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Do British and American English really differ that (better:so)much that Americans up until now seem strange to Englishmen language-wise? Haven’t you English speaking people been living long enough in this hi-tech world, where lying in bed in your London apartment you may watch American TV, chat on the web with your American buddies (to do that you have to get out of bed, I guess) and so on, to not have erased the difference? Listening to American songs you don’t need help understanding what the songs are about, do you? It should have happened naturally by now, but you’re still talking of British English, American English and what-not English. In my Microsoft Word there are 18 in-built English spelling dictionaries, isn’t it (better: that) a little too many?
I hope that helps, alexB. If you need any explanations, do ask. One thing I will say, though. The word "buddy" is not a very common word in British English. It seems to be in America, though. Brits use the word "buddy" in connection with scuba diving, though. Example: