Why You Should Grocery Shop While On Holiday
Monuments, attractions and… supermarkets.
What comes to mind when thinking of culture? Maybe it’s France, with the Eiffel Tower. Maybe Italy, with the Colosseum and the famous cathedrals of Florence. Maybe Japan with Mount Fuji and the many temples.
Sure, these are the powerhouses of culture, the icons and symbols of societies and people.
But, are they really? Is Mount Fuji, is the Eiffel Tower, is the Colosseum really what culture means to Japan, to France and to Italy?
What really makes a culture, what represents and defines a society, are not those big attractions or landmarks. No, instead, what defines a society are the small things — what people have for dinner, what they watch on television, hell, even what haircuts they have. What supermarkets they visit, where they meet their friends, what they do on Saturday evenings.
For example, in France, many people grocery shop at E. Leclerc and buy steak haché. In England, many go to Sainsbury’s and buy ready-go yorkshire pudding. In Germany, they go to Edeka and buy bread at the bakery. That is culture.
These everyday places and activities are the backbone of what makes people belong to a community.
Although culture may be those big celebrations and festivals, what really makes that culture tick, what defines it, are the details.
In order to gain true insight into different cultures and lifestyles, in order to truly take part in different cultures, it is just as, if not more important, to indulge in the little things.
Enjoy and observe the tiny characteristics and differences of a country or culture, because that is what makes a culture unique and special.
It’s true that Big Ben is important to the British. But, what’s far, far more important is the Cadbury sweets and the grey school uniforms and the Sainsbury’s bags. So, next time you want to know more about other people’s cultures, all you need to do is visit a supermarket.
“I never visit the United States without visiting a supermarket. To me, they are more fascinating than any fashion salon.” — Wallis Simpson
