Pretty much all expats miss (and will definitely tell you about) certain material things from their home countries – this is nothing rational, rather, pure materialised homesickness and nostalgia. Typically, those little things are by no means necessary for survival in the new country and can be enjoyed through all respective senses and are often connected to the taste and smell of home (I’m not too thick on Czech sweets, soda, booze, or cuisine), or, have something to do with the overall comfort of life. In my case, these are things related to accessibility of networks, services, and to arts and crafts.
So what are the things I miss most from Czechia,
my fatherland given up a long time ago?
Family and friends – goes without saying.
Stores. (German-style) drugstores. Affordable organic produce stores. Variety of and in stores. Stationery stores (!). Toy stores. Convenience stores.
Koh-i-noor and Centropen stationery.
Marinated beef sirloin with cream sauce – like once a year.
Proximity of Europe and easy train/car travel to the rest of Europe.
Variety of flours.
Variety of shoe brands available, including Czech brands. I’m tired of those four (sub-par) shoestore chains in Finland.
Herbal and homeopathic remedies widely available.
Ingredients for making own detergents and cleaning products as a part of a non-toxic life style.
This kind of ruler. Sorry, but how on earth do kids learn to draw perpendicular lines in other countries?
And of course the landscape, although I never thought I would admit that.
