I remember when we first came, we must have thought we were coming to a backward country. I bought my Corelle dishes because they don't occupy lots of space, and I brought pots and pans. My husband came with his toolbox. I left my children's nice clothes back in the States, because I didn't want them to look like they came from a wealthy family. One of my first thoughts when I got here was, "Oh, my! How nicely Spanish children dress!" My kids looked so shabby...
Oh, my, we paid excesss baggage alright, and that was back when we could travel with plenty of heavy trunks. Today this would be foolish. We have big stores like Walmart with all you need at good prices. Carrefour is big here. And the trend towards big "hiper markets" as we call them just grows, so there are a lot of competing stores.
In those days I had to bring Vanilla, and all the spices in the world. Spices were looked upon as unhealthy and suspicious. Now life have changed, and you can find just about everything you need. But bring Maple flavoring, chili powder, celery seed, Chesapeake Bay seasoning... but little else. Those four you won't find here. Oh, if you prefer a pumpkin pie spice mix bring some, too. Nor will you find cream of tartar for frosting. You won't find corn syrup either, but you can forget about it! I have a small bottle sitting in my pantry since 2004. You end up baking less extravagantly because nice cookies are so accesible and inexpensive. Fruit is so wholesome and inexpensive, you should make less desserts, and get into the Mediterranean Diet with thankfulness.
Each time we returned to Spain from the US after a three-month stay, I'd buy little gifts for everyone in our church from the Dollar Stores, and make everyone so happy. Now we have those stores coming out of our ears in Spain, and it's getting harder and harder to come up with something that is not found here. Honey spoons are not seen in those stores -yet. Little paring knives are a good thing to bring, too. Bring cup and spoon measures. Here people use the metric system and weigh ingredients.
As for clothes... People here like be be trendy, and there is nothing more pathetic to them than a badly dressed American! Image is somewhat important. I found out over long years that it is best to have fewer items of clothing than it is to have tons. Those few outfits should be nice. But not "fancy". Do you get me? Thank goodness, over the years people are dressing alike all over the planet, which makes this simpler. There are no second hand stores like in the US, though, so don't expect to find ANY.
Well, there is an option or two for second hand furniture, and clothes, if you really insist... There are a couple of Christian ministries that run this unusual business in most cities to support their work with drug addicts and people living on the margins of society. They are two big ones, Remar and Reto. I prefer to look for sales at IKEA for things for the house. Off season sales for clothes is my hope and desire, and I have discovered the Lord knows and honors my needs, and loves to surprise me with super bargains! I have my fun with Him. My girls think it's unfair how the Lord provides for me, ha ha.
Of course, when you get here you will miss so many things, and wish you'd brought much more.
One thing that is not very available and is expensive is anything that has to do with hobbies... No Hobby Stores. There are Art Stores, but high scale. If I think of more things I'll get back to this...
I'm sitting here and thinking... what do I ask folks to bring me from the States when they come to visit? Big bottles of painkillers, since here each pill is expensive. You don't go to the Doctor for a prescription for every headache! I now have less migraines, once I figured out what my underlying problem was. I am severely lactose-intolerant, and lactose is not yet produced here. What a bummer! I am dead if I didn't have a cousin supporting my "habit", ha ha. Buying vitamins online is an option that I resort to, but the mailing costs make it expensive, too. But Vitamins here are SO expensive. I use "Puritan's Pride" online service, if you needed the information... I ask around and we all share the mailing cost, which helps. I should go into business...
Three years ago, right after my skin cancer surgery (reconstruction of lower eyelid!) I went to Italy to visit my sister and her family, and everything I took along was in the car as we went to see the Ruins in Rome. Everything was stolen from the car. I arrived to their home with only what I was wearing and carrying in my bag! Thank God Italy has lactose pills! What's the matter with Spain? Anyway, I enjoyed the best icecream in the world... the Italian!
So, don't forget the Maple Flavoring!
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