Supermarket!

I went shopping today, which is always a potentially fascinating experience when abroad.  I had been to corner stores a couple of times, but I decided I was ready for, indeed craved, an upgrade to the big leagues.  Actually, I wanted to go yesterday, but by the time I got around to it the store was closed.  Guess I forgot how things-close-early-on-Sundays.  And now I know the word for "Sunday," too.  The supermarket nearest me is right next to a restaurant called "Supermarket," which I think is cool.

Supermarkets can be confusing even at home, just the bright colors and endless variety, so I expected a certain degree of uncertainty.  My Maxi delivered, with a confusing produce system wherein items must be weighed within the department (not so stateside).  And then there's always the language barrier, though I do enjoy pointing animatedly at things.  It gets the message across, in time.

I found nearly everything I wanted.  I couldn't find the mustard, which was probably my fault.  I couldn't find any brown rice, which was probably the fault of the store.  I couldn't find any non-fat milk either.  Does that exist here?  I foundcool things though mostly.  Cereals are always different everywhere, it seems, so I'll have fun sampling those over time.  I didn't buy any ajvar this time, but it's also certainly on the list of things to investigate in further detail. 

At some point, they started playing Rihanna songs on the store's muzak.  Cool?  Felt homelike, but not in a grocery store homelike way necessarily.  It won't be really weird until they start playing MGMT, or something.  At the checkout, they gave me two stickers, which probably mean something, but I don't know what yet.

The weather's still really hot out, but it's cool to see crowds of people outside All The Time.  That doesn't really happen back home, and I don't know why, and it's really a pity.  I like being outside.  I like the supermarket, too.