One of the things that we were warned about before finishing service in eSwatini was the overwhelming-ness of the grocery store. American grocery stores are filled with stuff. Some stuff is slightly different from other stuff. Sometimes, the differences are so slight that it’s difficult to tell why all of the stuff exists. With an abundance of options, it can be difficult to make a decision.
Then, there are the prices. Shortly after arriving in eSwatini, I walked through Swazi grocery stores converting everything into US dollars. Now that I’m back in DC, my mind readily converts everything into emalangeni. I’m sure I’ll break the habit eventually, but initially, the sticker shock is real.
Recently, I was walking through a local grocery store and thought, “why are there so many kinds of Oreos?” Cold brew coffee is a big thing now. As a less than occasional coffee drinker, I was perplexed by all of the bottled cold brew coffee on offer in the store. The above picture is of most of the yogurt options. So much choice!
Be kind to yourself.
Onward.
P.S. – I felt like Andy Rooney, on his closing 60 Minutes segment, as I walked through the grocery store. Many times, just wondering, “why?”.
P.P.S. – Walking through the grocery store pales in comparison to walking through Wal-Mart.
What is Kirby Doing?: Stories from life after Peace Corps eSwatini 
After I COS’d in 2004, I was in a CA grocery store and had the closest thing I have ever had – before or since – to a panic attack and went home with no groceries. Totally, totally overwhelming… and was hard to explain to family members who are used to my calm rationale and stoicism. Whoops!
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