What was the transition like?

[KnightAndMagpie 7]

=D This is to all you happy peeps who have made your move to the US.

I'm pretty used to the culture as I went to an international school here in the UK predominantly occupied by good ol' yanks. I still know, though, that I'll experience massive culture shock and I'll have to get used to a whole plethora of things. I was just wondering what everyone else's experiences were like, and what they were able to do to manage with the homesickness, the culture, etc. I know, for one, that you mention crisps and they give you a weird look (crisps? What are those? Oh, CHIPS. They're called chips. (Pfft)). Knight also likes to tease me about my accent and the way I pronounce things like "tomato" and so on .

I've also heard that people don't freak out on the underground like they do in the UK if you're standing in close proximity to them (been on the Tube recently so I'd know). I'm not sure about encountering drunken Royal Holloway students dancing around/rolling on the floor to buskers playing on the Underground, that seems pretty unique to here =P.

Any thoughts, comments?

Magpie.

[Stinky Monkey 1]

The one thing that I am learning but slowly is personal space.........

When we go to restaurants and we are in the line (haha turning american already and not there yet) Todd is always there pulling me back, we are so used to standing up close to people while waiting and it seems to be a bit of a no no there give them as much space as possible.

He did actually tell me off in a supermarket when I reached over someones cart to get something off a shelf, aparantly it is not done there, I am so used to a big scramble at Tesco's. I will have to get used to it ha ha

the funniest thing ever was at Kroger I was looking at vegetables and I must say the selection over there is not as good as here, and I heard this rumbling, thought that they were moving something upstairs but oh no the rumbling is a supposed to be thunder, so as I had no idea I got wet as the sprinklers came on. They water the veg there to keep it fresh...........how was I supposed to know hahahahaha

I am making a start though on what they call things

corgettes = zuchini

corriander = celantro

also went out and bought set of cups to measure with as they use that and sticks of butter.......oh well baking is gonna be fun

[govols 0]

Forget the baking after over 3 years here i've come to realise not only is the food you can buy limited but its almost impossible to buy the ingredients to make the things your used to in UK so you have to just get used to whats here.

No more

Meat Pies

Decent Bread or butter

Curry

Chinese food

Chocolate

and many many many other things

Just get used to Ribs, barbecue sauce and Chicken wings and you won't be to dissapointed

Edited January 25, 2009 by govols

[Stinky Monkey 1]

Well I am in trouble then as I am a vege ha ha

Just will have to get used to splashing out more money for groceries and shop at whole foods and thank god for the net will be searching out things for I need.

[Laura+Tom 2]

Forget the baking after over 3 years here i've come to realise not only is the food you can buy limited but its almost impossible to buy the ingredients to make the things your used to in UK so you have to just get used to whats here.

No more

Meat Pies

Decent Bread or butter

Curry

Chinese food

Chocolate

and many many many other things

Just get used to Ribs, barbecue sauce and Chicken wings and you won't be to dissapointed

I make my own curry and chinese from scratch so won't have any trouble making those. In fact when Tom lived in the UK we did all our food shopping at the commissary on base and made things just fine, it's just knowing what to substitute for what.

I will be making my own bread, you can buy the flour from various online british supermarkets, same with the chocolate.

I'm hoping my transition will be ok, I've worked with Americans (military) in an American environment and I've spent a far amount of time in the US. But there is bound to be a few things that will get me, mainly the homesickness and missing the British way of live (to an extent).

[govols 0]

Forget the baking after over 3 years here i've come to realise not only is the food you can buy limited but its almost impossible to buy the ingredients to make the things your used to in UK so you have to just get used to whats here.

No more

Meat Pies

Decent Bread or butter

Curry

Chinese food

Chocolate

and many many many other things

Just get used to Ribs, barbecue sauce and Chicken wings and you won't be to dissapointed

I make my own curry and chinese from scratch so won't have any trouble making those. In fact when Tom lived in the UK we did all our food shopping at the commissary on base and made things just fine, it's just knowing what to substitute for what.

I will be making my own bread, you can buy the flour from various online british supermarkets, same with the chocolate.

