Shopping on my own!

How independent of me! I went to the grocery store all by my little lonesome self!
And it wasn't that traumatising, in fact had I not been under a time limit (Ingo: "you have 50 minutes to walk there, get everything, pay and get back here") due to an appointment at a apartment (more about THAT wee kettle of fish later...) I would have found the entire experience quite pleasant!

As it was I had to search-find-grab in quick succession from my list, which was NOT in order of the store's aisles (when we have a local supermarket, this will cease to be a problem). Also decided on a basket over a trolley at the entrance way as the list didn't look that bad... Didn't consider the fact that I'd written "fruit" and "vegetables" (yes the grocery list is still in English :p) and ended up struggling mightily with a very heavy basket!

However, the reasons I would have enjoyed it otherwise is, grocery shopping is quite therapeutic, the Rewe supermarkets are awesome - especially when there's a cheese and meat centre (much like in Moore Wilsons Fresh) and a bakery near the entrance :) and finally I need to search and decide on what our "Germany brands" are going to be. You know when you've found that brand of shampoo, or milk, or cheese, that never seems to be too pricey, packaging doesn't suck (seriously.) and ticks all the right boxes (organic/free range/always smells good/never lets you down). Well it took Ingo and I a good year to find the eggs we used to buy, almost double that for the milk and sadly I had only just tried and discovered the shampoo and conditioner (Tresemme Naturals Vibrantly Smooth if anyone's coming over and has room in their suitcase ;)) that was to be my new best friend, and now we have to DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN! Hence my excitement for the time I can spend shelf gazing.

On a more "Living in a new land" specific note; it's really not hard to grocery shop in a foreign speaking country, you pick what you want (pictures help), you take it to the counter (never hard to find) and you pay the amount that shows on the screen (just in case you didn't understand what they said ;)) A "good morning/day/hello" and a "thank you and goodbye" doesn't go a-miss either!

And on a last note: OH MY GOODNESS - I always knew that NZ check-out operators (sorry to the people I may offend*) were slow (physically, not mentally) but I didn't realise HOW slow!!! I won't be able to handle it when we're there again, Germany check-out operators are awesome! They're machines! Hands a blur, conveyor belt never stopping, phew! Impressed! Although it would be nice if they gave you a few seconds to get your stuff out the way before they start whooshing the next persons through ;)

* Seriously, I was a check-out operator for all of 3 months and even I (haha) was snail paced compared to here!