100 posts

Well, here I am, 100 posts into this thing. Perhaps not the worlds most prolific blogger, but still I write, because if I don't...well, that would be giving in.

So perhaps now is a time to reflect on my time in this paradoxical nation, which befuddles me as often as it surprises.

For one, American spelling still drives my up the wall the S/Z and OU/O thing still get me most of the time. It's infuriating, but in one case I love it. American English can distinguish between analyses and analyses (or analyzes and analyses). As in "John analyses the data" or "John has run multiple analyses." Most of the time it pisses me off.

They don't use the term 'mains power' for plugging into the wall.

Their power switches have down as off.

The date system of month/day/year is utterly stupid.

And it's aluminium, by God.

As a people, they seem so fervently independent, to the point of saying "Fuck the Government" without actually understanding why. In certain situations where, I believe, governmental programs or support would be advantageous, people will scream 'socialism' in terror. And they vote Republican, because they believe it's the party of small government, which is utterly isn't.

One of the oddest things I've encountered is my rapid adaptation to the US accent. Well, being used to hearing it anyway. Not so much the godawful Boston screeching, but just the accent on the whole. It so rapidly reset to neutral that I didn't even notice it. And when I heard a kiwi accent again recently, it really threw me. I couldn't quite place it for a second. It's...odd.

And finally, American chocolate is 90% shitehouse. Sorry, but it's true.

To take it away, have some YouTube videos that will make your life a better place