19 Conversions

Temperature

In all areas of life other than scientific laboratories, the U.S. uses degrees Fahrenheit (F) rather than Centigrade (C) to measure temperature.

Measurements

The U.S. uses the imperial system. Distance is measured in feet and inches, weight in pounds and ounces, and volume in quarts and gallons. You will most likely be asked for your height and weight on occasion while in the United States. You may want to calculate and memorize these two numbers so you can provide them.

You can find many online conversion calculators for easy reference.

Time

The U.S. mainland is divided into four time zones. Blooming-ton is in the Eastern Time zone (ET). The U.S. uses a 12-hour clock, referring to a.m. for morning and p.m. for afternoon and evening. 12 a.m. is commonly referrred to as midnight, and 12 p.m. as noon. In March and November each year, most states observe daylight savings time. In March, we “spring forward” and clocks are set forward an hour. In November, we “fall back” setting clocks back an hour. Most calendars and TV and radio stations will publicize these events. If your phone is set to EST, it will automatically adjust to daylight savings time.

Clothing Sizes:

Clothing sizes are different in the U.S. compared to other countries. Custom-made clothing is not common; however, most dry cleaners offer tailoring and alteration services. Online conversion tools can help you determine your approximate U.S. size, but in many cases U.S. sizes will vary widely based on brand, department, or store.