After four weeks and a few days, things I am beginning to no longer notice:
Crisps are chips.
Chips are fries.
Biscuits are cookies.
Cookies aren't sweet.
Four skinless chicken breasts, 6 £ (about $9.50).
Baked beans, tomatoes, and mushrooms for breakfast.
British accents.
German, French, and Italian tourists.
No one makes eye contact.
No decaf anything.
Coca Cola made with real sugar.
Opening hours end (stores close) at 6 pm.
Fresh bread.
Recognizable ingredients (no additives) in processed food.
“Bits" or "pieces” for “stuff” or “things.”
"Bits and pieces" for underwear.
Earrings, facial piercings, brightly-colored neon hair, and visible tattoos, especially full “tattoo sleeves” on men and women of all ages.
When someone asks for my name, they mean my last name.
Open liquor and public intoxication.
Dogs off leashes; kids on.
Strollers used for kids up to and seemingly older than 5 years old.
People using canes and one-arm crutches.
Pockets full of change: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 pence, and 1 and 2 £ coins.
Bills get larger with denomination. A 50 £ note is about 8 x 5 inches.
Distances and speed are marked in miles; everything else is in metric.
24 hour clock.
CCTV (security cameras) everywhere. Everywhere.
Cask Ale served at room temperature. A pint is about a beer and half. Two pints is more than plenty.
Rolled cigarettes.
Litter, especially empty beer and wine bottles.
Buskers.
ALDI pound for cart, not a quarter.
Very little local news and almost no local interest stories.
Few to no commercials, and little to no violence on the telly.
Adult language, nudity after 9 pm on the telly.
Discussion of Scottish independence.
Dressing in layers.
Tile roofs.
No screens on windows.
No long “a” vowel sounds. Rochester is pronounced, raw-chester.
Southampton is one word and is not the same as my neighborhood, South Hampton, but is pronounced, Suv-empton. The “th” becomes “v” and the “am” becomes “em.”Heathrow airport is pronounced Heave-row.
Canterbury is pronounced, Can-eh-bree.
Lester Square is spelled Leicester.
No waitresses. Food ordered at the bar or counter.
Being asked if I have a gun.
“Cheers” for thank you.
Roman ruins.
People knowing I am an American before I speak.
Rain.
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