For the first 6 months we lived in London, the list of things we missed were mostly “creature comforts.” Now that we are closing in on two years abroad, our list is much shorter. We have either learned to live without, found a substitute, or in some cases, even an upgrade. For example: when we first arrived, we were both really missing Mexican food. We’ve learned to cope by making quesadillas at home and occasionally splurging on a trip to the mouth-watering Mexican tapas restaurant in Notting Hill, Taqueria. So it goes with a lot of other examples – we’ve just adjusted. I’m not stockpiling Kraft Mac & Cheese, Crystal Light, or Secret deodorant anymore. However, last night, over a bottle of Australian Shiraz, we got to talking about some of the random little things that we haven’t found decent upgrades/replacements for. Many are silly and inconsequential, but here comes the whining:
American gyms: What I wouldn’t give for a big box gym these days. Two story ceiling height, dozen of cardio machines, a Spin room, a yoga studio, ample free weights, stretching space… do I need to continue? I blogged about my gym several months ago and admitted that I was sacrificing quality/space for location, I don’t regret that decision, but every time I climb on a treadmill which stares at a white cinderblock wall 2 feet in front of me, I want to cry.
Bath & Body Works hand soaps: This is silly, I know. But I really miss these! The hand soap sold in the grocery store here is really harsh and decent high street brand shops sell hand soap at ridiculous prices. (Like, $15 or more). I miss my $4 Japanese Cherry Blossom foaming soap.
Inexpensive pedicures: At home, I could easily budget for a pedicure once a month, no problem. Any strip mall, in any town would have a nail shop offering a pedicure for under $30. I would have to travel outside Central London for the equivalent in price and value. Try booking an express pedicure in Chelsea and all you get is a nail polish swap with a little nail filing.
Target: Call me a lazy American, but sometimes I want to go to one place to buy a sports bra, picture frame, cat food, and shampoo.
Dinner Parties: It took me a while to realize that I missed this so much. We spent many a weekend night having friends come to our house, or going to other people’s homes for dinner and wine. I am sure plenty of locals here do the same, but our flat is so tiny, we don’t have the space to have more than 2-3 people over at any time. I miss being a hostess.
An efficient washer/dryer: This one has been a constant source of pain, especially when I am exercising consistently. Our washer/dryer combo fits two bath towels and some socks, and takes over 2 hours to get through a cycle. I’m basically doing laundry every day.
The radio: How 1990s of me? As David put it last night, “Sometimes I don’t want to have to select what I listen to.”
Brunch: I admit there are decent places to get breakfast in London on a weekend, but there are two problems. Most places stop serving between noon and 1pm, and the extent of the breakfast menu is eggs benedict. Perhaps my new favorite blog My Brunch Guide, will correct me, but nothing can beat a Sunday at Millie’s Diner in Richmond, Va where the Bloody Marys are flowing, the eggs are epic, and the potatoes are spicy and delicious.
To be fair, I should write a counter to this post titled “Things I don’t miss,” but I’ll leave that for another day.
So, what is on your list of the things you still miss, even if you’ve been abroad for a while?
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
Dunkin Donuts coffee, any candy that doesn’t have chocolate in it, Bravo TV shows aired at the correct time (not 2 seasons later), reasonably priced delicious sushi, the list goes on and on and on. haha
Ah BravoTV! And David reminded me that I wouldn’t mind a proper fountain drink and central heating.
I thing two years was the same time I stopped stockpiling stuff from home as well. And we have the same list, save Bath and Body Works. Ever since first pregnant, my nose can’t take such strong scents. I used to always try to cross the street before walking past Lush, either that or hold my breath.
Definitely $25 mani/pedi places on ever other street corner. Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Lattes in the autumn. Jif peanut butter and Target!
*Ashley, spoken like a true Northeasterner with your DD coffee :)
I haven’t joined a gym for that very reason…I’m just braving it and running outside. Gyms kind of need to have it all for me otherwise I’m uninspired and I just won’t go…so I trade off for Queen’s Park which is gorgeous and a 5 minute walk away (but I’m cold…).
The pedicures…wow. I miss those. It’s 35 quid for the pedicure shop a 2 minute walk away from my house and that seems to be fairly cheap. It’s cheaper here to get my eyebrows done though (6 quid), versus $20 at home. So, pricewise it almost evens out for the two services. Still. I miss the cheap pedicures.
Target. I cannot even begin to tell you how often I think of Target. Need new sunglasses that are adorable? Need to grab some gift wrap and cards? Need some makeup? Need a new book? Need to get some paper towels? And Method products? And a new swimsuit? Yep. All of it. in one stop. Target. I’m wearing Target yoga pants right. now. *sob*
I actually have found several brunch places in London and that seems to not have been much of a problem. I think it’s becoming more and more common so I haven’t noticed it.
I’ve been trying Mexican food places, including Taqueria, and they just really don’t measure up. Taqueria is the closest, but it’s still just a little ‘off’ and I usually just have to make mexican food at home. But maybe it’s because I’m from Texas — and I have obscenely high standards for Mexican food. I miss the little TexMex place across the street from me at home that made fresh tortillas and would whip me up a huevos a la Mexicana (even though it wasn’t on the menu) with a side of guac and a GIANT iced tea. God I miss iced tea in restaurants.
The dinner parties are fairly easy as we have plenty of space here but I miss the network of friend who dropped by at a moment’s notice and I miss cooking. We had a big ol’ thanksgiving dinner here which was a lot of fun and the first time since we moved over here that we’ve had a crowd. I miss having a pile of people milling about my house and drinking and laughing.
I honestly really miss having a car. I thought I would absolutely love public transportation and that’s one of the things I was looking forward to the most. Turns out, it beats me down.
There are tons of things I don’t miss also (like, I am not sad I am missing the perpetual election coverage…a quick look at the news and I’m pretty happy) but these are the things I miss the most.
Well put Sarah! It’s a mix of what we gain for what we lose. Catch any American expat and ask this question, and there is undoubtedly something that we.just. cannot.live.without. With all this talk of things from home, it’s a good thing I am going home in 9 days!
word to all of you. and clearly i’m behind you, AT, because when I came from from Thanksgiving my suitcase was stuffed with Kraft and goldfish – maybe in another six months I’ll get there!
Hey Betsy! I may be just as bad, because instead of stockpiling JIF peanut butter, I pay a ridiculous 3.99 pounds and drop it in my Ocado online shop cart. And I’ve been known to grab a 2 quid bag of Goldfish from Partridges! ;)
For the sake of balance:
Cadbury chocolate not made in Hershey (especially those big old yule logs this time of year), bacon butties (now moot thanks to my meat allergy), good public transportation, going to the match on a Saturday afternoon, non-flimsy electrical outlets, ‘The Local’.
But after eleven years I really have to think about what I miss. I’m sure if I moved back to the UK now I would have a much longer list of things I take for granted here in the States.
Can so relate to the laundry. My machine in NZ was total crap, I kissed my industrial unit when I got back to my parents house.
Other then that, yeah, the first year I was bad with food. But after a good stock-up 10 months in, I didn’t ask for anything for about a year. Weird, how you just get over stuff like that and move on.
And maybe I am just a radio snob, but I love! UK radio! I love radio in any country, hearing what people like to listen to. It’s not much different from the US anymore:-)
Yes to everything above! And like Sarah mentioned, I’m not missing the politics. Not. At. All.
Try looking here for brunch ideas: http://www.mueslilover.com/ She knows all the best spots!
Hi Lynne! I am truly salivating over Muesili Lover – thanks for the tip!
AT- Just read this. And now I’m craving Millie’s.