I loved reading the thread UK expats, what do I want mum to bring?. Being from the USA, there were many items on that thread that were unknown to me, but sounded very intriguing.

I have begun to consider what I must remember to bring back to Italy from the USA when I go back for a visit in the spring.

Here are the items on my list so far:

sweet pickle relish
clothes made of blends that are easy to wash and wear (w/o use of dryer or iron )
Life is Good t-shirts and pjs
zip-lock bags
catnip
external hard drive
Merle Norman make-up
extra-fuzzy low-cut socks to wear around the house
OTC medicine
Wick Fowler's chili makings

What are the "things" you bring back with you (or ask friends and family to bring)??

My wife just came back from a visit to US. She asked if I needed her to bring anything back, but I had to tell her, no thanks, I have everything I need right here.

I'm with Bill, "ma" the only thing we ask people to bring is if they are coming from NM - green chile!

As Italy or Bust knows, I owe her big time for on- and off-line assistance on a whole range of issues. Renting, internet, cars, etc. (Not bringing my car BTW. already having some separation anxiety ;-( ) So if I can hide a few things in my suitcases or add them to my moving boxes for I or B .....be happy to, although I have never seen a Life is Good t-shirt. However, looking at her list makes me wonder what else I rely on here that I can't get there. I'd love to see some other lists so I know what not to leave behind!

I am going home soon for the holidays and have a loooong list of things to bring back. It includes:

Nail polish remover that works
Nail polish and makeup that doesn't cost a fortune
Maple syrup
Ziplocs
Mint chocolate candies
Swiffers
Lotion and bath stuff from favorite companies
Airborne and other vitamins
Over the counter medications
Rubbing alcohol that's not pink
Gum and candy

quote:

Originally posted by cobalt:

Maple syrup

Swiffers

We find organic maple syrup, sciroppo d'acero, at most organic food stores. It is usually Canadian and imported by a German company.

Swiffers we find at all the super and iper markets in our area. You will also find store brand substitutes which my wife is not fond of.

We're going to the US in January and this is what I plan to bring back:

-baby clothes (so much cheaper especially on sale)
-soft baby slippers (robeez)
-cheap baby toys, blocks etc- they're crazy expensive here
-baby shoes in the next couple of sizes - here they cost a fortune and kids only wear them for a month or two
-baby tylenol
-adult tylenol
-vitamins
-new computer
-ziplocs
-brown sugar
-lots of LL Bean "chamois cloth" shirts for my H
-lots of jeans for my husband
-lots of clothes for me. Clothes are both cheaper and better in the US. I can't buy clothes here as I'm 5'10" and have boobs.
-lots of bras
-those socks with leather on the bottom to use as slippers in the winter
-aerobed - for all our guests
-English language board books
-sesame street CDs and DVDs

quote:

Originally posted by cobalt:
Mint chocolate candies
Swiffers

They have loads of Swiffers here. Or are you looking for the "wet" swiffers they have in the States now?

What kind of mint chocolate candies? I LOVE the After Eight Mint Chocolates they have at the supermarkets here. They are delicious!

Hey Italy or Bust - everytime I fly back to Italy, I bring Wick Fowlers. It is getting harder to find here n California. Let me know if I can ever bring a few packets to you.

quote:

sesame street CDs and DVDs

Not sure if the dvds work here. We used to buy them and bring them over, but we could only watch them on our computers.

Another great baby shoe to bring back is by stride rite. They cost about $30, but they are really comfy and the only shoe that my daughter has left on for more than 5 minutes! The lady at the store also told me she should be able to wear them for 2-3 mo. We'll see!

If you participate in a particular sporting activity, stock up on the clothing and accessories that you might need. Yes, they have items here, but there is a greater selection in the US, and the prices are lower. (I play tennis so am having my son bring me a new tennis racket and tons of athletic socks.)

Books, books, books and crossword puzzles.

TONS of vitamins and supplements, Move Free, etc....Solgar vitamins are about €80 per bottle here!

