Pump Up the Volume!!

Something i've noticed happening often since arriving in the US is a general inability of the natives to hear what i'm saying. Now, originally i attributed this to difficulty understanding my accent but more recently, i'm convinced that this isn't the problem. Now the lab here can be quite noisy sometimes - vacuum pumps going, centrifuges whirring etc. etc. which could also account for this, but, again, i think it's something else (control experiments have been performed - i am a scientist here). Y'see, i think that Americans have somehow developed hearing so that a person can't be heard unless they talk VERY LOUD or even shout (the big mouths often seen here too, would have naturally developed as an evolutionary advantage!).

Most of the time, people can understand me here - hell, even the non-US folk can understand what i'm saying (they absolutely love me cause i can "talk well" as they put it). So i don't think its me. Yet most of the US folks in the lab (not all i should add - there are expections) seem to have trouble hearing me even when i'm feet (sorry, metres) away - they mostly either don't respond at all, or say "Do what?" - i've no idea where this comes from, but its bloody annoying. I think its a c ommon saying too cause the guys here aren't the only one to say it!! Anyway, the moral of this story is - if i should come back to the UK and be talking rather too loud for your liking, either tell me to shut up, or just make exaggerated motions of stepping back and putting your fingers in your ears. I promise i won't think you're crazy!