Things you never noticed til you moved back Stateside

I thought I start a thread about the different social/economical/etc changes you had to readapt to when moving back stateside.

My biggest ones were/are:


- Firstly, the drinking culture in the states really is poor compare to the UK, I used to have so much fun going out with workmates for a drink and now... I never have been more bored than the few times co-workers wanted to go out after work.

- Also... no one buys rounds, I am sooo used to buying a round or buying lunch and they pick up the next one. Once I told a friend here stateside that I would get lunch and he throught it was a come on... big time. Totally the wrong impression.

- Grocery stores and fridges. I was at the point where I do a shop twice a week, lots of fresh stuff and tucked it in my small fridge. Now... I go visit my parents and they shop twice a month, put it in a fridge you can get lost in and then throw endless amounts of food away when it spoils 

- I miss the little triangle sandwich packs on my lunch hour, I would kill for a Boots shapers sandwich. Why can't we get decent takeway lunches in Pennsylvania.

I have so many of these!!

Definitely agree with your first two.  I feel weird always suggesting we go out for a quick one now.  It's like I'm an alcoholic or something!  Same with getting a round.  I bought a drink for a guy the other week (he was a friend of friends we were out with) and I could tell he was stunned...like, 'why is this girl who doesn't even know me asking if I want a drink?'

More to follow...

Go to WaWa!  great lunch things there.
Do you have WaWa in the part of PA you are in?

Sheetz or Panera.  I'd much rather have Panera; I have having butter on my sandwiches.  Yuck.

I actually have a very hard time getting things for lunch where I am too, now.  I think that's more because I used to be in the big cities (London and Edinburgh) and now I am in a lame, small city. 

- Firstly, the drinking culture in the states really is poor compare to the UK, I used to have so much fun going out with workmates for a drink and now... I never have been more bored than the few times co-workers wanted to go out after work.

Come to Wisconsin.  We'll get you good and plastered after work.

Central PA lacks Wawas, I just miss trying to be figure friendly and picking up a 300 calorie sandwich or sushi pack, here even with Sheetz they dont have my old roasted veggie and pesto sandwich... yum... I need to build a pret-a-manger

Central PA lacks Wawas, I just miss trying to be figure friendly and picking up a 300 calorie sandwich or sushi pack, here even with Sheetz they dont have my old roasted veggie and pesto sandwich... yum... I need to build a pret-a-manger

Are you gonna hate me if I tell you they have Pret in the US now? That is will you hate me if you find out there's none where you are?

Come to Wisconsin.  We'll get you good and plastered after work.

I am so there.

Are you gonna hate me if I tell you they have Pret in the US now? That is will you hate me if you find out there's none where you are?

I loved Pret's sandwiches....the ones from other places were YUCK! I am so happy not to see those cheap, processed ones in the garage's anymore.

As for the drinking culture, it's alive and kicking in the city where I live. In fact, we are one of the biggest wine drinking areas in the US. We have a very nice, large wine store in our neighborhood (sells everything else as well) and you can never get parking, especially on Fridays...everyone is picking up their drink for the weekend. 

One pleasure that I experienced when I moved back was not having to wear protective gear in the grocery store anymore (our area in the UK was over crowded). We are spoiled for choice here so the stores are never OTT packed. 

Are you gonna hate me if I tell you they have Pret in the US now? That is will you hate me if you find out there's none where you are?

I found a Wagamamas in Boston, I can not begin to explain how excited I was 

I found a Wagamamas in Boston, I can not begin to explain how excited I was 

They're opening one in DC, too!

They're opening one in DC, too!

Ha I smell a ukyankee stateside meet

Seriously I love their yaki udon, can't find one place over here that compares. Although.... chinese food in the States is WAY better, I mean I have been eating enough shrimp and broccoli to undo the six years I went without it

I am so there.

- Also... no one buys rounds, I am sooo used to buying a round or buying lunch and they pick up the next one. Once I told a friend here stateside that I would get lunch and he throught it was a come on... big time. Totally the wrong impression.

I didn't understand this concept when I was in the UK. Tim and I went out to visit my friends and they were buying me and Tim drinks, and I just thought it was my friends being nice since we were visiting, and then Tim told me it was our turn to get the round!  Whooops.  (I didn't mind, I just wish I had known beforehand what proper going out etiquette was!)

Central PA lacks Wawas, I just miss trying to be figure friendly and picking up a 300 calorie sandwich or sushi pack, here even with Sheetz they dont have my old roasted veggie and pesto sandwich... yum... I need to build a pret-a-manger

I forget, where in PA are you?  I'm in Lancaster, and we have at least 4 Wawa's in our county.