Honestly, I didn't expect the culture shock to be noticeable. But it has been and it's only been a day.
We arrived late Saturday night. Marion and Betti were angels on both plane rides, I couldn't have asked for better.
Yesterday we went to our favorite farmer's market. There were a ton of people. And yet people were respecting each others personal space and saying excuse me. My experience in Switzerland has been the opposite. Fo example, on our way back from Rhine Falls, a woman chose to stand right next to my stroller on a fairly open train platform. I'll never undersyand why Swiss do that. I will say though that people in Switzerland often help me and my stroller onto buses and trains. So please don't yell at me :-)
On the way to the market I marveled at the houses and the land each one had. The difference in how Americans and Europeans live didn't really strike me until yesterday. I mean, I have thought about it. Europeans make do with less space and less land. They are so efficient. Being back and seeing all of these houses really put it into perspective for me.
Brian marveled at the difference in cars. We pulled up to a traffic light and looked around us. Two F150 pick-ups, one Suburban, one large SUV, one midsive SUV, two crossovers. And one large sedan. All of this next to a gas station selling 87 octane for $2.37/gallon. When we left Switzerland the cheapest gas available was 95 octane at around 1.48CHF/liter ($5.16/gallon).
Then we went to Target. Cheap shopping on a Sunday. I bought a packet of 300 stickers for a dollar. A dollar!!!! I love me some cheap shopping.
Next we went to the pool. We had a great time. Marion loves being in the water no matter what country we are in. I didn't even notice the lifeguards at first. It was weird to see them watching over the water instead of just a flotation device hanging on a wall near the pool.
Later Brian and I went to a grocery store, Wegmans. On a Sunday!!!! Wegmans' tend to be very very large. I needed to pick up some pink lemonade mix for my parents. I walked into the aisle and saw 30 kinds of drink mixes. I stood there for a moment, completely overwhelmed by the selection and possibilities. I found the pink lemonade and made my way to the cashier who bagged my groceries in a plastic bag. I looked around- no one was using reusable bags. They were selling them, but they were so tiny compared to the ones in Switzerland. I left the store in a quiet state of shock. Too much, just too. much. stuff!
By the end of the day Brian and I were exhausted from the time difference and struck by the differences and how noticeable they were. I wonder what else is here to surprise us and if we'll experience reverse culture shock when we go back to Switzerland in 2.5 weeks...
Showing posts with label grocery store. Show all posts
Showing posts with label grocery store. Show all posts
Monday, May 25, 2009
Thursday, June 26, 2008
On a margarita mission
Last Saturday I picked up some avocados while at the grocery store. I was definitely craving some guacamole in this heat. I took those beauties home, put them on the kitchen counter, and waited for them to ripen.
In the meantime, I realized that guacamole was useless without a margarita. The train of though went something like this: Yum, margaritas. Wait, I haven't seen a liquor store here. No margarita mix either. How exactly does one make a margarita in Switzerland?
So I logged on to my local Yahoo group and posted a desperate plea for help in this matter.
I immediately got replies pointing me to stores that sold tequila. Most of the replies were very helpful. One told me to Google margarita recipes. Funny.
So off I went yesterday on the search for tequila, Cointreau, and lime/lemon juice.
It took me a bit but I found the store and purchased the one brand of tequila they sold. Also picked up some Cointreau.
Next stop, grocery store. Couldn't find lime juice so I sent Brian to a different store to look for it on his way home last night. He came home with three bottles of lime juice.
How much does he expect me to drink exactly?
Anyway, I am now enjoying some fresh guacamole and a drink that resembles the margaritas I've had in the past. I'd give you my recipe but the construction of this drink involved a lot of different splashes and taste tests.
Margarita mixes are MUCH simpler.
In the meantime, I realized that guacamole was useless without a margarita. The train of though went something like this: Yum, margaritas. Wait, I haven't seen a liquor store here. No margarita mix either. How exactly does one make a margarita in Switzerland?
So I logged on to my local Yahoo group and posted a desperate plea for help in this matter.
I immediately got replies pointing me to stores that sold tequila. Most of the replies were very helpful. One told me to Google margarita recipes. Funny.
