Say goodbye to your little friends: Things you give up as an Expat (blog)

http://expatclaptrap.com/say-goodbye-little-friends/

Here's an excerpt:

My first time back in the states after moving here, I went to the movies- bought a giant bag of popcorn, fresh out of the machine, as big as a bathtub. I slathered it in extra “butter flavoring” and ate it all so quickly that I felt sick. Afterwards, I licked my greasy, salty fingers, and hummed the Star-Spangled Banner to myself until the movie began.

I enjoyed this one... But how in the world was MEXICAN FOOD not on your list?!? 

Some cool observations - you've brought up some points that I never even thought of before .

- Regarding the lack of people saying Merry Christmas except on Christmas Day - I can only think that it's a bit like wishing someone Happy Birthday... you would only say it to them on their actual birthday, not for a month or so beforehand... so I guess, Christmas Day is thought of in the same way - it's Jesus' (so-called) birthday, so we only say it on the actual day. That way, it's special when we do say it because it means it's 'actually' Christmas .

- I don't know what it is about people not introducing themselves to each other... when I started university, I spent an entire week talking and hanging out with the girl who would become my best friend... and I never even knew her name! It was kind of awkward when I had to ask what her name was a week into the friendship .

- You mention that there are so many self-service tills in UK stores, but I remember seeing them in stores in the US a few years before they arrived in the UK.

- Doggie bags: a lot more restaurants in the UK will give you doggy bags now than they used to, but you're right, it's still not really a 'done' thing. A few years ago, we were eating Sunday lunch in a Wetherspoons and my brother asked for a doggy bag. The response: "We're not allowed to give you one, in case you go home, reheat the food, get food poisoning and then decide to sue us!"

- Movie popcorn: I refuse to pay the extortionate prices they charge for popcorn in the cinemas , so I've never actually noticed whether it's freshly-made or not .

- Bagels: I've never had a real New York bagel, although I have eaten bagels in the US and much prefer them over there. I think it's just that bagels are pretty new to the UK and no one really knows what they are supposed to taste like, so they just do their best imitation of them... a bit like Mexican food in the UK . One of my colleagues will bring in a whole bag of bagels to work and then he eats them all dry - I have no idea how he manages it!

We didn't give up our American Football when we moved to the UK. Hubby fell in love with it when he lived here. We'd just nap on game day so we'd be ready for the late night, sometimes even 1am, kickoffs. Friends would come over occasionally, one friend who was a night owl was over for most games. We have friends who became fans because of us, and other friends who discovered it on their own, which made it fun since we had others we could talk to about the sport.

I know it isn't big in the UK by any means, but we happened to luck out, I suppose.

Hearing 'all the best' in the lead up to Christmas was hard for me to get used to. I understand the reasoning behind waiting until Christmas to say it, but I'm one of those Christmas fanatics who would say it from November 1 to Valentine's Day if the world would let me. 

You can get Goldfish crackers in the UK. They're called Finz. They're a bit more expensive but since no one else buys them they often go on offer.

My grandma was determined to send all flavours of Goldfish to us (mainly DH) until we realised we can get the plain ones here. I've also seen the pizza flavoured Goldfish here but I'm not a fan.

This was so funny!  I especially loved the part about the pre-made sandwiches. I have actually written to companies about how awful they are (and SO expensive for the sliver or two of meat that you get!). I'm from Philly and I miss freshly-made hoagies sooooooooooo much.

Food -- food -- food.  You'd think all we Americans do is eat 

Hafta say up here in t'North there are quite a few gabby shop assistants.  I can never get one Waitrose check-out assistant to shut up.

Spam!  You can get Spam in Sainsbury's.  There's even a UK Spam website.  http://www.spam-uk.com/

Enjoy!

You can get Goldfish crackers in the UK. They're called Finz. They're a bit more expensive but since no one else buys them they often go on offer.

My grandma was determined to send all flavours of Goldfish to us (mainly DH) until we realised we can get the plain ones here. I've also seen the pizza flavoured Goldfish here but I'm not a fan.

   Any chance you've seen the extra-flavor Sour Cream and Onion ones?  I will die if I can get those here.

- Bagels: I've never had a real New York bagel, although I have eaten bagels in the US and much prefer them over there. I think it's just that bagels are pretty new to the UK and no one really knows what they are supposed to taste like, so they just do their best imitation of them... a bit like Mexican food in the UK . One of my colleagues will bring in a whole bag of bagels to work and then he eats them all dry - I have no idea how he manages it!

Add it to the bucket list.  New York Bagels (Bah-gulls to some) are worth the hype.  I don't even live in New York and I miss freshly made everything bagels with light butter.  Yum!

New York Bagels (Bah-gulls to some) are worth the hype. 

Things New Yorkers do better than southerners:

Bagels
Pizza
Hoagie/grinder/sub
Cheesecake
Pastrami
Sunday gravy (pasta sauce)

I'll give you these...

Your potato salad is awful, however...

  Any chance you've seen the extra-flavor Sour Cream and Onion ones?  I will die if I can get those here.

Sorry - I've only seen the plain Goldfish and pizza flavoured ones.

Maybe get the regular ones and make them flavoured with Chex-Mix-style baking (butter + seasonings poured over the crackers then baked to crispen them up). Won't be the same, I know, but might be better than nothing.

- Bagels: I've never had a real New York bagel, although I have eaten bagels in the US and much prefer them over there. I think it's just that bagels are pretty new to the UK and no one really knows what they are supposed to taste like, so they just do their best imitation of them... a bit like Mexican food in the UK . One of my colleagues will bring in a whole bag of bagels to work and then he eats them all dry - I have no idea how he manages it!

Well, there've been bagels in England since the nineteenth century, probably.  But until recent years, they were only to be found in Jewish bakeries.  Only recently have they been available in common or garden supermarkets etc.  I find bagels in regular supermarkets and such pretty unacceptable whether in the US or UK.  Gotta get the genuine ones from a Jewish bakery in Montreal, NYC, .. or London!

I don't mind supermarket bagels in the NYC style in the US.  Surprisingly, Panera Bread does some great flavors.  None beat a fresh one, though.  The ones in the UK are too dry for my taste and only seem to come in plain.

The ones in the UK are too dry for my taste and only seem to come in plain.

They are very dry - I find them too chewy as well. But New York Bakery brand ones sold in the UK do come in a few different flavours now:
http://www.tesco.com/groceries/product/search/default.aspx?searchBox=new+york+bakery&newSort=true&search=Search