Any culture shock?

Have you tried Pepsi Raw? No artificial ingredients and tastes like Coke used to.

Just my opinion but I find that the difference isn't between the sugar and HFCS but that the UK drinks usually add an artificial sweetner in addition to the sugar.  For me it is the artificial sweetner that I can taste.  I have had soda that is sugar only (particularly Dr Pepper from Ireland) and to me there is very little taste difference to HFCS.

And why oh why is there a need to add artificial sweetner if you already have sugar in there.  Aspartame is gross.

I totally agree. I used to love Fanta Lemon Ice, but recently, (the last year or so) they added Aspartame to the normal version.  SO it has both.  Gross.

Sorry, I should have said I meant Coca-Cola specifically. But yes, I know what you mean about artificial sweeteners added in some things, I find that a particular annoyance about lemonade.

No, body checking means when someone squares their shoulders to slam into you.

Ah! Somethin' to learn every day.

If I have it right Mindy would like this post to go back to culture shock and not be a complaining post so I think I will start something new.

How about, "I love this place even though somethings get to me"

If I have it right Mindy would like this post to go back to culture shock and not be a complaining post so I think I will start something new.

How about, "I love this place even though somethings get to me"

The topic is Culture Shock.  Things that you found different enough to cause you to have a little trouble adjusting.

Nowhere did I say not to complain.

I've asked that people stay on topic, not take offence or try to set people right and not make sweeping generalizations.  That's not asking too much in my opinion.

This is a topic that anyone who's been on this forum longer than five minutes can easily see has the potential to go pear shaped. I'm just trying to keep it running smoothly.

Not everyone loves it here.  They shouldn't be expected to or feel that they can't post unless they profess a love of the country.

Anyone with questions or comments on Mod notes should do so by PM.

And why oh why is there a need to add artificial sweetner if you already have sugar in there. 

Yes. That is something I just don't get. I've always considered artificial sweetener to be a substitute for sugar - for people who can't or won't eat sugar at all.

Something I found funny (not necessarily culture shock but something that was different to what I'm used to) is the little signs on the small shops in town that say "No More than 3 School Children At Once"...I rather like that!!

OT: Like the scene in Hot Fuzz where, to distract the shop owner, he sends all the school kids into her shop at one time 

And why oh why is there a need to add artificial sweetner if you already have sugar in there.  Aspartame is gross.

I was surprised at how either aspartame or splenda seems to be in so many items-especially children's drinks.  I would rather not give either to my girls.  

Thinking back, I got extremely stressed out when shopping when I first moved here. I think for me, it was people getting up close, or just reaching over me to grab something off the shelf (without giving any warning beforehand - like an "excuse me" to make me aware of what they were going to do), or even jumping in front of me while I was standing there trying to get my things off the shelf, if you know what I mean.

It took me the longest to get used to that here. I don't know why. The aisles here are much narrower, for starters, and the shops are a bit more crowded, because there are less shops to go to around here. I seriously cried in Asda twice because I was so overwhelmed with all the people trying to run me over with their trollies and practically shoving me out of the way to get things off the shelf. I think part of it, too, was just me. There were so many unfamiliar things on the shelves that I would just stand there and sort of space out on everything, and not be paying attention, so maybe it seemed I hadn't been standing there long when I actually had. In such cases, I guess I understand people reaching around me. I'm definitely much more used to it now. Granted, I never feel I can really take my time when shopping anymore, because everyone else around me seems to be in a hurry, but I guess it's not a bad thing to learn to move quicker, get what I need, and get the hell out!

Knowing my way around the shops helps a lot, so I know where things are, and just having a list or a good idea of what I am looking for helps, and then knowing what the item looks like here (the buttermilk is in a small container by the soured cream, for example, not in a carton by the regular milk) and I try to scope out what I am going for in advance and time my entrance and exit right so I can grab whatever it is I want without conflict.  

I'll preface this with I'm 5'1", 110 pounds, don't wear any makeup and have the body structure of a small twelve year old. To say I look young is an understatement. In America I am used to showing ID for WD40 (which, in Illinois, you have to be 17 to buy). I have no problem showing my ID, as I know going in it's a 75/25 chance I'll have to.