I'm hoping my transition will be ok, I've worked with Americans (military) in an American environment and I've spent a far amount of time in the US. But there is bound to be a few things that will get me, mainly the homesickness and missing the British way of live (to an extent).

Good luck with your weekly shopping then

Well I am in trouble then as I am a vege ha ha

Just will have to get used to splashing out more money for groceries and shop at whole foods and thank god for the net will be searching out things for I need.

Well at least you won't have any problems getting salad they serve everything here with a ton of the stuff

[Big Papa Zone 93]

Well at least you won't have any problems getting salad they serve everything here with a ton of the stuff

Yep - all smothered in wonderful ranch dressing!! Man, I love that stuff.

And I don't know what part of the states some of you are living at, but there are chinese restaurants everywhere, even in hicksville where me and 'er indoors are.

[Laura+Tom 2]

Forget the baking after over 3 years here i've come to realise not only is the food you can buy limited but its almost impossible to buy the ingredients to make the things your used to in UK so you have to just get used to whats here.

No more

Meat Pies

Decent Bread or butter

Curry

Chinese food

Chocolate

and many many many other things

Just get used to Ribs, barbecue sauce and Chicken wings and you won't be to dissapointed

I make my own curry and chinese from scratch so won't have any trouble making those. In fact when Tom lived in the UK we did all our food shopping at the commissary on base and made things just fine, it's just knowing what to substitute for what.

I will be making my own bread, you can buy the flour from various online british supermarkets, same with the chocolate.

I'm hoping my transition will be ok, I've worked with Americans (military) in an American environment and I've spent a far amount of time in the US. But there is bound to be a few things that will get me, mainly the homesickness and missing the British way of live (to an extent).

Good luck with your weekly shopping then

You don't sound so sure lol.

I've been seeing what supermarkets we have nearby, and I'm pretty confident I can replicate most foods. I'm pretty thrilled we have a World Market where I can get curry sauces if I can't be bothered to make my own.

One of the major issues I did have was that most of the foods I make are passata based, which I haven't seen around. Instead it's mostly pasta sauce which just isn't the same. But wizzed up cans of peeled tomato does the same job. I think if you like cooking and are willing to experiment then you'll get by just fine.

[govols 0]

Well at least you won't have any problems getting salad they serve everything here with a ton of the stuff

Yep - all smothered in wonderful ranch dressing!! Man, I love that stuff.

And I don't know what part of the states some of you are living at, but there are chinese restaurants everywhere, even in hicksville where me and 'er indoors are.

Yes there are plenty of chinese restaurants but they lack chinese food. You'll find it nothing like your used to.

[govols 0]

My best advise to anyone would be take a typical weeks menu that you would cook an eat in England then when you visit the states go to what will be your local supermarket in the states and try buying and cooking the same that way you will not be too shocked when you get here for permanent and can't find the things your used to or just do as i said before and accept that the food is different and get used to what is here.

Edited January 25, 2009 by govols

[Big Papa Zone 93]

Well at least you won't have any problems getting salad they serve everything here with a ton of the stuff

Yep - all smothered in wonderful ranch dressing!! Man, I love that stuff.

And I don't know what part of the states some of you are living at, but there are chinese restaurants everywhere, even in hicksville where me and 'er indoors are.

Yes there are plenty of chinese restaurants but they lack chinese food. You'll find it nothing like your used to.

No, they don't lack Chinese food (I'm pretty sure that the family that own the Dynasty restaurant in our hick town are Chinese, cuz if they aint then it's the best makeup job I've ever seen ) it's just a slightly different take on what we're used to. It's still chicken, rice, noodles and sh!t.

[govols 0]

Well at least you won't have any problems getting salad they serve everything here with a ton of the stuff

Yep - all smothered in wonderful ranch dressing!! Man, I love that stuff.

And I don't know what part of the states some of you are living at, but there are chinese restaurants everywhere, even in hicksville where me and 'er indoors are.

Yes there are plenty of chinese restaurants but they lack chinese food. You'll find it nothing like your used to.

