Everyone in the US grew up doing a few things:
- Buying gas in gallons
Buying milk in gallons or quarts
Running a mile in gym class
Buying a dozen eggs
Getting a good deal on a baker’s dozen of cinamon rolls (that’s 13 just in case you don’t know)
Learning there are 3 feet in a yard
Learning that there are 12 inches in a foot
There are 5,280 feet in a normal mile
There are 6,000 feet in a nautical mile
Water freezes at 32 deg and boils at 212 degrees
You weigh something in pounds
There are 16 ounces in a pound
A pint is a pound the world around
There are 2 cups in a pint, two pints in a quart, 4 quarts in a gallon
Everyone knows these things. They are normal. They make sense. These units of measure are called Imperial Measurements. Just in case you don’t know, the rest of the world uses the metric system. Actually, according to Wikipedia, there are only 3 countries that do not use the metric system.
I don’t like the metric system. Not just because it is different….but because it is less precice. Here is just one example. Here is a whole article on wikipedia about it.
So, what do I do? Well, because everyone here uses it, I’m trying to use it too. I’m trying to figure out what a kilogram weighs when I hold it in my hand. I’m trying to guess if it is 25 or 30 outside. I’m trying to guess distances in kilometers. We haven’t bought a set of metric measuring cups and spoons yet, so when we cook we still have to make changes. I use google quite a bit to make changes between types of measurements.