A different kind of culture shock

With almost six years of living abroad under my belt, I sometimes think I have this living in different countries thing down.  I have this rather broad mental category called "Latin America" that helps me navigate my way around here.  I expect to ask for what I need from the person behind the counter at little stores, instead of finding the item myself.  Flagging down whatever public transport I'm using wherever instead of waiting at a stop is normal.  Not worrying about the time too much (except for getting to work) because it probably won't start on time anyway is the status quo. I know to look for contact lens solution at the pharmacy instead of the grocery store, that dish soap isn't liquid, that mayonnaise comes in a bag, that yogurt is drinkable, that eggs don't go in the refrigerator and that it's best to have a good supply of bills worth less than the US equivalent of $10 if you want to be sure the person you're buying from will have change.

But sometimes, my expectations fail me.  Take, for example, my bag of milk.  Now, that milk comes in a bag does not surprise me; I always bought bags of milk in Colombia.  But, the problem with a bag of milk is that it does not sit upright, which is a bit of problem when it's opened.  So, the first few times I bought milk here, I bought milk in a box, but I decided I didn't want to spend the extra 50 cents every time I bought milk just for the box, so I bought the bag and figured I'd get the container that you put it in, like I had in Colombia.

Milk in a bag (also, it doesn't need to be refrigerated before opening)

I was mildly surprised they didn't have the container in the section with assorted kitchen stuff at the grocery store, but it's pretty small, so I figured I'd try at the plastic store on my way home.  The plastic store, in case you don't happen to have one where you live, is a store where they sell everything made of plastic- hangers, tupperware containers, plastic buckets, office organizers, garbage cans, fly swatters- if it's made of plastic, it's there.

I asked the girl working there if they had boxes to keep a bag of milk in once it was opened.  She looked at me as if she had no idea what I was talking about.  I explained a little more, "you know, so it doesn't spill when it's in the fridge after you open is".  "Oh!  Liquid milk!" she answered (I think powdered milk is most common here), but she still looked a bit confused.  She led me over and pointed to what looked like a child's sand bucket.  "How about this?"  Somehow it seemed like we still weren't communicating.  "No" I explained. "It's rectangular, and it fits in the door of the fridge, and the bag of milk stands up in it and you can pour it."

She looked at me blankly.  "No, sorry.  We don't sell those." Now, surely I can not be the only person who doesn't use an entire bag of milk at one sitting.  There has to be a solution to the bagged milk problem.  So I asked what people here do. "Oh, they fold over the opening a few times and clip it shut" she told me.  

Mind blown.  Just when I thought I had things figured out, turns out they go and use bagged milk here in a completely different way.  

(I bought a one liter plastic pitcher with a lid.  That seemed like a better solution to me)

( THIS is what I was looking for.  Oh well, my pitcher will work just fine I suppose)