*** Tips: Supermarket Lines ***

Here is another useful point of note for those of you who are considering coming to Germany for any amount of time long enough to require buying groceries.

In most Supermarkte here, the conveyor belt and racks of gum and candy will usually look familiar enough to, say, American grocery stores. What you might not see coming is that there will not be anybody there to pack your groceries for you. Do not, by any means, expect it as it happens in America (and in Great Britain, as I hear).

This will be your grocery checkout protocol:

1) HAVE YOUR WALLET/MONEY READY TO PAY.
2) Place everything on conveyor belt, as usual.
3) Wait for your turn at the cashier, as usual.
4) Option A: Grab as many €0.50 plastic grocery bags under the conveyor belt counter as you think you will need, and place on conveyor belt to be included in payment.
   - Option B: Have your backpack open and ready (option preferred by Yours Truly).
5) As soon as the cashier starts scanning, PACK LIKE THERE IS NO TOMORROW.
6) Continuing packing Like There Is No Tomorrow.

If you have successfully packed nearly everything by the time she tells you your sum, well done.

7) Pay and accept the change promptly, cleanly and efficiently -- which is much easier said than done.
8) Bid good day and be on your way, groceries in hand.

If you have NOT successfully packed nearly everything by the time she tells you your sum, you might be wondering why there is a need for all this hurry.

For the answer, all you need to do is glance behind you at two things: The long line of unamused German shoppers who already have the system down to an art and are now watching you fumble everything in a messy toss into your bags, and the rapidly-growing pile of the next person's groceries on your side of the scanner.

However, all of this stress and hassle can be easily avoided with the pre-arranged growth of two extra arms.

Vielen Glück!/Good Luck!

(On a more serious note, don't let all of this intimidate you. I'm just giving you a heads-up. If you're really living here, you will get used to it, and you'll get it with practice. But do keep this in mind once you start going out and shopping.)