The Russian store was meager, with candy and alcohol, a few frozen items, a simple kitchen (no menus), magazines and some native trinkets. The store, spartan, organized and relatively well lit. The owner was, well, not too inviting or friendly, just to the point if she wanted to be and nothing more. At check-out the owner was extolling the virtues of the 14%+ proof alcohol. We bought some cookies and candy.
Nasreen was only a bit homesick the day we took her to her Indian Grocer. It had been three days in the US but culture shock had set in good.
The Indian store is about 8 times larger and filled with many wonderful spices, cooking products, detergents, soaps, actual products sold in India including rice, various frozen foods, mixes, breads, juices and more. There were some movies, books and trinkets too. Just seeing items from home elated Nasreen. I think she was surprised that so many things at an Indian store would be the same as her family would have in Pakistan. The owner was polite; he offered some advice about the food, asked if we needed anything in particular to ask and he would see if he can get it and when Nasreen asked about the music and said she recognized it, he seemed truly excited.
I doubt either one of these stores will be a big portion of our grocery budget this year, but it's nice to know the girls can find familiar foods and items to make the year a little more comfortable.
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