After living in the USA for 5 year I went to live in Germany. What a change... ; 0 ) The first time  I went to buy groceries was a totally learning experience that I will never forget; it was  one of those days that you'll like the earth opens and swallow you. It was January 2000; cold  like hell in that specific day : (... There I was buying groceries for the first time in Germany,  so I needed a lot of stuff. I filled 3 shopping carts; my kids were there helping me to push them.  It was time to make the line and pay. I noticed how small the counter at the cashier was, and  started thinking how the cashier will manage so many groceries. There were some people before  me, but they went really fast since they had 3 or 4 things and so they pay and left. When the cashier  saw me, she did an unpleasant face, and too bad I did not understand why. After all, I was buying  a lot at this super market; "she should be pleased," I thought. She started ringing all my  groceries as fast as she could because behind me the line was getting bigger and she was alone.  
She rang one by one the things I was buying and piled all the groceries on that little counter.When  the cart was emptied she put the things back to the cart, and started with the next and then  finally, with lot's of work the last cart. By then the people behind me were very upset and  asking for another cashier; many of them gave up by then. At that moment I started feeling  very uncomfortable : ( .. I ask for grocery bags, but either she was not understanding or she  did not have any available. Anyways she was in a hurry for me to pay, and then I gave my credit  card. With little English she spoke she said: "Just cash Mrs. and no plastic shopping bags  here in Germany."
There I was with my little kids, 3 full shopping carts that I could not pay,  many observers, and a very mad cashier. I try to apologize in English, in Spanish and with  the little Germany I knew, but nothing will pleased the cashier. "Sorry." : (
This experience  will be in my memory for ever: I always have cash in my wallet and I never never forget my green-fabric-reusable  shopping bags, here in USA or wherever in the world I go. The planet earth wanted me to have  that experience for me to think not just on my needs, but in the planet's needs. Join me guys...  get a green bag and take it with you everywhere you go!

Marcela,
You wrote a very nice story. Plain and truthful. I am with you, every drop counts,  of course! Actually it's the only thing that counts__what we do, what we think!!!
It reminds  me of one of Budha's maxim__"We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts.  With our thoughts, we make the world."
Well, I think I can make the difference.