Forgetful

[Sundae]

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!