#topramen

When I first left I had only a small idea of what I would and wouldn’t be able to get once I got to France. Now after being here for almost 3 months there are somethings I’m really starting to miss. 

Hot Cheetos- there are no Cheetos here and it’s really sad. There are no spicy snacks! I have tried many different things that are supposed to be spicy and it’s all a lie.  

Salty Snacks- French people already don’t really snack but if they do it’s always sweets. I just really want some Gold Fish or some Cheezits or really just any other crunchy salty American snack food. 

Unsweetened Iced-tea- I drink a lot of tea and a large portion of that is unsweetened iced-tea. This just doesn’t exist here. I have looked all over the place and can not find anything that doesn’t have sugar in it. I went from drinking a large 99¢ unsweetened iced-tea from Dunkin Donuts  almost everyday to not drinking any iced-tea for almost 3 months. Oh what I would give for a giant iced-tea right now. 

ICE- there is no ice in anything and it makes me very sad. I love ice so so much. The other thing that makes me mad about this is that if you go to a place like McDonald’s they don’t put any ice in it but still leave the gap at the top you would usually fill with ice. If you AREN’T GOING TO GIVE ME ICE I WANT IT AT LEAST FILLED TO THE TOP!    

Packaged Ramen Noodles- This one is a little silly but still I really miss ramen. This isn’t something that completely doesn’t exist here it’s just not very common and not very good. I eat a surprising amount of ramen for breakfast in the states and right now I really miss that. 

Popcorn/Microwave- I miss popcorn. Microwave popcorn can be bought at most stores but there’s one problem. My host family doesn’t have a microwave. I wouldn’t say a microwave is something that I absolutely need in my life (especially since no one eats leftovers here) but it’s nice to have to be able to quickly reheat something. Another thing about popcorn. I don’t know if all movie theaters here are like this or if it is just the one I went to but they don’t sell salty popcorn. REALLY FRANCE DOES EVERYTHING NEED TO BE SWEET! I am someone who doesn’t like sweet popcorn I think it is an abomination in the world of popcorn. It completely ruined my evening when I went to the movies looking forward to some nice SALTY POPCORN AND THIS IS WHAT I GET!

 Local Restaurants- I’m really starting to miss the food from the restaurants in my home town. My host family almost never goes out to eat and so I haven’t really been able to find any restaurants here that I really like where as in the states I’ve had almost 10 years to be able to find places that I love eating at. I really want barbecue from Black Dog, sizzling rice soup and spicy tofu from Peking Garden, Udon from Sushi Kame, Sushi from Oishi, and Butter chicken from that one Indian restaurant that no one in my family knows how to say the name of. These are one of the hardest to miss since there is no way for me to be able to eat them until I return to the U.S. at the end of my exchange.