The most important paper

When you move to a new country, there are lots of changes one has to deal with.  Of course there are lots of big changes: language, type of housing, transportation method (car to mass transit), and so forth.  These big changes you get used to pretty quickly.  Even though it is exhausting, they are expected changes that are dealt with head on.  Big changes are the make it or break it changes that if you can't adapt will make your move extremely difficult.

But there are also little changes and differences that can be surprising and take a lot of effort in coping with.  These are the day to day difference, like brands at the grocery store.  I'm amazed at how long it still takes me to get special things at a grocery store!  Finding a certain spice might take me to three (or more) stores and sometimes I just have to give up.  Then again, maybe that's a bad example, because I fully expect to struggle finding particular ingredients for "western" foods.

One thing that I wasn't expecting to be a serious journey, was the search for a comfortable toilet paper!  I've always known I was picky about toilet paper, but I figured I'd be able to buy Charmin here.  While residing in temporary housing, the toilet paper was provided.  So, I just dealt with what was given. 

When we first moved, I relied on what I had brought.  Before deciding to move, we had purchased toilet paper at Costco.  Since we still had tons, and my husband's company was paying to ship our stuff, I shipped the almost half case of Charmin.  But I knew I needed to find out where I could buy the preferred brand before I ran out.  So, I kept an eye out.

I quickly shared about the laughable fruit scented toilet paper.  I also found brands with popular characters, "guest only" versions, and rolls fit for a princess!

Although I was looking everywhere I could think of, I couldn't find my Charmin.  So, when supplies were getting low, I had to start trying different brands.  Times were tough.  I wasn't happy with my first couple of choices.  They were too hard or too flimsy or even too smelly.  Who would have assumed charcoal scented was actually stinky?  I assumed it was odor absorbing, not headache inducing!  (Not only was it over scented, it lives in a little tiny room that doesn't have a window...)  I even accidently bought bidet style paper that is for dabbing wetness, not actually wiping.

Getting discouraged, I asked a friend to check out the local Costco on her next visit.  Disappointment again.  They sell Kirkland brand, not Charmin.

Feeling defeated, I mentioned to my husband that we were almost out of toilet paper once again.  I asked if he could pick some up on his way home.  He nonchalantly grabbed a package and brought it home for us.  It still wasn't Charmin.  He couldn't find that either.  But what he picked was a good substitute.  And I'm finally happy with our new brand.  I'll actually buy the same one again instead of continuing on my quest.

It may seem so silly to be talking so much about toilet paper.  But when everything is just a little bit different, sometimes you're tired of trying to find a replacement for something you're used to and were brand loyal to for many, many years.  It can make a small change seem like a big, burdensome change.  I'm so thankful for the patience of my family as I dwell on these things.  Because, frankly, I can be a bit stuck in the mud about some things. But when there are so many changes going on, sometimes it is normal to try to grasp onto particular things as you try to have something that stays the same.