Until my husband got seriously ill in Chicago, I’d never spend a prolonged period of time in the same city (other than my home city, London). Even during my year out travelling, I had never stayed in one place for long and I have never lived abroad (yet). So, there I was stuck in America for six weeks. Now, while there are many aspects of America I truly appreciate and admire, the people in Chicago, for example, they were wonderful people. But there were also some I don’t like so much. Here are five things I do NOT miss about America.
1. The Starbucks on almost every corner…
I wouldn’t mind but they don’t even do great coffee.
2. The TV adverts
Commercial breaks are longer and more frequent in America than the UK but what amazed me was the majority are advertising drugs (the legal kind obviously). With no NHS but a private health care system, the power of pharmaceutical companies is evident every time you switch on the TV. There are adverts selling everything from high blood pressure pills to blood thinning medication and valium.
I quickly learnt there was a tried and tested formula for these ads. They would start with a sick looking person or couple (usually elderly) looking a bit ill or wincing in pain. Next, the virtues of the product is explained. Then, over one minute is dedicated to reading out the ‘disclaimer’. You know, the side effects detailed on the bit of paper inside pill packets which most people just chuck away. So, a long list of pretty frightening things that could potentially happen if you take this medicine is read out… everything from sickness and diarrhoea to kidney failure and infertility. To finish, we see the person(s) skipping along feeling great after taking said medication. These are usually around 2/3 minutes long and are on all the time!
When they aren’t trying to flog you the latest drug, American TV adverts are trying to get you to claim compensation for a faulty pill or dodgy medical product. The funniest most surprising we saw was for a bad batch of ‘Transvaginal Bladder mesh’… Yep. Really! 
There was also this rather frightening one too.
3. American TV
When we did manage to catch some of the programming in-between the commercial breaks, there wasn’t much that had us hooked. There are a lot of news channels, repeated programs, mind-numbing reality shows (don’t mind it now and then but not all the time) and there’s no 9 o’clock watershed! They were showing really violent films during the day which had a load of swearing in too!
4. The Large Food Portions
Everything is bigger in America, including the portion sizes. Restaurants serve the most gigantic plates of food. No normal person can eat it all, surely. Ever. It seems such a waste. Most of the food is super salty too! This was a light lunch.
Even when you attempt to be healthy and get a salad it comes on a mammoth plate and (unless requested otherwise) a boat-load of dressing smothered all over it.
And the children’s portions weren’t any smaller either…
As we were staying in a hotel throughout our six week stay, we had little option but to eat out. A lot. Told by his doctors to consume a low sodium diet, my hubby really struggled although soon began to regain the weight he’d lost! I’ve never been so glad to get home to a normal diet and cook our own food.
Of course, our first meal back in England had to be a takeaway (it’s kind of a tradition). And it had to be… yup, you guessed it… fish and chips (with mushy peas on the side). Yum! The diet had to wait one more day. 
5. The Chocolate
American chocolate…it’s just not that great, is it? I find it tastes a bit cardboardy. I’ve never been a fan of Hersheys but even the much hyped (and expensive) Ghirardelli left me disappointed. You can’t beat European chocolate, can you? The Swiss and Belgians have got it sussed and there’s nothing wrong with a bit of Cadburys too.
These weren’t all for us! We got them as a thank you for the hospital nurses who looked after my husband
Have you been to America? Do any of these sound familiar? Is there anything you particularly disliked, or loved about America? As ever, I would love to hear from you. Just comment below.
To be fair the food is great if you are there for 2 weeks or less. My favourite drink was a concrete (a mega thick milkshake). Can’t imagine the cardiac doctors would be happy with me drinking that tho.
No, neither do I Paul… nor the cup of melted plain cooking chocolate they sell as a ‘hot chocolate’.
