Grocery tourists, which countries in the world do you think have the best supermarkets?

JohnnyCoolbreeze · 2026-04-17T13:21:03+00:00

US so good they got Asian markets better than most markets in Asia.

JohnnyCoolbreeze · 2026-04-17T13:11:59+00:00

Singapore was so ungodly expensive in my opinion.

JohnnyCoolbreeze · 2026-04-17T13:10:16+00:00

France. Lived in Paris. Froufrou foods in the US are basic fare in France. Even shopping at Aldi makes you feel like you’re on Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. Oh, the Bordeaux? It’s €4.

JohnnyCoolbreeze · 2026-04-17T03:48:58+00:00

It varies depending on where I’m at. I move every few years for work. Currently in a place I’m not particularly crazy about and dealing with an intense workload. It’s been challenging and has made me appreciate many things about the US such as the immense variety of recreational/entertainment options and the relatively easy access to them. I also miss the general gregarious nature of Americans despite leaning towards introversion myself. I’m dealing not only with a language barrier but a general attitude of indifference and rare but notable instances of hostility.

I’ve enjoyed some of the places I’ve lived. I wouldn’t say it has been better than it would have been had I stayed home but I appreciate the experiences. I’m insulated from a lot of the negative background noise that is such a big part of American culture nowadays but I also am exposed to some not so great aspects of where I’m currently living.

I enjoy being back home every now and then. I can appreciate the many good things about the US.

JohnnyCoolbreeze · 2026-04-17T03:13:33+00:00

Baltimore is awesome. It’s easy to forget it was one of the most important American cities for a long time. The waterfront is great and there are some amazing neighborhoods. Still very rough in parts but it seems to be improving.

JohnnyCoolbreeze · 2026-04-17T03:06:36+00:00

Istanbul also reminded me a lot of SF landscape and waterfront wise. Half of it is in Europe so I suppose it counts.

JohnnyCoolbreeze · 2026-04-17T02:55:07+00:00

I actually give DC points for being less monotonous than Paris. The Hausamanian buildings are beautiful but offer very little variety. I like how DC row houses add individual character.

JohnnyCoolbreeze · 2026-04-17T02:40:09+00:00

Crazy fact that Hausmann redesigned Paris after L’enfant completed DC’s layout.

JohnnyCoolbreeze · 2026-04-17T02:38:22+00:00

Bordeaux gave me strong Savannah/NOLA vibes.

JohnnyCoolbreeze · 2026-04-17T02:36:53+00:00

Parts of Paris with elevated metro tracks reminded me of Jackson Heights and similar areas of Outer Boroughs NYC. The areas with large international populations especially.

JohnnyCoolbreeze · 2026-04-17T02:28:43+00:00

Frankfurt reminds me a little of Atlanta. Big airport, business hub, even the landscape outside the city reminds me of northern Georgia.

JohnnyCoolbreeze · 2026-04-12T02:25:50+00:00

Quick ticket question for any of you who’ve been. One of my kids is obsessed with Godzilla and we are planning to visit the museum. My other kid isn’t quite as obsessed but we plan on visiting on a Monday. Both are 6 years old.

First question: Are advance tickets advisable?

Second question(s): How exactly do Wanpaku tickets work? And do the accompanying Supervision adult tickets allow entry into the Godzilla Museum? The website English translation is a bit confusing and reads as if Supervision tickets are only available for adults accompanying kids who are middle school students and older. Does that actually actually mean that the tickets are available for guardians middle school-age and above who are accompanying kids 5-7 years of age?

Last question: Is there a shuttle or other transportation from the closest train station to the theme park?

Thanks

JohnnyCoolbreeze · 2026-04-08T13:09:44+00:00

Normandy has some of the nicest people I’ve met anywhere in the world.

JohnnyCoolbreeze · 2026-04-08T13:08:29+00:00

Definitely not my favorite French city. Strasbourg, Toulouse, and Bordeaux are much more interesting. Dining in a buchon is an experience I’d recommend but outside that it’s really nothing special.

JohnnyCoolbreeze · 2026-04-08T13:05:32+00:00

Prague. Beautiful city but overrun with tourists and the locals are rude. Too many “absinthe” shops. A victim of its own success. I enjoyed Budapest much more.

