what i miss

this is besides people, of course. i'm talking about stuff.

while it is true that you can pretty much find anything you want here, i am having a hard time finding the things that i used to be addicted to (like stuff at whole foods). there isn't a lot of organic anything here, and it's quite frustrating for me. the worst has been on the cleaning product end, especially because i am so sensitive to the smells in the chemical ones.

i like to use the plant-based products (not that stupid green cleaner by chlorox either, because they have that here and it smells awful to me anyway) like ecover, mrs. meyers and method. i have found ecover and occasionally method (although not the bathroom scrub which is the most AMAZING stuff EVER). but i can't find laundry detergent that isn't loaded with phosphates. it's driving me insane. and that's not something i'd like to risk packing the next time i come home. (picture detergent exploded everywhere, because that's what would happen.) there is one brand i found (that isn't confusing - some say "bio" but that doesn't mean eco-friendly, it means something else - and has fragrance or you're not supposed to use it for all of your wash, very weird) for sensitive skin, and has no fragrance. everything else is just way too perfumed for my taste.

and food-wise, i'm buying local - there are some great veggies and fruit, but no organic milk, yogurt or eggs. but i suppose it's more environmentally friendly to buy locally than to buy organic produce from 10,000 miles away...i sound like a whiny yuppy, "oh, they don't have organic soy milk for my half-caf latte with a soupcon of cinnamon". that's not what i mean to do, it's just an adventure in grocery shopping.

for someone who is quite strict about reading labels (and mostly anti-processed food), i'm having a bit of a time figuring out what to buy and/or eat. take juice, for example. you have to read EVERY label, because most of the juices have added sugar. i found 2 brands that don't (and boy are they good! one is local from masafi). but learned that the hard way after not reading labels carefully (it said "natural" in big letters), and practically spitting out the sweetened yuck across the room. 

as for cereal, i can't find cheerios anywhere. you could fill your home with cornflakes, but no cheerios. just really sweet honey-coated o's.

what am i complaining about really. i need to get a grip. at least we have food, right? at least we can partake in the fun european products. and have great produce. and visit the pork room at spinney's every now and again...