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Shoes- without a doubt. I’m in Japan. I order from the US- although one particular brand is French and the other Italian.The shoes here are a) very small so finding a size that fits a western foot is hard and b) are of a unique style I find hard to match with my existing outfits.
Shoes again! People who say that one of the best things about living abroad is the chance to walk in someone else’s moccasins have clearly never tried them on.
When I lived in Tokyo, most of the shoes had what one of my British expat friends called “gold bits” on them. May I deduce from your comment that styles haven’t changed? (Though the funny thing was, I got to like them after a while! I just couldn’t wear them…)
I can honestly say that I don’t pine for shoes from Australia. Shoes from the UK, absolutely! Mostly because I went down a size and can always find something that fits, and cheaply (because that’s what’s most important). I also used to import my knickers from M&S via visiting friends, but I had to bite the bullet and find something here in the Netherlands.
The item from Australia that I can’t live without though is tampons. I’m sure it sounds strange, but ask any Australian woman abroad and they’ll tell you, Aussie tampons are the best. Do you want cotton? Tampax? Silky covering? Funky or discreet packaging? Zip lock bags? You can get it all. Here? Nope. So, I get regular care packages from home. Thank goodness they don’t weigh very much!
Here are some random items I “import” with me each time I return from the U.K. to my home (since 2007) in California:
1. Bisto gravy granules (why, oh why isn’t this miracle available in America?)
2. Garnier Pure foaming face wash (nope, not available in the U.S.)
3. P.G. Tips tea bags (too expensive here.)
4. Stuffing (not the same, at all, as the stuffing in the U.S.)
5. Bread sauce (can you tell that I miss roast dinners?)
6. Primark clothes and accessories (yes, it’s cheap in every way, but so good and cheap.)
7. Squash (the drink, not the vegetable)
Interesting, the number of people who import PG Tips and Paxo! I’ve been using Tetley’s British Blend tea for years ( I agree, PG Tips is way too expensive here) and Pepperidge Farm stuffing is now my favourite. But the local supermarket sells gravy granules! Not Bisto, I grant you, but imported gravy granules nonetheless.