The cultural nuances of maintaining the status quo

When moving abroad, one needs to relinquish themselves from assuming and expecting every place to be like the great US of A. That means (possibly) sacrificing some of the simplest of civil rights and privileges we take for granted--freedom of speech, style of dress, and the much beloved PORK.

From what I've observed thus far, it is rather easy to live here. The lifestyle is relaxed, the service is impeccable, and the people are generally friendly. In sunmary, if you are a moral, rule-abiding citizen of the world who values not dressing like an old whore, you'd fit in swimmingly.

Back to my original point...the rest of the world is not like the U.S. However, that did not completely prevent me from seeking out certain sundries I was not prepared to part with when I left the States. Bacon. Delicious pork bacon, or pork chops, tenderloin...eh, you get the picture. Of course, the locals do not eat pork products, but they are accommodating to those of us from outside the region.  It is such an oddity that my husband had to sign a waiver AFTER his meal (in an italian restaurant), where they were serving proscuitto. We didn't know whether to laugh or cry. The most amusing part is going to the grocery store to shop for Pork products (see above). I equate it to slinking to the back of a video store, behind a black curtain, to buy or peruse the adult video section. Scandalous.

The Pork Shop...what will you find? Mounds and mounds of glorious bacon from around the world--the States, the UK, Chile, Australia, you name it. You'll also find such other tasty morsels like pancetta, tenderloin, chops, and deli ham. For the real connoisseur, you'll find Pop Tarts, Fruit snacks, and soft drinks. WHAT?!?! Yeah, apparently, the gelatin found in a number of food products contains pork...who knew?

Now that that's settled, I am on the hunt for Apple Jacks. Until the next time, wish me luck!