*looking forward to...*

I love Switzerland. I have loved every second of our time here. I love my friends here especially-- without them life would be hard. I love the countryside. I love how clean and safe it is here. I love the Swiss people. I would do it all again in a second.

That being said...

(WARNING: American friends in CH might not want to read this entry. It is a rant and will do you no good to read. It will only breed thoughts of longing. Best to ignore this post all together.)

I am really looking forward to life in the States. Here are some things I miss in no particular order.

1. Being able to COMMUNICATE and UNDERSTAND. Being able to walk up to someone in the store and say, "excuse me, but I was wondering if your store carries sardines." or "Hey lady, your kid just poked my kid in the eye with a stick." or "Excuse me, do you have the time?" or even just watching TV in my own language without the newscaster having a British accent and talking about India or somewhere that I don't really care a lick about.

2. CONVENIENCE. "Hey, I don't feel like cooking dinner tonight... lets go to [fill in the blank] where we'll probably only spend like 2o bucks to feed our family of four." or how bout going to the grocery store at 9 pm on a whim? (Stores here close as early as 5 pm) Drive thrus! (and being able to order food at the drive through [see #1]) Ordering pizza! I can't wait to get cash-back at the grocery store.

3. BULK. I am so excited to go to costco and buy a pack of 36 pairs of panty hose-- just because I can. I am going to love having a normal size fridge to put my 3 gallons of milk and huge packages of fruits, veggies, and whatever else I can buy in obscene sizes at costco for dirt cheap. (My fridge right now resembles a dorm room refrigerator. No exaggeration.)

4. SERVICE. I love being greeted by a smiling waiter/waitress/salesperson that acts like your business matters to them. I want my glass magically refilled at restaurants. I am excited to let the little pimple faced boy bag my groceries and walk me out to the car. I also like to be able to get in and out of the restaurant in an hour or less. Doesn't happen here-- meals are are a good 2 1/2 hours or longer-- which can be nice, but sometimes fast is nice too.

5. FAMILIARITY and FAMILY. Granted I will be living across the country from most loved ones, but last time we went home it took us 24 hours door to door. That's just too long. Once an American always an American. I crave familiar things-- brands, stores, people, food. One can only go so long.

6. VARIETY and COMPETITION... choices. More than one kind of Peanut butter at the store. More than one kind of everything at the store. Being able to price comparison shop... gas, food, essentials, non-essentials -- instead of everything being expensive everywhere. And also a variety of restaurant choices... what's it going to be? chinese, mexican, italian, fast, slow, seafood, American, hamburgers, breakfast foods, sandwiches...

PHEW. Ok, rant complete.