Oh say, can you see, by the dawn's early light

In 2004, I lived in America for a year. To be more specific, I lived in Solomons and Arnold (both in Maryland, on the east coast). Both Solomons and Arnold were amazingly beautiful places, and I was very blessed to be able to live there.
Living there for a while changed my taste buds. Well, it didn't so much change them, but it did add a few flavours to them.
When I was in early high school, Dr Pepper used to be sold in 1.25 litre bottles. I loved the stuff. I'm not sure how long it was being sold before I cottoned on to how good it was, but I was so sad when it stopped being sold in the aforementioned form.
How excited was I, when I moved to America, and it was EVERYWHERE!? The answer is, very excited! Now, I didn't go crazy on the stuff, and I stuck to the original version of it, but I did appreciate it's presence. Just knowing it was so readily available, was comfort enough :)
I developed a definite distaste for root beer. It was either root beer, or hot apple cider. I can't quite remember which. I do remember that whichever one it was, tasted a lot like mouth wash.
I was grossed out by 'Easy Cheese'. It's convenient, I get that. It's not 'cheese' though. It seemed entirely wrong to be eating 'cheese' out of a pressurised can for one...but a 'dairy product' (and I use the term very loosely) that doesn't need to be refrigerated?? That can't be good. It was such a vibrant yellow too....the picture below is not doing any advertising favours for the stuff. I did eat it. Once. I apologised to my body afterwards (I didn't really, but I should've).

See what I mean??

Other things I didn't like in America: bread, these nasty things at McDonalds called 'McGriddles', everything being sold in packages (I found it pretty hard to get decent, fresh, produce), and Pop Tarts (I don't like them anyway, but I especially didn't like all the 'iced' ones in America...you can probably buy a select few in Australia). I could go on, but I won't. I don't wanna ostracise my American friends too much :)
Things that I did LOVE though...Applebee's and Olive Garden. Oh, and IHOP, I only went a couple of times, but it was all kinds of awesome!

I was introduced to Reece's Peanut Butter Cups while I was there. LOVED them! The Blockbuster near my house in Brissie sells them, they're super expensive, so I only get them sometimes. Reece's Pieces, they are also fantastic.
The same block of shops, where the Blockbuster is, has a little convenience store, and they sell Dr Pepper in cans (hooray!). Another great thing they sell is:

Those guys are geniuses! Thankfully, it is also expensive ($12 for a pint I believe), so I don't buy it very often either.
I am so lucky I don't live in America. It's a wonder I haven't stacked on 50 kilos with what American stuff I have found here!
I am looking forward to the day I get to go back and visit though (one of my dearest friends in the world lives in Minnesota)...there are so many flavours of Ben and Jerry's that I am yet to try! Plus, it would be cool to catch up with all my friends over there too :)