Ulaanbaatar, MongoliaSunday, September 20, 2009
Every weekend we have driver for 3 hours to accomplish the week's shopping. You may think that sounds quite doable but consider this: The main Nomin Supermarket has ground beef, but the one near our apartment does not. McVities ginger snaps are at the Nomin near our place, but not at the one that has ground beef. Our favorite Mongolian yogurt is usually available at all supermarkets--but not last week. Frank went to three stores trying to find it. Oats for oatmeal and granola can, for some reason, only be found at the Mercury market. But not 2 weeks ago: then, there was none.
Every week there is the "milk dilemma." What kind shall we buy? Russian? Polish? Mongolian? Perhaps a better question: what kind is available this week? Sorry, this week only Russian 3.5%, next week Polish 1.5%. The key factor? Be flexible.
Still, let it be said, there is a good variety of foods to be had, but one-stop shopping is not what we're talking about.
Shopping for meat is particularly intimidating for someone who grew up mostly in US supermarkets. There's 3 or 4 huge chunks of meat for sale on the counter. Which one shall I ask them to cut? How old is it? How much does it cost? What kind of animal is it? Slowly, I AM learning, but it is slow.
And every week as I head into the vegetable and meat section at Mercury Market, I say hello to my friend in the frozen foods case. I am not quite sure if he's for sale--or just part of the stall's decor.
