Top 10 Things I won't miss about the US

1. The obsession with the US flag

All countries have flags, and taking pride in your nation and its flag I can understand. Feeling the need to fly the flag in every place of work and every meeting room I don't understand.

2. Number of ad breaks per TV show

The reason a show lasts a hour in the US when it only last 30 mins in the UK is simple; they have a lot of really short ad breaks. More annoyingly, they have then 30 seconds from the end of the show, just to keep you waiting

3. US spellings offense, defense, fence

I can understand that spellings in English aren't the the most logical. But if you're going to implement new rules, and least do it across the board.

4. US paper sizes

I have no issue with the US paper sizes, were it not for the fact that they aren't compatible with all the European stationary I have.

5. Inability to drive

This is self explanatory; the Americans can't drive. I shall have a separate rant about this when I have the time.

6. Denominations of currency

Having coins in multiples of tens makes for easy accounting. Having to work in 1,5,10 and 25's isn't so easy. Plus having $1 note complicates the situation, meaning all payment machines need coin and note inlets. Don't get me started about having all the notes the same size

7. Stupid News casts

Throughout my entire placement I have had to use the bbc website to get the "real" news, as American news doesn't cover anything that hasn't happened within a 5 block radius of the news station.

8. US customary units

The US plus 2 other very minor nations are the only countries in the world which don't use the metric system. For someone who can't remember when the UK had the imperial system this entire system seems archaic.

9. Snacks

What the US people consider a snack would be considered by anyone else to be a main meal.

10. Lack of alcohol at sports matches

This one I have worked out. Basically, Americans are loud and obnoxious in everyday life. Europeans require alcohol to become loud and obnoxious. Thus Americans can enjoy sporting fixtures without alcohol to help them.

Friday Week 17

Not a lot to write home about this week. Slowly getting things together to go home and tidy up projects at work.

Just popping out to have some leaving drinks with the team

Monday Week 17

Nothing to write home about, went to work, got wet, came home again

Sunday Week 17

The forecast had been good for the weekend, so I woke up early and drove down to Crystal ski resort. The rain on the freeway didn't bode well, and it continued all the way up to the resort where the fog had also set in. Like everyone else there I knew the weather was aweful, but having made the journey decided to grin and bare it. There had been 2 inches of snow on Saturday, but the rain made it really sticky and slow. Worse still, I had to stop every couple of minutes to wipe the rain off my goggles. To top off a wonderful day, I got stuck on a chairlift for an hour when they had a "technical problem". Lucky friendly Americans make for interesting conversation.

This took me to about 1400, when I decided to call it a day. The resort compensated everyone on the chairlift half their lift pass costs, so it wasn't all bad

Saturday Week 16

So today was my last full day in Seattle. So I used the opportunity to visit my favourite coffee shop and my favourite food stall. Had a nice wander downtown, caught the monorail to the space centre before walking home over Queen Anne hill; this is one thing I won't miss.

For once, the sun was actually shining, so I took the opportunity to have a nice (dry) run around Lake Union

Friday Week 16

Normal sort of day in the office today, nothing to write home about

Thursday Week 16

First day back in the office since being in Yuma. Spent the day updating the work drive, since I didn't have access to it in Yuma. Also completed my tax calendar, which I have to do as part of my visa requirements. What disturbed me the most about this was I'm down to be working 26 days in January.