Things about the USA your UK spouse should know.

Prepare to have your mind blown by how much cheaper everything is in the States (gas being a great example).

Prepare to have your mind blown by how much cheaper everything is in the States (gas being a great example).

..but not your missed British favorite foods... with the exchange rate be prepared to die of sticker shock....

If you love English tea brands...bring it with you!  It is so so so so expensive if you can find it! On the air base PG was $7 for a box of 60 bags! We take PG with us when we go!

A year late but still......   

I was shocked when a friend of my H's told me that passengers could drink in the car in the UK   

There's nothing in the law which actually stops the driver of a car from drinking while traveling along.  Just so long as he isn't actually drunk (by the legal definition).

But for most of the US, there is this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_container_law

As far as I can recall, the states in which I lived had open container laws.  In some instances, I have even heard this being interpreted for - say you were only transporting a bottle of liquor that had already been opened (the seal broken), even if no one in the car was actively drinking it then & there.

While there is no Federal law prohibiting open containers in a motor vehicle, there are incentives for states to comply with Federal program requirements, such as transportation budget cuts for those states not in compliance

Ah, the good old Federal blackmail system:  "Do what we say or lose funding."    In my opinion, it's certainly against the spirit of the 10th Amendment even if not the letter. 

Ah, the good old Federal blackmail system:  "Do what we say or lose funding."    In my opinion, it's certainly against the spirit of the 10th Amendment even if not the letter. 

Perhaps, but I honestly don't think that driving around drinking alcohol is really a good idea, Paul, so I don't have any problem with open container laws.

I honestly don't think that driving around drinking alcohol is really a good idea

I'd agree with that, but if a passenger is sitting quietly in the car sipping a beer while riding along, who is that hurting?   

And if you had half a bottle of wine left that you wanted to take to a friend's dinner party, should it really be a crime to do so just because it's already been opened?   

In my opinion, it's certainly against the spirit of the 10th Amendment even if not the letter. 

I kind of think if, in 1791, James Madison, et al had envisioned a world with drunk driving, they might have had something to say about it. 

You can get just about anything you want at 9 pm on a Sunday.  We do not have those stupid Sunday opening laws (for the most part anyway).  Although, in some counties, you cannot buy alcohol before noon.

June

And if you had half a bottle of wine left that you wanted to take to a friend's dinner party...   

I would never take only half a bottle of wine to a friend's dinner party!  How cheeky is that!?!

Although, in some counties, you cannot buy alcohol before noon.

And in some places, you have restrictions and/or difficulty buying alcohol at all on Sundays.  And, in some counties, you cannot buy alcohol, full stop.

And in some places, you have restrictions and/or difficulty buying alcohol at all on Sundays.  And, in some counties, you cannot buy alcohol, full stop.

In a lot of places, definitely not in a supermarket!

Don't forget drive-thru liquor stores!

Or only being able to buy liquior in state stores and beer in bottle shops for PA. 

..but not your missed British favorite foods... with the exchange rate be prepared to die of sticker shock....

If you love English tea brands...bring it with you!  It is so so so so expensive if you can find it! On the air base PG was $7 for a box of 60 bags! We take PG with us when we go!

If you live near a Wegman's (Western to Central NY, PA, DC, and some parts of New England), they always have an aisle called "Foods from around the World".  The one I shop at has a smallish UK section, but it focuses more on Ireland than England.  They do sell PG Tips as well as some of my husband's favourite biscuits (some nutty hard things covered in chocolate), jams, and some other odds and ends.  PG Tips definitely isn't that expensive there.  We bought a huge box and now I am likely going to have to toss most of it when I leave (*small voice* I don't like it as much as Twinnings).

Couples having a new baby can expect at least 1, if not 2 or 3 baby shower parties receiving all the baby gifts they could ever want and more.

Matt

I have issues here in the UK since baby showers are not done here I feel it is odd to buy things for a baby when I feel like, it is just different.