As most people who know me will already know, I love living in Kathmandu (and if you didn’t know, you can check out the reasons why here). But if I were to write about the things I miss, the one that tops the list would be…

Halloumi.

I know, I know – in the grand scheme of things this is nothing. However, I’m Cypriot. Halloumi is the food of my ancestors. It’s in my DNA to want it and crave it (that’s a thing, okay?).

You can get many types of cheese here. Cheddar. Tomme. Camembert. Cream cheese. Heck, you can even get feta. However, I’ve yet to find real halloumi. I spotted some at a farmer’s market a few years back, but I knew from the minute I saw it that it wouldn’t be any good because it didn’t have mint on it – sacrilege. And yet, I bought it in the hope that perhaps it would at least slightly satiate my cravings.

It was nothing like halloumi.

I have to say, though, that overall I don’t think about the things I miss while I’m here (apart from my loved ones, of course). It’s amazing how easily we can adapt. You think you can’t live without something, but you do and you get to the point where you don’t think about it much at all. But I’m only human, and I do have my moments when I miss the familiarity of certain things. Here are some of them (and the aforementioned halloumi tops the list):

Supermarkets

Yes, there are many big supermarkets in Kathmandu, but they’re just not the same. There’s no deli counter with hummus and olives, for one. And I miss so many brands, like Sainsbury’s (which I could get in Cyprus) or Waitrose (which I could get in Dubai). Also, in Nepal’s supermarkets they tend to stack things so high that I always joke that if there’s ever an earthquake and I happen to be in one of them I’m likely to die of being buried by instant noodles. Shopping there is not a pleasant experience at all.

I’m one of those people who used to enjoy food shopping, but I don’t here. In fact, I don’t even set foot in supermarkets much anymore. I order my fruit, vegetables, tofu and cheese online from the farmer’s market, and I get everything else from a corner shop that does a good job of stocking some international brands.

Some other random things off the top of my head that I love but can’t find here are: Jaffa Cakes, Walkers and Kettle Crisps (salt and vinegar flavoured – siiiiigh), Heinz tomato soup, Cypriot ravioli, Cypriot anari and many more.

Cypriot produce

Similarly, I miss Cypriot produce. We’re spoiled back home because the climate and soil enable us to grow some of the most delicious-tasting produce in the world. Tomatoes, potatoes, and watermelons are some of my favourites and you just can’t find anything to match them here.

The beach

I’m an island baby and I’m spoiled; Cyprus has some of the best beaches in our part of the world, after all. And having lived in Dubai for 13+ years, I’m used to having the sea on my door step. I love sitting by the beach, whiling the hours away with a book. I love walking up and down the coast. I love listening to the sound of the waves lap up against the shore. I love waking up to the smell of sea air.

Nepal has the most spectacular mountain scenery, but it doesn’t have a beach, unfortunately.

You really cannot have it all.

Clothes and shoe shopping

I honestly didn’t think this would be one of them because I *hate* shopping for anything other than food. I’ve always been one of those people who would only set foot in clothes stores when I needed things. I’d have a clear idea of what it was I was looking for, and then I’d map out the stores in which I’d look. I’d be in and out as soon as I could.

But I miss having the option of buying the things I need when I need them. Whenever I’m in Cyprus or Dubai, I have to make long lists of clothes and shoes to buy before I come back to Kathmandu. Stores here don’t have shoes for a big foot like me, nor do they have trousers or skirts that are long enough.

Cue a semi panic when soles on shoes start or wear thin or if a strap on a sandal breaks. In fact, in 2020 when I was ‘stuck’ here due to the pandemic, I had to get some sandals made because the ones I had were falling apart. And while it’s great that’s even an option, it’s just not very convenient to do all of the time.

An international postal or courier service that doesn’t suck

“Why don’t you order shoes or clothes online,” I hear you cry in response to the above.

I would if I could. See, the postal service here is, sadly, a shambles. It’s hit or miss if anything will reach you. And when things come in from abroad via courier services like DHL they’re subject to the whims of customs officers who allegedly add on taxes following no apparent rules at all. So you end up paying a lot more than you would for the same things if you were abroad. And even then things aren’t guaranteed to reach you according to all of the anecdotes I’ve heard from people over the years.

My hairdresser

Most hairstylists here aren’t trained to handle blonde hair, so I’ve ended up with bleach on my head even when I’ve specifically asked them not to use it. I can deal with a crappy hair cut, but I cannot deal with bleach because it damages my hair for a very long time.

As someone who used to get her mane done every two months, I miss it, but I’ve given up on getting it dyed here.

The metro

When I lived in Dubai last, I didn’t bother buying a car and I got around pretty much everywhere on the metro. I loved it because I wasn’t stuck in traffic all of the time, nor did I have to deal with moronic drivers (my road rage in the UAE was very real).

Kathmandu’s public transport system is unfortunately a mess. Having now lived here for a while, I understand why people north of the Bagmati river rarely come to the south, and those of us in the south rarely go north. Because the traffic is a literal nightmare to get through and there isn’t the option of hopping on a train to avoid it.

****

All of this aside, I have to say that living here has made me realise that we can adapt to a lot. I also love the fact that I’m forced to think about what I need, as opposed to just buying things on a whim because I feel down/want to reward myself/decide that I must have that dress I saw in Zara because it’s a Monday and Mondays suck.

I’m someone who was already pretty good with my money and not buying crap mindlessly (I’d rather spend my money on travel and experiences), but being in a place where the brands I’m familiar with and the things that fit me aren’t within easy reach, I’m even less inclined to buy stuff for the sake of buying them.

Given the state of the world right now, we should all be buying much less anyway. And yet…

If you live abroad, what do you miss from your home country? Let me know in the comments below!

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