Welcome to Jessica’s Ultra Fabulous Survivors Kit! Moving to Rome has been a mixed bag of good and bad, and a roller coaster ride of emotions…take PMS-ing and give it equal parts speed and codeine, it’s kinda like that. So I developed my little list of things that keep homesickness at bay and, best of all, keeps my head firmly on my shoulders.
*Whatever you do, keep a debit or credit card registered in the United States (or where ever you are from). For us Yankees, it give us access to iTunes USA and that means you can rent and buy movies and TV shows that take months (or years) to be released in Italy. Also having a card tied to the US has given me access to countless websites and online services I wouldn’t be able to with the old Postepay Card.
*If you want to amaze all your friends, or be the annoying person that can interject “I saw that like 5 MONTHS AGO!!!” whenever people talk about the new movie they saw at the Cinema, then check out my dirty little secret: moviealien and be Troppo Avanti like me.
*STOP!!! DO NOT pay 10+ euro for that Cosmo magazine! Go to my new favorite site Zinio and get a subscription to your favorite mags at a discount. Cosmo US is only $3.99 a issue or $12.00 for a year! The awesome thing is it’s completely digital! So while you learn this months kama sutra pose and the must have lipstick shade, you are saving a tree! There is a whole bunch of other mags on there, from Photography to Business Week. There are UK and Australia editions as well.
*You can find pancakes, peanut butter, and maple syrup really easily (I get them from my local Panorama out here in the boonies). However, I still miss Starbucks, Schnapps Liquor, bagels and a bum load of other goodies. In Rome you can find a lot of American foods at Castroni, but on several of my visits I wasn’t that impressed. It’s like paying way too much for those weird canned foods at gas stations or the dollar store. I have no idea why. Lesson is, I do find many American things in the regular supermarket. Just look for the dusty shelf in a out of the way place. There is always Food From Home too…mmmm Cadbury Cream Eggs….
So now you have a good start to your survival kit. There is a lot more to stuff to fit in, so stay tuned for upcoming posts!
What’s in your expat survival kit?
Cute blog & oh I know how you feel! Luckily my family, friends and even clients help us keep an (almost) endless supply of Skippy! Yup, there are days when it’s “challenging” here, but boy do the good days out weigh those!
Thanks Megan, I totally miss the chunky Skippy! I can only find the smooth here. *sigh*
Here’s a tip Jessica. Make friends with a Navy man/women based in Napoli. I met a few when I was l there and went to visit them…. they have a full blown American Grocery and liquor store on the base! Doritoes, twizzlers, Sam Adams, Dr. Pepper….. you name it! We got all our Thanksgiving goodies there too.
Thanks Joe, but sadly Naples to far away (in the Italian psyche anyway, which I am slowly adopting). But I do miss the Dr. Pepper!
I wonder what I will do when I move to Denmark…starve? I already had a hard time eating potatoes everyday. Pasta doesn’t sound too bad for me. I was literally dying in Denmark because I missed Asian food so much. I can still cook food in my style but it’s difficult to find the right ingredients. I even had to bring few supplies when I was there: hot chocolate, tea, and instant noodles. Good thing I had those emergency food otherwise I’ll be lying on the bed half dead. Good luck!
I always thought the farther north you go in Europe the easier it is find more of a variety of stuff. Well you burst that bubble! Lol.
The magazines online is a great tip no matter where you live!
And I love that you have a Obama sticker on your car in Italy! Love it!
Anything that can help me save a tree AND keep me looking good, I am all for. Go Obama!
Hi, I’ve read in an older entry to your blog that you’re having trouble finding cheap(er) Italian language classes, so I was wondering if you’ve already inquired at the “Centro Territoriale Permanente”, that’s a special office of Comune di Roma: they also deal with foreigners and, according to what’s written on their website, provide free Italian language classes too. They are in Via Tor De Schiavi 175 - Tel. 06-24419529.
Website: Centro Territoriale Permanente
As for Starbucks in Italy… sorry, I can’t help you on that one, all I know Autogrill (an Italian catering and retail company owning most service areas’ outlets and cafes you can find on motorways, railway stations etc. all over Italy - ) holds a license to sell Starbucks products in various countries… but not in Italy. Weird.
Thanks Giorgia, I never knew that about Autogrill. As for the Italian I am still going to my school in Piazza Bologna. I will investigate the link you gave me though! Thank You!
Starbucks isn’t in Italy yet ’cause the company has decided it’s a pretty major step to open locations in the Homeland of Espresso.
Thanks for the tip on the magazine site! I am going there right now.
Now, if only I could find a reliable source of refried beans so my boyfriend could make his world-famous taco salad. We turned up a lone can at Auchan a month ago (I think this was out at Porta di Roma) and he was so excited!
Love your blog Jessica!!
Thanks Elsie! I have gone to Auchan a few times but Panorama is closer to home. I did see an interview of Howard Schultz (SB’s CEO) and he said it is a matter of when, not if they will open in Italy. It is in the works, but it could take years.
All I can say is, be careful if you follow Joe’s advice; technically if the military member resells items purchased on base, they can get into trouble. Everybody does it though; just be careful. Can always have relatives mail “care boxes” of non-perishables to you. Access USA (myus.com) is a site where you can set up American post box for purchases; they’ll repackage packages and send them out when requested; used this service at XMAS and worked fine for me–still have to pay VAT and shipping is at reduced rates. At Porta di Roma (Auchen), they’ve actually expanded their Mexican food choice–we try to go once a month (normally on Saturday) but we went on Friday for last trip; actually kinda nice, quiet, good selection. Also getting in chips that would be comparable to Doritos in States–expensive but that goes without saying. They even now have more Indian sauces and a few more Chinese food items.
