what do you miss?
having lived in italy for a year (though it was three or so years ago) i still get the question from time to time of, as an american living abroad, what did i miss most from the states? the people asking this are inevitably either moving abroad themselves and want to prepare, or are sending a care package to loved ones abroad. problem is: i can NEVER REMEMBER WHAT I MISSED. i missed the convenience of american stores; i missed american tv and pop culture; i missed, of course, my friends and family. but otherwise all i have are happy fuzzy golden memories of my time spent there, even though i obviously must have had moments when i was like, "oh damn, i really miss _________ from america." but nothing tangible ever comes to mind.
anyway, i'm writing about this to ask those of you who have lived out of america for extended periods of time: what did you miss? if you were making a care package for somebody, what would you put in it? i ask primarily because one of my brother's best friends is moving to africa for two years (a bit more hardship than italy, i would imagine) and he wants to send her some things. so help a brother out.
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When I went to Spain, right out of high school, my mom insisted I bring peanut butter. She insisted it was a luxury item there.
Notwithstanding, I was able to find peanut butter in Spain (and, later, in Chile), albeit at a much higher retail cost.
So, my half-hearted response is: peanut butter.
That's a really hard question, because she hasn't arrived in Africa yet. Where in Africa? It's a big continent -- with more specifics I can definitely find out a more concrete answer.
It's not something you can send, but when I spent several months in Rome last fall for work (and I'm moving to Milan in September, so this is at the forefront of my mind), is american plumbing.
However, this may be more helpful for someone not going to a "first world" country - My brother is in the Peace Corps in micronesia, and I can tell you what he's constantly asking for in care packages...
- deodorant, toothpaste, soap (he's somewhat particular, and even when stuff is available, it's prohibitively expensive, particularly for someone on a budget).
- batteries (for things like cameras)
- books and magazines (particularly current events related or with long articles - I'm sending him several issues of Harpers and the Economist in my latest care package).
Obviously if your friend is going somewhere like a major city in South Africa, she won't need most of this stuff, but if she's going somewhere that's less accessible, She'll probably need the "little" things the most.
I wish I had some brilliant ideas from what I missed in Australia and Scotland but I'm afraid I'm in the same boat as you Catherine. Unfortunately, the closest I've been to Africa is the Rock of Gibralter. Camera batteries is a good idea from Sam up there, I remember having a terrible time finding the right ones in Oz. And, I think I ate more peanut butter in Scotland than I do in the States if only because it's such an American thing to do and my scottish roommates found it hilarious, but it wasn't hard to find in the stores. Also, if she's a big fan of Apple Sauce I remember it coming in tiny jars in Australia and located next to the mint jelly. So maybe a big jar of apple sauce?
If it's mine and Peter's common friend, she's in Tanzania, and just arrived. There's a city, but shopping is a bit challenging, says she. The cosmetics/batteries/magazines suggestions are all on point. It's a bit obsolete now, but when I was abroad I really liked it when my mom would send me newspaper clippings, particularly Redskins-related ones. But that's just me.
While I was in Russia, I missed justice.
When I was in Iraq, I missed a lot of simple things. I missed newspapers, food other than standard chow hall fare (although there was a Burger King near the shanty PX), and my fruity shampoo and conditioner.
I guess I would include newspapers (yes, they will be old when they get to the person, but any news is better than no news), magazines, hard candy, CD's, books, and perhaps an adult beverage if the person likes. We had connections in Iraq, but nothing was better than seeing that Scope bottle full of vodka come in.
If I think of anything else, I will let you know.
I lived in a respectably first-world country (France) for a year, and I can't say that I really missed American foodstuffs that much, because French food was just so damn good, but I did miss certain toiletries. France is a fine country indeed, but I couldn't find effective deodorant or sturdy, non-shredding floss to save my life. Magazines is another good suggestion- might be kind of unwieldy to send a lot of books.
Yeah, it depends on where in Africa. When I lived in Senegal (West Africa) I didn't miss all that much, but the reading material (New Yorker) was always appreciated and got passed around the American students that I was with.
I'm living in Italy now. I miss efficient bureaucracy (don't laugh), decent ethnic food, and cheap CD's. None of those are helpful, are they?
Cheap aspirin and cold medicine is the big one as far as what I get when I'm back home. Probably not an issue in Africa.
Mmm...sushi...DEFINITELY sushi. And yes the bigger towns here in Italy DO have sushi but I don't live in a big town and it just is so darn expensive here and not always as good!
Sushi...
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