Who knew that shopping would feel different here in the UK?
I went to the grocery store again today. This time my experience was a little different than previous. Today, I didn’t have a set grocery list. I decided to go into the store with then intention of getting inspired by the foods on the shelves. Which basically meant I stayed a lot longer than I normally would.
Here is some interesting foods that I found on the shelves: Canned Ox Tongue. Has anyone tried that? FuFu Flour…which sounds a little girly to me. Anyone ever use that? I found it in the Asian isle. There were tons and tons of canned beans, too. The English apparently love their beans (okay, this is an assumption…I don’t need any UK people angry at me for my food sterotyping).
As I was steering the trolley (shopping cart) I was amazed at its ability to go both forward and sideways. These trolleys have great ability to move beautifully in all directions. I was also thinking as I was shopping: Is there a specific rule for which side of the isle one should go down? I mean, hell, the roads here are backwards from the US. Everyone drives here on the left side of the road. Is it the same for trolley driving?
As I attempted to find some kind of routine down the isles, I noticed that not everyone was following any procedure. It seemed like everyone was going in their own direction. I also found that I tend to be very friendly and nice while shopping. I’ll let other trolleys go by, while waiting for my turn down the isle.
However, I found out the hard way that those behind me don’t always appreciate my kindness. I had one woman get a tad frustrated at my over generosity of letting people by, that she actually used her trolley to bump in to my rump. That’s right! My rump was knocked into by a trolley. I thought it was an accident, but as I turned around she was giving me the “HURRY UP LADY” face. Okay, okay, okay, I get it.
Perhaps, I have more training to do with shopping. What are the proper trolley etiquettes while shopping while here in the UK? Does anyone know? If so, feel free to share it with me. In the states most people went in one direction, and didn’t bump into people when they wanted them to hurry. Oh, that doesn’t mean we haven’t thought about it, but today was the first arse-trolley bumpin I’ve received. Yep, I’m going to google about proper shopping etiquette in the UK or start wearing a bumper pad around my back end.
Finally, words of advice for those of you who visit the UK and do a little shopping. The grocery clerks get to sit on comfy chairs, and the lines are extremely casual. People move slower, and you are expected to bag your own groceries. No one will ask you “Would you like paper or plastic?” here in the UK.
FuFu Flour sounds like, hmmm “everybody kung fighting”
Perhaps the US is backwards
Most countries drive on the correct side of the road, America has to be different, lol. Reminds me of when the parents had their Cafe. Another shop owner brought his brother and American friend in for breakfast, he had just picked them up from the airport. As they were driving out the American friend was shouting at him that he was trying to get them killed driving on the wrong side of the road, LOL. ahhhh.
Some places will bag your grocery’s here, some wont.
While I was in Italy we always had to bag our own groceries and provide our own bags, unless we were willing to pay 3 cents for each one. These clerks also sat, but they expected correct change and had perfected the “dumb tourist” look and body language when you were scrambling in your backpack for loose change. Actually, they were quite frightening.
You got into a cold sweat just getting in line because you knew you were going to do something to piss them off no matter how well prepared you were in the change department. Let me tell you, you didn’t want to keep the man with one beer standing behind you, waiting either. Then he and the cashier could exchange the “dumb tourist” look.
It was a national look, all italians know it. But I have to say I never got bum bumped. That’s a new one.
WOW Shannon- I was actually thinking about my mother’s fear of the evil Italian grocery clerks, when low and behold, she posted it herself. I thought the AMERICANS were supposed to be the rude ones? Is butt bumping acceptable in the UK?? Inquiring minds need to know.. regardless- this was hysterical!
LOL! Good God Girl, what an adventure you are on indeed…even the grocery store is an “E” ticket ride. LOL!!!!! thanks for the visual and chuckles.