Shopping in Canada

Yes, I know, what is coming here is probably a little less interesting for the male readers. At least that's what you think... ;)
Actually, shopping in Edmonton fascinated me so much that I decided to dedicate a whole chapter to it.

It started on the first day in Canada, with groceries. After our city tour, David and I stopped at a typical Canadian grocery store, the 'Superstore'. And let me tell you, this name is not by coincidence. I wasn't necessarily prepared for this experience, starting with maneuvering an oversized shopping cart through the snow to the entrance door at -15°C. Once that was accomplished, the next challenge awaited: until now, I was used to small to medium-sized supermarkets, except for the annual trip to Metro or Handelshof before my birthday party. The dimensions of the 'Superstore' can probably be compared to the latter. Most things are only available in XXL packs and the price tags confuse you with offers that only apply to 4 pieces or only as a set of 3. So I spent a whole hour in this supermarket, until I had gathered everything I needed to start. I often stood in front of a shelf for several minutes to compare prices, or walked back because I had forgotten something. Next time I should really write a grocery list beforehand...
David patiently guided me through the aisles and occasionally reminded me if I needed anything else (oatmeal, eggs, shampoo...). Eventually, I made it to the checkout and had actually shopped so sensibly that I could eat well enough for the first week. Only when it came to paying, I had to swallow, unfortunately food in Canada is extremely expensive.

On the other hand, clothing is extremely cheap. On the second day, David introduced me to the second-hand stores in the area. These are very popular in Canada, you can donate your clothes and the proceeds go (partially or completely) to charitable organizations, and it is quite normal to occasionally look for clothes there as a student or someone on a tight budget. For example, I found a super warm, down winter coat for only 16 CAD (about 12€), which I will probably need very much next week. Outdoor gear can also be purchased in Canada well and relatively cheaply (for example, new winter shoes for really icy temperatures).

But the best comes last: The West Edmonton Mall is the largest shopping center in North America and number 6 in the world ranking. In addition to over 800 stores, this gem also includes a water park, an amusement area with roller coasters (which I still have to find), an aquarium with penguins and seals (I feel a little sorry for them...), an ice skating rink, 2 hotels, numerous restaurants, and so on... Just walking through the aisles is simply overwhelming. And the salespeople are incredibly accommodating: when you enter a store, it is not uncommon to immediately have someone by your side who tells you about the sales, carries your things to the fitting room, and regularly asks if everything is okay or if you need a different size. I have to admit, I enjoyed this 'retail therapy' a little bit.