American Observations - Laid Back California

After accepting an invitation  to visit California for a few months, we'd been anticipating life in America for quite a while before arriving in October, 2017, and would like to share our observations, many of them quite humorous.

As amazing and varied as Turkish cuisine is, we were also looking forward to enjoying different flavors in the States, especially Mexican and Pacific seafood (editor's note - In'n'Out burger).  However, we are surprised at the reliance of ready-made meals and the take-away culture.  Cooking seems to have become synonymous with ''preparing'' (unpacking and reheating) despite the popularity of live cooking shows.   Other brief observations include:

• Many people are genuinely shocked to hear we are visiting from Turkey (''But you're so...normal!')
• Even more people think Dave is English (he is Australian.) 
• Self-cleaning ovens, top loading washers and kitchen garbage disposals rock!
• Everything is very large (motor vehicles, freeways, supermarkets, soda bottles, portions.)
• Pre-paying and self-service at petrol (whoops - gas) stations. How to know in advance how much the car needs?  I can be trusted to get out of the car and pump gas?
• Banking is surprisingly antiquated. 
• Cheerfulness and instant intimacy =ear to ear grins from an office clerk dressed as a reindeer.
• Pedestrian right of way - whether you want it or not.
• Right turn on red at most traffic signals - gotta love it.
• Watermelons in December? Seriously?