I found this Shaw quote to be strangely appropriate-

England and America are two countries separated by a common language.

One of the things I like about travel is that when I don't fully understand things going around me (small talk, customs, idioms, etc) I have a better time thinking of the place as "pure" or "friendly" instead of "petty" and "banal." Speaking the language with complete fluency, and understanding the culture, made England less like travel and more like landing in some weird American state.

Plus, not to start a political tangent but, I have many problems with the US and most, if not all, of them I find reflected fairly directly in the UK. This may just be me though, so don't take that part as advice.