Learning a Country Through Its Grocery Stores

Words and photos by Gianna Messia, who studied abroad with ASA in Florence, Italy during the fall semester of 2024.

When students imagine studying abroad, they often think of famous landmarks, museums, and weekend trips to popular European countries. While these experiences are exciting and new, some of the most meaningful cultural lessons happen in places that you wouldn't expect. One of the best places to learn about a country is the local grocery store!

At first glance, a grocery store may seem like an ordinary stop for picking up necessities and things you forget to pack from home. However, for study abroad students, it can become a window into everyday life. Walking through the aisles of a supermarket abroad offers a unique opportunity to understand local traditions, values, eating habits, and even social norms in ways that guidebooks can't explain.

When I first arrived abroad, I expected grocery shopping to be simple. After all, how different could buying food really be? I quickly realized that grocery stores reveal far more about a culture than I ever anticipated. Everything from the store’s layout to the products on the shelves told a story about the country I was living in at the time (Florence, Italy).

One of the first things many students notice is the difference in what's on the shelves. In the United States, grocery stores can carry the same product but multiple different varieties and flavors. Entire aisles can be dedicated to cereal, frozen meals, or snacks. In many other countries, however, the selection is often significantly smaller and more focused on local products. Rather than finding dozens of brands, you may see a handful of options produced within that region.

Many countries place a stronger emphasis on local and seasonal food. Fruits and vegetables that are out of season may be difficult to find or significantly more expensive. Instead of expecting strawberries year-round, consumers adjust their diets based on what is currently being harvested. As a student abroad, this can encourage you to become more aware of where your food comes from and how it reaches your plate.

Another surprising lesson comes from meal preparation. In many countries, people shop more frequently and purchase smaller quantities of food at a time. Refrigerators and kitchens may be smaller than those commonly found in the United States, making weekly bulk shopping uncommon. As a result, many residents stop by neighborhood markets several times a week to buy fresh ingredients. You rarely see carriages full of groceries and totals of more than $100 worth of food.

For study abroad students, adapting to this routine can provide a deeper sense of connection to the local community. Visiting the same grocery store regularly allows you to become familiar with your neighborhood and helps establish a routine that makes a foreign city feel more like home.

Grocery stores can also teach valuable lessons about consumer habits. Many students notice that when purchasing fruits and vegetables, you'll be asked to get a sticker for it so the cashier can scan it for you. There are stations around the store that allow you to type in the code for what you're buying, and the sticker will print the price, weight and name of the product. One of the most memorable aspects of grocery shopping abroad is navigating the language barrier. Labels, signs, and product descriptions written entirely in the local language can be confusing. I remember I bought yeast instead of butter my first week in Florence. Initially, this can feel intimidating. Simple tasks like finding milk or determining whether a product contains certain ingredients may require a lot of patience.

However, these small challenges often become valuable learning experiences. Over time, students begin building confidence in everyday interactions. For many students, some of the strongest memories from studying abroad come from seemingly ordinary moments. Picking out unfamiliar snacks with friends, attempting to understand ingredient labels, discovering a favorite local treat, or carrying groceries home through city streets can become cherished experiences. The next time you’re studying abroad, take a little extra time during your grocery run. Explore the aisles, observe what people are buying, and try something new.

Thanks, Gianna!