Shaving Cream and Red Blazers

In our nearby smallish grocery store, Intermarché, I was looking for shaving cream for the first time (having run out of the U.S. stuff we brought with us). I was quite surprised to find that they had TWENTY-FIVE varieties for men, and (truly, truly, I kid you not) only ONE kind for women. As if shaving cream isn't unisex to begin with, but that's beside the point. Does this tell you something about how much European women shave? Or maybe just that the women don't care what kind they use? Or that mostly men shop at this store (not the case).

On this same shopping trip I was noticing how different the cashiers are here: for one, they sit down (makes sense to me, since they stay in the same spot all day). These particular ones were dressed smartly in bright red blazers, not a common occurrence in the U.S. either. No lowly aprons for any cashiers over here. Finally, they sit back and look on dispassionately while the customer hurries to load all their bags (usually brought from home, in any case all the bigger, sturdier ones). They watch you until you're done and you've moved all your items off the checkstand before they start with the next customer (who is also watching you). A fascinating cultural phenomenon. I'm getting better and faster at packing my bags and having everything back in the cart as fast as possible, while also paying at the proper moment in the middle of my labors.