The "Billa" Way.

My local grocery store is called "Billa" and it's across the street from the school which makes it handy on the way home. My first trip was not the most successful since I didn't know the rules of the game. They rejected my two loose apples at the check-out, "Neh!" and the woman berated me for not taking my groceries out of the hand-held basket. I didn't recognize names for most of the products and I couldn't even ask for any ham. Well, I'm happy to announce I've made some progress through the tried and true process of trial and error. I now know how to weigh my veggies on the touch screen computer and stick the price on the bag. I know that ham is called "sunky" (Shoonky) and rolls are "rolicky." They have my fave yogurt "Activa" in vanilla flavor, Krusli is a no brainer and I'm slowly deciphering the huge range of Klobasas. The 7-up is "limonada" and BBQ'd flavoured chips are called "Paprika." Chocolate is "cokolada" and eggs are vejce. When you get in the check-out line, have your wits about you as it's a busy store. You have to bag your own groceries and you'd better do it quickly! They say "Dobry den" and all you have to say is "Dikuye" and you're on your way! Easy right? Hmmmm. Maybe not. I still haven't figured out how to unlock the grocery carts as one needs to insert a coin in the handle...and I'm still intimidated by the giant selection of meats and cheeses. I've been sticking to Edam and Brie for the most part but really feel I need to step out of the safe zone and give that really strange one a try. The Vodka selection is epic and cheap. My first bottle was a half litre of "Boris Jeltzen" made in France for about $6 Canadian. I've graduated to "Amundsen" triple distilled with "arctic purity"from Bratislava, Slovakia which cost 139 crowns. At the current rate of exchange that's about $8 bucks. Daaaaaangeroulsy cheap, right? Not to worry....you are your own liquor control board. : ) They sell all sorts of beer including Heineken in mini vats and today they had Paprika on sale. At least I know how to weigh my veggies now. It's rather amusing but the smallest accomplishments are encouraging when everything is so foreign. My strategy is to move quickly and say as little as possible and hopefully I will exit without arrousing any undue ire. Phew!