Hi Carol! Thanks for your suggestions! I’m not too worried about the military thing because Naples is too far away and I don’t know anyone. But if you did know someone on base, it is a good idea. Regarding the care packages, I was getting them from my sister until they started disappearing. Grr. The Italian mail gods are feasting on my junk foods! I will have to revisit Auchan, this is the second recommendation! Though Porta di Roma is a bit far, hopefully the other ones have the same selection. Boh!
Great idea about the magazines… I’ll have to check out your links.
We are flying to the states this week, and we are packing light with an empty suitcase to fill!
Jill have fun on your trip!!! I went shopping wildly on my trip home last time. The suoceri kept shaking their heads when I got back and unpacked my “shoe suitcase”, “Jean suitcase” and “hoodie and accessories” suitcase. Hey I am American with American shopping needs!
By the way, has anyone found a place that sells cilantro — as in, the green, parsley-like herb you need to make a lot of Thai, Mexican, and Indian dishes?
We are going to try to get seeds and grow it on our patio but that will obviously take quite a while!
Elsie, can’t say I have, but I will keep my eyes peeled!
Oh, a couple more points (sorry, I am thinking about food way too much this morning):
Our local “bio” (organic) store on Via di Donna Olimpia has fantastic corn chips, brand name Amaizin. They also have good salsa (bottled, not fresh, but good). They carry a lot of German and French products so there is a wider selection of groceries than at the GS or Conad. They even have organic coconut milk! The guy who runs it is really nice and they bake their own (yummy) bread.
You can also go over to Esquinal and shop in the Chinese/ Indian groceries for stuff like American-style baking powder, along with the standard curry mixes, fresh soba noodles, etc. We love to cook so we make special trips every so often.
store is called
Esse bio Natura e Sal. Srl
at
Via di Donna Olimpia 75
Awesome!!! Thank you!
Elsie - look for “coriandolo” on spices’ stalls in any food store, and you’re done.
Also, since you mention via di Donna Olimpia, I assume you either live or work ’round here in Monteverde: in via Ozanam there’s a store called “Supercarni” (LOL), they also sell plenty of spices (including cilantro). Or you can even go to the local market in Piazza San Giovanni di Dio (mon-sat, open all mornings), there are at least a couple of kiosks run by Asian people that sell both spices and oriental food.
You can find another organic food shop in Testaccio, it’s called Il Canestro, it’s in via Luca della Robbia 12, right off Via Galvani (they also have other shops http://www.ilcanestro.com/dove.html , but I usually go to the one in Testaccio.).
Thanks for the tips Giorgia! I will also check it out.
Great idea for a post! I look forward to more additions to your survival kit. And your description for that crazy expat homesickness: “take PMS-ing and give it equal parts speed and codeine…” I can relate! Still, it’s quite an adventure, ain’t it?
Thanks Tui, what an adventure it is!
Giorgia == Thanks for the tip! I’m actually looking for fresh coriander/ cilantro (sold in bunches, like parsley). I have dried coriander already -and speaking of which, have you tried the coriander flavored gelato at Al Settimo Gelo? Mmmm . . . !
I will definitely be going to the Piazza San Giovanni di Dio market. (Yes, we live in Monteverde, but for a while there I would swear we were spending more time at the Ikea in Porta di Roma.)
Coriander flavored gelato!? This sounds like a necessary addition to the Tour Del Gelato!
oops, um, I meant *cardamom,* not coriander!!!! (shouldn’t post before the coffee hits me.)
Anyway, you HAVE to go there . . . definite contender for best gelato in Rome, if not THE best. It’s in Prati — Via Vodice — don’t have the address but it’s a short street.
Oh ok, that would be an interesting flavor. Is cardamom sweet? I am not familiar with it. I will check it out!
Elsie - since you’re so close by you should pop into the Piazza Vittorio markets (now renamed the Nuovo Mercato Esquilino and moved inside) right next to Termini. I live near there and a bunch of fresh coriander/cilantro is 50 cents a bunch. You can also get all the Indian spices like cardamom, turmeric etc, peanut butter, rolled oats, soy sauce, home made tofu (from one of the Chinese stalls), fresh pasta, good bread and really fresh fish, fruit and veg. I stay away from the meat (unrefrigerated) although others tell me it’s good too and good value. Oh, and the market is WAY cheaper than Castroni.
This entry rules, I feel thrifty and I haven’t even bought anything yet. Maybe that’s why I feel thrifty so far. Hmm!
Cadbury Cream Eggs are my LIFE.
omg moviealien has ENCHANTED APRIL!!!!!! you are now my favorite person ever.
love, miss e.
Cardamom is a spice, a little like nutmeg but more subtle. They also have a ginger/ cinnamon flavor that rocks, plus Greek which is yogurt with pistachios and honey, Iranian (with saffron), chestnut (no dairy). There was lichee, mandarin, and one with red wine and plums (!) on our last visit a week ago. Of course they also have the usual suspects like vanilla, crema, hazelnut, chocolate with pepperoncino, stracciatella, etc. They change a lot of their flavors seasonally — a good thing!