Everyday life is somewhat different than my life in Oklahahom that I thought I'd share what buying groceris is like in Austria! I think you might find it a great source of entertainment! So, here is a store that I buy groceries from. It's actually very new and modern. The one in my neighborhood is not so new, but has a lot of charm! Anyway, here's the deal ...

When one goes to the grocery store in Austria, you must first take your own bags. Being a very "green" country, recycling is HUGE! If you don't bring something to carry your groceries in, you may purchase bags. If Wal-mart ever gets wind of this you guys in the US are in trouble! I usually bring a little old lady basket for small items and a pull behind me basket for larger loads. On this particular day you'll be seeing pictures on a recent trip when I took our Van ... which never usually happens!! It's usually a hike to the store. It's kind of a game, a "Let's pretend all this walking is going to burn the calories I consumed in the last chocolate thing I just ate" kind of game.

Anyway, once you get there, you get a basket ... by putting a 1 or 2 Euro coin in the buggy. No coin - no buggy! This keeps everything tiddy and in order because Austrians are tidy as can be! Order at all costs! So, after digging in my purse, pockets, or bag for a coin, I do my shopping. Then I creep up to the Kasa (cashier) to pay. This usually brings fear and trembling because it's a competitive game you must play with the clerk. Her goal is to push all of your purchases down to the end of the conveyor thing as fast as she can and let it pile up, smashing anything fragile, and begin the next customers order so that all their stuff begins to pile up on yours. Then, a new game begins. It's called the "Let's see how mean and gruff and how loud I can sigh and huff and puff at you until you get your stuff out of my way" Game. I don't like that game. It's makes me feel small and foreign. My solution - just cram all my stuff back into my buggy, find a small corner to shove my stuff into my bags or haul it out to the car if I happen to drive.

Now, getting home is another game. It's not so stressful just a bit of a workout. The pictures show me in the van, which is not the norm! Usually I walk with my goods. Either way, walking or van driving, getting into our apartment is a chore. I have to open the front door to let me into our building. This is done by me with my key or by pusing the intercom button to our flat to ask someone to push the button that releases the front door. I set the stuff inside the door. I walk through the first part of our building to pull open a door, go outside to our building, open my front door, go to my kitchen door, retrieve my parcels, put them up! It's a fun game. It makes me feel like an Austrian Homemaker.

The whole experience doesn't make me want to burst out crying anymore. We've made progress. I can actually recognize what is yogurt and what is sour cream. I can distinguish between hamburger meat and minced mystery meat. I can order deli meat and cheese ... sort of ... and pay without looking like a second grader. All in all, this is a game I'm beginning to get pretty good at!!!

Just wanted to share with you a day in my life. Now that you all feel closer to me ... write me! Or send me stuff like my dear sister did this past week. We got Butterfingers (they don't have them here), Movies in English, and peanut butter!

In fact, next week I'll post in my blog all the things we can't get here that can be easily shipped from the US to my front door! Won't that be fun! A whole new game awaits!!!

Smooches to all - Christina