Would you do a swap for swap food / grocery haul with a foreign friend?
By AmberLynn
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
United States
June 15, 2017 6:32pm CST
That question is probably too wordy. I feel as if I could have simplified that somehow but the 'how' isn't coming to me. Basically, if you had the opportunity to go to your local grocer and buy foods from your country for a friend from another country would you do so? Especially if they were also doing the same for you?
If so, where (what cuisines) would you want to try?
I feel as if everyone here is going to know that I'd obviously say foods from the UK. Yes, that is true. However I'd be interested in trying snacks from all over the world as well. The first places that come to mind are Japan, maybe a Dutch Country, Germany maybe?
You'll notice I didn't say Mexico (or any Latin American Country) because I have Latino stores within a ten mile radius of me (two that I know of) and could easily go get something from one of them.
I think it would be fair to set a limit... Like say, spending no more than $25.00 not including shipping. I am not sure of how it would work with every country, there would be customs to deal with in some I am sure.
I do realize that there are subscription boxes where you can try snacks from around the world but I am not talking about just snacks but anything really.
9 people like this
6 responses
@celticeagle (190127)
• Boise, Idaho
16 Jun 17
A collection of different things to see what they like maybe.
3 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
16 Jun 17
That would be good. I might ask the person if they had any requests, because they may have seen things they wish they could get where they are, or are too expensive to get where they are...
2 people like this
@celticeagle (190127)
• Boise, Idaho
16 Jun 17
@ScribbledAdNauseum ......This is true.
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@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
16 Jun 17
@celticeagle There's always allergens to consider as well.
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@teamfreak16 (43685)
• Denver, Colorado
16 Jun 17
I developed a taste for German food when I was stationed there. I would definitely do that swap.
2 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
16 Jun 17
I always look for websites where you can buy different foods. I've found two that I can trust (read the reviews extensively before even placing my first order)...
I had an aunt who actually lived in Germany because her ex husband was stationed there. This was years and years ago. I don't remember hearing much about their foods. I don't think their living conditions there were the best.
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@teamfreak16 (43685)
• Denver, Colorado
16 Jun 17
@ScribbledAdNauseum - When I was there, I know that it was hard to find a good apartment because all of the Americans had them.
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@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
16 Jun 17
@teamfreak16 That had to be difficult. I wonder if the Germans also raised the rent for the Americans (who would not have known better).
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@GardenGerty (169590)
• United States
16 Jun 17
I think that would be very interesting, especially if I could try tropical fruits and veggies. Oh, and some Scandinavian foods, and breads of all kinds. I would send people lovely heirloom tomatoes, and all kinds of squash. I would love to make cornbread in my grandma's style and my own special herbed bread as well.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
16 Jun 17
I imagine sending fresh foods like that could get expensive. The cost to ship them as fast as could be would be high. Still, I like your idea and think a lot of people would appreciate / benefit from it.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
16 Jun 17
That is one I don't think I would do..
I don't see the actual foods being able to be shipped timely enough for them not to spoil. Their snacks are not something our American stomachs could handle. I've seen footage inside a Chinese store and their snacks are usually centered around chicken feet.
@Poppylicious (11134)
• United Kingdom
16 Jun 17
I do this with my one of my oldest American friends. Shipping from the US to the UK is atrociously expensive. Last year she sent me a surprise box of Ghostbuster themed Twinkies and the shipping was about $40!
I once sent her some Marmite flavoured crisps and neither she, her hubby nor her kids were impressed. But Marmite is something that everybody should try.
We can get quite a lot of eastern European and American snacks in supermarkets, and in areas with high populations of other ethnicities there are specialist shops which import foods.
2 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
16 Jun 17
There are two online food stores I use sometimes to get foods.
One is britishcornershop.co.uk and is located in the UK. They have a better variety but can be more expensive to ship. They've struck a deal with waitrose though and you can get waitrose branded items shipped to eh US.
Then there's britishfooddepot.com they have less variety but it is cheaper. It is located in the US. Pennsylvania if I remember correctly.
$40.00 is quite an expensive shipping fee! I almost feel as if that was a rip off.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
16 Jun 17
@Poppylicious Are there any type of custom fees incurred on either side?
@Poppylicious (11134)
• United Kingdom
16 Jun 17
@ScribbledAdNauseum It did seem very high for what amounted to just a standard box of Twinkies. Usually she pays in the region of $25- $30.
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@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
16 Jun 17
My one exception would be that I'd need to have a translator or part of the packaging in a language I could understand. I'd want to know what was in it.
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@RubyHawk (99367)
• Atlanta, Georgia
17 Jun 17
@ScribbledAdNauseum As long as it wasn't meat I would taste and see if I liked it.
