Licorice

Things a person misses from home come as a surprise to those of us living overseas.  It's not always the big ticket items either.  For example, I was talking to a fellow expat at a hotel in London, and her cousin asked her to bring Kraft Dinner (Macaroni and Cheese dinner for all those Americans reading this) because he couldn't get it in London (actually a friend of mine found a store that sells stuff from Canada, the U.S. and Australia so there may be Kraft Dinner there afterall).  The irony is that I can get it in India for some bizarre reason.  Go figure.  Anyway, in conversations I have with others it's funny things like KD that get to us.  Licorice is another.  Not all countries have the same kind of licorice, or what passes for licorice in that place.  Back home Twizzlers - red and black - are the kind of licorice I'm used to and will go a little nuts over when I'm home.  That and Dairy Queen anything.  Nor is junk food like KFC or McDonald's the same everywhere.  Here, they like lots of hot spices well integrated into their chicken at KFC, so when you think you are getting a regular KFC, you'll find out not all chicken is created equal.  Nor is McDonald's.  The McD's in England is not the same as the McD's in the Middle East, or India, or Asia, or even Central and South America, though one would expect it to be pretty consistent.  The only thing consistent is that it still all tastes like cardboard - good cardboard if you have any cravings at all, but cardboard none the less.  Beef burgers might be on one countries menu, but not on another and you can be pretty sure that in countries where pigs are considered a major no-no that there will be no ham and eggers of any kind.  Candy is another item that isn't the same everywhere and much of the candy served in many parts of the world (or what that place considers to be candy) is not anywhere close to what I consider candy (not that it's bad, just that I have preconceived notions of what constitutes candy).  True, some companies have their products everywhere and those are pretty consistent if they are imported.  Toblerone, Cadbury's and Neilson's chocolates are the same no matter where you buy them, but other candies aren't so fortunate.  It becomes a bit of a guessing game and definitely an adventure for jaded tastebuds - not always pleasant, but certainly a challenge.  Sigh.  Back to food again.  Until next time.