Elizabeth, I went to America when I was a teenager and can remember the massive portion sizes. I can’t really comment on the other things, apart from the Starbucks. I lived in Italy for 7.5 years and the coffee there is super excellent. That is one thing I miss about living in Italy 🙂
Cathy recently posted…All in Porto
Hey Cathy, they are huge, aren’t they! Lucky you living in Italy for so long. Italian coffee is super strong and the food is just divine! X
Glad you’re all home now! I’ve been to America a few times. I recall loving the all you can eat buffets the first few times – and then taking a moment to look around at the people who ate there all the time. Definitely not a healthy way to live your life – but fun for a couple of days! #pocolo
Christine recently posted…5 free things to do in Cardiff
Haha! Yes, can you imagine eating that all the time? I’m not surprised they have an obesity issue. Very unhealthy but,as you say, for a few days (just not 6 weeks)! X
I’ve never been to America if/when I do, I definitely want to include Chicago. I lived abroad for a couple of years though, in a remote part of Greece about 25 years ago, and remember missing chocolate and marmite, and proper green – the landscape was beautiful, but has none of the lushness we get here in spring.
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Hi Caz, Chicago is definitely worth a visit! Love Greece but you are right, it’s so barren. I do love the greenery here in the Uk – I’m just not so keen on the rain! x
I would love the Large Food Portions….lol Just for a few weeks I can imagine them getting a bit too much….Hersheys chocolate is rank isn’t it….It’s just not the same as ours is it x
Kim Carberry recently posted…Never ending Laundry….. #WotW
Hi Kim, yes- it’s a bit of a novelty to start with but definitely gets too much… The chocolate really isn’t the same – could wait to get back and eat some proper choc x
I miss NBA though. I am so in love with this game. Its so sad that they are not a big fan of basketball here. #pocolo
Merlinda Little ( @pixiedusk) recently posted…Word of the Week : Together
Ah, NBA – it’s on all the time over there! I was educating my daughter on the different sports: basketball and ice hockey too. She got pretty good at recognising them on TV. X
I went to America on my honeymoon, for 3 weeks, it was totally awesome, as they say! You are sooooo right about the food portions – I couldn’t believe it when I asked for a side order of onion rings and a plate as big as my dinner plate came out – don’t order side orders in America, you don’t need them! It is really hard to stay healthy, we couldn’t find fruit or veg anywhere! The ads are really annoying, it was almost impossible to watch TV, luckily we were too busy to care. The weird things that we noticed were, there were gaps in the toilet cubicles so people could see you pee – whats that about?! You can’t walk anywhere and there are like no signs, so its really easy to get lost! The people are really friendly though and they really know what service means, plus their national parks are the most beautiful places I have ever seen, especially Yosemite.
Katrina Chambers recently posted…Easter Fun Alternatives – How to Play
Haha- yes, sides are a whole meal in themselves! It’s sooo hard to be healthy. Thankfully, we didn’t come across any of those toilets ! Phew! The service is so incredible – they must think we’re so grumpy when they come here. I really want to go to Yosemite… Definitely going to plan a trip back soon! X
I’m so with you on the food, I was craving raw, plain vegetables after 5 days. So much I loved about it though, like you say, the people are so friendly. #thelist
Ali recently posted…Red Pepper Hummus – A recipe to increase breastmilk supply
They are super lovely and genuine too. They seemed so interested in us . X
I am afraid that I have to agree with you on all of these – and I say that in only experiencing them when I have stayed in the US with family! Thank you for linking to #PoCoLo x
Verily Victoria Vocalises recently posted…Silent Sunday and My Sunday Photo 5th April 2015
Thanks Vic
I have never been, but would love to go to New York. That kiddy portion is huge! Thanks so much for linking up to #TheList x
You Baby Me Mummy recently posted…Safari Adventures at Longleat
New York is awesome – you definitely need to see it! Ha, I know, they were all like that – was enough for me and her! X
I’ve never been to America but hubby has lots of times and has commented on the huge portion sizes. I have tried Hershey’s “chocolate” and didn’t like it at all – give me a nice bar of Cadbury’s (or better still Lindt!) any day! Hope your hubby is recovering well at home.
