Longing or shorting

I live in Germany. I know, that's pretty cool.

But can I complain for a minute?

***Before I start, let me just say, life here is good and I really am enjoying this awesome experience. I have learned so much, unfortunately speaking German is not one of those things.

I miss English. There are plenty of people here that do speak English, for which I am extremely grateful. But little things like reading labels. I was trying to buy some shampoo for my curly hair for a week or so, every time I walked down the shampoo isle I realized I still hadn't looked up the phrase for curly hair. So finally I looked it up and then couldn't find a single bottle with those words. I also bought some gel. I missed that it was for men so my hair has been smelling pretty manly. It's pretty nauseating with the amount I use on my long hair. I do appreciate marketing tactics that use pictures and fonts that are clearly for the target audience. I never realized how much you can tell about a product  by its packaging.

I miss the Utah Indoor Clean Air Act. I don't think smoking inside is legal here, but RIGHT outside the door is. It's only now I realize how spoiled I have been.

I miss sour cream. I miss fruit snacks and graham crackers. (Thanks to my mom who shipped me some.) I miss American size bulk packaging. Gallons of milk and blocks of cheddar cheese. Big refrigerators and my kitchen in which to put all those giant packages.

I miss fountain drinks from the gas station and free refills at restaurants. Diet Pepsi that tastes like real Diet Pepsi. Ice cubes.

I miss wide streets and parking stalls. I miss turning right on a red light. And my automatic
transmission. Street signs I can read. I miss the convenience of stores open 24 hours. And drive-thrus! The bank doesn't have a drive through. UGH! (The McDonald's does, it's called McDrive.)

But the chocolate makes up for it all!