In going to a different country, one has to assume that there will be things you were used to having that aren't anymore. Most of what is mentioned below are food and things I can obviously do without, but I thought I would add them to this list based on my high appreciation of these items and the irony I find in it with this place being a food mecca. Some are things that are here but just rare. I could keep on explaining but I think it will just be more beneficial if you just read.
1. Reese's anything: Peanut butter candy does not exist. Instead, hazelnut candy is available in a plethera, and I find it very scrumptious. However, there are moments when I just need a piece of that peanut butter goodness that not matter how much hazelnut chocolate I consume the craving just won't go away. But what to expect from a country where Nutella is king, it's not surprising peanut butter candy has been exiled, and peanut butter exists but very expensive.
2. Mike and Ike's and Sour patch kids: I decided to lump them together since they are very similar. I know I have Haribo Gummy Bears, which are amazing, but sometimes a girl just wants
3. Cheese Pringles: Now I thought finding cheese pringles was hard in my parent's house, but it is impossible in all of Florence. They have Original, Multi Grain, Paprika, Sour Cream and Onion, Salt and Pepper, but they do not Cheese.
4. Cheddar Cheese: Not that cheddar cheese is the best, but sometimes it is the best cheese for say, dip, or quesadillas, just eating, and it is the only cheese that is not made in Italy. The Parmaggiano Reggiano cheese (parmasan cheese) is amazing, and so are other cheeses, but every once in a while you just need a good bite of sharp cheddar.
5. Children: At least in Florence, it is called an old city not because of the architecture, but because the age of the general population is older. There are many factors that go into this reality. One is that people are waiting to have children. Another is there are strict regulations on ways outside of good old fashioned copulation to have children. Clinics do exist for invetro fertiliztion, but they are only allowed to make three embryos and it is extremely expensive. Sperm banks, frozen embyos, and even surrogate mothers are all banned and illegal. So when I do run across a kid that's Italian, it always surprises me.
6. Parking Spots: Not that there were available parking spots at Northwestern in any way, shape or form, but here it is a completely different story. When I do come across a car driving the first thought I have is wondering where they are going to park when they get wherever it is there are going. I just believed the limited number of spots that are never available was the reason most people walk, ride bicycles or take public transportation.
7. Traffic Jams: With the limited number of cars buzzing around, this lessens the amount of traffic. Though, there are plenty of vespas and these are always lining the streets, there is very limited traffic. But you would think that this would limit the amount of smog, but Florence has the worst smog of any city in all of Italy. However at night, you can still see the stars if you are standing in large piazzas, so I think Florence beats all cities in the U.S.A.
8. Honeycomb: This food comes in second place to Reese on the craving-food-meter. Most of the cereals here bran flake kind of cereals, which is very good. But every once in a while, a girl needs a bowl of Honey comb.
9. Delivery: In a culture whose culinary experience thrives on not only the taste of the wonderful food, but the smells and sounds of the environment in which they are breaking their bread in. This is one of the main reasons why Italian meals are much longer, they like to take their time and experience all the encompasses their meal. Pick up is available in some places, but if you are eating pizza at your home, it is more Digiorno than delivery. Not that this is a bad thing, for it forces people to leave their dwellings and be a part of the world.
10. Cats: Of all the things I haven't seen, I have yet to see a cat. I see dogs everywhere. Big dogs, little dogs, dogs, dogs, dogs. There are no cats in sight. Maybe they are at home or maybe they don't exist. Perhaps I should one of these days ask an Italian, Dove i gatti?
Until Next Time!
Ciao!
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