Yep. Those baggies are precious. And the dehydrated sponges from Trader Joes. In Uruguay it was worse. I was standing in front of my daughter's apartment near LA and a clean gallon-sized Ziploc bag blew past. I reflexively bent down and picked it up. Could come in handy. My daughter said, "Dad, put that filthy thing down."
Just reading the title, I started making things up with the aim of being increasingly absurd. So I went from (1) Hummel collection, to (2) 44" flat screen TV, and ended on (3) Gallo box wine.
I am surprised by the items you list. Aluminum foil would definitely be missed, though two of the items you mentioned would not (saran wrap is the second; I don't use it either.)
My nose just isn't that sensitive, so I'd just do as the Europeans do WRT deodorant. A lot of that sensitivity is manufactured, anyway. Returning from a campaign, but still three days out from Paris, Napoleon sent a fast rider ahead with a letter to Josephine, telling her of his schedule and instructing her not to bathe before he arrived.
I use reusable containers (with the snap-on lids) rather than ziplok bags, and being reusable they come with me when I move. So while I'm surprised the bags are not available, I wouldn't especially miss them.
That's a great story about Napoleon and Josephine. Theirs was quite the relationship, wasn't it? "Gallo box wine" made me laugh; "Hummel collection" made me cringe!
I can't speak for the tampons for obvious reasons, but I do remember that when I lived in Cyprus and Kosovo, every time someone went back to the States or was coming over, I gave them a laundry of things to bring with them. The simplest things, like contact lens solution, were virtually impossible to find. Then there were certain candies and crackers that I craved because they simply couldn't be had anywhere in Europe for any amount of money.
It's probably better now, but as your experience shows, there will always be things that America makes better and can't be found in Europe. Ziplocks? Really? That seems so freakin' basic...but there it is. Sometimes it's the things you wouldn't imagine. Deodorant? Whodathunkit?
Part of the challenge of living anywhere outside the States is trying to figure out what "staples" you've taken for granted aren't available. Then, you have to try to see if you can source them from somewhere- anywhere- even if you have to beg, borrow, or (hopefully not) steal.
And it always seems to be things you'd never imagine.
ALWAYS. And now I’m hearing that a version of Ziploc bags can be found at IKEA. But since the nearest IKEA is two hours away, maybe I’ll make that an annual trip. They also have these sour cream and onion potato chips that are delicious.
There are good ziplocks now, but with that said, EVERYTHING ELSE on the list hits home and is undeniably true. I even brought 4 boxes of foil back to my Italian neighbors as souvenir gifts from one of my stateside visits!
Much more valued than let’s say a red ball cap from the US!
Fun! I really enjoy reading your posts. They're a deliciously entertaining mixture of kooky, thought-provoking, and refreshingly honest about the quirks of Italy and America and the poor fools who inhabit them (and the world more widely). Thank you for what you write.
To your list I'd add baking powder, liquid vanilla, and chocolate chips. Yeah, it's all about the cookies for me... I love most things about Italian food but the biscotti are not among them ;)
You are very kind to indulge me, and YES, the chocolate chip cookies are a hard cookie to assemble over here. I brought back a gluten-free cookie mix that somehow made it past TSA. Oh, they were delicious! You are so right about that.
Zip lock really??
You can find them at IKEA
Carta stagnola and pellicola ? I can live without
I'd like to remind Americans that in the 70s people uset glass or ceramic" tupperware" to keep food stored ,healthier end ethical :less garbage !!!
But more than ever why store food
We still have "MERCATI RIONALI" fresh food is the secret in Italy
Buy less buy often ,less aluminum and plastic in our system
Love& peace!
Funny, I'm German living in Italy and the Germans misses other items in Italy (bread, sausages ...)
For the Ziploc bags: as other wrotes already you can find them at Ikea. But if you live in Calabria you will not find Ikea!
As for the Deodorant: I sell american products online and the deodorant is TOO without aluminium.
Regarding the tampons: Try OB's. Thats the only one in Italy that is good quality
Greetings from Sicily,
Martina Hahn
Thank you, Martina!