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Hi Louise, hubby is doing really well thanks for asking. Doing way better than expected! Lindt – love it – I’ve been demolishing their mini chocolate Easter bunnies! X
I agree about the portion sizes – fantastic for the first few days, then I just realised I’m being a glutton! Previously I’ve had one of those huge American breakfasts and nothing else until dinner, or just a snack, as there’s SO much food otherwise. I agree about the TV, seems incredible there’s such great programmes on but so hard to find – the ads always seem to sneak up on me as well! Thanks for linking up to #mondayescapes
mummytravels recently posted…Why I’d like child-free sections on planes
I know the great programmes are hidden somewhere behind all those ads. Thanks for hosting #mondayescapes xx
Agree with most of the things you have written in here. I do not mind about the portions if the food is good. Anyway, I tend to take what I cannot eat home. What I do not like is when people order the main dish (the huge portion) and on top of that order an appetizer and a dessert. Then, more of half of the food is left on the table and going to waste.
Ruth recently posted…Highlights of the 2015 Latin Food Festival
Yes, it seems a lot of people do take home the food…so some isn’t wasted but you are right, there is still a lot of wastage that’s what I couldn’t get my head around.
Although the portions are huge, most Americans take home what they don’t eat in the restaurant so it doesn’t go to waste.
I love America and really enjoyed Chicago when we were there in February. I didn’t notice Starbucks on every corner, but I guess it’s more obvious when you start to look for things.
Hope hubby is well now!
Helena recently posted…Courseulles sur Mer – Festival of the Sea
Hi Helena, thank you, yes, he’s recovered well. I loved Chicago too, it’s great. I guess the Americans are used to the portions and the whole concept of taking it away for another meal but I still saw a lot of waste. X
Hi Elizabeth, I lived in the USA for most of my 20’s – California, Missouri, Florida and Georgia and I have to say I agree with you re: most of the above!
The TV ad’s are ridiculous ( I once saw a gun for ladies being advertised “available in pink, to match your outfit”… seriously!! No wonder they have a major fire arms problem!) The TV programmes are not much better, I used to watch BBC America which showed alot of British well known comedy e.g. Only Fools and Horses!
When dining out (which I did alot as it is so cheap!) I used to try and put half of my serving into a ‘to go bag’ (a doggy bag) as soon as it was served in front of me to avoid temptation and stop me piling on the pounds. There was certainly no way I was going to pile on the pounds from eating Hersheys chocolate because as you rightly said, it is pretty awful!! I have to say though, I do enjoy my Starbucks coffee 🙂
Great post! I’m very new to blogging, having only set my website up last month. Just linked up to #MondayEscapes too 🙂
Hi Lisa, firstly, welcome to blogging!! Great to have a newbie on board and a fellow travel blogger. Look forward to discovering more about your blog. Hope you enjoyed living in the U.S bet it was quite an experience. Now, I can’t believe they were advertising pink guns…it’s all pretty frightening! That’s a good idea re putting it in the doggy bag to start with- we probably should have done it more but staying in a hotel we had limited space in our fridge. They must think our portion sizes are tiny when they come over to the UK! All the best xx
Interesting post.
Funny story. This past weekend my husband, myself, and my parents (all Americans) went to dinner and my parents found the restaurant to be disappointing because they felt they were paying too much for too little food. And they frequently share meals!
I’ve never been to the UK, but I feel like I’ve seen some pretty big meals served in Europe too. I think you just have to know which restaurants you are going to and what the typical size is. Sometimes the sizes surprise you!
I must agree though – I never watch tv. Starbucks coffee is meh and Hershey’s chocolate is nothing like European.
Obviously I’m reading this post pretty late in the game, but what aspects of American culture did you like?
Mandy recently posted…Holiday Inn Riverview – Charleston, SC
Hey Mandy! There were loads of things I liked about America…the people were absolutely lovely – so friendly, kind and welcoming and the medical care my husband received was excellent. A lot of the food was pretty good too – you guys do a mean steak and some great seafood as well. I think you are right, some restaurants serve bigger portions than others..it didn’t help that we were eating out every night so it all kind of stacked up. You really must come to the UK sometime!! xx
I had to chuckle at this. I’m from the US and I still agree with these. I watch very little tv and the tv I do watch is on Netflix because I hate all the commercial breaks. My husband and I usually share meals when we eat out. And I agree that European chocolate is much better. I’m glad that your husband was able to recover.
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Thank you Allison, he doing really well. I’m glad I didn’t offend and you are in agreement! I put on so much weight while I was there. Everything is so much bigger! Good idea on sharing meals.