Monop'

Today was the first day I felt truly French. It happened somewhere between ordering a citron pressé (so bitter!) at a café in the 6ème, walking around the arrondissement listening to our tour guide explain the sites in French (and understanding her!), and walking home from Monop' carrying a warm baguette under one arm.  If only the Eiffel Tower had been in sight. Alas...the towers of Notre Dame will have to do! Only in France could you get a .80 Euro warm, delicious baguette from the equivalent of your local Hy-Vee. Monop' is our local carry-everything grocery store. It's a sub-set of the larger French chain Monoprix, which is basically like a smaller Target. Monoprix carries everything -- from peacoats to makeup to cereal to fresh veggies to dresses to baby wipes to hair dye. Monop', then, is basically just the grocery store part, with a small section in the back of home supplies and of course, and adjoining café. The thing I love most about Monop', however, is its name. It cracks me up. It's like someone calling a small Target "Targ'." Or a small Walmart "Wallm'." Also it's fun to say -- pop the "p" sound at the end and I giggle every time. Not to mention that apostrophe on the end!

Bienvenue à Monop'!

I like our Monop' a lot because it seems to be always the same guy behind the counter bagging our groceries. I think he might recognize me now. It was embarrassing when Charlotte and I first moved in and went shopping because we needed to stock up on basics, things like olive oil and toilet paper and pasta that it's just good to have in the house. Well, we were the only people in line with anything more than what they could carry in their hands or a small basket. We had probably half a cart's worth of stuff, and held up a huge long line of French people holding just some bread and cheese or whatever. Most French buy whatever they're going to eat that night when they stop by the grocer, not what they're going to eat for the week (like most Americans). I like that system because it keeps things really fresh and you don't end up having those inevitable "clean out the freezer nights." Also Monop' carries these delicious little coconut yogurts that we've been eating for breakfast -- so key to morning happiness. Although I'm sure a lot will change this semester (it is only the first day of orientation, after all) I am certain the Charlotte and I will frequent our local Monop' beaucoup. Now how's that for an Eiffel Tower cliché ending to a blog post?