When you travel, what have you missed from home that you didn't expect to miss?

It’s hard to find crumpets in the US as well.

After touring China for 16 days, we were picked up from the airport, and went straight to Kaspers Hot Dogs. I never expected that we would miss American food so much.

When I visited London, my group stayed at Chorleywood College for Girls with Little or no Sight. I missed cold milk and ice cubes.

Marmite, decent beer and BBC Radio 4

I still want to know what a meat pie tastes like. I tried to make them, once, but they turned out horrible. You can’t properly make a recipe if you don’t know what’s supposed to turn out, you know?

The first thing I do when I go north of the Mason-Dixon line is hit a White Castle. I’m from the Northeast originally, and the lack of White Castle restaurants in Florida is still devastating after 16 years.

Driving a decent speed on big, open American roads.

@Blackberry – I thought you couldn’t drive decent speeds in the US. What’s the speed limit? (55mph?) What’s the usual driving speed? (as oopsed to the limit…) Will the police ignore it if you go a few mph above the limit?

Generally, you get about 5 mph grace on the speed limit, only because the law’s written so the cop can only give you a warning, and they don’t get any points for giving out written warnings.

A neighborhood is about 25–35 mph, whereas a normal town road is about 45–50. Interstate speeds are between 55–75.

Here in the UK the unwritten rule of thumb is the speed limit + 10% + 3. Generally, built up areas have a limit of 30mph, the open road is 60 and motorways are 70 (although they’re thinking of raining it to 80mph next year)

@Seek_Kolinahr A meat pie is generally steak and kidney in gravy, or chicken and mushroom. They’re traditional at half time at football matches, and most fish and chip shops sell them – delicious…

It’s the weather you see – a grey, damp climate requires warming, stodgy foods…

@dk6hgsds9axe3 Besides missing driving in general, when I was in Europe I was using taxis and public transportation. But I did drive in the Caribbean, and the speed limits were slower there. They also had less strict emissions regulations, so there was a heavy exhaust smell.

I miss my own bathroom and my own bed. When I get home, I don’t really feel at home until I’ve had a shower in my own shower and jump in my bed!

The comfort of your own bed. Yeah hotel beds may be nice, but damn, it feels good to be back in your own bed.
And also the toilet

I swear I did not see @Sunny2‘s response, but I am more than happy to agree.

Privacy and 3 ply toilet paper.

When I went to America last month the only thing that I was surprised to find that I missed was a good cup of (hot) tea. I managed to get an Earl Grey (which I love) at San Francisco zoo but sometimes only a PG Tips will do!

It’s sort of the reverse for me, I actually find myself missing a lot of what became common for me in Tokyo (and other places I’ve spent a lot of time in) – particularly Boss coffee, ramen shops, and green or barley tea. The only thing I can think of that I consistently miss overseas is the ability to spend a day at home doing next to nothing and not have that nagging feeling I’ve wasted my time. I always feel like I need to “be out” when I travel even if it’s just sitting in a park reading.