No, they don't lack Chinese food (I'm pretty sure that the family that own the Dynasty restaurant in our hick town are Chinese, cuz if they aint then it's the best makeup job I've ever seen ) it's just a slightly different take on what we're used to. It's still chicken, rice, noodles and sh!t.

No one said the people weren't chinese just that the food is limited due to not being able to get the ingredients. All i can say to you is good luck all i wanted to do was help prepare you for what is coming but if you don't want my advise then feel free to scroll through the endless numbers of previous threads about people who miss the food.

Edited January 25, 2009 by govols

[Big Papa Zone 93]

Well at least you won't have any problems getting salad they serve everything here with a ton of the stuff

Yep - all smothered in wonderful ranch dressing!! Man, I love that stuff.

And I don't know what part of the states some of you are living at, but there are chinese restaurants everywhere, even in hicksville where me and 'er indoors are.

Yes there are plenty of chinese restaurants but they lack chinese food. You'll find it nothing like your used to.

No, they don't lack Chinese food (I'm pretty sure that the family that own the Dynasty restaurant in our hick town are Chinese, cuz if they aint then it's the best makeup job I've ever seen ) it's just a slightly different take on what we're used to. It's still chicken, rice, noodles and sh!t.

No one said the people weren't chinese just that the food is limited due to not being able to get the ingredients. All i can say to you is good luck all i wanted to do was help prepare you for what is coming but if you don't want my advise then feel free to scroll through the endless numbers of previous threads about people who miss the food.

Way to get overly defensive, mate - I wasn't having a pop at you, ffs.

[govols 0]

Well at least you won't have any problems getting salad they serve everything here with a ton of the stuff

Yep - all smothered in wonderful ranch dressing!! Man, I love that stuff.

And I don't know what part of the states some of you are living at, but there are chinese restaurants everywhere, even in hicksville where me and 'er indoors are.

Yes there are plenty of chinese restaurants but they lack chinese food. You'll find it nothing like your used to.

No, they don't lack Chinese food (I'm pretty sure that the family that own the Dynasty restaurant in our hick town are Chinese, cuz if they aint then it's the best makeup job I've ever seen ) it's just a slightly different take on what we're used to. It's still chicken, rice, noodles and sh!t.

No one said the people weren't chinese just that the food is limited due to not being able to get the ingredients. All i can say to you is good luck all i wanted to do was help prepare you for what is coming but if you don't want my advise then feel free to scroll through the endless numbers of previous threads about people who miss the food.

Way to get overly defensive, mate - I wasn't having a pop at you, ffs.

And whatever you do BRING YOUR DUVET WITH YOU!!!!!!!!

[KnightAndMagpie 7]

=D You've all been really helpful, lots lovely responses here. And chill it's a friendly thread (or at least, I hope I've got that going here).

The coriander thing is important...I've got mild allergies to it (it really depends on how it's cooked), and I actually have a friend doing a year out in Canada who had that same problem in a restaurant.

I'm pretty adventurous and experimental with my food, and I do like a variety (and I do cook/bake!). Knight is of the "throw-it-in-the-microwave-and-hope-it-works" line of cheffing, but I've already told him that I'll damn well cook when I get there and have real food. I've learned to be creative with a microwave 'cause my pantry in my university flat has no freezer (just a fridge) and, indeed, a microwave. I'm really adaptable and my little experiments have been more or less successful (just don't ask about the cake that exploded in the oven).

Knight apparently eats out a lot, which I hope to change as well...looks like I'll have my hands full. And I do like some American chocolate, but to be brutally honest, most of it is just blarrgh. I hope that I can find solid dark chocolate and make my own truffles or something (I'm not much of a milk chocolate fan).

I've always wanted to try my hand at baking bread, and my friend (the one in Canada) has a wonderful Dutch mother who bakes herself, so I might try and learn a few things from her.

Knight's up in Alaska, and I don't know how they define groceries but it seems like it's mostly microwaveable stuff and the occasional ingredients for something a little less...microwavey.

Seems like food's the biggest thing (I have an idea of the whole personal space deal).

=D Got any good recipes?

Magpie.

Edited January 25, 2009 by KnightAndMagpie