Moving to a new country brings countless adventures, and few are as immediately practical, or potentially frustrating, as that first trip to the grocery store. What should be a simple errand, grocery shopping can quickly become a puzzle of unfamiliar packaging, mysterious product names, and layouts that seem to follow an entirely different logic than what you’re used to back home.
I learned this lesson the hard way during my early days in Japan. Standing in the cleaning products aisle, I confidently grabbed what I thought was dish soap, only to discover later that I had indeed selected laundry detergent. The bottles looked remarkably similar, and without being able to read the Japanese characters, I’d made an assumption that left my dishes with an oddly persistent sudsy residue.
But here’s the thing about grocery shopping abroad: once you crack the code, it becomes one of the most rewarding parts of living in a new place. You discover local ingredients you never knew existed, find more efficient ways to organize your shopping, and gradually build a sense of familiarity in your new home.
Five tips for grocery success in your new country
1. Make a list of what you need before you go to the store
This might seem obvious, but it’s especially crucial when you’re shopping in an unfamiliar environment. Having a clear list helps you stay focused and prevents you from wandering aimlessly through aisles while trying to remember what you came for.
2. Look up the names of things in the local language
Before heading out, take a few minutes to translate your shopping list. Write down both the English and local language names for items. This simple step can save you from accidentally buying laundry soap when you need dish soap, or salt when you’re looking for sugar. This can also be an opportunity to review a little vocabulary and build your language skills.
3. Use an online search to see pictures of products
This is a game-changing tip that many expats discover by accident. Try searching for something like “cinnamon at Ito Yokado” or “olive oil at Carrefour.” You’ll often find images showing exactly how that product appears on the shelves at your specific store, complete with local packaging and placement.
4. Take your time to explore and learn where things are in the store
Resist the urge to rush through your first few shopping trips. Every grocery store has its own logic. Dairy might be in a completely different spot than you expect, or bread might be located near the deli counter rather than in a dedicated bakery section. Give yourself extra time to wander and mentally map the store layout.
5. Don’t be afraid of trying new things
Some of your best discoveries will come from products you’ve never heard of or brands that don’t exist in your home country. That unfamiliar sauce might become your new favorite condiment, or that local brand of yogurt might taste better than anything you’ve tried before. Embrace the experimentation. It’s part of the adventure!
The reward of familiarity
Eventually, grocery shopping in your new country becomes second nature. You’ll develop preferences for local brands, discover shortcuts through the store, and might even find yourself missing certain products when you visit home. What once felt overwhelming transforms into a comfortable routine, and you’ll realize that navigating those aisles successfully was actually a small but significant milestone in making your new country feel like home.
The dish soap incident? Now it’s just a funny story I tell other newcomers. Because sometimes the best way to avoid reinventing the wheel is to learn from someone else’s soapy mistakes.
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