Erich just left to go to do some family inprocessing at the US Embassy. I was really looking forward to going with him to visit the Embassy, being shown around, seeing the American flag, etc. Well, unfortunately, our little Charlie started throwing up this morning. :-( It's bad enough to be sick. Being sick in a strange place makes it harder. He is being a real trooper. The poor guy. Before Erich left, he ran out and got some applesauce and saltine crackers. Except there aren't saltine crackers here and we couldn't find a true substitute (yet). Oh, and by the way, "applesauce" is just that. A runny sauce made out of apples. "Perfect cooking or for a condiment." Its like runny baby food. But it tastes good. ;-) We think its just a 24 hour bug. Keep your fingers crossed Charlie recovers quickly and the rest of us don't get it!
To Market, to Market to Buy a...
Yesterday we made our third trip to the grocery store. Its like a whole new world. They have some different things here. For example, these:
Chicken flavored chips.
Ummm...I don't think chips should be chicken flavored. I want the record to show that Erich picked these out. Not me. I (the person who likes about anything crunchy and salty) did try one. Let's just say I will not be having another one.
I had been told everything here is expensive. But I was still shocked by the sticker price.
Four chicken breasts for $15. They are skinless but I'm pretty sure the bones are still in. I didn't see anything that was "boneless".
(An American brand!) $6.81 for some Hellmann's Mayo. I don't know if you are up on your metric system but this is a small jar.
You better sit down for this next thing.
A six pack of beer is $20 or higher. Twenty. Dollars. Plus.
What?? So far, I've only picked Australian wine I've had in the US.
I know, I know. I'm in Australia! I need to be picking different wine!
Well, I've been in a hurry to get the kids home each time I've been to the liquor store.
I've had Yellow Tail and Lindeman's Chardonnay.
They were each $10.
So around the grocery store we push our trolley (cart) around and try to find things on our list. (I lost the list somewhere along the way). It takes longer then normal because you don't know what the labels look like so its tough to scan down an aisle looking for items. And then you realize that while you have been searching the shelves, you've been pushing your trolley down the right (wrong) side of the aisle with people kindly going around you. (Left! Think left!) I guess I've got to work on my multitasking skills. When you do finally find the section an item will be in, you have to carefully read the labels, shake the package, etc. to be sure you are getting what you think you are getting. (i.e. applesauce) Now, I realize this is part of the whole "living abroad" experience. I will start to enjoy this whole process more. But I think I still have a bit of jetlag/culture shock/I-just-wanna-feed-my-family thing going on right now while pushing a cart down the wrong side of the aisle with two cranky 6 year olds and a husband in tow. I look forward to things to calm down a bit!
Our twist on a Mother Goose classic inspired by our latest trip to the grocery store:
To market, to market to buy a chicken chip;
Home again, home again, a left-handed trip.
To market, to market to push a trolley cart;
Home again, home again, being money smart.
I know most of you don't care at all about pics of chicken and mayo. I know the real reason you are reading the blog... Pics of the kids. Well here they are:
Our last night in the U.S. in Honolulu.
Chaney kickin' back in her Australian apartment bed watching TV.
A blurry photo but you get the idea. Charlie and Erich playing basketball
in our dining area of our hotel apartment. This was taken yesterday, before the sickness struck.
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