Crossing Cultures,  Looking Back at the United States

Some Things I Miss about the United States

OriginalJoann wants to know what I miss about the United States.

Off the top of my head:

(1) Thomas’ English muffins;

(2) Being able to speak English whenever I feel like it;

(3) Friends who get me;

(4) Great big American drugstores full of every kind of product (shampoo, vitamins, makeup, BandAids) you can think of, with that clean “drugstore” smell;

(5) Really good English-language bookstores like Books & Books, in Miami; 

(6) New York City;

(7) New Yorkers, believe it or not;

(8) Ordering stuff from eBay without having to pay a ransom in shipping and customs;

(9) American roads (are paved, not full of a million potholes, drivers actually stay in their lanes when they drive);

(10) Drinkable tap water.

Current or former expats: What do you miss about your home country?

I am an American writer who lived in Lima for seven years (2007-2014), where I covered Andean traditions, melting glaciers and daily life in the capital for Miami Herald, MSNBC and Huffington Post. I now live and work in northern Florida where I champion climate change advocacy and compassionate, affordable eldercare.

5 Comments

  • Gretchen Noelle

    Good to “meet” you Barbara! I understand that adjusting to Peru is not always easy! English muffins are one of my favorite breakfast treats. I have also made & enjoyed a sourdough version that I hope to post soon, hope you will visit Canela & Comino again!

  • Jim Bartle

    Hi, I stumbled onto this site and enjoy it. I live in Surco, and one thing that drives me nuts (like the re-routing of traffic down your quiet street) is automatic garage doors which open directly onto the sidewalk.

    At least a third of the houses in my neighborhood have these, and people NEVER look before opening them. Anybody who happens to be walking along the sidewalk (where they should be carefully watching out not to be maimed, of course) is just out of luck.

    By the way, I have photos of the Cordillera Blanca and C. Huayhuash going back to the 70s, plus a lot of other material relating, at least indirectly, to the recession of the glaciers. I had a book of comparative photography in the CB, repeating photographs from the 30s, by Alton Byers of The Mountain Institute, but a guy from Channel 5 never returned it after interviewing me on the subject. The changes in the photos are dramatic, as you might guess.

  • Barb

    Hi, Jim —
    Ugh. I hate those dangerous garage doors, too. I know two people (lifelong Limenos) who have been hit by them; one spent four days in a hospital with back injuries. Maybe one of these days I’ll do a post/rant on the subject.

    I see (via Amazon.com) that you are an expert on the CB and C Huayhuash, having written guidebooks to the area, as well as books of photographs. Where can I find your books in Lima?

  • Jen

    Hello! I am enjoying your site -we are also living in Peru – at km. 107 on the Panamerican Sur.

    Right now, I miss carpet the most. The wall-to-wall-super-fluffy-like-walking-on-clouds stuff that my Mom has at her house.

    Also, I miss having my own car and the independance that comes with it. We ride a bus into Lima for shopping instead.

    I also miss a lot of cooking ingredients from home – like any Campbell’s soups!

  • Barb

    Hi, Jen. Glad you like the site. I see from your blog that you’re a fellow American, from Texas. We are probably experiencing similar withdrawal symptoms from the ease of shopping in the U.S.

    Fluffy carpet — no, you don’t find that in Peru! I guess Peru is too dusty for the kind of carpet your mom has. I see from you blog pix that you are in the middle of the desert; imagine how much time would be spent vacuuming a thick carpet there!

    I also miss being able to drive; I feel that loss of independence keenly. We have a car in Lima, but I refuse to drive in the city. There are no traffic cops, so no traffic rules are enforced. I’m more comfortable in a cab.

    The last time I was in the U.S. (Florida), I rented a car and was in a sort of ecstasy just driving along the streets. I felt like “me” again. Have you driven in the States since moving to Peru?