If you have never been to Germany, you’re bound to run into some unexpected cultural experiences. The thing that left the strongest impression on me, by far, was the German Grocery Shopping Experience ™. Back in the United States one gets used to the comfort and surplus of American culture. A nice bagger helps you put your food away, you pay at your leisure, and peacefully take your food home.
In Germany, it is completely different. Despite being a particularly relaxed and calm society, there is an unspoken of, yet high expectation for hyper-efficiency in the super market. When you step up to pay, the employees begin scanning your food items as if it were an olympic sport. Before you know it, all of your food is past the scanner and the employee is holding their hand out to receive your money. Although you have not finished putting all of your food away, you fumble your wallet around for some money to pay with. Before you put your wallet away the robot-like employee has successfully predicted and calculated what you would pay with, and have the change ready in their hand. You’re too slow. They put the coins on the counter along with your receipt. You look over at the disgruntled people waiting in line behind you, they’re sighing loudly to express their impatience. You’re sweating. Finally you put your wallet and change away and continue to stow food items in your tote (since Germany does not provide complimentary plastic bags). Next thing you know, the employee starts ringing up the next person just as efficiently. You panic and shove whatever is left into your bag and you hurriedly stumble away in order to prevent any more inconveniences. „D-Danke schön”, you manage to mumble to the employee. They don’t hear you, as they are already attending a fifth person that was in line behind you.
Needless to say, it’s a pretty traumatic experience. Luckily, it only takes a few days to get used to the system. Although I have grown used to German grocery stores, sometimes I begin to reminisce, and get nostalgic at how good people have it in American grocery stores. I’ll be sure to remember to tip the bagger next time I ever shop at a Publix. They deserve it.