# Silly things I miss from the US **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 21, 2008, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-things-i-miss-from-the-us/438532 "2008-02-21T07:35:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-things-i-miss-from-the-us/438532/1 "2008-02-21T07:35:41Z")
Some days I just get a little nostalgic and start daydreaming about things from the US. Recently, a client sent me a package that was wrapped in a bunch of circulars from his Sunday newspaper, and it triggered a whole storm of nostalgia. Brands that I love, prices I recognize, just silly little memories inside a wad of crumpled paper. Things I miss from the US: Cheap, unlimited broadband Heinz 57 Sauce Being able to choose from 40 brands at the supermarket Those stupid desserts-in-a-box from Betty Crocker (I think). Burger King People who sound like me Being able to complain about something without silently thinking “Back in America…” Perdue Chickens Houses without walls The NFL Of course, there are other, more significant things that I miss, but those are just a few of the little things that make me miss home every once in a while. This was made obvious by my stupid overjoyous reaction to finding Willy Wonka candy at the store the other day. I just had to buy some, even though I never ate it as an adult when I had unlimited access to it back home. If you left your country for another, what little things that you associate with your country would you miss? ETA: By houses without walls, I mean around the perimeter of the yard, not the structural, “keep the weather and bugs out” type walls. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-things-i-miss-from-the-us/438532/2 "2008-02-21T07:41:01Z")
bagels used book stores burritos avocados being readily available and not costing a fortune modern heating insulation Herdez salsa cheddar cheese artisan breads ---
**Author:** ![Dottygumdrop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Dottygumdrop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dottygumdrop)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-things-i-miss-from-the-us/438532/3 "2008-02-21T07:46:10Z")
grass green trees decent sushi bars yum cha (aka dim sum) houses without walls (yeah, it drives me nuts too! Oh, for a house with a normal front garden!) real book stores! Turkish pide ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-things-i-miss-from-the-us/438532/4 "2008-02-21T08:32:08Z")
Free refils for coffee Muffins … basically any other “diner” food - hash browns, hotcakes, you name it. Sandwiches with humungous amounts of meat Gigantic bookstores Cheap DVDs Subways (the public transport, not the restaurants) Snow Now that I think of it, mostly I miss Manhattan. Oh well. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-things-i-miss-from-the-us/438532/5 "2008-02-21T08:42:50Z")
Incidentally, what does a “house without walls” mean? Like, a tent? ---
**Author:** ![Dottygumdrop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Dottygumdrop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dottygumdrop)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-things-i-miss-from-the-us/438532/6 "2008-02-21T08:55:24Z")
It means a house with a fence (or nothing) around the outer property boundary, rather than a huge 7-foot high concrete/brick wall, designed (at least in this corner of the world) to stop prying eyes from looking at the delicate flowers of women who can only release their burnished tresses from their head-scarves in the privacy of the _zenana_! ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-things-i-miss-from-the-us/438532/7 "2008-02-21T09:15:22Z")
I would never volunta rily leave England, never in a million years. However if such a move became unavoidable the things I would miss are: Soccer, in particular my own beloved Manchester City Fish 'n Chips British TV The softness of English rain A beautiful summers dawn when all is quiet, mist drifting across the meadows The sound of church bells from a distance …other things to numerous to list ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-things-i-miss-from-the-us/438532/8 "2008-02-21T09:25:21Z")
Where do you live that doesn’t have Burger King, **TellMeI’mNotCrazy**? ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-things-i-miss-from-the-us/438532/9 "2008-02-21T09:31:05Z")
South Africa. Not a Whopper in sight. Plenty of McDonalds though. ---
**Author:** ![CatInASuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3be4f8/32.png) [@CatInASuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CatInASuit)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-things-i-miss-from-the-us/438532/10 "2008-02-21T09:50:37Z")
The most important thing I would miss. God’s Gift to food: **Marmite** ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-things-i-miss-from-the-us/438532/11 "2008-02-21T10:07:36Z")
Hot water, Not having to worry about malaria Slurpees (they have them in Singapore, though) Shoes large enough to fit my feet Autumn and winter Driving My dog My stuff (most of it in storage) Broadband ETA no BK here, but that’s okay and Salsa Mexican food cocktails be able to legally consume wine and beer ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-things-i-miss-from-the-us/438532/12 "2008-02-21T10:11:03Z")
Doctors I feel I can trust (e.g., those not in the habit of prescribing a bunch of unnecessary antibiotics, because their other patients would be _disappointed_ if they didn’t go home with a bagful of medicine for the common cold) The horizon. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-things-i-miss-from-the-us/438532/13 "2008-02-21T10:19:30Z")
Doctors is a good one, add dentists too. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-things-i-miss-from-the-us/438532/14 "2008-02-21T10:42:41Z")
Dentists I have no complaint, I’m catching up on 10 years’ worth of dental work now that I’m back in Taiwan. US dental coverage sucks, even assuming you can get it. I can understand that conditions might not be the same in SE Asia, though. ---
