I need help of you Americans.

[X]

Why would your right-on wierdy beardy teacher want to to use American lexus for an 'English' essay, in England.

Perhaos you could stick some serbo-croat and see if you get extra PC marks for that?

[donnydarkoIRL]

I never called my mom or dad sir or maam, not out of a lack of respect, it just wasn't what me or my brother did. It just seems a bit odd to me, too formal and I wouldn't want my kids doing it either. Did always use it for other people's parents/old people in general.

The one English thing I could never get used to is mate. Just doesn't sound right.

I see

It's pretty common everywhere really, arises from shipmate etc.

Where I'm from we've got an entirely different diction.
Scan, Lad, Kid, Boy (pronounced bi) are all common versions of mate here