What Do You Miss?

Last week, a friend of mine emailed me to ask whether I missed anything about America. I wanted to write back and say that America is everywhere. There are cafés called “Madison Square,” neighborhoods called “Californie,” rappers called “Bigg,” a few reality TV shows, and several McDonald’s and Pizza Huts. But I’ll tell you what I miss: Our house’s fireplaces and central heating. It’s been windy and cold in Casablanca the last few days, and our apartment, like most dwellings here, doesn’t have central heating. In order to get any work done, I have to wrap myself up in fleece blankets, put on the kind of thick socks I usually wear for hiking, and hug my laptop. Time to go buy a heater.