I experienced what my Hell would be today, if I were in Dante’s Inferno.
I went to the supermarket today to pick up my second carton of Coca Cola Light. ‘Supermarket’ is a stretch. It is about the size of an American sized kitchen with 3 aisles and 2 refrigerators sparsely stocked. However, on a good day they might have Coca Cola Light and some days even Snickers bars. As I passed one of the fridges (that I’ve passed about a dozen times since I arrived and scrutinily eyed) I saw it, stopped, blinked twice, gasped, and frantically opened the door. There it was…..cheese.
I have not had cheese since I arrived a month ago. It is my crack. There were 6 bricks of it vacuum packed in the fridge, and after I checked its expiration date (Dec 2008) I snatched up 3 and hurried up to the register. Upon checking out the cashier says, “Sorry, mdme, but we haven’t determined yet the selling price of the cheese so we cannot sell it to you.”
WTF?
I would have spent $10 per brick, even $20. She could have made up a price and I would have given it to her.
I asked for the manager.
He came to the front and very politely explained that I would have to come back later tonight or tomorrow to purchase the cheese. You should have seen the look of anguish in my eyes. He clearly thought I was nuts.
Knowing very well that there are other toubobs (white/western people) that want cheese in the town, I did what I had to do. I put a deposit on 3 bricks of cheese.
So now I am sitting here like a junkie, wishing I could bite into the brick like a burger. I could mentally already taste it. I could see it. It’s near. But I can’t have it…yet.
11 responses to “Kash’s Inferno”
ohmommy
August 30th, 2008 at 13:05
You have a deposit down on cheese?
I m sending you some vacummed pack processed Velveeta cheese today.
Momma Mo'
August 30th, 2008 at 14:26
that’s a first – deposit on cheese!! you gotta do what you gotta do!!
Jill
August 30th, 2008 at 17:40
I can not WAIT to hear what the price is for your cheese!
Last Monday I spent $20 – no lie – on a packet of Butterball Turkey. Seriously – I’ll take the photo of the front and show you – along with today’s conversion rate! I think there are maybe 15 – 18 slices in it.
Insane what we spend to get our comfort foods!
Crystal D
August 30th, 2008 at 19:44
Oh Kash I would have done the same thing, except maybe I would have added a few tears when I walked away. Cheese is my crack too. I will try and not take it for granted while you are on your mission. 🙂
Kirsten
August 30th, 2008 at 23:30
Ha! That’s a sad, funny story. Would you believe I was downing Vermont cheese when I read it? I will never eat another piece of cheese without giving the cheese gods a shout out for Kas in the depths of cheese-starved Mali!
jolyn
August 31st, 2008 at 14:07
I think that lack of that “capitalistic spirit” can sometimes be the hardest thing Americans have a hard time acclimating to in some countries! They clearly didn’t recognize a junkie when they saw one. I know many women who would choose cheese over chocolate as their drug of choice. I also am curious what the final price will be…
Denise
September 1st, 2008 at 00:31
I am absolutely dying to find out how much it was and when you finally were able to buy it. The things we take for granted.
I am getting into the African culture right now. My sister bought African songs to play to her new baby; one of the songs was Nigerian.
Kate
September 1st, 2008 at 06:24
Ummmmmmm. You know I would have put down a deposit on all six. You go girl!
iamkash
September 1st, 2008 at 08:09
The final price was $10/brick. I bought 3!
Don Mills Diva
September 1st, 2008 at 19:28
You went a month without cheese and lived to tell?!
I bow down.
mom2tot
September 2nd, 2008 at 18:21
I would not have survived that long with out cheese!!