Things I Miss or Take for Granted in the United States

1. My little Honda Civic
• I am absolutely sick of public transportation. I want to be able to go where I want, when I want, without having to wait for long periods of time. And without having to be in a crowded location.
2. Fast-food restaurants
• Especially Taco Bell.
3. Hot showers
• Often times I have to take a cold shower or else I skip a shower because I don't want to be in the cold.
4. Wal-mart and other department "super" stores
• I want to be able to find everything in one spot. I hate going to one store for groceries, another for office supplies, etc
5. 24 hour stores
• It is impossible to get anything from a store after 8pm at the latest.
6. The United States Postal Service
• The postal service here is impossible. The post office doesn't have any boxes to ship items (I still haven't found a place that does.) And the postal service is extremely slow.
7. Ranch dressing, peanut butter, and ketchup
• Ranch dressing is non-existant. Peanut butter only comes in smooth (I like crunchy) and is extremely expensive. Ketchup is also very expensive and often times hard to find. McDonald's charges a price for Ketchup, it is not a free "convenience." I found it odd that Ketchup is not a bigger thing, considering tamatoes are.
8. Cheddar cheese
• Italy is known for its cheese. However, it is completely impossible to find any yellow cheese. Which makes me sad, becaue I live off of it back home.
9. Clean/fresh air
• Cities have never been my thing and this one is no exception. I hate the way it smells and how ditrty it is. I want the fresh air of northwest WI countryside.
10. Nicer people
• In general, I would take a crabby American over a normal Italian. Italians glare and talk about you behind their hands. They are pushy and put American's last on their lists.
11. Silence at night-time
• Another reason I don't like cities is the noise. There is constant noises, whether it be a siren or someone's music from the apartment above.
12. Good cell phone service/ Working phone
• My apartment is in the middle of Rome and I do not get any cell phone service. It is ridiculous. It makes me the most mad when I find out that I missed a phone call from Michael. And when his phone calls do come through, we constantly get disconnected.
13. Green grass
• I miss healthy looking plants. Everything in the city is dirty and dead.
14. Use of the English Language
• I miss talking to people who understand me. lol
15. Feeling of "Home"
• I do not feel at home here in Italy. I feel very much out of place. I want the feelings of home again.
16. My Friends
• I miss my sorority sisters and my rednecks back home
17. My Family
• I have never been away from my family for Thanksgiving. It is hard being away from family for this long, especially when it is over a holiday.
18. Traffic Laws
• There are no traffic lanes in Roma. People drive down the center. People drive on sidewalks. Mopeds are even more dangerous. I have almost been run down several times.
19. TV with English channels
• I don't remember the last time I got to watch an actual TV station
20. Personal Space/Manners
• Italians do not know the meaning to personal space. There can be a ton of room on the tram, but they will stand right next to you so they are touching you.
21. Microwave
• I miss being able to heat up my leftovers in less than a minute using a microwave. Without a microwave, it takes about 10 times longer to get cooking done.
22. Drying Machine
• I hate having to hang my clothing out to dry. It takes way to long and I never feel like it is clean afterwards. Instead of laundry taking a few hours, it takes several days.
23. Country (well) Water
• I love well water. It is the best water to drink and to shower in. I refuse to drink the disgusting city water here. The water has also had a very bad effect on my hair.
24. Being able to use several different appliances at once
• I am unable to use the washer and the oven at the same time in Rome. Which makes it even harder to get things done.