the things you never knew you never knew

Recently I've been thinking of a lot of things that have since become normal but I realise do strike as very different.
In the UK, there is no such thing as jaywalking. Out walking with a group of Brits, I have on several occasions been asked, "Is it true that in America it's against the law to cross the street when you're not supposed to?"

I guess when you think about, if that's how you've always had it then you don't think about it. But for us, we have rules about when you're not allowed to cross the same way you have the "right of way", or more accurately the "necessity to yield". Still I think most people have the impression that jaywalking is enforced when I have never heard of anyone actually being fined for such an action.

I have on several occasions been asked, "Why does America have so many stop signs?"
Until those moments I forget that a stop sign is a rare sight on British streets. They just know to stop or not to stop, depending. Many intersections that might be governed by stop signs in America are replaced by the roundabout.
I hate roundabouts.

A lot of things are not as refrigerated than at home. Grocery store eggs are typically located near the milk and cheese, but on the opposite side of the aisle where they are not refrigerated. You would not believe how often I see unrefrigerated margarine and milk, for that matter.

I was once asked, "But I thought Americans didn't drink tea?"
I was once told, "Americans don't understand how to make tea." I think that if your standard of tea is so low it requires the universal addition of milk then you can't judge. Not to sound judgmental myself, of course.
The electric kettle is a bit of a strange invention, if you ask me.

I had haggis for the fifth time tonight!
Several times I have heard with surprise, "Wait, you don't have haggis is America?"
Once I was asked if I knew what a baked potato was.
Several times I have been confronted with foods cooked "American style" and they never taste right.
I have learned to stay away from ketchup this side of the ocean.

Sultanas are raisins.