I was pretty sick and tired of agonizing over ingredients lists early on into my journey.  

But after the pesto mishap in Athens, I was not about to let myself get sent to the hospital again.  

Once was most definitely enough. 

I was continually stoked to find something American in the stores in Cyprus, even if it seemed more American-adjacent than truly American. 

Brands like Haribo, Lays, Coke, and Pringles were always welcomed into my meager supply of food with open arms. I knew they wouldn’t do me dirty. Even if they were hit-or-miss in taste and came in a variety of unfamiliar and mildly alarming flavors. I’m looking at you, Shrimp Cocktail Lays.  

You can imagine how absolutely over the moon I was to find a pack of skittles in a convenience store around the corner from the apartment. I took them down to the beach with me, already opening the packet as I walked. I tossed an orange one into my mouth- pretty good! A red one- strawberry, my favorite! A green one- lime, which is a source of contention for me. I still think they shouldn’t have gotten rid of green apple. But, whatever. A yellow- lemon, meh. And finally, a purple- what the hell? 

That is not grape. That is definitely not a grape skittle.  

I looked at the packaging- black current? 

Gross. Gross gross gross. 

It tasted like licorice and cough medicine. I was instantly not a fan. 

But, hey. No nuts, no problem. 

I bought a few more packets over the course of the month, and donated all of the black currant skittles to whoever stuck out a paw.