Living in a foreign world

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Growing up in New Zealand and living one way of life from metrics to way we do things and Now living in the USA and adapting to the US way of life hasn't been easy. Some things just still seem foreign to me even though i have now lived in the USA for nearly 6 years. Everyday things in the USA are so much more complicated than they need to be. It bugs me that they call themselves the most advanced nation in the world but there are some things that are archaic and behind the times. Where i come from Cheques have gone out with the dark ages here in the USA its still a common practice to see people writing out cheques to pay for things. Personal Cheques in New Zealand have become like abacus obsolete and useless. Tap and go or Paywave are just starting to be a thing here and in New Zealand that is common place and the norm. And don't get me started with sales tax, what a nightmare. In New Zealand, sales tax is included in the price so if it says $25.99 on the shelf you better expect that it will be $25.99 on your receipt after you pay but OH no the Americans have to be difficult they have to tell you the retail price on the shelf and then charge you extra when you hand over your payment at the register. A few exceptions are made depending on your purchase but by in large that's the way things are. Schools are another thing, where do I start? American teachers don't know geography a lot of them can't follow their way out of a paper bag for the record to American Teachers across the country New Zealand IS NOT part of the Australian Contenant its part of its own Continent called Zelandia discovered in 1995 with most of it under water. The geographical region that New Zealand and Australia share is called Oceania or Australasia not Australia. There are no snakes in New Zealand except for a handful of zoos Kangaroos are Australian not Australasian and More over our flags are clearly different its time to put those bifocals back on and see. Calling a New Zealander an Australian is like calling a Canadian American its just not right. One thing that worries me is the lack of civics taught in American schools and the dumbing down of understanding ones cival rights . Teachers of America , your students have the same rights as you they dont stop at the school gate. The first amedment of the Constitution covers everywhere within the confinds of American law. As an immigrant to the USA, it pains me the lack of understanding that so many Americans have for their constitutional rights and responsibilities. The list of strangeness could go on but I would love to hear what others think and their input of experiencing different cultures and ways of life to that of which they were raised.