moysturize ukraine 07: ukr.day28-first time shopping

So working late has a bad downside, everyone that speaks the language leaves and you're left by yourself to forage for cats, or food, or whatever. So last night after work I dropped my stuff at home, walked around for a couple blocks to learn the area better, and then dropped by the local mart. Inside there was white t-shirted security guy, frustrated and lost looking teller lady in a chair too short, and a line of punk and random teens getting drunk, waiting to pay for their drinks in progress. I made sure my headphones were securely fastened and proceeded into the store through a little gate system to divide the small doorway for traffic in vs traffic to the sweet sweet register land. Inside were 5 isles of old canned stuff, cereal, water, and old juice. Well, the juice I was buying was old (but the expiration date is 1/2 a year away, no worries).

I hit up the cooler first and picked out grapefruit juice. Apparently no one drinks it, so it was all dusty. Other items in the cooler were varying levels of mostly clean->dusty. Then I started the big game hunt - large water bottles. There were plenty of kiddie 1liter size, but I wanted the 6liter king size cause I guzzle water like an elephant or something. It took me a couple rounds cause they were crammed haphazardly on the bottom shelf of the juice isle, with no 2 matching. I searched for one I recognized as not having salt or carbonation and crossed my fingers that it tasted plain. I wanted bread, but the isles held nothing. There was a quasi deli/pastry counter that ran a length, but the lady looked bored and I didnt want to risk waking her up enough to start trying to converse with me. There wasn't any bread around her either. I picked up a liter of peach juice from the shelf and proceeded to the checkout. Ahhh I thought as I noticed a small wood shelf near checkout, just before the fields of cigarette options, that held breads. There were 2 or 3 white ones left so I snagged one. The foods dont have preservatives here so the placement makes sense, likely new bread every day.

The line hadn't changed so I was a little concerned as kids sat on the counter and drank while the register lady stared at the open drawer in puzzlement. From what i gathered of the next couple transactions, the price stickers were missing from a lot of the kids items and much running back and forth was needed from everyone involved. These were the first lot I saw with piercings and I almost wanted to say hi, but I was tired from work and didn't want to deal with anyone - hence the headphones. (although I've only talked with 1 person randomly - the potato house - I'm tired from work a lot and the Ukr. customs book says they like to talk forever, thats my excuse). I finally made it to the register, thank god the line proceeded as normal. I was afraid they were hanging out or, silly me, waiting for the police to get them for underage drinking. Now I know that will never happen. I made it to the register and the kid behind me put his stuff down too. the lady started checking him out and he said something like "that dude is first" so she rang my stuff up instead. She asked "paketa" as I fumbled for my money inside my way too small jacket pocket (there are 3 and apparently that one is too small for my wallet and I hadnt noticed before). Paketa is them asking me if I need to buy a plastic bag for like 5cents or something, I say "nyet" and thats all she needs, so I hand her about 4$ worth and get bread, 2 liters of juice and 6 liters of water. "Spicyba" I say as I leave, or "dyakyuyu", i can't remember. The first is thanks in Russian, the 2nd is Ukrainian. Mostly everyone speaks more Russian if they're my age or older.

I made it home and had canned fish with bread, and soft buttery cheese, weeee.