what i miss

so i was in the queen vic market today buying some groceries and decided to stop at the sweet shop for some peanut butter fudge. when i asked for it, i got a confused look and was told they'd never heard of it. 'must be an american thing' he said (my accent gives me away every time!) but it got me thinking of all the things i miss from home. so i've decided to do a 2 part run down: first the things i miss from home, second what i will miss from australia. i made up this list over dinner in china town tonight. made me a bit home sick and then a bit australia sick (even though i haven't even left yet) but it was nice to reflect. ok...here goes!
- peanut butter fudge
- phoebe and groucho (and karl although i've yet to meet him!)
- good paramsian cheese - they have kraft here, but it's darker and sharper and just tastes funny
- having a car - being bound to public transportation really slows traveling down, plus the freedom and solitude of driving is one of lifes greatest pleasures...at least for me
- my family, of course
- grass - i'm living in a concrete world
- madison's "rush hour" - or "rush ten minutes" as it's more suitably called. rush hour here is quite the bugger
- campus life - the city campus just isn't the same
- walking to school - time wise walking to krannert and taking the train to the city is about the same, but i would just prefer to be able to walk it
- college sports - there's something about rallying around your school's team where you know some of the players, everyone's on the same side, and you have a real attachment.
- phoebe!
- my own computer - between borrowing my roommate's macs, waiting in line at the library, and paying at internet cafes... it's quite cumbersome
- cheap phone conversations - you don't realize how good free local calls, free cingular to cingular, and roll over is until you're paying 18 cents per 30 seconds, a 25 cent connection fee, and just recieved a $300 land line phone bill
- small town life - it's just nice when people know your name, your family, and your credibility... where you're always safe and about 10 minutes from home no matter where you are
- accents i can understand - i love aussie talk, but sometimes i don't have a clue what they're saying.
- mom-cooked meals - mmm mmm home cookin... can't wait! mom, you know you don't even have to ask... t-bone steak is what i want, as always!
- pick-up trucks - theese pansy el camino looking things just don't cut it. there's just something about a ford f150 you've just got to love
- american tv - i have 5 channels here, 3 of which have anything decent to watch, so programing is limited. but even more so, i miss american commercials...the commercials here are low budget and hardly make since. adrian gets the new 24 sent to him every week and when a commercial comes on, it's just comforting
- having my own room - tiffany's a great roommate, but i miss having my own space that i can leave as messy as i want and not bother anyone...well i think it still bothers mom and dad, but at least they aren't living in it.
- did i mention phoebe?
- fashion-less people - i went to class unshowered and in a t-shirt and jeans (how i always dress for class at purdue) for the first time the other day, and felt really scrubby. don't these people get tired of looking good every day. it's exhuasting!
- a colorful fall - fall's come and gone here and there were some color changes in the leaves, but it just wasn't the same as a hill side of trees all brightly colored.
- small town people - they talk slower, move slower, and sugar coat everything. nothing wrong with that!
- being on the same time schedule - it hasn't been a huge problem, but there is a small window of time each day when i can talk to people at home
- cheaper....everything! - the states is way less expensive in pretty much all areas. i'm looking forward to my dollar going a lot further.
- sunday's at the cabin - it's probably my favorite thing ever. spending a summer at home is going to be awesome!
- boating - love it....river, lake, doesn't matter.
- space - the city has its good points, but i wouldn't trade it for the feeling of next to no neighbors, a yard, and a whole house (not just apartment) to the family.
- and of course, phoebe!

australia's been awesome and there's plenty of more fun to be had, but i'd be lieing if i said i wasn't excited about going home. leaving is the best way to appreciate what you already had. i'm just glad it's still there to go back to! see you all in a few weeks!
(pic up for 'markets')