I’ve discovered that grocery shopping is actually a sport. Not only do I have to steer my cart sideways through the aisles, but I also have to bag my own groceries! (Yes, yes… I know. I’m spoiled.)
But the real challenge? The little old ladies. If you’re walking too slowly, they’ll plow right into you without hesitation. After apologizing several times to several different people, I finally thought… What the heck. Now I just plow right back. Survival of the fittest in the produce aisle.
That said, grocery shopping here really is a great way to meet new friends and neighbors. The people in The Netherlands are always kind and usually willing to help me translate the labels when I’m standing there looking completely confused.
Then there’s the meat department… where there is truly such a thing as mystery meat. My latest discovery? Rabbit. Just casually laid out there right next to the chickens like it’s the most normal thing in the world.
One day I did stumble upon some new snacks. Between the Chocolate Shooters and the Disco Bits, I’m thinking those could be pretty good. But the one called “Come and Get It” makes you pause for a moment and wonder what exactly you’re being invited to eat.
My daughter and I were also on the hunt for syrup for our poffertjes (those adorable little Dutch pancakes). What we found instead was basically sugary sludge. She looked at the bottle and said, “I’m pretty sure if it says All Natural, that means it’s going to be disgusting.”
Honestly… where’s Aunt Jemima when you need her?
Blueberry Pancake Publishing 