WEIRD American things I can't live without! Expat living in Amsterdam

[@aWanderlustForLife]

What would you want to take from your home country if you moved away?

[@Almeerhamad]

See you soon in Amsterdam… Next month

[@erikmulder2574]

Amsterdamse uitjes en rookworst

[@erikmulder2574]

Oh, and drop for sure. Unless you immigrate to the Nordics, it will be hard to find abroad

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Pindakaas because you don't like it in other places or you don't think you'll find it? What's your favorite brand?

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Ah, you're crunchy more of a crunchy peanut butter person. It's quite the debate in the US which is best...crunchy or smooth.

[@davidc.w.2908]

Many products sold in the USA contain additives that are not allowed in the Netherlands or even Europe. Some additives are known to cause cancer but because it’s widely used and cheap, it is still allowed to use in the USA. The alternatives are seen as too expensive although they are healthier. As long as people can read on the package what’s in the product they can - after some investigation - find out if it’s bad for you and so you are able to go around it. When a product is very popular in the USA but is not sold in Europe, better check what ingredients are used.

[@hansonel]

Really good point and something to remember. Additives, colorings, GMO's, etc... many of which are banned in the EU but the US FDA still allows products to be sold.

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Absolutely get that. There was a multi-use mix (like a pancake/biscuit mix) we'd buy at the expat store but then the EU took it off the market for something to do with what you said. A lot we can buy here but it's just very expensive. Sometimes it's that the market doesn't want/need it. Sometimes it doesn't make much sense at all like the allergy meds that work best. Can't buy the ingredients in NL but you can in Belgium.

[@samknetsch]

@@aWanderlustForLife allergy med. you only get from the doctor in the Netherlands.

[@guyband]

Im from Arizona and we cant live without cars. You are forced to drive everywhere in Arizona. Cant wait to Move to The Netherlands!

[@kayelle8005]

Oh I will have to look for those pens you mentioned.

[@BENTWOONEZERO]

I live in the UK, but travelling abroad I take Tea bags.

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Totally understand!

[@jodiedarlingauthor]

Ugh I'm the same when it comes to painkillers and cold medicines. Unless I can't move and feel like I'm dying, I usually go without. I'm also pretty sensitive to pain killers. If they're too strong they'll make me feel jittery and nauseous. No thanks!

[@jodiedarlingauthor]

Also stick deodorants make me sweat more!! They must clog my pores or something so I actually prefer roll ons 😂

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Right?! I want my body to have time to do it's job.

[@edwinbiere9305]

As a dutchie not living in Amsterdam, I don't know the American products. You could go to Kruidvat, Etos or Trekpleister to ask for alternatives for the pepto and the anti could/cough beverage. I think pepto is a kind of 'Rennie' ? Ziplock bags (i think smaller ones) are cheap from Ikea but probably not suited for use in boiling water

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Thanks for your comment! Both me and my husband have gone into Etos and Kruidvat looking for alternatives. I think I was given a ginger something for stomach issues and I went in (pre-covid) sick and miserable and literally said, "please help with this (pointing to my face)" I explained what was wrong (seriously awful cold: coughing, sneezing, runny nose/eyes). And I got a bunch of stuff that didn't help. Honestly, I just gave up. I'll look up "Rennie", so thanks for that! And the bags, yeah the IKEA bags are the closest and are perfect for storage, but the Ziploc is good for the Sous Vide :)

[@Almeerhamad]

Thank you so much

[@jackvandersluis1723]

There are 2 stores in Amsterdam selling most of the things you showed! 👍

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Yep! Kelly's, the place on Leidsestraat, Tjin's Toko has a few things as well. But they are quite expensive depending on what you're after. But I definitely refill on A1 and get marshmallows and some other USA things there. Kelly's is my favorite 😊

[@jackvandersluis1723]

@@aWanderlustForLife , yes and Tabeya in the Spaarndammerstraat 🙂

[@aWanderlustForLife]

@@jackvandersluis1723 oh thanks for the tip!

[@skaskaska9005]

One item I always bring back from Amsterdam is 2-3 bottles of Stroop syrup. Just can’t find it here in California

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Yeah, the whole idea of syrup seems to be so different! Makes sense to take stroop back to the US. Eet smakelijk!

[@DidierWierdsma6335]

You live in California WOW I feel sorry for you. The Netherlands and Europe is so much better than America period. California is a failed state and a third world country.

[@aWanderlustForLife]

@@DidierWierdsma6335 There's no need for unkindness. They are just talking about syrup!

[@skaskaska9005]

I wouldn’t say it’s a failed state I just call it home. Life is what you make it. We have beaches to the west, foot hills and snow to the east. In-&-out burger and great Pho. I’ve traveled to many places from South America and Europe and everywhere has its good and bad. I always look for the good.

[@emiuittokio]

Yes, I do have that kind of lists from home! After my experiences staying in the Netherland for short time, I've decided to bring a kitchen knife, peelar, and neil nippers with me from Japan when I relocate to the Netherlands in March this year. Because I just found the Dutch ones difficult to use, and thought I may get injured by using them one day due to my poor cooking skills lol

[@aWanderlustForLife]

So interesting! I love that we all have different needs for things like this.

[@kayelle8005]

Pepto bismal is great. I stock up every time I go to the States. Our closest equivalent is mylanta but it’s not as good.

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Ah yes, we have that in the US, too.

[@scottman895]

I also have the same Tide to Go stick as well as the chewable Pepto Bismol tablets with me every time I travel! The Tide to Go stick is so useful! I feel that there are many things which are made here in the US which after a long period of time using them, it is hard to find an alternative in another part of the world mainly due to how accustomed you are to the brand from the US.