Allergies? Claritin D...they have Claritin, but I haven't yet found it with the decongestant.

Jumbo ziplock bags...tons of them. Take them out of the boxes and just pack in a suitcase.

My parents are coming from the US for Christmas and I've asked them to bring:

Hand sanitizer (can't seem to find it in the big pump bottles here and really rely on it in the classroom!)
Cake mixes, cookie mixes, instant pudding mixes
Cooking spray
Generic Benedryl for allergies
Tylenol
Over the counter meds for colds- daytime, nightime, cough syrup
Vitamins- so expensive here!
Yankee candles
Flavored chips for baking- can get choc. chips here, but haven't seen the varieties- peanut butter, butterscotch, mint, etc.
Canned frosting (this is heavy, so I can only get a few!)
Taco seasoning
Books and magazines in English
Antipersperant (sp) deoderant - they don't seem to have that here?
Sweaters for my dog (they are sooo expensive in Vicenza!)
Rold Gold Honey Mustard Pretzels!

Wow, do you buy Italian? I admit to being addicted to Arm & Hammer Peroxicare Toothpaste, and I'd rather use Splenda than the saccarine/aspartame alternatives (a hereditary situation keeps me away from refined sugar, apart from not liking sugar in general).

Wick Fowler Chili--are you kidding (and how old are you to still crave chili?).

Ziplock bags, yeah, but it might mean spending that crucial 5 seconds longer to tie off one of those bags in a plastic/wire wrap: didn't you move to Italy to enjoy more down time?

Vitamins: ok, but Solgar isn't the end-all/be-all. I'm sure you can get something similar enough to get you through your day.

Make-up: admit US is waaaay cheaper but to compensate you probably look better with half what you've been trowelling on your face/nails all these years!

So, here's what I'm getting my daughter to bring me:

-Toothpaste, which is a stopgap, but hey!
-ziplock bags (yeah, I know, but cooking for 2 means loads of leftovers)
-Splenda, simply because I cannot get it here, period
-Oh, and fresh cranberries because I won't do tinned, sorry.

Otherwise I'm quite happy with what I get here--why else would I live here? Bear in mind I am a long-term resident of France, where healthcare knocks the socks of pretty much anywhere else (including the US where you have to pay through the nose for it) and food is outtasight in terms of sheer quality.

But Italy won in the end...

quote:

Originally posted by joeyb:
As Italy or Bust knows, I owe her big time for on- and off-line assistance on a whole range of issues. Renting, internet, cars, etc. (Not bringing my car BTW. already having some separation anxiety ;-( ) So if I can hide a few things in my suitcases or add them to my moving boxes for I or B .....be happy to, although I have never seen a Life is Good t-shirt. However, looking at her list makes me wonder what else I rely on here that I can't get there. I'd love to see some other lists so I know what not to leave behind!

You really should check out Life is Good stuff. My fave pajamas and wear-around-the-house t-shirts are by these guys.

Hmmm...you think you'll have some little corners left in your suitcases when you move over here????? Well.....if that is truly the case, let me know just before you leave so I can think of things that might fit. hee hee

I am so sorry to hear about your car. I know you really wanted to keep it. Maybe you can leave in Virginia with a friend until you figure it all out!

Every day I am finding something I want or need--and then find it difficult to find. Like....right now, I want a rubber spatula-the really flexible kind, to scrape out the last bit of mayonnaise out of the jar. So far, I have not seen one....doesn't mean they aren't here....just haven't located one yet.

That is why I started the list--no telling what someone else might mention that I just haven't discovered I need or want, and need to bring back with me.

quote:

Wick Fowler Chili--are you kidding (and how old are you to still crave chili?).

Ruh-roh! Some of us have Texas-roots--and them 'er fightin' words!

