Dear Bread, Chocolate and the Contents of the Kitchen.

Here in Austria they eat a lot of bread. Let me be very clear here, A LOT OF BREAD! They eat so much they have had to make up new names to make it seem as though they are eating a variety of foods, and not just the same thing every morning for breakfast and dinner. You have, black bread, dark bread, white bread, wheat bread, toast, Semmeln, rolls, baguettes etc. For breakfast its "toast" but no this does not mean putting any piece of bread into the toaster. Toast is pre-sliced bread that you buy in a package, like the normal loaves at American stores except they are perfectly square. Also here there is no such thing as the butt of the bread. They kindly remove that for you before packaging the toast. For dinner the bread is served cold and is "actual" bread. A whole loaf that you have to cut yourself, and is usually dark or wheat bread. I've been wondering why Austrians eat so much bread and I realized today while searching for an after school snack that the reason is, they have no choice. Here in Austria, they have the widest, most delicious, selection of marmalades, cheese spreads, butters and honeys that you really can't help but crave the taste of one of these delicious toppings. But here is the problem. Bread is the only thing, THE ONLY THING, that can act as a vehicle for these tasty spreads. You don't necessarily want to eat the bread, but you have no choice! You walk into the kitchen, and there on the counter is some scrumptious peach marmalade and next to it is that dreaded loaf of... bread. So lets say you are like me and say "no i will not eat another piece of bread, I can't". If you attempt this way out you will end up staring in the fridge wondering if peach marmalade would go nicely with sliced ham, or perhaps pickles taste even better when dipped in strawberry-rhubarb preserve. If you are strong enough you'll take a carrot out of the fridge and pretend you are bugs-bunny, or if you cave the "toast" will find its way into the toaster before you can say "to many carbs!"
Austrians must really like to practice their self-control. And let me tell you, they have gotten really good at it. In our kitchen we have literally a smorgasbord of sweets. Everything from Reeses to Toblerone. And nobody eats them! Ever! In my house most of that stuff would be gone in.... an hour. Lets face it I don't get my height from genes alone. Add my brothers into the mix and I give you a maximum of twenty minutes. There is a tub full of the small foil wrapped Reeses peanut butter cups sitting on the counter, last night I ate one. It tasted like it was at least a year old. You know how chocolate candies get that funny stale taste after awhile? Tell me, how can you let a whole tub of Reeses get old especially if its your favorite candy? My host mom and sister love Reeses, I witnessed it in the Alps. But at home a whole tub of them can sit on the counter along with a half eaten package of Toblerone, mozart balls and bars of chocolate. The kitchen and I are developing a love/hate relationship.