So off I went yesterday on the search for tequila, Cointreau, and lime/lemon juice.
It took me a bit but I found the store and purchased the one brand of tequila they sold. Also picked up some Cointreau.
Next stop, grocery store. Couldn't find lime juice so I sent Brian to a different store to look for it on his way home last night. He came home with three bottles of lime juice.
How much does he expect me to drink exactly?
Anyway, I am now enjoying some fresh guacamole and a drink that resembles the margaritas I've had in the past. I'd give you my recipe but the construction of this drink involved a lot of different splashes and taste tests.
Margarita mixes are MUCH simpler.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Weekend Roundup
Marion and I woke up feeling better than we did on Friday so we got out of the house for a bit.
First, we returned to Park Im Gruene . Marion and I wanted to show Brian the park. And we didn't have any milk in the house. So, it was either go to the store or go to the park for breakfast. We chose the park.
Back at her favorite toy.
More fascinated with donkey poop than the donkeys this time around.
Enjoying the view.
After the park, we came back home to get the recycling and the granny cart. Then it was off to the store.
On the way to the store we walked through a flea market that was going on in the town square. We didn't see anything but it was nice nonetheless.
Since it was Saturday, the store was absolute chaos. Everyone stocking up before Sunday. We should know this by now.
And we just had to stop at the little house play area before we left the store.
The afternoon was spent unloading groceries while Marion slept. But after Marion woke up, we headed off to the Chilbi since Marion seemed to be getting over her cold.
The Chilbi is a fair that each town has during the summer. It has rides, food, and merchants selling various items, including spices, toys, candy, and meats.
But the most important part of the fair? Well, that was the pony rides.
We spent most of our time there. First, waiting to get on the pony.
Then finally riding one and loving every minute of it.
On Sunday, Marion woke up with her runny nose again. So we decided to take it easy. But we wanted to get out of the house so we hopped in the car to explore.
The scenery was beautiful. I forgot my camera. Shoot.
The rest of the day was spent resting at home to try to get Marion better for her first ballet class on Monday!
First, we returned to Park Im Gruene . Marion and I wanted to show Brian the park. And we didn't have any milk in the house. So, it was either go to the store or go to the park for breakfast. We chose the park.
Back at her favorite toy.
More fascinated with donkey poop than the donkeys this time around.
Enjoying the view.
After the park, we came back home to get the recycling and the granny cart. Then it was off to the store.
On the way to the store we walked through a flea market that was going on in the town square. We didn't see anything but it was nice nonetheless.
Since it was Saturday, the store was absolute chaos. Everyone stocking up before Sunday. We should know this by now.
And we just had to stop at the little house play area before we left the store.
The afternoon was spent unloading groceries while Marion slept. But after Marion woke up, we headed off to the Chilbi since Marion seemed to be getting over her cold.
The Chilbi is a fair that each town has during the summer. It has rides, food, and merchants selling various items, including spices, toys, candy, and meats.
But the most important part of the fair? Well, that was the pony rides.
We spent most of our time there. First, waiting to get on the pony.
Then finally riding one and loving every minute of it.
On Sunday, Marion woke up with her runny nose again. So we decided to take it easy. But we wanted to get out of the house so we hopped in the car to explore.
The scenery was beautiful. I forgot my camera. Shoot.
The rest of the day was spent resting at home to try to get Marion better for her first ballet class on Monday!
Monday, June 16, 2008
A tantrum at the supermarket makes Mommy nutty
Marion and I went to the grocery store this morning. With the grocery cart, umbrella, and list of things we needed. I'm learning.
Marion managed to walk about 95% of the way, very, very slowly. Progress, but Mommy was anxious.
Once at the grocery store, Marion seemed ready to let her energy out. Touching everything, pushing everything, and trying to throw whatever she could into the basket.
Finally, I took our blue grocery granny cart
out of the store grocery cart and put her in the seat.
Sidenote: What do people do when they take the granny cart to the store? Do you fill that with your groceries? Because navigating the store with the toddler, the granny cart, and the store cart was not fun.
