Ah sorry, UK car driver here.
Oh I see. Should've been obvious, which is why I missed it. American cars have the same arrangement even though the steering wheel is on the wrong side. I drove an automatic while I was there otherwise I would've just ended up trying to wind down the window every time I wanted to change gear.
Actually I drive an automatic now but that's probably a good thing as I'm pretty much a nemesis of gearboxes given that I've pwned, erm, several. I don't mean being all grindy, just not very subtle. But our fat lardy-arse diesel Mondeo automatic is keen and does wheelspins and lets me be a hooligan so it's okay.
My hair still smells. D: Time for yet another wash.