I wish I could take my own bbq sauce to Italy with me.
I hearken from Texas, land of the BBQ sauce! I'm 98% vegetarian so no BBQ sauce for me, but I do understand why you miss it.
Yep. Those baggies are precious. And the dehydrated sponges from Trader Joes. In Uruguay it was worse. I was standing in front of my daughter's apartment near LA and a clean gallon-sized Ziploc bag blew past. I reflexively bent down and picked it up. Could come in handy. My daughter said, "Dad, put that filthy thing down."
HA! I would have reached for it, too! And now that you've reminded me of those perfect-sized dehydrated sponges from TJs, I can think of little else!
My UK friend asked me her to bring Saran wrap when I visited. She said the same thing you did about their Cling Wrap. Basically, crap. lol...
Just reading the title, I started making things up with the aim of being increasingly absurd. So I went from (1) Hummel collection, to (2) 44" flat screen TV, and ended on (3) Gallo box wine.
I am surprised by the items you list. Aluminum foil would definitely be missed, though two of the items you mentioned would not (saran wrap is the second; I don't use it either.)
My nose just isn't that sensitive, so I'd just do as the Europeans do WRT deodorant. A lot of that sensitivity is manufactured, anyway. Returning from a campaign, but still three days out from Paris, Napoleon sent a fast rider ahead with a letter to Josephine, telling her of his schedule and instructing her not to bathe before he arrived.
I use reusable containers (with the snap-on lids) rather than ziplok bags, and being reusable they come with me when I move. So while I'm surprised the bags are not available, I wouldn't especially miss them.
That's a great story about Napoleon and Josephine. Theirs was quite the relationship, wasn't it? "Gallo box wine" made me laugh; "Hummel collection" made me cringe!
I can't speak for the tampons for obvious reasons, but I do remember that when I lived in Cyprus and Kosovo, every time someone went back to the States or was coming over, I gave them a laundry of things to bring with them. The simplest things, like contact lens solution, were virtually impossible to find. Then there were certain candies and crackers that I craved because they simply couldn't be had anywhere in Europe for any amount of money.
It's probably better now, but as your experience shows, there will always be things that America makes better and can't be found in Europe. Ziplocks? Really? That seems so freakin' basic...but there it is. Sometimes it's the things you wouldn't imagine. Deodorant? Whodathunkit?
Part of the challenge of living anywhere outside the States is trying to figure out what "staples" you've taken for granted aren't available. Then, you have to try to see if you can source them from somewhere- anywhere- even if you have to beg, borrow, or (hopefully not) steal.
And it always seems to be things you'd never imagine.
ALWAYS. And now I’m hearing that a version of Ziploc bags can be found at IKEA. But since the nearest IKEA is two hours away, maybe I’ll make that an annual trip. They also have these sour cream and onion potato chips that are delicious.
As an expat, sometimes it's the "little" that are the most precious. :-)
(Plus they'd probably take 3 days and an engineering degree to assemble ... )
There are good ziplocks now, but with that said, EVERYTHING ELSE on the list hits home and is undeniably true. I even brought 4 boxes of foil back to my Italian neighbors as souvenir gifts from one of my stateside visits!
Much more valued than let’s say a red ball cap from the US!
BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Gosh, imagine that!
Fun! I really enjoy reading your posts. They're a deliciously entertaining mixture of kooky, thought-provoking, and refreshingly honest about the quirks of Italy and America and the poor fools who inhabit them (and the world more widely). Thank you for what you write.
To your list I'd add baking powder, liquid vanilla, and chocolate chips. Yeah, it's all about the cookies for me... I love most things about Italian food but the biscotti are not among them ;)
You are very kind to indulge me, and YES, the chocolate chip cookies are a hard cookie to assemble over here. I brought back a gluten-free cookie mix that somehow made it past TSA. Oh, they were delicious! You are so right about that.
Ziplocks are easily found in IKEA here!!
We're in Texas right now. Barely, we're in El Paso.
Well you can dip your french fries in it.