An Awesome Surprise

Yesterday I came home from a long day helping out at the school and working on some CHIC things to find a delivery slip in my mailbox. Usually the slips say who the package is from, but this time all it said was "USA".

I bribed Sami to walk with me by telling her I would let her pick out a treat from the grocery store near the post office. The post office is a little over a mile away from our house –– downhill there and uphill home.

I handed the worker my slip and she and came back laughing and carrying a huge box. The side of the box said it weighed 14 pounds and 12 ounces. I about fell over, especially knowing how much it costs to ship 15 pounds to Japan. So uphill I carried this just shy of 15 pound box home.


My super special, full-of-surprises friend Val sent me a taste of "home" package. I think she somehow knew I was a bit homesick. I was totally blown away and speechless.

Sami & I began to open the box. It was like Christmas in Japan.

Sitting at the top was a card and a bunch of pictures. Some of the pictures was of us from Christmas and of the kids from Christmas, and she even sent a few of Illinois and NC.

Noah sent Sami a "love" note and a photo of himself and Maia sent Sami a box of fruit snacks. She was so excited.

Next was a bag with relaxing candles, bath wash and some pretty matches, that as you can see in the note, Noah picked out for me.

Next was this Ohio State tumbler that included a note saying every time I use this Val hoped it reminded me of "home".


Then came the "goodies". Tons of "USA" type stuff from candy to dip and drink mixes to gravy to biscuits to Spanish rice to Chex Mix to almost every item Hostess makes.

I have to admit I was crying over a box full of Hostess King Dongs and Cupcakes. Not that I missed them, as to be honest I am not sure I have eaten them since college, but because I was just missing "home".


At the very bottom was a Mexican cooking magazine, as Mexican food is just not found here, an Illinois newspaper and a Real Simple magazine.

Here is all our stash spread out. The only thing missing is appetite suppresants to keep me from eating all this food.

Little things like this show me that proximity doesn't make a friendship, the heart does.

So thank you Val. Thank you for bringing a smile to not just me, but my whole family.

American Greetings

Moving to a foreign country makes you realize the foods and products that you take for granted while living in your home country. I have talked to expats from different parts of the world and no matter if they are from the USA, UK or even Korea there are items that they miss.

Some stores here do carry a few American products, such as hard shell tacos and Classico spaghetti sauce. There are other stores, such as Price Club and Foreign Buyers Market, that cater to expats and sell particular brands and types of food from their home country –– for an added cost of course. For example, we can get Kraft Mac & Cheese for about $2.50 a box at one of these two stores. Amazon Japan carries a few items, however unless you know the code on the barcode scanners section it is hard to find some of the items.

Then there are other items, that no matter what, are just not able to be bought here. Chewy granola bars, almost any cereal besides Corn Flakes, Frosted Flakes and Special K, any candy bars besides Kit Kats, M&Ms and Crunch bars, any turkey or chicken lunch meat, most crackers, pancake mix, any type of syrup that isn't pure maple syrup, almost every salad dressing and any type of medicine and cleaning products are just a few examples. Some of these items can be ordered from a place called Expat Express for only a mere kidney and first grandchild. And other items will just have to wait until we return state-side.

Shannon sent us a little "care" package for Valentines Day full of candy (Reese's Pieces & Take 5 yum!) and single packets of Propel. We have been rationing the candy as it probably cost more to send the package than what was included in it.




There were a few items that we didn't think to stock up on (we probably will never need to buy bar soap, Tylenol, Imodium, tampons, pads, or women's deodorant) before we moved here, so I asked my "personal shopper" Jamie to send us a few much needed items.

With all the walking foot powder is a must. However the only thing you can find here is a spray and is just that, a spray. It has no "odor eating" capability. If you ever sit near Matt in an enclosed space with his black shoes on you will see why this item was needed. Airborne –– with the wild cold and flu bugs around here this season we are all out. While the jury is still out if it actually works, mentally Matt we think it does. And finally, Italian dressing. I brought ranch packets with me, knowing that it was impossible to find ranch dressing here. However, I did not realize the Italian dressing here was not the same as in the states. (Actually may items here are not the same as in the states, but I will save that for another post) So after having to go to several stores for my "list", Jamie was able to send us our package, which arrived safe and sound today.

It is nice having a touch of "America" in our mailbox. And after our home leave this summer we will be bringing back a stash of some of our "missed" things with us. We may have to leave some of our clothes behind, but we will have enough granola bars and Italian dressing to last us awhile.

Signed, Sealed and Delivered

This morning I braved the post office (again adding to my dislike for the place) and mailed out our Visa applications. They should hit New York by noon tomorrow and then sent to Atlanta for final approval and processing.



If all goes as it should, we will have our passports and Visa stamps before Christmas.

My Hate/Hate Relationship

I loathe the post office. I mean loathe. Kind of like how people who owe money hate commercial collection agencies. Just the idea of having to go to the post office makes me break out into a cold sweat. I have several "little gifts" sitting around my house that I have every intention of sending to the attended person, however my allergic reaction to the post office deters me from my good thoughts.

What is so bad about the post office one may ask? Honestly I don't know. Maybe it is something about the unknown lines, the lack of speed, the stupidity of some of the people in line (Doh! Was I supposed to address this letter before I got to the post office attendant?) or deciding whether to send something priority mail or first class.

I think much of my stress stems from enduring the PO with my kids. Long lines and long waits with 3 kids does not make for a happy or fun experience. Maybe if the post office had a drive thru window it would have kept me from loathing the PO as much as I do today.

But Monday I am going to have to put my fears and loathing behind me and head to the PO, ugh. The kids and I have a package to send to Matt. Actually we have had a package to send him for 2 weeks now. Oops.

Wish me luck.