bluestockings

When you go into a swedish supermarket and you didn’t really check the current exchange rate before you may be a bit shocked. Apples for 25 swedish kronor per kilo? So let’s convert it. But even if you convert it to Euro, ~2,90€ per kilo seems a bit expensive.

After the initial shock it is best you try not to convert everything in your known currency. Sweden is expensive. What I will avoid to buy or try not to buy too much of during my half year of studying in sweden will probably be: meat, cheese and alkohol.

So let’s forget about how much money you can spend in a swedish supermarket and focus on the funny and weird sides of grocery shopping in sweden:

First the weird one: When you stand in line waiting to pay you may notice the people before you place their food accurately in line with the barcode facing them. Seems funny when you first notice it but it definitely makes sense. The swedes take their time putting on their groceries right, so the cashier can scan them fast and doesn’t have to turn every single piece in every direction to see where the barcode is.

Now the funny things: I just had a few lessons of my swedish language course yet, but I have noticed that in sweden often something is written like they spell it. Even if the word derives from another language.

Kött means meat as you might have guessed. Isn’t it a great way to write bouillon? (I had to look up how to write this just now 🙂 ). And I think the next one is even better:

Gratäng! Buying gratin has never been so funny.

And when I miss Germany I can still buy some geman spray cream, or as the swedes say: spraygrädde.