...the thing is, I have a love-hate relationship with them. In some ways, I find their simplicity refreshing and in other ways it's just down right maddening! Here are some random musings regarding the German grocery shopping experience:
- After almost 3 months of grocery shopping in Munchen, I have yet to detect a rhyme or reason to the placement of items within the grocery stores. In the market closest to us, there are spices stored in three random locations throughout the store, pasta can be found on three different aisles, and olive oil on two. Also, milk is displayed in two separate coolers on opposite ends of the store.
- Bagging your groceries at the speed of light is essential if you wish to avoid the death-stare of the cashier at check-out. I have no problem with bagging my own groceries, but the cashiers are lightening fast and inevitably I am wrangling something into a bag when the next customer's items begin piling up on mine. You would think I'd just committed a crime against humanity the way people stare at you after such an offense.
- If the items on your shopping list don't fall into one of four categories, there's every chance you won't be able to purchase it. All moderately sized grocery shops will have the usual suspects: a bakery, a butcher, 1/4 of the floor space devoted to cheese, and hell of a beer selection. All other bets are off. Credit to the Germans, though, because they know how to eat!
- The produce selections in the stores we frequent are fantastic, fresh, cheap (government subsidized), and simply displayed. It struck me yesterday, as I added a 5-lb bag of carrots to my grocery basket, that in a typical American grocery store, a person can purchase carrots pre-cut into a half dozen different shapes and sizes. Pre-chopped and plastic-packaged celery, broccoli, and beans are also the norm in the U.S. but these options are non-existent in Germany. I'm a big fan of their no fuss, no frills, minimal waste attitude in general.
- As mentioned before, the government subsidies make healthy food choices the most affordable. This is one of my favorite things about life here. Fresh produce makes up about 80% of our diet and we spent a fortune on groceries in the U.S. Our grocery bill here rarely exceeds the equivalent of $40 (US dollars) per week.
That's all I've got for now but keep an eye out for updates!
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