I wish this post had some profound meaning to it by the name of the title, but, it doesn't. Its actually all about a grocery store I visited today.
There is a grocery store on the French side called "Super U". Stephanie and I decided to venture over there and see what they have. I was super excited because it was a new store, or a new place to shop for me since being here. Once we got there it was still exciting, but the excitement level dropped a couple notches. Everything was in French so it became over whelming.
Super U is connected to a bunch of shops and such. If I hadn't gone with Stephanie I would not even know how to get inside. Some of the buildings even look a little french around it. When you get to the store they have all the carts outside and the only way you get to take one in is if you have a Euro or 50 cent piece. You pop in the Euro, the cart unlatches from another and you are able to take the cart for your shopping.
Like I said before everything is in French. Luckily most of it you can kind of tell by the pictures what it is. Some of the stuff they sale is cheaper than other places, but more expensive for other things.
My favorite thing I found was the frozen frog legs, and the escargot. YUM. They didn't have a wide, wide selection, at least of what I was looking for, but that is to be expected considering they are a French store.
When you check out, they did not bag your groceries. What in the world!? So I had to just throw my stuff back in my cart with out a bag. Luckily Stephanie had some freezer bags I could toss some stuff in to contain the small stuff.
Usually when you go to a grocery store here - besides Cost U Less or Prime - they will have bagger boys there to bag your groceries. They always expect a tip though. You also have to watch out for the boys that are around outside waiting, they will come grab onto your cart, and take it to your car and help unload, but again, expect a tip. I think you can usually expect that on Saturdays or school breaks though.
At Super U they compare Euros to the exact dollar, so you know when looking at the price that what is in Euros is what you will be paying in US Dollars.
After you take your groceries to the car you can return your cart to the cart station, pop in the chain and get back your Euro.
I think the part that intrigued me the most was just getting to Super U, it was more like driving in a different country then anywhere else I experienced here. Cars lined the streets, traffic is bad and you have motorcycles weaving in and out. I don't know that I'll go to Super U tons, but I am super glad I got to go experience it, and see what it is! :)
Shopping here is not like it is in America where you can go to one store like Wal Mart or Target and get everything you need . Each store here has something different that you can't find at another store. Make up isn't at stores like it is in America, they do have a few small sections at a few different stores, but the variety isn't as big. I could only find tape at Cost U Less, but it was like a 6 pack and I did not need a 6 pack. I finally found it at Super U. I FINALLY found measuring cups and spoons after looking for almost a month for them. It makes you grateful for Wal Mart and Target haha. There is a store, Carrefour (another French store but luckily has a lot of American stuff) that has a lot of produce like Wal Mart or my personal favorite Frys. Produce is actually a lot more expensive here, and not as good because they import it from the states, so if you think your strawberries are Pricey at $3.99 (or whatever they are) imagine $5.99 for maybe 6 strawberries or, a bag of grapes is about $7. Although pineapple is cheaper here and then they have tons of local fruit that we need to try sometime.
Obviously shopping here you still have the stores you'd prefer over others. Just like in the states :).