[@aWanderlustForLife]

That is so true! As some have pointed out, sometimes they aren't allowed to be sold in the EU due to ingredients which are deemed unsafe (i think it's the case with the Crest Whitestrips?). Mostly it's cultural,though.

[@embersfire2957]

We do have those bags which you can use in hot water but we call them "sous-vide zakken". Hema sells them, Blokker sells them as well and I even thought the LIDL is selling them. They are also known as "kookzakken", "vacuümzakken" of "vacumeerzakken". Very irritating that different names are being used. When you go to the Blokker and ask for kookzakken they don't know what you mean... And dutch clingfoil sucks.. all of them! Don't know why.. And Pepto-Bismol is not sold in local stores because it is being considdered a medicine that you only can get in a pharmacy. So check if you are allowed to import that into the netherlands. I'm not sure about that. "Gaviscon" is a little bit like Pepto but not as affective, and Rennie is also simular.

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Thank you! I wouldn't say I "import" Pepto as you can travel with it and I only bring a bottle with me for myself. But I'll check out the other options...maybe because it's in the pharmacy, I didn't know about it.

[@kayelle8005]

It takes me three years to get through cling wrap as well

[@kayelle8005]

Tip you could list in your description and link to each of these products - perhaps even as an affiliate.

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Absolutely! I'll see what I can find but the main point is that these are hard to find here or really expensive. If you're in Amsterdam there are a few expat stores (Like Kelly's Expat shop) but I don't think they have affiliates. For my travel stuff, I have links below 😊

[@petersymonds4975]

I worked on Staten Island (NY) for 6 months in 1994. I missed my local beer, no chance of getting it in the US or getting it delivered. However, for my birthday my friend sent me a birthday card with a used drip mat with it. OK, I couldn’t taste the beer but the smell was great! I’m from Wales and I really missed Welsh Cakes, a local delicacy back home.

[@aWanderlustForLife]

What a thoughtful friend!

[@tonvangils7279]

When I was 4 or 5 years old I got really sick from drinking a whole bottle of my American grandmother's Pepto Bismal, I puked for hours. Great memories. I still remember how it tastes, it was pretty delicious actually. The Pepto, not the puke of course.

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Ohhhh wow. I feel like it tastes different now because I feel like I remember it differently. Either way, that's a crazy story!

[@caselou67]

Not american myself, I'm Brazilian but can surely relate to A1 souce. Whenever I'm in the USA I bring it back. Also Chips Ahoy and Premium Crackers can you believe I can't quite find perfect substitutes for those here. One last american thing I buy whenever I'm there but can't bring back cos it's just too heavy is.... Dr. Pepper! It's a sin I know but it's sooo good!

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Are you in Amsterdam, too? I think Jumbo has Dr. Pepper! Thanks for sharing your must-haves :)

[@caselou67]

@@aWanderlustForLife I'm in Brazil. Really hard n it would be expensive 8f I ever find Dr. Pepper here. If the pandemic helps we will be in Amsterdam later May 22.

[@jeffreybruner5462]

Your mention of sous vide got me wondering: Do you ever buy in bulk (frozen chicken breasts, fish, etc) or does a smaller fridge and omnipresent Albert Heijn encourage you to mainly just buy fresh all the time?

[@aWanderlustForLife]

We usually order from Lindenhoff, Crisp, or Lokalist for more local meats/ veg. We don't buy in Costco-sized bulk, but we get enough to where we freeze for later.

[@kayelle8005]

You said Worcestershire sauce correctly. Or at least you pronounced it the way we do in Australia. A Brit can enlighten us.

[@robcherry6734]

Pronounced like Wooster Shear (But all one word), not Wooster Shire

[@kayelle8005]

@@robcherry6734 yes that’s how we say it in Oz 🤗

[@GDixon-ch3yl]

Libby's pumpkin puree for ever!!! A1 Sauce is fabulous. Reynolds wrap. Yes. Other brands...no. Ziplock bags of any kind. Personal care items. I understand. You're not crazy. We all have our own preferences and their isn't anything wrong with it. There isn't any need to apologize for it either. ✅👍

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Happy to know someone else who loves A1 sauce 😊

[@kayelle8005]

It breaks my Aussie heart that Americans don’t seem to know or appreciate the deliciousness of roast pumpkin. If you ever visit Australia you better bring that tin with you because I’ve never seen tinned pumpkin in Australia. It’s mainly a savoury dish here, although we do have sweet pumpkin slices and pumpkin pie. I’ve also never seen a pumpkin spiced coffee because we drink real coffee here 😉

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Just cultural differences 😉

[@kayelle8005]

Love the curls

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Thanks!

[@SideWalkAstronomyNetherlands]

Norwegian brown cheese, for the rest the Netherlands have everything you can ever wish for, all the herbs of Asia even..

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Mmm brown cheese on waffles is so yummy!

[@andrewclarke3622]

I like lea&perins

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Ohhh good choice!

[@samknetsch]

hagelslag 😂 you're body is used to heavy medicine. in Netherland we almost never use medicine for colds. your body have to fight it

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Like I said, I let it go for a while (a few days) without meds because I don't like to use them.

[@johngilliam6323]

You're slowly turning into Emilia Clarke everyday😍

[@aWanderlustForLife]

I'm still not super familiar with her but I'll take it as a compliment 🙃

[@johngilliam6323]

Game of thrones Mother of dragons (Khaleesi)

[@DidierWierdsma6335]

@@aWanderlustForLife You do look a lot like Emilia Clarke. Are you familiar with Game of Thrones? she is in that series.

[@aWanderlustForLife]

I've never seen it, but I've been told this before and looked her up. I don't see it, but that's ok 🙂

[@johngilliam6323]

Same smile and laugh and mannerisms 👍