Any other American expats out there? I'm currently living in Paris, France which brings on a whooooole new set of challenges...using the metric system to weigh and measure food, doing without the foods that have helped me be successful in the past, no running to Wal-Mart for new workout DVDs or Lean Cuisines when there's nothing to eat!

Anyone else out there living far from home and learning to cope with the challenges?

Hello SJ! I'm an American student living in the Caribbean. I can definitely relate! I miss Wal-Mart sooo much! It's so hard to find good food here, and everything that isn't made locally (think goat's milk and chicken necks...) is pretty expensive to import and not really affordable (or even available) all the time. There are some definite pluses, though - fresh fish and tasty tropical fruits AND no fast food!!

Haha. You two are funny. I've been living abroad (Germany, India, Japan) for over 30 years so I don't think I've ever even been in a WalMart...thank God, that way I have nothing to miss.

LOL...I'll take anything even remotely similar to Wal-Mart! Oh, the convenience. I can't even get a proper bathroom scale here. Mine is a old school one that measures weight as a slash for every 2 pounds. It took me forever to find one and I paid an arm and a leg for that old thing!

I grew up in Europe, but am back in the US now. I miss the farmers markets, and grocery co-ops being within walking distance, with every fibre of my being! No wonder I turned in to a fatty right when I got back!

I'm living in rural southern Japan. In my third/final year here living and working. I miss big American style grocery stores but I do love doing grocery shopping on a day to day basis buying from little local farmers.

I've got total envy of your living in Paris, SJtangerines! It's such a beautiful place.