Author Archives: abroadintheusa

About abroadintheusa

An expat Brit who's lived and worked in the USA for more than three decades.

Halloween in America: Candy, Costumes, and Crazy Decorations

Posted on October 30, 2018 by abroadintheusa

I’m cheating a little here and posting an update of last year’s piece on Halloween in America, with a few new pictures from the neighborhood. As usual (almost) everyone is getting in on the preparations; every other house in the … Continue reading →

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Voting in America

Posted on October 22, 2018 by abroadintheusa

Americans are very proud of being a democracy—”land of the free” and all that—and voting is the bedrock of the democratic system. So why, in this most vibrant of democracies, is the actual act of casting of a vote so … Continue reading →

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Pumpkin spice season

Posted on October 8, 2018 by abroadintheusa

It’s been a rough few days on the American political scene so, naturally, I feel like writing about something orange and kind-of-disgusting that deeply divides the country. No, not that one: I’m talking Pumpkin Spice. The calendar says it’s fall, … Continue reading →

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America and the Royals

Posted on May 10, 2018 by abroadintheusa

Why are Americans so obsessed with the British royal family? You’d think, having fought a whole war over the issue of getting out from under a capricious royal-led government, that Americans would be oblivious to the goings on at the … Continue reading →

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Philadelphia Bleeds Green!

Posted on January 17, 2018 by abroadintheusa

Americans are huge sports fans, not just the big four sports — baseball, basketball, (ice) hockey, and (American) football — but pretty much anything that involves competition. They also love underdogs and stories of teams/players beating-the-odds. Which explains why the … Continue reading →

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Deep Freeze Update

Posted on January 5, 2018 by abroadintheusa

The word ‘cold’ doesn’t begin to describe it. We got about three inches of snow yesterday morning then the temperature plummeted. As I write this post at midday on Friday it’s warmed up to all of 15 degrees here in … Continue reading →

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Happy Freezing New Year!

Posted on January 2, 2018 by abroadintheusa

Winter arrived with a vengeance a couple of weeks ago in this part of the USA, and it doesn’t look like leaving anytime soon. The temperature has stayed below freezing for days and everyone is huddled in heavy coats, hats, and … Continue reading →

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Squirrel Season in America!

Posted on October 23, 2017 by abroadintheusa

Although the weather is still mild during the daytime, the nights are getting cooler and the first signs of fall (autumn) are cropping up around the neighborhood. One sure sign that the season is changing: the squirrels are in hyperactive … Continue reading →

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Update from Apocalypse Central

Posted on October 11, 2017 by abroadintheusa

I haven’t written much on here in recent weeks, in large part because each successive news cycle seems to bring some event so devastating that I just don’t know where to start. But first, I should make it clear that … Continue reading →

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The Sound of Summer

Posted on August 10, 2017 by abroadintheusa

The heat of summer brings a distinctive sound to the eastern USA — not children playing or lawnmowers thrumming but the incessant shrill buzz of the cicada. As humans we’re often not aware of the soundscapes that form the background … Continue reading →

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