January 14, 2008
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Searching for Saltines
(Teacherperson and LibbyK enter Sainsbury, a typical English grocery store. They have a few things on their list including saltine crackers.)
Teacherperson: I wonder what they call saltines here? I’m going to ask a grocery worker.
(Approaches a Sainsbury stock person whose first language is unfortunately not English.)
Teacherperson: I’m looking for…well, in America, we call them saltine crackers. They are about this size (mad hand gesturing) and are flat and crispy and have salt on top. You dip them in soup. Club crackers?Sainsbury Worker: I think I know what you mean.
(SW leads TP and LibbyK to the Indian section of the store where he pulls a package of saucer-sized tortilla-like things from the shelf.)Teacherperson: Ah, that’s not quite it.
Sainsbury Worker: People dip these in soup.
Teacherperson: Well, we’ll just look around then.
Sainsbury Worker: Americans come in and want Oreos, but we don’t sell those either. (Smiles kindly)
Side note–We did find something akin to saltines, or un-Saltines, rather. They are called Cream Crackers.
Comments (26)
Oh yes I know this supermarket quite well, bur not shop here with my parents for a while
Ha, That brought smile to my face.. I remember when we were little and lived in Egypt for about 3 and half years. They speak Arabic and we speak English.. The language barrier and culture difference does make a interesting conversation when you trying to find or do something.
Think of all you will appreciate once you return home! And then you will miss England!
So, you want us to send you some Oreos?
Make a list of the items you long for, but cannot obtain, and I’ll being them in March
I think it is so great that you are having these types of experiences. What fun.
Right now I have a large, unopened box of saltines in my cupboard.
It sounds like you had an adventure. Who knew saltines could be so exciting?
What??? No Oreos??? That’s sad.
So how are the Cream Crackers? Good? Bad? Funky? I am trying to eliminate saltines from our cupboard…we have a bag of oyster crackers, though. LOL! They always make me think of the Three Stooges and that skit with Curly and the Oyster soup.
LOL
no oreos? whatever shall i do?
that’s a great story, TP! haha.
I meant to comment on your blog yesterday, but I got distracted. oops! I am glad you safely arrive in England. That house is just gorgeous! It must be an amazing experience!
Who knew going to a grocery store could be so much fun! I enjoy hearing about your adventures and I’m becoming more convinced I could lose weight in England. (That’s a travesty, really! No OREOS?!)
I think your stories are the sort of things that will make your trip memorable. The everyday funnies. It is funny to me that of all things to ask for, Americans ask for Oreos?!
all of your pics have blue sky, but Libby says it rains all the time! I hear there may be 5 girls coming in March???
Ghosty claims that the E girls are close to making a decision. I had thought they had told you. Hope that pink room is large!!
No saltines or Oreos?! well, looks like I’m going to have to pack a few extra things when I come. ;^)
Oh, yes! This is exactly what I want to hear–the everyday differences! Somehow I am totally fascinated by the language barrier–English, but with enough twists to make it a challenge!
I knew that about the Oreos because I send care packages to a friend of mine in Yorkshire.
I also had to send her PAM baking spray, she said they don’t have that there. 
I’ve just caught up on several of your posts…..I love the history of the buildings…..so interesting. I like the everyday differences- like laundry soap brands, size of your fridge and so forth….
Your house is positively ENGLISH….and I LOVE IT.
Whats the weather like? Love, Cass
So, they probably don’t have Jax’s Cheese Puffs either?
It is funny, when you are in a foreign country, how you miss certain little things from home, but then, when you are home, you miss certain little things from the foreign country.
We often talk about things we could get in Germany, France, Holland, etc. but can’t easily or inexpensively get here. Like gros sel du mer. They practically give it away in Provence and is it lovely! I only have about 1/4 cup left. Sniff,sniff….
And rooibos tea from Germany. You can get it here but they don’t have the same flavors. We really like the strawberry-creme and the caramel. I do still have some left. I stocked up!
Stroopwafels, fresh German bread, fresh French pastries, nice Dutch cheese or French cheese, German sausages, fresh mozarella that is inexpensive, even with a weak dollar, cheap gyros on the street, yep these are some of what I miss!
So glad you are having this experience. I will not covet, I will not covet, I will not covet!!! Ok, maybe I am coveting just a little.
SAINSBURY’S!!! oh, how i miss thee. i used to walk back from center city oxford to my little flat on walton well, carrying as many bags of sainsbury groceries as i could fit on each arm. it was about a 45 minute walk, and my arms were always somewhere in the vicinity of purple by the time i got home. sainsbury’s has the best yogurt EVER.
Surely they have saltines! You should get an English/British dictionary. They just must call them something different, although… When Tang Girl was touring in France with her college class, they went to a banquet and were supposed to take something uniquely American to share. She decided to make peanut butter cookies, and had to look all over for peanut butter. She finally found a small can of it somewhere.
I LOVE creme crackers…! Another simple pleasure…
Jana
Cream crackers? That just sounds weird now you’re making me crave saltines. I think I have some in the pantry somewhere.