As a 35-year-old American mom living in the UK, taking my three Welsh children to the US for the first time in eight years was an exciting and eye-opening experience for all of us. The differences between the two countries were immediately apparent to my kids, who were surprised by the size of cars and roads, the prevalence of air conditioning, and the abundance of ice in drinks.
Upon landing in Washington, DC, my children were quick to notice that the cars in the US were much bigger than what they were used to seeing in the UK. From Chevrolets to pickup trucks, the vehicles in the parking lot were a stark contrast to the smaller cars they were accustomed to back home. They also marveled at the size of the roads, which were wider and more expansive than the narrow and winding roads in the UK.
The concept of overpasses and highways was also new to my kids, who were used to UK motorways converging at roundabouts instead. The fact that Americans drive on the opposite side of the road added to their sense of novelty and wonder as they navigated the unfamiliar streets of Washington.
One of the biggest surprises for my children was the prevalence of air conditioning in the US. In the UK, where hot weather is a rarity, homes and buildings are not equipped with air conditioning units. Upon arriving at our hotel, my kids were puzzled by the metal box making noise in the corner of our room, which turned out to be the air conditioning unit. They quickly embraced the luxury of cooling off indoors after playing in the heat outside.
Another aspect of American culture that caught my children off guard was the portion sizes and the abundance of ice in drinks. Whether dining out at a restaurant or enjoying a drink at home, my kids were amazed by the generous servings of food and the copious amounts of ice in every glass. While they enjoyed the novelty of sucking on ice cubes, they found the freezing-cold temperature of the drinks to be a bit uncomfortable.
From oversized chip bags at gas stations to enormous pancakes at restaurants, my children were astounded by the sheer size of food and drink offerings in the US. The concept of „supersizing“ was a foreign concept to them, as they had never experienced such large portions back in the UK.
Overall, our trip to the US was a memorable and enlightening experience for my children, who were able to see firsthand the cultural differences between the UK and the US. From big cars and roads to air conditioning and oversized portions, the trip was a learning opportunity for all of us. Despite the differences, we were able to appreciate and enjoy the unique aspects of American culture during our month-long visit.