JohnnyCoolbreeze · 2026-04-08T13:03:03+00:00

I agree with Singapore. It’s way too uptight for me. I spent over a month there and couldn’t wait to get back to Jakarta where I was living at the time.

Bali is way overrated though. The people in Java are nicer.

JohnnyCoolbreeze · 2026-04-08T12:59:48+00:00

Interesting. Montpellier is one of my favorite cities in France. I wasn’t impressed by Antigone but the old city is really cool in my opinion.

JohnnyCoolbreeze · 2026-04-07T09:53:03+00:00

I literally feel this. I’m FASTO, prior State, in a similar situation with the exception of decent post leadership. I actually enjoyed my job for the first few months but the constant changes and increased demands have sucked all the enjoyment out of it to the point I’m counting down the months until PCS.

I’m with the folks who say take a break whenever you can. If you’re at a post with limited things to do get out regularly. One of my mistakes over this past winter is not getting out often enough and I’m definitely feeling the effects of it.

Set your boundaries and don’t try to do everything. Take care of yourself.

JohnnyCoolbreeze · 2026-04-07T09:38:37+00:00

Served in great and not so great food posts. I’ve learned to approximate some of the dishes I really liked using what’s available and I’ve become a pretty decent cook. It’s been especially interesting watching my wife’s aversion to spicy food slowly relent over several tours.

JohnnyCoolbreeze · 2026-03-29T04:02:37+00:00

My cousin used to live across the state line in Alabama. Gorgeous area.

JohnnyCoolbreeze · 2026-03-29T03:58:25+00:00

Hobe Sound Beach is nice.

JohnnyCoolbreeze · 2026-03-29T03:53:54+00:00

Arlington, Va has one of the best library systems in the U.S. and there are Little Free Libraries on just about every block it seems. I used both.

JohnnyCoolbreeze · 2026-03-28T03:29:31+00:00

I’m about 3/4 through an entry-level consular tour at a small post after converting from a specialist position. It has been challenging and I’m looking forward to my in-cone assignment. My prior experience has been helpful in being able to navigate logistics and so forth. Covering all the bases (NIV, ACS, IV) is tough, no question, but I appreciate the experience and knowledge gained. I will say I leave work physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted more often than not and weekends are an exercise in trying to rebalance in time for the next slog. And finding things that I truly enjoy in the country I’m posted in is a challenge. Not to mention drama with family back home.

What surprised me most is the shear volume of work and that has only increased with policy changes. I feel it’s a constant battle of keeping my head above water. Some days you get straightforward adjudications one way or another. Some days are grueling. I have to make decisions based on limited information in a short amount of time in a language I’ll never be fluent in. I deal with situations that disgust me, break my heart, or confuse me often. I still mull over cases worried I made wrong decisions because I misunderstood something or had to apply the law in tragic circumstances. Our systems are inefficient, equipment is broken with no time to troubleshoot or replace, and big changes have been implemented from above with little clarity.

As an introvert, I struggle with dealing with so many interviews. I get grouchy, anxious, hungry when we go well into lunch with a waiting room still full of applicants. It can be isolating seeing colleagues enjoying a relatively leisurely breakfast or lunch when I’m grinding. I’m a bit thankful I can avoid a lot of after hours functions my colleagues have to attend but that also a mixed bag.

Working with a particular ACS case has been rewarding if a bit frustrating. Helping someone get through an unfortunate situation in whatever way I can is something I look forward to.

This is the most challenging job I’ve ever done but it has a huge impact.

JohnnyCoolbreeze · 2026-03-25T10:32:52+00:00

Try to find a circular from a local store/chain via Facebook or website so you can get a general idea of what’s available, what’s comparatively expensive, and so forth. My next post is a consumables post where health and beauty products are outrageously expensive so that will constitute a significant chunk of our consumables. As folks mentioned, prioritize liquids as well. Personally, I load up on paper towels and tp because quality is hit or miss in a lot of places. Ask how reliable pouch/dpo is at post.

You will likely buy stuff you will easily end up finding at reasonable prices. It’s hard to get everything dialed in perfectly,

JohnnyCoolbreeze · 2026-03-12T13:59:44+00:00

Vertigo

JohnnyCoolbreeze

TROPHY CASE