Really! Who grows out of chili??? It's genetic.
While part of the challenge and charm in moving to Italy is learning different ways to live, embracing the local culture, and trying new things, I see nothing wrong with wanting to save a few dollars (e.g., cheaper clothes that fit - I'm 5'9 so I am sympathetic) or look as good as you can using products that work (e.g., cosmetics), enhancing the great food with more variety (e.g., maple syrup or chili mix) or feel good and not suffer unnecessarily (e.g., vitamins and OTC medications).

Now off of my soap box, there are some great items on these lists that I think will improve the quality of my life if I have them around, and I didn't know some of them were difficult or impossible to get. So, I, for one, am taking notes.

OTC Meds like tylenol and advil- Yes, I know they have it here, but it's so much cheaper there. Next time, I want to bring cranberry vitamins, Tylenol Cold and Flu etc.

Regular Baking powder. I have heard of people finding it here, but I haven't. It's cheap, packs easy, and is unflavored. So I'm fine with bringing it regardless. Yes, I know they have lievito for cakes here. Call me a creature of habit.

Vanilla Extract- yes, I know about the vanilla packets they have here, but I only like the flavor for certain recipes.

Engish language books for kids and adults and Baby clothes. Not cuz they're better but because they are CHEAPER! the prices here are outrageous! (As stated upthread) By the way, I have however ordered books and DVDS on Amazon.co.uk without problems.

Oatmeal. I have gotten it at NaturaSi, but I don't like it as much as ours. It's more like horse food- less puffy. They have Quaker Oats kind of oatmeal at PAM, but it's very processed and mushy...

Peanut butter. Jiffy is available yet nasty. i like All natural peanut butter, I forgot the brand name, but it ain't jiffy.

Honestly, there are a lot of things I miss, but I can live without them so I don't bother bringing them since there are so many luggage requirements/fees now. But just because I miss things, it doesn't mean I don't like the local stuff. On the contrary, I love the local stuff. But the one thing I would kill for that I can't get in my area, and can't really bring is real Cheddar cheese!!!

The funny thing is, when I go to the US, I bring Italian stuff back with me! First thing on the list? Good Olive Oil (that doesn't cost a months rent.) Once you've had good oil, you just can't go back. Actually, right now, I am in New Oil heaven!

The condensed list:

*Peeps marshmallows
*Ferosequal iron pills (I was put on Iron therapy here, but everything prescribed makes me sick to my stomach)
*Clinique superdefense (it's like 55 euro here!)
*Razors (sooo expensive here)
*double-layer DVDs (again, sooo expensive here)
*Jell-o
*Siddurim

Peeps
Dots (candy)
Roundup (different varieties)

quote:

Originally posted by courts in milan:
The condensed list:

*Peeps marshmallows
*Ferosequal iron pills (I was put on Iron therapy here, but everything prescribed makes me sick to my stomach)
*Clinique superdefense (it's like 55 euro here!)
*Razors (sooo expensive here)
*double-layer DVDs (again, sooo expensive here)
*Jell-o
*Siddurim

What are "peeps" marshmallows??? The baby ones?

I thought the peeps were the baby ducks or some such thing....

quote:

Originally posted by JilM:
I thought the peeps were the baby ducks or some such thing....

Good Morning, Jil!

Oh, of course!!! The Easter marshmallows. (How sad...I am getting way too old to remember such wonderful things.....)

quote:

Originally posted by filomena:
Wow, do you buy Italian?

Wick Fowler Chili--are you kidding (and how old are you to still crave chili?).

Ziplock bags, yeah, but it might mean spending that crucial 5 seconds longer to tie off one of those bags in a plastic/wire wrap: didn't you move to Italy to enjoy more down time?

Vitamins: ok, but Solgar isn't the end-all/be-all. I'm sure you can get something similar enough to get you through your day.

Make-up: admit US is waaaay cheaper but to compensate you probably look better with half what you've been trowelling on your face/nails all these years!

No offense, filomena, as I'm sure that you meant well , but the wording of some of these comments are what force otherwise well-intentioned threads into snipe-fests.