How Americans prepare for a snowstorm...

[peacetraveler22]

We have some strange behaviors in the USA, and today I'll tell you about one of them. Anytime there's a possibility of snow, everyone runs to the grocery store and ransacks the shelves. It's as if they're preparing for the apocalypse. :) I can hardly imagine that each time it snows in Russia, people hurry to the store to buy food. This human behavior is a mystery to me, because the maximum amount of time you will ever be stuck in your home after a massive snow storm is probably three days, unless you live in some remote mountain region. Yet all Americans prepare for eternal starvation, and an ordinary visit to the grocery store turns into a trip to the zoo, with wild crowds and people all searching for one item - bread! I think it was Jesus who once said "man cannot live on bread alone," but apparently humanity didn't take this saying seriously. It doesn't matter if the prediction is only for a few snow flakes, or a massive blizzard, people will always buy bread first and if you go to the store in the evening, the bread shelves will be empty. Why? How many sandwiches can you really eat during a blizzard? :) What about meat?

When I posted this photo yesterday on Facebook, one of my Russian readers informed me that if you cut a loaf of bread into little pieces and dry them in the oven, you'll get a delicious snack which can be stored and eaten forever. Apparently some Russians do this when they feel hard times are coming: сушат сухари. Besides bread, what else do you think Americans buy to prepare for a massive snowstorm?

1. One of the store clerks told me that everyone buys bread, toilet paper and beer. :) All necessary for survival, according to American standards. Normally I would not even go to the store at the mention of snow, but I had no food in the house and this time the weather forecast is for something serious. It is predicted that my area will get over two feet of snow, and on Saturday we will have high winds, white-outs and blizzard like conditions. This will shut the entire area down, as schools will be closed and many people will work from home to avoid hazards on the road and ensure safety.



2. Btw, in the U.S. we have self check-out aisles, where you scan your own groceries and bag them yourself. No cashier or store worker is present. This line is always shorter, and you simply pay with cash or a credit card. It's a bit of an honesty system, as no one really watches to be certain you aren't cheating the stystem and placing items in your bags without scanning them for purchase. I've never seen these types of check-out aisles in Russia. Do they exist?



3. What did I buy in anticipation of the blizzard? Lots of bouquets (because I always have fresh flowers in my room), cream (because I will drink a lot of coffee, hot chocolate and tea while I watch the snowstorm in my pajamas) and chicken (my favorite meat). That's it. No bread, no toilet paper, no beer...perhaps this is further evidence I'm not truly an American. :))



What items would you buy to survive a massive blizzard? I'm very excited about the storm, because it's rare we get such big snowfalls in Virginia. I will try to write posts about the aftermath, show the snowy landscapes, and explain how our neighborhoods clear the snow from roads, sidewalks, etc. if it's interesting to readers. Happy winter!! :)