There are so many little things about the US that you don’t truly appreciate until you are gone for a long time and then move back. Here are some that have been making me smile as I get reaquainted with my home country…
- Running to Target at 9:30 pm for the CD you must have, the supermarket at 11 pm to appease a craving or Wal-Mart at 7 am to grab cold medicine before work. Nowhere in the UK is open early or late. Seriously – most everything closes at 6 or 7. (Although I admit it wasn’t much better here last night when we wanted pizza at 11 pm.)
- Butter on popcorn at the movies.
- Outback. Prime rib – did you know they don’t do that cut in the UK???
- Red Sox games, Paw Sox games, Patriots Training Camp and live coverage of Shaq joining the Celtics.
- Country music on the radio. I constantly had my ipod on rather than listen to the very few stations there that seemed to be all 80s, techno or talk. Sure, I like all types of music but I can’t live without country!
- Live awards shows. You actually watch them WHILE they are happening – at least most of them. In the UK, you know all the winners by the time they edit and air it.
- Fun commercials. Most UK commercials are harsh, lecturing life lessons. Seeing a tree go through the windshield into a person’s body and piercing his heart; watching a woman slip in the kitchen and literally crack her head open – very graphic. Ugh. Give me the Geico gecko any day!
- Not having to wait an extra week/month/year to see the movie or TV show everyone’s talking about. Most movies come out later in the UK and many TV shows are at least a week – if not a season – behind the US.
- Toll booths. Yes, toll booths – so that you KNOW you have to pay a toll. Beware if you drive in London M-F from 7 am – 6 pm: you have to pay the congestion charge but there’s nowhere that you actually stop and pay it!
- Dunkin’ Donuts. Iced tea, coffee coolata, munchkins.
And for me personally…
- Impromptu texts from my cousin like ‘want to get an ice cream?’
- Grabbing a DVD and spending the evening on my best friend’s couch watching and gabbing.
- Family dinners.
- Crafts with my goddaughters.
- Best of all: being here for my weddings, showers, and all the other fun family events. Definitely can’t get that in London!
What do you love about the USA?
PS – I must add that Nick really thought that to be fair I should do 15 things I love about London. I explained I think i’ve done that and am constantly saying all I miss about London, but now need to focus on the positive of being HERE. So to clarify, this in no way implies I don’t still love London …
Amy's America 
I can’t say anything about missing the USA, because I’ve never been outside the country, but in traveling to the South to see my mom, I found that I missed Iced Coffee. Once you get outside of New England, they don’t know how to make a decent Iced Coffee. I’ve tried in PA, TN, FL, IL and St. Paul. They don’t make it like they do here.
My cousin Nate added another good one on my facebook: Chinese food. The Northeast specifically has the very best Chinese food!
Skittles…and people being aware of the “personal space” rule in crowds or walking on the street.
Should we send you some Skittles, Laura? 🙂 We found the walking in the street thing difficult in London too – it was like playing dodge ball to not bump into people!