What Can't you get or Live Without in Europe?
Jul 9th, 2006, 02:10 AM
#143
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,667
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
>>>>>
Nothing. You simply adapt. Why try to simulate your experience at home when you are abroad?
>>>>>
this sentiment is often seen on this board...the feeling that a "real" traveller (whatever that is) never seeks out anything from home.
i completely disagree. it is easy for an average tourist that spends 2-3 weeks (or less) outside his country to forget about home and totally immerse oneself in the country they are visiting.
however, if you spend significant amounts of time away from your home country you tend to seek out some comforts of home occasionally.
going on about the tenth week in taiwan at the beginning of this year, that beer in a british expat pub did recharge the batteries.
Nothing. You simply adapt. Why try to simulate your experience at home when you are abroad?
>>>>>
this sentiment is often seen on this board...the feeling that a "real" traveller (whatever that is) never seeks out anything from home.
i completely disagree. it is easy for an average tourist that spends 2-3 weeks (or less) outside his country to forget about home and totally immerse oneself in the country they are visiting.
however, if you spend significant amounts of time away from your home country you tend to seek out some comforts of home occasionally.
going on about the tenth week in taiwan at the beginning of this year, that beer in a british expat pub did recharge the batteries.
Jul 9th, 2006, 02:26 AM
#144
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 1,265
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I live in France but am from the US. There is nothing in the US that "I cant live without". Do I see out american things from time to time? Sure. But I can live without them. Also when I seek them out in 99 percent of cases I can find the products here in France. I see no reason to try to simulate my US life here in France.
Jul 9th, 2006, 04:36 AM
#145
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 512
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
KarenK, it is so funny that you say that about the bathroom stalls. I feel so claustraphobic in the ones in Europe. They go from the very bottom, to the very top with no space.
A couple of times I have been close to freaking out. I try to make it short.
I take my own water, bottled water. For a long time, it was Aquafina. It was just lightly flavored, lightly sweetened water. I cannot find it any more. But I have found Life Water and Vitamin Water which have taken it's place for me.
I have to force myself to drink, anything, and I hate plain water. I don't like anything with splenda or artificial sweetner. It gives me pains in my head, and too much, a migraine. And can upset my stomach.
I took 6 bottles with me last trip. I will also drink sparkling water with lemon. So I was able to stretch them. No ice, so I don't mind that in Europe.
And what is with the fizzy ice tea? I did not like that at all.
A couple of times I have been close to freaking out. I try to make it short.
I take my own water, bottled water. For a long time, it was Aquafina. It was just lightly flavored, lightly sweetened water. I cannot find it any more. But I have found Life Water and Vitamin Water which have taken it's place for me.
I have to force myself to drink, anything, and I hate plain water. I don't like anything with splenda or artificial sweetner. It gives me pains in my head, and too much, a migraine. And can upset my stomach.
I took 6 bottles with me last trip. I will also drink sparkling water with lemon. So I was able to stretch them. No ice, so I don't mind that in Europe.
And what is with the fizzy ice tea? I did not like that at all.
Jul 9th, 2006, 05:14 AM
#146
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
MauiMaui
I always carry a softsided cooler as a carry on back. When I get to wherever I'm going, I have an ice cooler. Maybe the decor isn't up to snuf but I really don't care.
I'm like a lot of posters. I don't really miss anything. I usually find the people friendly enough and just enjoy the experience. My wife and I are "follow our nosers" whenever we travel away from the US.
BS
I always carry a softsided cooler as a carry on back. When I get to wherever I'm going, I have an ice cooler. Maybe the decor isn't up to snuf but I really don't care.
I'm like a lot of posters. I don't really miss anything. I usually find the people friendly enough and just enjoy the experience. My wife and I are "follow our nosers" whenever we travel away from the US.
BS
Jul 9th, 2006, 03:11 PM
#147
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wow, now I got lots of tips of what to bring my American friends living in Spain: I don't think I would have guessed a single one of the stuff mentioned and I considered myself thoroughly americanized after living a quarter of the century "on the other side of the pond" from Europe.
The only thing I miss in the Europe proper (that is outside Britain) are bookstores with a really large selection of books in English... and ... if I were allowed to be really grumpy... comfortable chairs in bookstores to allow for browsing in comfort. But the only request I ever got for American stuff was... a grapefruit knife. And the request was from another americanized European.
The only thing I miss in the Europe proper (that is outside Britain) are bookstores with a really large selection of books in English... and ... if I were allowed to be really grumpy... comfortable chairs in bookstores to allow for browsing in comfort. But the only request I ever got for American stuff was... a grapefruit knife. And the request was from another americanized European.
