans saw this as an insult and so I totally stopped using the word as well as many others ( spastic, mongol, chinkie and the dreaded ‘n’ and ‘w’ words which were all used at one time in my young years) so now it feels totally wrong to my ears to use any of those and I ve never said the word Yank since and I was taken aback and surprised when I read it used on here by an American

Callistemon Sat 31-Aug-19 18:50:08

the Aussies call us Noms.

Do you mean Poms, barmeyoldbat?
Or 'bloody Pom' as a term of endearment grin

Barmeyoldbat Sat 31-Aug-19 19:02:37

Bluebelle, I didn't mean you, it was GG who said she THOUGHT it was. No offence meant.

Yes I meant Noms but my lovely thinking laptop thought otherwise, or was it my fat fingers. And yes a nickname, and thats what it is, is a sign of endearment totally agree.