Are You Okay?
Hello! I’m Matthew, and not too long ago, my family and I packed up and moved from a small town in Wyoming to the bustling streets of London, England. “Howdy, London!” is my way of sharing our adventures with friends and family. But if you’ve stumbled across this and we’ve never met—welcome! I’d love to hear from you, so feel free to drop a comment below and introduce yourself. Now, let’s dive in!
One of the perks of moving from the United States to the UK is the shared language—or so I thought.
Sure, we both speak English, but as someone who spent a good chunk of high school sleeping through English class, I’m starting to suspect we don’t speak quite the same language.
The words are different, the accents are wildly different, and the phrases? Completely baffling. Case in point: This week, I learned a new term when someone asked if my kid’s school was having a “mufti day.”
Mufti day? Should they bring snacks? Will there be some sort of ritual? Will one of my children be sacrificed to the Mufti gods? Can I choose which one?
Oh, wait—you mean it’s just a day where they don’t have to wear their uniforms? Right, of course. I knew that. Just pulling your leg, mate.
To be honest, confusion over vocabulary is a daily struggle for me. My colleagues must be thoroughly drained by my constant interruptions, pestering them to explain their choice of words and the bizarre origins of their phrases—Assuming, of course, I can even decipher what they said through that symphony of clipped vowels and dropped consonants they call the Queen’s English.
But the real head-scratcher isn’t the new words—it’s when they use familiar words in completely unfamiliar ways. For instance:
“Hi, Matt. Are you okay?”
Yes, I think so? Wait, do I not look okay? Do I look ill? Did something terrible happen? Did someone die? Am I sick? Am I dying?
Oh, wait—that’s not what you mean. You’re not checking in on my emotional well-being with great concern. You’re simply greeting me. Like, “Hey Matt, how’s it going?”
Now, after months of living here, I understand that “Are you okay?” is just a casual hello. But still, every time someone asks, a wave of panic washes over me. What’s wrong with me?
Honestly, it feels a bit like gaslighting. If you have to ask, apparently, I’m not okay. I thought I was fine, but judging by your constant questioning, I must be in shambles.
Perhaps I should just call it a day and go home.
And yet, to blend in, I force a polite smile and reply, “I’m well, thank you. Are you okay?”—all while trying my best not to sound like I’m delivering the tragic news that their beloved puppy has met an untimely end.
But let me tell you: every single time someone casually asks, “Are you okay?” it sends me into a tailspin.
Maybe I’ll get used to it. Or maybe I’ll just never be okay again.
Until next time.
Are you ok?
Matthew
P.S. If you liked this post, not too long ago I talked about why I think the English sound smarter. Check it out!
Yes, Matt, I'm okay 😁
If people asked me every time I saw them, “Are you ok?”. it would make my brain spin too! Very interesting the cultural differences in the way we communicate.
Random, but It makes me think of a scene from The Chosen when Jesus is playing a game with Lazarus and other friends. Jesus drops the ball and he says, “I’m fine, you’re fine, we are all fine!!” 😂🤣