As any science fiction fan will tell you, a parallel universe is one much like our own, only different.

Your correspondent recently stumbled upon his own parallel universe. Alas, there was no goateed evil twin, but it is a bit eery nevertheless:
A couple in their 30s make a temporary, job-related move from New York City to London. They rent a flat across the street from the Crown & Sceptre, a lively pub in Central London, not far from Regent's Park. On weekends, they explore London (places like Greenwich, Hampstead, Borough Market, etc.) and blog about their experiences for friends and family back in the States.
Sound familiar? The difference is: the year is 2006, my name is Josh, and the blog you are reading is the Downtownbeatons.
An uncanny coincidence? Not really. It's a hallmark of being an American in London that you live on the edge of familiarity, with a tinge of difference, every day. It's something American expats encounter whenever we cross the street and look the wrong way; or visit a "coffee shop" that closes its doors at 5 pm, doesn't offer refills and doesn't serve coffee by the pot; and, of course, English is spoken here, but it's not quite the same.
Judging from their own musings on subjects such as the cost of dry-cleaning and the eating of pizza with a fork (see especially their archives here and here), the Downtownbeatons will back me up on this sentiment, I am sure.
* * *
My doppelgänger Josh wrote
an amusing post on expressions like
chuffed to bits, which, as much as they may resemble English, are as perplexing to foreigners as your typical
MTA announcement (“Standcleahdaclosendaws”) is to non-native New Yorkers. Here is my own running list of favorite British-isms --
Kit – Noun. Stuff, clothes, gear. As in when going skiing, “Have you hired your kit for the weekend?”

Bolshie – Adj. Angrily provocative. Originating from the socialist revolutionaries the Bolsheviks* (as in, "He's a smart fellow, but can be a bit bolshie")
Strop - Noun. A bad mood, a fit of fury* (Or, stroppy, Adj. bad tempered)
Go tits-up - Verb. To go wrong, to fail*
Naff - Adj. 1. Unfashionable. 2. Rubbishy, useless, of poor quality, unappealing*

Chav - Noun. A person, usually of poorly educated, working class origin, who dresses casually in designer sportswear and vulgar jewelry*
Wide-boy - Noun. A male characterized by his cocky charm, petty illicit dealings, and perceived stylish dress sense*
* Definitions courtesy of peevish.co.uk
Of course there are many others. Cheeky, Knackered, Shag, Snog, the list goes on. All I can say is that the British really do use them.
For the most part, I have not adopted these into my vernacular. However, I have found myself using the term "bespoke" more and more, including in reference to things other than suits (e.g. sandwiches).
