American Food
If you’ve read enough of this blog, you’ll know that I’m an american expat. My sister-in-law (brother’s wife) is preggies again. We had planned on going back to the states twice this year to see everyone because we weren’t able to last year. The plan was March and then x-mas, trying to space that looonnnngggg 12h plane flight out. But she’s due in May and hubbie’s on tour with his band in March, so we got the tickets for August.
Now there is a very long list of things that I do miss from across the pond. Things like tumble dryers in most homes. After being here for over 2 years I still feel uncomfortable having my knickers on the laundry rack when his friend’s stop by.
American TV. Don’t get me wrong there are some quality shows here. But, every year it seems like you guys get more and more really well done ones. Like Heroes. Studio 60. Lost. My Name is Earl. Boston Legal. Battlestar Galatica. Law and Order. But more important then that, is I don’t even know what’s on here. We don’t have set seasons, it just sort of starts and you better be lucky to have found out about it. It’s down right confusing. Not even the biggest channel for my generation actually gives you info from the website on things starting before like a month. (I do <3 More4 tho).
I miss people understanding me when I speak. Oddly enough we do speak the same language. Sort of. For instance, when I called to set up my dsl I wanted to find a place that would allow a router. Here, they try and pawn off usb modems as “fast” hah. I called 3 different places who didn’t know what I was talking about, until finally at the fourth they guy went: “ohh you mean rooter.” This was after I described it as that box that connects to the phone line and then to your computer via ethernet. Now, I’m clearly an American. There are some words I do have a more english accent on, but those are rare. Kitten is probably my most used as in KIT-in. Then I do go back and forth with Pecan - PEcin and pecAAN.
Granted, it’s not as bad as when my husband goes to the states. He mumbles more then anyone I’ve ever met. But still is annoying.
Then there is the extreme lack of customer service here. Now, if I called the us postal service and told them my neighbour was stealing my mail, they’d do something about it. Here, I called the royal mail and was told they don’t care and to stop calling.
But then there is the food.
I want ranch dressing to dip carrots or potato chips in. I want french dressing that doesnt look and taste like italian. I want mexican food. I want cambells chicken noodle soup. I want sweet pickels that taste good, not the rubbish that is here. How about sweet relish on burgers? I want strawberries and cream instant oatmeal. I want mac n cheese for lunch. MMM poptarts. I want chinese food like from SF not the weird orange colour that sweet and sour chicken looks like here. Why has no one here heard of crab rangoon? I want A&W cream soda. I miss triscuits and cheese. I don’t want to wait for mom’s shipment before I can have David’s sunfower seeds.
We eat a lot of fresh food here, so thats good. But sometimes I’d like the choice to cook out of a box. Like hamburger helper cheesy hashbrowns (that got me through college). I’m not certain if thats the “normal” way as hubbie won’t allow me to go to the grocery store with him. When I do, we always end up with silly things like cream cakes.
Ok, thats one good thing here cream cakes! He actually has a song called “Cream cake power struggle.” And Indian food. Mmm sunday roasts are my favourite weekend thing, especially in the summer. The pub down the road is actually on the park and serves this nice strawberry beer that is perfect on a warm afternoon. Actually all beer here is better. And of course national insurance, madatory 21 day paid vacation (even for freelancers woot), and most important of all £128 weekend trips to Rome. And then the brillance of walking down the road and seeing a part of the Roman wall still standing, at least in that one little chunk.
So.. I had meant to just talk about the food I missed, especially more so after buying the plane tickets. When we get there I want to go to Runza (fast food that’s not fast food) and then go to a mexican resturant and have a burrito and a marghrita. And then, I’m going to sip bad american beer by the pool for a bit over 2 weeks and gouge myself on steaks my step-dad grills and fresh corn from the farmer’s stand down the street.
In the meantime, I found a website that I can order certain important things like catalina dressing, sweet gherkins, and most important of all: pancake mix.