Anywho, Marion didn't want to go in the store grocery cart seat. She stood up, hoping I would catch her before she tumbled out of the seat.
Then, Mommy remembered she had some sweet crackers in her bag from Ikea. I put her back in the grocery seat and fed her these crackers for the rest of the trip. So while I was navigating the store with the store grocery cart, my blue granny cart, and Marion in the cart seat, Marion sat patiently in the seat eating her "cookies".
Well, she sat patiently unless Mommy did not respond fast enough to "More please." Then she started whining.
I was tired and tense as I made my way to the check out counter. I unloaded our items onto the belt and things seemed to be going fine. I was shoving crackers Marion's way consistently and my timing wasn't off.
Then a woman got in line behind us and put her pastries on the belt.
All hell broke lose.
Marion started screaming "I want popcorn! I want popcorn!" and went into full meltdown mode.
What the hell? Marion, the lady had pastries, not popcorn.
But I tried to soothe her while getting our groceries into my granny cart. And of course she would pick a day where I am getting a significant amount of groceries to break down.
So there she sat, losing it in the cart. And there I was, stuffing things into my granny cart with people looking at us.
Reminded me of one of my all time favorite online videos. Except she wasn't this bad.
Marion managed to walk about 95% of the way, very, very slowly. Progress, but Mommy was anxious.
Once at the grocery store, Marion seemed ready to let her energy out. Touching everything, pushing everything, and trying to throw whatever she could into the basket.
Finally, I took our blue grocery granny cart
out of the store grocery cart and put her in the seat.Sidenote: What do people do when they take the granny cart to the store? Do you fill that with your groceries? Because navigating the store with the toddler, the granny cart, and the store cart was not fun.
Anywho, Marion didn't want to go in the store grocery cart seat. She stood up, hoping I would catch her before she tumbled out of the seat.
Then, Mommy remembered she had some sweet crackers in her bag from Ikea. I put her back in the grocery seat and fed her these crackers for the rest of the trip. So while I was navigating the store with the store grocery cart, my blue granny cart, and Marion in the cart seat, Marion sat patiently in the seat eating her "cookies".
Well, she sat patiently unless Mommy did not respond fast enough to "More please." Then she started whining.
I was tired and tense as I made my way to the check out counter. I unloaded our items onto the belt and things seemed to be going fine. I was shoving crackers Marion's way consistently and my timing wasn't off.
Then a woman got in line behind us and put her pastries on the belt.
All hell broke lose.
Marion started screaming "I want popcorn! I want popcorn!" and went into full meltdown mode.
What the hell? Marion, the lady had pastries, not popcorn.
But I tried to soothe her while getting our groceries into my granny cart. And of course she would pick a day where I am getting a significant amount of groceries to break down.
So there she sat, losing it in the cart. And there I was, stuffing things into my granny cart with people looking at us.
Reminded me of one of my all time favorite online videos. Except she wasn't this bad.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Rookie mistakes
After Marion woke up from her nap, we headed to Fust, the electronics store, and the Coop, grocery store, to get milk. We need milk because the largest container of milk sold here is one liter and we go through that in a couple of days.
I miss gallons of milk.
During the course of getting ready I made a few decisions.
1. I decided not to take the stroller. Marion needs to get used to walking so I decided to use this as an opportunity to force her to walk.
2. I left the umbrella at home. It's been raining all day long but wasn't raining when we left. I figured we wouldn't be gone long, we'd be OK.
3. I also left my grocery cart at home. We weren't going to get much so I decided to take a bag instead.
Rookie mistakes.
Marion quit walking about a third of the way up the hill next to our home. So I carried her to the top of the hill where she walked a bit more before giving up again, forcing me to carry her to Fust. While at Fust I picked up the cellphone charger I needed and then decided to get a hair dryer instead.
Because, you know, I needed one. And I only needed milk at the grocery store.
I picked the cheapest hair dryer they had. Meaning I picked the 10 CHF one while the others ranged from 50-80 CHF. That resulted in the following exchange at the check out counter:
Store employee: "This is for travel, yes?"
Me: "No, it's for here."
S.E.: "Oh, because this is meant for travel. It is small."
Me: "That's OK, I don't use it alot."
S.E.: "Uh, oh."
My hair today must not have given me away. But I probably will pay for getting the cheap one by buying another one in the future.
After that awkward exchange, Marion and I headed to the Coop. I walked, she was carried.
Sidenote: How the hell do you pronounce Coop? I've heard it pronounced as Co-op, Cope, and Coop (as in chicken coop). Everyone seems to pronounce it differently.
Anyway, we went to Coop to get milk. We came out with milk, cherries, apples, grapes, swiffer stuff, sponges, peanuts, cough drops, and strawberry pastries.
Someone clearly forgot we did not bring the granny cart.
Granny grocery cart, at home, in the kitchen.
We checked out and left Coop. And what was outside waiting for us? Rain. Damn.
So I picked up my bag, stuffed to the gills with groceries, and the diaper bag, also stuffed with items we didn't really need now, and started to head back with Marion.
Marion loved the first half of the walk. She enjoyed stopping to look for and jump in puddles. So while I didn't have to carry her, the walk took awhile and I was getting very wet. Meanwhile, Swiss people continued to walk briskly past us with their umbrellas.
Marion stopped halfway home and gave up on walking. So I picked her up and booked it to our apartment. I was soaking wet by the time we got there. Marion was laughing, saying "Mommy necklace wet!"
Funny girl.
Once home, I unloaded our groceries. And then I thought of one reason why items are smaller here than in the States: the refrigerator is smaller.
No way I could fit a gallon of milk in there.
And now the sun is out. Go figure.
I miss gallons of milk.
During the course of getting ready I made a few decisions.
1. I decided not to take the stroller. Marion needs to get used to walking so I decided to use this as an opportunity to force her to walk.
2. I left the umbrella at home. It's been raining all day long but wasn't raining when we left. I figured we wouldn't be gone long, we'd be OK.
3. I also left my grocery cart at home. We weren't going to get much so I decided to take a bag instead.
Rookie mistakes.
Marion quit walking about a third of the way up the hill next to our home. So I carried her to the top of the hill where she walked a bit more before giving up again, forcing me to carry her to Fust. While at Fust I picked up the cellphone charger I needed and then decided to get a hair dryer instead.
Because, you know, I needed one. And I only needed milk at the grocery store.
I picked the cheapest hair dryer they had. Meaning I picked the 10 CHF one while the others ranged from 50-80 CHF. That resulted in the following exchange at the check out counter:
Store employee: "This is for travel, yes?"
Me: "No, it's for here."
S.E.: "Oh, because this is meant for travel. It is small."
Me: "That's OK, I don't use it alot."
S.E.: "Uh, oh."
My hair today must not have given me away. But I probably will pay for getting the cheap one by buying another one in the future.
After that awkward exchange, Marion and I headed to the Coop. I walked, she was carried.
Sidenote: How the hell do you pronounce Coop? I've heard it pronounced as Co-op, Cope, and Coop (as in chicken coop). Everyone seems to pronounce it differently.
Anyway, we went to Coop to get milk. We came out with milk, cherries, apples, grapes, swiffer stuff, sponges, peanuts, cough drops, and strawberry pastries.
Someone clearly forgot we did not bring the granny cart.
Granny grocery cart, at home, in the kitchen.We checked out and left Coop. And what was outside waiting for us? Rain. Damn.
So I picked up my bag, stuffed to the gills with groceries, and the diaper bag, also stuffed with items we didn't really need now, and started to head back with Marion.
Marion loved the first half of the walk. She enjoyed stopping to look for and jump in puddles. So while I didn't have to carry her, the walk took awhile and I was getting very wet. Meanwhile, Swiss people continued to walk briskly past us with their umbrellas.
Marion stopped halfway home and gave up on walking. So I picked her up and booked it to our apartment. I was soaking wet by the time we got there. Marion was laughing, saying "Mommy necklace wet!"
Funny girl.
Once home, I unloaded our groceries. And then I thought of one reason why items are smaller here than in the States: the refrigerator is smaller.
No way I could fit a gallon of milk in there.
And now the sun is out. Go figure.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
A trip to the grocery store
Something as mundane as a trip to the grocery store can surprise Brian and I.
First we took Marion to Planeta Magic. Very similar to the Ultimate Playzone in Hunt Valley or the Jump Zone in Columbia but with smaller areas for younger ones. Marion loved it. And it was interesting to watch her try to interact with children who did not speak English. She didn't seem to mind though, she made her own fun.
Afterwards we went to the Migros in Wadenswil. It's much larger than the one near us. We used our Garmin to find it (thank god for Garmin, I officially love him) and waited in line for parking.
The guy in the car ahead of us was taking awhile to pull his ticket and go into the garage. Brian and I were waiting and wondering what was going on. After he entered we drove up to the ticket machine to go into the garage.
That was when we realized what was happening. The machine said "Parking Occupied." It was monitoring how many people entered and left and wasn't allowing anyone to enter until after someone left. So we were stuck waiting at the ticket machine for someone to leave.
Amazing. Can you imagine the chaos if this was to happen in the States? No where to go. Nothing to do but sit and wait.
After someone left, we entered, still laughing at the situation. Since we knew the place was packed, we picked the first spot available and headed in.
Not too much to report from the rest of our trip. It was a grocery store. But we have noticed that everything is in smaller portions. The chips, meat, milk- you name it, it is smaller here. I can't decide if it is because of the whole no preservatives so things don't last as long thing or if it is because Americans consume more on average. Or maybe a bit of both, not sure.
Oh, and it was chaos in there. People were everywhere. I haven't quite figured out how people move here. It seems like such a little thing but it feels so different here. I'm always bumping into people and excusing myself. But I'm never really sure if it was my fault or theirs.
One example: today I was looking at pork tenderloin and other prepared meats. An employee of the store was stocking the shelves and just moved in between me and the meats, blocking my path. Was that my fault for getting in the way of her work or hers for not waiting? I'm not sure. But I do know that that has never happened to me in the US!
Once we got back home, Brian reminded me why things were so crazy. Grocery stores close at 17:00 today and are not open tomorrow so everyone was stocking up. No 24 hour Giant here.
First we took Marion to Planeta Magic. Very similar to the Ultimate Playzone in Hunt Valley or the Jump Zone in Columbia but with smaller areas for younger ones. Marion loved it. And it was interesting to watch her try to interact with children who did not speak English. She didn't seem to mind though, she made her own fun.
Afterwards we went to the Migros in Wadenswil. It's much larger than the one near us. We used our Garmin to find it (thank god for Garmin, I officially love him) and waited in line for parking.
The guy in the car ahead of us was taking awhile to pull his ticket and go into the garage. Brian and I were waiting and wondering what was going on. After he entered we drove up to the ticket machine to go into the garage.
That was when we realized what was happening. The machine said "Parking Occupied." It was monitoring how many people entered and left and wasn't allowing anyone to enter until after someone left. So we were stuck waiting at the ticket machine for someone to leave.
Amazing. Can you imagine the chaos if this was to happen in the States? No where to go. Nothing to do but sit and wait.
After someone left, we entered, still laughing at the situation. Since we knew the place was packed, we picked the first spot available and headed in.
Not too much to report from the rest of our trip. It was a grocery store. But we have noticed that everything is in smaller portions. The chips, meat, milk- you name it, it is smaller here. I can't decide if it is because of the whole no preservatives so things don't last as long thing or if it is because Americans consume more on average. Or maybe a bit of both, not sure.
Oh, and it was chaos in there. People were everywhere. I haven't quite figured out how people move here. It seems like such a little thing but it feels so different here. I'm always bumping into people and excusing myself. But I'm never really sure if it was my fault or theirs.
One example: today I was looking at pork tenderloin and other prepared meats. An employee of the store was stocking the shelves and just moved in between me and the meats, blocking my path. Was that my fault for getting in the way of her work or hers for not waiting? I'm not sure. But I do know that that has never happened to me in the US!
Once we got back home, Brian reminded me why things were so crazy. Grocery stores close at 17:00 today and are not open tomorrow so everyone was stocking up. No 24 hour Giant here.
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