However in M&S a few weeks ago I was with my MIL and husband. We got to the checkout and we put our items down (some cups, towels and a few kitchen knives). She proceeded to stop, look at me, and go in a very rude tone to my MIL "How old is she?" Yes, you have to be 18 to buy knives in the UK. But, let's say I WAS her 12 year old daughter.. You can't deny someone knives because they have someone underage with you with them, can you?? What if I took my baby with me into the shop, could I not buy a flippin' kitchen knife? And you direct that to my MIL? Why not ask *me* how old I am?? When my MIL replied "Twenty-one and they *pointing to my husband and me* are married" she didn't even ask for ID! So why even ASK if you're not going to check my ID? geeze.

/rant

I was also shocked by the lack of personal space - the way people walk so close to you, and how they don't move over to one side  to allow another person to get through when that person is walking along the same path, so that you constantly have to worry about someone knocking into you. 

Oh that is one of DW's bugbears - she says that people just walk anywhere! In the shopping mall she commented on how people walk on both sides....I'd never noticed before but she said in the states people walk on the right.

I'll preface this with I'm 5'1", 110 pounds, don't wear any makeup and have the body structure of a small twelve year old. To say I look young is an understatement. In America I am used to showing ID for WD40 (which, in Illinois, you have to be 17 to buy). I have no problem showing my ID, as I know going in it's a 75/25 chance I'll have to.

However in M&S a few weeks ago I was with my MIL and husband. We got to the checkout and we put our items down (some cups, towels and a few kitchen knives). She proceeded to stop, look at me, and go in a very rude tone to my MIL "How old is she?" Yes, you have to be 18 to buy knives in the UK. But, let's say I WAS her 12 year old daughter.. You can't deny someone knives because they have someone underage with you with them, can you?? What if I took my baby with me into the shop, could I not buy a flippin' kitchen knife? And you direct that to my MIL? Why not ask *me* how old I am?? When my MIL replied "Twenty-one and they *pointing to my husband and me* are married" she didn't even ask for ID! So why even ASK if you're not going to check my ID? geeze.

/rant

Tesco have started not selling alcohol to people doing a weekly shop but who have teenagers with them, even though it is legal to give alcohol to 5 year olds in UK.

Thinking back, I got extremely stressed out when shopping when I first moved here. I think for me, it was people getting up close, or just reaching over me to grab something off the shelf (without giving any warning beforehand - like an "excuse me" to make me aware of what they were going to do), or even jumping in front of me while I was standing there trying to get my things off the shelf, if you know what I mean.

It took me the longest to get used to that here. I don't know why. The aisles here are much narrower, for starters, and the shops are a bit more crowded, because there are less shops to go to around here. I seriously cried in Asda twice because I was so overwhelmed with all the people trying to run me over with their trollies and practically shoving me out of the way to get things off the shelf. I think part of it, too, was just me. There were so many unfamiliar things on the shelves that I would just stand there and sort of space out on everything, and not be paying attention, so maybe it seemed I hadn't been standing there long when I actually had. In such cases, I guess I understand people reaching around me. I'm definitely much more used to it now. Granted, I never feel I can really take my time when shopping anymore, because everyone else around me seems to be in a hurry, but I guess it's not a bad thing to learn to move quicker, get what I need, and get the hell out!

Knowing my way around the shops helps a lot, so I know where things are, and just having a list or a good idea of what I am looking for helps, and then knowing what the item looks like here (the buttermilk is in a small container by the soured cream, for example, not in a carton by the regular milk) and I try to scope out what I am going for in advance and time my entrance and exit right so I can grab whatever it is I want without conflict.  

Totally. And I can completely sympathize with the buttermilk thing. Argh. It's not that I think there's anything wrong with sticking the buttermilk near the sour cream, but it was another reminder that I wasn't *quite* as up on everything as the people around me (who never seemed to be circling the store for the tenth time looking for stuff).

On the plus side, at least for us, the buttermilk is also right next to the lovely full-fat fruit yogurt we like.  Bonus!