Oh, I got hit by it in secondary school, and the more they pushed, the more stubborn I got. I got told I would never get a good job, never find a "good husband."

Now I kinda speak Midlantic, my accent is still VERY noticeable, but people (read Americans) can understand me. But I def. code switch all the way back. My poor husband ends up having to deal with that and my dad's partner's extraordinary broad Mancunian complete with the "Manchester endearment." The woman has an accent you could cut with a knife and I love it. It drives him crazy that I can understand every word she says while he struggles ;).