An American in Provence

Despite this slightly disturbing picture, I think it accurately expresses the feelings of many ex-pats...

Big soft salty warm mall pretzels
Bagels with cream cheese or hummus
Cottage Cheese
Chunky peanut butter
Hershey's in general
Hershey's with Almonds
Peppermint Patties
Moose Tracks Ice Cream
Grape Soda, Root Beer
Starburst, Skittles
Oreos
American Imitation Chinese food, compared to French Imitation Chinese food
Softees from Wendy's
Big crunchy pickles with or without Lemonade (my favorite snack in elementary school)
Cadbury Eggs
Hot Apple Cider
Banana Cream jello (to be made into pies)
Those chocolate oranges
Chocolate syrup and chocolate fudge for ice cream (preferably chocolate)
Biscuits
AMERICAN APPLE PIE!!! I just can't get the darn thing right over here!!!!

lots of other junk that I can't think about but I am sure I would say Oh yeah I miss that! if walking through the standard American grocery store.

Yep. I know what I will be doing the first week back in the US. And it isn't healthy. I guess I need to loose about five pounds before going just to come out even at the end.

It doesn't help that there are companies such as this one
http://www.cybercandy.co.uk/aaasmt/
that you can order candy or soda or peanut butter in bulk for an arm and a leg. I think it would be cheaper to take a weekend trip to New York. "Oh, what did you see when you were in New York?" Uh, the inside of a grocery bag.

Wish that a) there was a commissary here in Marseille
and that b) I had access to it.

Other countries can make a lot of foods better than the US- cheese, bread, cakes, etc. but gosh darn it I am sticking up for my country and not ashamed to say it-
America has the best candy in the world and I am proud of that fact by-god.
There. I have said it.
That could be a negative but who knows.

The Association of American Wives of Europeans club, which is based in Paris and of which I am a new member (thanks Genevieve) has a little blurb in their handbook.



Are they joking? Any "spare room" in my suitcase that isn't taken up with presents, things mom and dad have threatened that I had better take back with me to France or else they are throwing out (No!!! Mr. Snuffles!!!!) and odd items like cheap drugstore mascara that might as well be Chanel for the price it is here, are going to be food items FOR ME. No way am I parting with my hard-earned candy. Hey, I braved holiday airport traffic for this candy bar lady, you are prying it from my cold dead fingers.

Foods I Don't Miss:
Just about nothing.