UK and USA: A Comparison (Part Two)

Since I've not done anything remotely interesting since my birthday, mostly because exams are fast approaching and I have to study at least a bit, I've decided to finally post the second part of the comparison between the USA and the UK.

So here it is finally!

1. Window Screens. They don't have window screens over here. I've not seen one the whole time I've been here. I wonder how they keep the bugs out during the summer... don't they have mosquitoes?
2. Fast Food. The U.K. does have plenty of familiar fast food chains, such as Pizza Hut, Domino's, Subway, and the occasional Taco Bell. But they don't have Dairy Queen, or Sonic, or any of my favorites really. Ranch is a rarity, as I've mentioned before. I've also really been craving dill pickles recently, but they just aren't the same as at home. 
3. Pigeons. There are tons of pigeons here; I'm sure there are in the States as well, but not where I'm from. And because Manchester is pretty populated, the birds are totally comfortable around humans. They won't even move if you're walking right at it. I kicked one once (it was an accident, I promise!) and now I move for the birds.
4. Accents. I know there are different accents in America. There's the southern drawl, and the Boston accent, the Canadian-ish accent in Wisconsin.... But America is a big place; it makes sense that we have different accents. But the UK is so tiny!! It doesn't make sense that there are over 40 different accents in the British Isles. If you live in the south, you have a different accent that the north. If you live in Liverpool, you have a different accent than those that live in Manchester. London has it's own special accent. Here are some maps for visual effect:

FOOD!?!

So yesterday, my cousins ,Susan and Ray, (who are the same cousins that picked me up at the airport) took me to an American foods store, AND I FOUND SOME RANCH!! I've been dying for some ranch, and no one has it here. Not even at McDonalds. It's been rough, because I didn't have ranch for my McNuggets. The nuggets weren't the same as I was used to though. They tasted different; not a bad different, just different. Even with ranch, they wouldn't have tasted the same. All the food tastes different, even Subway and Domino's. I think it's because it's their fast food is healthier than American fast food. And what's more, they don't have Dairy Queen or Sonic, and no one understands what I'm going on about when I complain about that. They have absolutely no idea what they're missing without Dairy Queen.

My cousin, Andrew, and his fiancé, Charlotte, also took me out for dinner to TGI Fridays. So it was almost American. It wasn't quite the same, and the loaded potato skins (which are usually my favorite) tasted just slightly off. And it was served with sour cream instead of ranch. But everything was still really good, and I had a great time. Charlotte and Andrew are really great. I'd met Andrew before yesterday, but it was my first time meeting Charlotte, and she's wonderful. She's so sweet, and I can't wait to hang out with them again. They know Manchester really well, and they gave me all sorts of suggestions about places to go and see.

Susan and Ray also told me that they'd take me around to see the sights during my Easter break (which is 3 weeks long!). They're going to take me to Wales to see all the old castles around there, and take me on a couple walks to see the local scenery. They have decent sized hills practically in their backyard (which they call a garden.) Susan is also going to take me around to where my great-grandma Norah used to live during the war.

I'm so excited to finally spend time with my family, and I can't wait to get to know them even more.