When you live someplace new you start to learn how things are done differently than wherever you have lived before. These are things that you would probably never think about at all otherwise. I find it interesting to see how countries do some things in the same way and other things so much different. There are some little things that I have grown to like in Ireland. One has to do with store trolleys. In the U.S. we call them shopping carts. In the U.S. I’ve seen a lot of stores that have carts with locking wheels so that the carts stay within the boundaries of the store area parking lot. There are also always areas to return the carts after shopping. While many people do return the carts back to the receptacles, there are still many people who leave them close to wherever  they’ve parked and unloaded the cart. Attendants collect them every so often but usually there are carts scattered here and there. I haven’t seen that problem here in Ireland but there is an effective method the stores use here for everyone to return their carts. In order to get a cart you have to put a 1 euro or 2 euro coin into a slot on the cart handle. All of the carts have a small chain and key that connects to any other cart. In order to disconnect the chain and release your cart you put the coin into the slot on the cart handle. Once you are done shopping you simply return your cart to the receptacle area and plug the chain into another cart’s handle. Genius! This releases your coin and locks your cart neatly back into place with all the others. It is organized and efficient! I have to say that it seems quite effective. I haven’t seen carts all over the parking lots here. The only day it was a problem for me was when I had just arrived and did not know about the cart system. I went shopping and I did not have euro coins just yet. After that initial trip to the store I knew I would need a coin and now I just keep one in my purse. I also have to imagine there aren’t many insurance claims for rogue carts getting caught in the wind and damaging cars as they crash to a stop.

Another thing I noticed right away is that in Ireland most people bring their own bags with them when they shop at grocery stores. Depending on where I have lived in the U.S. I have seen that there also. In Ireland though it seems much more prevalent at each store. I bring my own bags but sometimes I have underestimated how much I would buy. In that circumstance I buy a bag. The stores do have bags but there is a charge per bag. They aren’t the paper bags or flimsy thin plastic that I am used to seeing in the U.S.. The bags are strong enough to reuse time and time again. I have not needed to buy many and it does seem to encourage less waste. In a lot of stores you also bag your own groceries. I have found that I am not all that fast but I try to do my best. At one store I’ve noticed that there is usually an organization that will have people there to bag your groceries. It is on a donation basis for their organization or charity and they always ask first.

Another difference is in paying. I have U.S. credit cards and sometimes that can confuse the cashiers a little when I am checking out. In Ireland, people use their credit cards and enter a pin number to verify and complete their transaction. When I use my card the cashiers are usually caught off guard as signatures aren’t as common here for purchases. Once in awhile they ask another cashier what to do. I always carry a pen to sign as not all cashiers have them readily available. In the touristy areas this isn’t a problem as I think they are used to seeing more cards from other parts of the world. Cash is different too. When you use cash in Ireland, a lot of places just round up or down when giving back change. I have rarely seen a 1 cent piece here.

There are of course some other differences in the grocery items themselves but that deserves a post of its own. Many items are just called by different names in Ireland. What I know to be zucchini is called courgette. Instead of cilantro I look for coriander. (In Ireland, coriander is both the leaf/herb and the spice/seed.) Instead of arugula, it is called rocket salad. The list goes on and on. Luckily, once you’ve been shopping awhile it isn’t hard to remember what everything is called.

I am sure that I will continue to find new differences here. It is just one of the fun things about being someplace new!