Hmm.
Speaking as a Canuck...
I totally agree that Metric makes more sense than Imperial, and I can't for the life of me do calculations beyond the most basic in Imperial.
That said... Things here aren't all that clear-cut.
I couldn't tell you how much I weigh or how tall I am in Metric (even if I were willing to divulge that top-secret information
) --- I've always been measured in feet and inches and pounds. I cook in cups and teaspoons and tablespoons, at Fahrenheit temperatures --- but have no clue about pints and quarts (except when it comes to beer and berries, respectively). I measure the temperature outside in Celsius degrees; I drive distances measured in kilometres; I know my own weight in pounds but weigh my cat and dog in Metric... For tangible distances, I'm equally at home with inches or centimetres, but if it's less than a finger-width in size or more than a half-dozen paces, I have to measure in Metric. Confused yet?
(I am!)
Now let's bring in the language issue. I lived in the South-West of England for a year when I was younger, and made the mistake once of asking a friend "Should I wear this vest with these pants?" --- those of you in North America know that I was talking about a sleeveless garment that buttons over a shirt, and an ankle-length two-legged garment. However, to my friend in Somerset, I had just asked if I ought to wear a particular undershirt with a particular pair of underwear... (NOT a mistake I made again in a hurry!!
)
That's just the most glaring (and most embarrassing!!) example. There were a huge number of differences, mostly minor, but some more major. Another example that I STILL get teased about is a little difference that I somehow brought back with me when I came back to Canada: I say, as my English friends do, that "I'm meant to do this" meaning that I'm supposed to do it --- my friends here think that I'm speaking in the sense of ultimate destiny when I talk like that, whereas I really only mean to say that it's an assignment for school or work...
We Canucks have our own weird linguistic goings-on too, eh? Check this out:
it's a Canadian glossary... And I'd just like to take this opportunity to point out that we in Canada do NOT say "oot" or "hoos" (for "out" and "house") --- it's just that Americans say "awt" and "haws"!
Gee, I'm sorry, PF, I seem to have stolen that soap-box from you, and right after you'd paid for the rental too...
Maybe if I hike up my skirt a little while I stand up here pontificating, you'll forgive me?
--- sweetstuff (who has obviously not posted at Pixies' in far too long and is now in the throes of absolute Pixtasy form suddenly making such a lengthy post... Ahhhh, that feels goooood!
)