is it true about Americans loving ice-cold drinks then?
Yes, it's very true,and not a myth. And practically every American that visits Europe complains about this. Americans like their drinks ICE cold. Even in winter. And no, most Polish shops have their refrigerators set nowhere near cold enough for American tastes. The drinks you buy in Żabka, etc., are pi$$ warm by American standards. There was only ONE shop I ever found in the old town of Wrocław that sold drinks cold enough for me,and sometimes I'd walk clear across town to buy a drink there. Apparently, Poles like their soft drinks to be substantially warmer than beer. And about ice, the average American consumes hundreds of times more ice than the average European.
You can get them made to measure very cheaply, and although the quality isn't fantastic, they last for a good 2-3 years easily.
They are a default, built-in permanent feature in the States. The windows are designed specifically to include them (American windows are designed completely different than European windows). And the doors are more often than not all double doors, with a screen door on the outside. The screens are metal and they last for many decades. Another missing thing that Americans instantly notice when in Europe.
firanki in the same way (though they don't work as well)
They don't work at all. All it takes is the tiniest hole for mosquitoes to find their way in.
No what I do miss here in the States are trains and trams. Rail service in the US is very limited and very expensive. Not for the budget traveler.