The milk - It tastes sweet or something. I don't like it, but I'm hoping I can get used to it.
Shopping carts - When you want to get a shopping cart at a grocery store you have to pay for it. I guess you get the money back after you're done. So far I haven't remembered the proper change so I haven't used a shopping cart yet.
No bags- When you go to grocery store they don't offer you a bag, I think maybe you can buy a reusable one. They also don't bag your groceries at all, you have to it yourself, and you have to be really quick, the just kind of throw everything at you and then start checking out the next person whether you're stuff is off of the belt or not.
Outlets- This one is obvious I guess, but the outlets are round instead of square, and then are set into the wall, which is different.
Light switches - They're like these plates on the wall that you push down on. They're very easy for James to do. So we get the pleasure of having the lights turned on and off on us all the time.
Bedding - Our pillows are really large and square instead of rectangular. I'm not sure I like that. Instead of a top sheet, you just have a duvet cover on your comforter and the comforter is pretty small which is different, but I like them ok. We also have two twin beds pushed together in the master bedroom, which is kind of weird.
Closing times - We tried to go the post office at 1, and they were closed for lunch, then we tried to go to bank shortly after 2 and they were closed for the day, we went down to the town hall to register and they were closed at 12. This makes it hard to get things done when the kids are sleeping in till 11 or 12.
That's enough for now, I know there were tons more and I'm not thinking of them right now, because I'm still jet lagged and not quite operating at 100%
You can also buy plastic and paper bags- they normally cost between 10 and 20 cents. Make sure you aren't getting H-milk as that is ultrapasturized and tastes weird (it doesn't have to be cooled though which is even stranger).
ReplyDeleteIf you go to a more "upscale" grocery store like Edeka you won't need to rent the cart- but you do always get your 50cent or euro piece back. They do this so that carts don't end up all over parking lots and always get returned.
You can buy American style pillows at Ikea or a store like "Dänisches Bettenlager" (a chain bedding store). They aren't more expensive but most people here don't use them and aren't used to them.
Opening hours suck in the south- sorry!!
Just remember once the jet lag is gone everything will start feeling more like a fun adventure and less awful :D
We have an Aldi in our town and they do the same thing with the cart rental, bagging and lack of bags.
ReplyDeleteYou have reminded me of the luxury of having your grocery bags packed here! I was very impressed and love it, of course. The UK is the same, the cashier stares at you while you bag & remove items off the belt, but you kind of get used to it. Be good when the boys can help ;)
ReplyDeleteDo they use 'chip and pin' everywhere? In the UK for many years now, in all the shops instead of the signing for your credit card purchase, you type in a PIN number, which I much prefer. Trouble is, you have to remember the PIN's, which is troublesome when you don't use them for months/years!
Hope you are finding your feet a little more this week. x