1. Microbrew beer. I'm not much of a drinker. I tend toward sips rather than pints. I don't really like wine, even after all these years. But oh, how I wish I had taken more advantage of yummy, rich, dark microbrews when we were living in Oregon. D'oh!
2. Tom's of Maine toothpaste. The only toiletry I can't live without. All other toothpastes taste sugary and gross. I bought three tubes in Provo (made a special separate trip by city bus just to find it), and it was even on sale. I mean after all tooth paste is something you put in your mouth, and you do it at least twice a day. Peppermint only, please.
3. Celestial Seasonings herbal teas. For someone like me who can't (okay, won't) drink coffee or regular tea, the pickings in Norway are really slim. Fruit teas like rosehip are too acidic for me. Most people here mistakenly think that black teas with flavoring or green teas are acceptable substitutes for someone who can't tolerate the stimulant in tea. They are not! Herbal teas are teas made from herbs rather than from tea leaves. Technically speaking, I suppose they shouldn't even be called "teas." I always know that with Celestial Seasonings I'll have a wide variety of warm drinks that I actually like, and that won't give me heart palpitations and make me super jumpy. I bought two boxes of peppermint tea in Provo.
4. Starbuck's Coffee Almond Fudge Ice Cream. How's that for specific. I think it's the only ice cream in the world that I truly like.
5. Jon Stewart's The Daily Show. I can watch this on tv here in Norway. No one can capture the absurdity of American political life like Stewart.
6. The Public Broadcasting System's Newshour, or more specifically the Friday evening news round up with Mark Shields and David Brooks. I have a perverse affection for Brooks, even though he is a conservative hawk. Although I think his view of the world is warped, I always want to know what he thinks, and much of the time I actually agree with him.
7. National Public Radio. Norsk rikskringkasting doesn't even come close. I don't think I've ever heard a truly compelling radio report here in Norway. NPR can bring me to tears.
8. For lack of a better term, "roots" music. Here I'm including bluegrass, blues, country, the narrow range of jazz that appeals to me, and "folk" artists like Woody Guthrie. I'm thinking of all the rich variety of music that has sprouted up in various contexts, often associated with poverty and social marginalization, or protest and activism.
9. Enthusiasm. You can say a lot that is negative about the stereotypically upbeat American "temperament"--that it's childish, superficial, banal, two-faced, irritating, hypocritical--but sometimes it's just such a breath of fresh air to be surrounded and lifted up by the enthusiasm and hopefulness.
10. Public drinking fountains. They're just a good idea. I miss having them around here in Norway.
Not quite sure about that last one, but it sure seemed like a good idea when I was compiling my list. I was also jet-lagged and dehydrated at the time, though.ETA: I came up with a solution for sweater number 12 for this year's 12-sweater challenge. Rather than finishing up one of my two WIPs, I pulled out yarn purchased earlier this spring and started a totally boring (but totally wearable) tunic:
