Cindy, I didn't even know about Aldi until today - when I searched for an image to go along with the story. That WOULD have been a good idea, eh? I gotta write that water story.
Ha! As I read this, I thought the same thing as ROWriter. Sounds just like an Aldi store, and the photo you posted looks like the inside of one, too! I lived in Germany twice, eons ago, and both times in small towns. My "then husband" was in the military so we shopped mostly at the PX and....I can't remember the term for the grocery store! BUT, I loved going into one of the tiny German shops and buying fresh rolls or bread, cookies, etc. Plus, their laundry detergent was the most fabulous smelling I've ever used...before or since! Since we Americans were used to loading up our carts and trying to buy a month's worth of groceries,(pay day once a month)I'm sure we looked really crazy to the Germans. And we thought them a bit "different" too, the way they carried their little cotton/linen reusable shopping tote bags WAY before we ever thought of them. I don't mean to generalize the entire population, either. But the people in our small towns shopped once a day, for that day's food, and I bet they saved a fortune...no wasted food! Great story, Pam!
Thanks, Becky. And thanks for sharing your experience. Yes - that is a photo of an Aldi store - I found it on the Internet today! The store where I shopped was a Lindl store, though. Believe it or not, this Aldi store looks nicer!
Ha! That's funny. Hopefully, you were otherwise able to communicate! We found they didn't speak English as readily/fluently as they do in say, The Netherlands. So it can be a bit hard to have a conversation. I do wish I were fluent in other languages!
LOL! I've been to that same grocery in Germany! We walked up and down the aisles and thought, Why is everything on the floor or on pallets? Then we found tomato paste in a tube - like tootpaste! I bought it as a souvenir, but lost it somewhere between Heidelberg and Versailles.
Oh, I would be so disoriented trying to shop in a foreign country. Yes, I shop at Aldi (for some things) where you have to pay to rent a shopping cart and pay to get a bag. I think in Europe more people bring cloth bags with them when shopping. But I'm not sure. I would not have thought of it prior to walking into the grocery store. Glad you survived. Thanks for the interesting details.
Wonder if they think they are in a big wasteland when they come over here to shop in our huge stores and drive our big cars? Thanks for your comment, Karen!
This comment is from The Mid-Life Guru: "Hip Hip Hooray for European markets. I had the same milk problem--but in Switzerland. One thing I have adapted from their markets as a mid lifer: I shop more often for fresh foods instead of buying just once a week. I feel so continental!!"
This looks like me responding to myself but actually I am responding to Caryn, the Mid-Life Guru, who's comment came through my e-mail but didn't show up on the post. (Here I am talking to myself again.) Ahem.
Good point, Caryn. Shopping for fresh foods more often is probably better for us in many ways than our usual approach of once-a-week. I can see how you feel so continental!
And I thought grocery-shopping in my own country was mind-boggling. Or maybe that was mind-numbing. Either way, remind never to try to shop in a foreign country. I'll be staying at a hotel in Germany LOL.
Nowadays, you have to weigh your own apples too, then get the sticker. I love German grocery stores, yet know going in that I will be the oddball. So I try to pick a line that has friendly-looking cashier.
The same thing happened to me regarding the bags the first time I shopped at a German grocery store (I lived there for 3 1/2 years)... and I never did pick up the language very well. But then again, I stopped trying when someone asked me to "please speak English." Yeah, that pretty much shot my self-esteem right down! ;)
Oh, that's pretty funny. I never studied foreign languages, but I think German is kind of hard to learn. I tried to use the few words I knew such as Danka when we were over there. Well...maybe that was the only one!
You should've shopped at Aldi to prep yourself! (except for the milk and Euro part!) LOL :-)
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to hear about the water...
Cindy, I didn't even know about Aldi until today - when I searched for an image to go along with the story. That WOULD have been a good idea, eh? I gotta write that water story.
DeleteHa! As I read this, I thought the same thing as ROWriter. Sounds just like an Aldi store, and the photo you posted looks like the inside of one, too! I lived in Germany twice, eons ago, and both times in small towns. My "then husband" was in the military so we shopped mostly at the PX and....I can't remember the term for the grocery store! BUT, I loved going into one of the tiny German shops and buying fresh rolls or bread, cookies, etc. Plus, their laundry detergent was the most fabulous smelling I've ever used...before or since! Since we Americans were used to loading up our carts and trying to buy a month's worth of groceries,(pay day once a month)I'm sure we looked really crazy to the Germans. And we thought them a bit "different" too, the way they carried their little cotton/linen reusable shopping tote bags WAY before we ever thought of them. I don't mean to generalize the entire population, either. But the people in our small towns shopped once a day, for that day's food, and I bet they saved a fortune...no wasted food! Great story, Pam!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Becky. And thanks for sharing your experience. Yes - that is a photo of an Aldi store - I found it on the Internet today! The store where I shopped was a Lindl store, though. Believe it or not, this Aldi store looks nicer!
DeleteI've never been to Germany, but if I did, I would go to a grocery store. I like to see those glimpses of ordinary lives. How was the milk?
ReplyDeleteHi Ginger - It was thick. And that was their lower fat version. But I'm used to skim.
DeleteHAHAHAHA! I remember being in Germany and saying Gesundheit after someone sneezed and they assumed I spoke German! That was the only work I knew.
ReplyDeleteHa! That's funny. Hopefully, you were otherwise able to communicate! We found they didn't speak English as readily/fluently as they do in say, The Netherlands. So it can be a bit hard to have a conversation. I do wish I were fluent in other languages!
DeleteNever been in a German Grocery but man oh man those little old Catalunyan ladies in line at the Paneria were FIERCE!
ReplyDeleteEvery culture has its fair share of characters! Thanks for your comment.
DeleteLOL! I've been to that same grocery in Germany! We walked up and down the aisles and thought, Why is everything on the floor or on pallets? Then we found tomato paste in a tube - like tootpaste! I bought it as a souvenir, but lost it somewhere between Heidelberg and Versailles.
ReplyDeleteTomato paste in a tube - too bad you lost it! And pallets, right, everything's on pallets. Ha!
DeleteOh, I would be so disoriented trying to shop in a foreign country. Yes, I shop at Aldi (for some things) where you have to pay to rent a shopping cart and pay to get a bag. I think in Europe more people bring cloth bags with them when shopping. But I'm not sure. I would not have thought of it prior to walking into the grocery store. Glad you survived. Thanks for the interesting details.
ReplyDeleteWonder if they think they are in a big wasteland when they come over here to shop in our huge stores and drive our big cars? Thanks for your comment, Karen!
DeleteThis comment is from The Mid-Life Guru: "Hip Hip Hooray for European markets. I had the same milk problem--but in Switzerland. One thing I have adapted from their markets as a mid lifer: I shop more often for fresh foods instead of buying just once a week. I feel so continental!!"
ReplyDeleteThis looks like me responding to myself but actually I am responding to Caryn, the Mid-Life Guru, who's comment came through my e-mail but didn't show up on the post. (Here I am talking to myself again.) Ahem.
DeleteGood point, Caryn. Shopping for fresh foods more often is probably better for us in many ways than our usual approach of once-a-week. I can see how you feel so continental!
And I thought grocery-shopping in my own country was mind-boggling. Or maybe that was mind-numbing. Either way, remind never to try to shop in a foreign country. I'll be staying at a hotel in Germany LOL.
ReplyDeleteWell...a hotel would be nice, eh?? Next time. :) Thanks for your comment!
DeleteNowadays, you have to weigh your own apples too, then get the sticker. I love German grocery stores, yet know going in that I will be the oddball. So I try to pick a line that has friendly-looking cashier.
ReplyDeleteThat is interesting - weight your own fruit, get your own sticker. Hm. The do-it-yourself mentality is more evident over there, apparently!
DeleteIf/when I visit Europe, I will make sure to pack my reusable grocery bags. What an adventure!
ReplyDeleteI think that's wise! :)
DeleteThe same thing happened to me regarding the bags the first time I shopped at a German grocery store (I lived there for 3 1/2 years)... and I never did pick up the language very well. But then again, I stopped trying when someone asked me to "please speak English." Yeah, that pretty much shot my self-esteem right down! ;)
ReplyDeleteOh, that's pretty funny. I never studied foreign languages, but I think German is kind of hard to learn. I tried to use the few words I knew such as Danka when we were over there. Well...maybe that was the only one!
Delete