**Author:** ![Surok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@Surok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surok)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-things-i-miss-from-the-us/438532/15 "2008-02-21T11:01:32Z")
Marmite Public libraries Used book stores (English language) Health care (i.e. doctors that say ‘you have a virus’ rather than ‘you sat in a draft, that’s why you’re sick’) Marmalade Pork pies OTOH, when in the UK I miss: Pickled garlic The fact that every car on the street is a potential taxi Book stores (Russian language) Georgian food - all those walnuts and aubergines and spices ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-things-i-miss-from-the-us/438532/16 "2008-02-21T11:13:19Z")
[QUOTE=chowder] Soccer, in particular my own beloved Manchester City [/quote] I presume you are currently quietly pleased. 🙂 > [@](#): > > The softness of English rain Plenty of that in Manchester. 🙂 > [@](#): > > A beautiful summers dawn when all is quiet, mist drifting across the meadows > The sound of church bells from a distance Ahh… ---
**Author:** ![GomiBoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b2d939/32.png) [@GomiBoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GomiBoy)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-things-i-miss-from-the-us/438532/17 "2008-02-21T11:15:21Z")
**Things I miss:** Dentists that don’t suck or take 6 months to get an appointment Nurses (especially those who take blood) who are actually skilled and don’t leave you with bruises lasting for weeks after taking a blood sample (more) Affordable housing Less population pressure (i.e. less crowding) Friendly people who actually talk to each other in public Fewer hugely drunken assholes on the streets on a night, Especially like the charming young lady the other night on the bus who started a fight with a random other person and ended up spitting on the woman just behind me for some obscure reason and then decided my girlfriend was ‘eyeing’ her. I so wanted to beat her ass, but had to settle with laughing at her when she got off the bus Fewer acts of random violence (generally stopping short of murder), usually alcohol fueled Lower taxes Cheaper cost of living Mountains Snow Clean air Room to breath **Things I _don’t_ miss** Complete strangers telling you their entire life history, including diseases, miscarriages, divorces, etc… and then getting upset when you don’t do the same back Arrogant, rude, ignorant people who don’t understand there is life outside the borders of the United States and that sometimes the US is not the guys in the white hats Cops with absolutely no sense of humour who are also heavily armed Too many murders it was a huge deal here that 21 young black men were killed from January 2007 in South London; that’s like a sixth of the murder rate of young black men in NYC and that didn’t even make the papers.I love the fact that a murder, especially a gun murder, is still a BIG deal here Paying for medical and dental care Piss-poor news that stops at the borders of the US Expensive travel outside the US No, or not enough, holiday time (two weeks? You must be bloody joking!) ---
**Author:** ![GomiBoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b2d939/32.png) [@GomiBoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GomiBoy)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-things-i-miss-from-the-us/438532/18 "2008-02-21T11:22:32Z")
[QUOTE=chowder] I would never voluntarily leave England, never in a million years. However if such a move became unavoidable the things I would miss are: Soccer, in particular my own beloved Manchester City Fish 'n Chips British TV The softness of English rain A beautiful summers dawn when all is quiet, mist drifting across the meadows The sound of church bells from a distance …other things to numerous to list [/QUOTE] Should start a new thread - things I will miss from England if I ever leave. Your list will be pretty close to mine, except British TV I won’t miss much and couldn’t care less about Man City or any particular team, I just like to watch the games. I’d add in: 4 discrete seasons - gentle rain and cool (spring), little rain and warm and sometimes sunny (summer), lots of rain and wind (autumn), rain and cold with beautiful mists and fogs (winter) - that are all temperate and lovely The ocean never more than 70 miles away Pubs, especially lazy Sundays in them Beer! Travel is so easy from here British Seaside Towns (no, not Blackpool, but lots of others are wonderful!) English Eccentricity - I especially love the people dressed up like mountain climbers walking along footpaths in London’s parks (especially Richmond and Bushy Parks) right beside families with pushchairs ---
**Author:** ![Shecky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@Shecky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shecky)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-things-i-miss-from-the-us/438532/19 "2008-02-21T12:54:43Z")
[QUOTE=madmonk28] Hot water, Not having to worry about malaria… Shoes large enough to fit my feet… Autumn and winter Driving [/QUOTE] I hear you on the damn shoes. Not even like my feet are that big (10-10.5 US), but also pants that fit. I’m a typical american. So, I’m taller and fatter than the general populace of Brazil. Oh, add to the list: people that obey traffic laws. Hershey’s, and Reese’s any peanut butter, really maple syrup gas service courtesy ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-things-i-miss-from-the-us/438532/20 "2008-02-21T12:55:18Z")
[QUOTE=Quartz] I presume you are currently quietly pleased. 🙂 Pleased is hardly the word, try ecstatic 😃 Plenty of that in Manchester. 🙂 Surprisingly we haven’t really had that much rain, however it’s bloody cold at the moment Ahh… [/QUOTE] Ahh…indeed [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silly-things-i-miss-from-the-us/438532.md?page=2)