Resurfacing: A Taste of Home

Shortly after we moved to Melbourne, I remember a moment when R suggested that we purchase a membership at the newly opened Costco, the first one in Austalia. "No," I told him. "I want to shop like the locals, not like an American."

All it took was one visit to change my mind. One whiff of Costco's distinct smell, one look at the familiar displays, and I realized just how homesick I was. Walking the aisles was like a hug from home. The layout made sense to me. I knew where to find everything. We left that day with a membership renewal, and I returned every couple of weeks for about two years.

I had a similar experience last week, only in reverse. A friend invited me to accompany her on a trip to Pittsburgh's Strip District, a place that I hadn't visited for over ten years. Our first stop was an Italian cafe and bakery. The coffee and pastries were excellent and reminded me of the Italian bakery not far from our house in Melbourne. Every place we stopped, from a fruit and veg shop to a Greek market, reminded me of the way I shopped while we lived overseas. The best find of the day was a block of Australian cheddar cheese. I have no doubt that I will be returning to this part of Pittsburgh frequently in the weeks and months ahead.

The following photos come from my iphone camera.

Cars parked on both sides of the street, drivers waiting to parallel park--I could have almost imagined that I was back in Malvern ... except for the black and gold merchandise on every corner.