Do you think they'll have real maple syrup, not the stuff that's primarily corn syrup?

I took a cursory look for it in the Co-operative, Tesco, and ASDA, and they didn't have any. . . I'm curious about marmite and treacle though. Morbidly curious.

you can always make your own peanut butter in a food processor. Peanuts, add salt, a little oil if you need it, and voila! It doesn't taste like Skippy, but it does taste like peanuts, and much better for you.

Waitrose or Sainsbury's (or some delicatessens) may be a better bet to find real maple syrup - just read the label carefully.

Marmite is a love-it or loathe-it substance - savoury flavoured, and a little goes a long way. Spread VERY thinly on toast. Those that love it make marmite soldiers (spread thinly on toast and margerine/butter which is then cut into fingers for dipping into soft boiled eggs).
I'm not a treacle fan myself, I prefer godlen syrup in the sweet and sticky stakes.

I second Sainsbury's & Waitrose for real maple syrup.
The very big Sainsbury's are very good for global food, you might even find some American peanut butter. Don't knock the British stuff til you've tried it though, just because someone else had some that was grim, doesn't mean another brand will be. Personally I'd find it all grim and advise you to eat jam instead :)

Don't fret about the fact it's the little things getting you down. You are out of your comfort zone - everything from the weather to the traffic to the local brand names to the food is different. And as you've found, words don't always mean the same thing. It doesn't matter so much on holiday (vacation!) because you are there for a short time and at your leisure. To take on a foreign country, away from friends and family AND a new university is a big deal.

Grumble about it here - you'll look back in a year and some things may still bother you, but I bet you laugh about most of them, forgetting you ever found them foreign.

Get a miniature pot of Marmite (with the mini jams/ condiments in big supermarkets). Not cost effective, but if you hate it you've wasted less money. I have it on cold toast with butter personally.

Forget treacle. Only bought by parents whose children need it for a specific recipe at school, then dies a sticky, dusty death in the back of the cupboard. BTW if treacle tart or treacle sponge are on the dessert menu, chances are it's really golden syrup. Well it can't all make sense can it? We'd be over-run with furriners!

William Gibson calls it "the mirror world" where everything is the same, except where it's different. If you like spy and/or action novels, you might like Pattern Recognition much of which is set in London.

*ahem*

yup, you are in the first phase of culture shock. Don't worry, this too, shall pass. Have you been to the American Expats site I recommended and asked them where to buy the stuff you crave?

treacle is pretty much molasses. I use it to make parkin around this time of year. yum. there are a few nice cookie recipes that require treacle too. and I would have treacle on toast if I ever thought about it. A very thin smear of it.

Marmite is the work of teh debbil.

Yeah. I've tried making peanut butter that way, and it's never been appetizing. I don't like my peanut butter to taste TOO much like peanuts. . . At least I've migrated away from the PB that contains HFCS.

Plus, that would require buying yet another appliance. We've bought a toaster, a jug kettle, a knife set, pots, pans, flatware, mugs, cups. Up next: a mixing bowl, cookie sheets, hand mixer, and maybe one or two other things. A food processor is somewhere further down on the list.

I didn't really account for these expenses in my planning... yuck.

At some point I might just have to try the varieties they have here. I actually am kind of curious.

The nearest Waitrose's is in Durham. Sainsbury's will take a bus excursion, but that's reasonable compared to going all the way down to Durham!

That book is amazing. I loved it.

I about lost my mind last week. My girlfriend and I went to eat at this "New York Style Italian Restaurant" (gag!), the place could have been anywhere in the world. I think that's one of the reasons that I can't stand eating at chain restaurants like Ruby Tuesdays or Olive Garden. They don't feel like real places.

Nope... I forgot about that site. Thanks for the reminder.

I tried to save space to bring my comfort stuff, but I was at the limit on both my bags with just neccesities. 22 kg is not all that much when you're packing for a year.

What's parkin? Any suggestions for cookie recipes?

I've been spending too much on store bought baked goods. I need to start making my own. Lemon muffins at Gregg's, cookies and turnovers at Marks & Spencer *drools*

Sorry for the mass reply. I'm a little cramped for time at the moment, but wanted to get back to ya'll.

Your GF made the move with you?

Basically, I made the move with her. We made the move independently, from a certain point of view. Depends on which way you want to look at it.

She was already lined up to come here to study. When we met she was up front about this. After things started getting serious, I decided that getting a Master's degree now is as good a time as any, so, after discussing things with the GF, I applied and was accepted to a few schools around here.

Huh. Education by induction.
Not a bad way to go.

Just wanted to say "I told you so"! I'll look up the parking recipe when i stand up. it's traditionally eaten on bonfire night.

Last night of the series for Saturday Night Takeaway tonight. If you've missed Geordie heroes Ant & Dec in that, I genuinely suggest you watch I'm A Celebrity... next year. They have made me laugh immoderately for the best part of 10 years.

If other students give you a cynical opinion of them, just remember students simply wear the Cloak of Cynicism to disguise their own lack of confidence - feel free to like Ant & Dec anyway, even if you have to tell fellow students it's in an ironic way.