day 35-40? survival guide to the grocery store.

Why, yes, it's been almost a week... what has happened in this past week? Teaching. Sun-burning. Studying. Lesson planning. Some sightseeing. Church.

Sunday brought some interesting things like:

1. showing up at church and then realizing, we really have NO idea what time it starts.
2. a Portuguese tradition of kissing cheeks when saying “Hola” leaves lipstick smudges on ones (my) cheek.
3. We realized about halfway through sunday school that he was actually in 2 corinthians, not first. :)
4. we got stopped along the road by a little old lady tapping on the car indicating we should roll down the windows... so she could tells us we were (something like) “nice young ladies...”
5. and... a trip to the grocery store
    
   (insert segue music...)

“How to... survive in a Portuguese grocery store!”

1. MEAT: cheaper is not always better. The cheaper meat is probably the “unclean” meat. Just splurge for the better beef. :)
2. YOGURT: just avoid the entire aisle altogether. There are way too many varieties. This will only overwhelm you.
3. MILK: it won't taste like milk in the states, so give it up. BUT nesquik is available for your enjoyment. :)
4. SEAFOOD: just steer clear... the fish stinks, and the shrimp will probably bite a hole in the bag (or stare a hole through the bag) before you get it home.
5. ICE CREAM: again, cheaper isn't always better. The cheap stuff tastes like it has added fiber, and Haagen Daas??? well... it's about $8.00 for a pint... so i'll wait on good ice cream til I get back to the states... ben and jerry will wait for me.
6. CEREAL: cookie crisp is just as good here. As for the others? I haven't tried any others. ;)
7. SOUP: the packets are probably ox tail soup and the cans of campbell's are over 3 euros (4 dollars). Just ditch soup...
8. BEAUTY PRODUCTS: well, today I saw a bottle of tresemme for over 10 euros (13 dollars?). Glad I brought big bottles!!!
9. TORTILLAS: a package of six is over 3 euros... ditch those along with the soup...
10. ANY MEAT: stick with what you know... don't go looking for new stuff.
11. SPICES: they don't make burgers. So don't look for those spices. BUT chicken spices seem to work ok. Improvise. :)
12. PASTA SAUCE: just do the tomato sauce version. Buying the ragu will cost you... a few limbs...
13. TANG: a kick in a glass is still just as good. :)
14. PRODUCE: cheaper than in the states. This is the healthiest i've eaten! Haha. We have bought... kiwis, strawberries, red peppers, green peppers, tomatoes, apples, bananas, mangoes, oranges, carrots, corn, broccoli, peas, potatoes, and lemons. Pathetic, I know.

There's probably more... but the morals of the story are...

1. don't go on a sunday after church.
2. Don't try to do the liters to gallons math.
3. And DO NOT do the euros to dollar math.

therein lies my insight. :)

Jessica Campbell Roberts