Is it wrong that we spend the majority of our free time (weekends) shopping? Just so this isn't misconstrued as a sexy and exciting activity, let me add that we are GROCERY shopping.
Today we have gone to 'the co-op' (Abu Dhabi Co-operative Society in Mina Centre), the fruit and vegetable market (the ports area) and LuLu Express (Al Raha Mall). All in the search of food.
And it IS exciting. Every time we find a familiar North American brand, like "Kraft" or "Dole", it's like winning the lottery. Today's big prize: it's a draw. Was it the Newman's brand salad dressing (no Italian sadly) or the Starbuck's Frappucino beverage? Or maybe the Mott's jar of applesauce? I'll let you decide.
Due to circumstances, we decided to purchase the white ash coloured 'floor model' of the Stiby TV storage unit we wanted. Circumstances may be defined as: (a) we did not want to wait 2 months to set-up our tv, b/c IKEA had no idea how long it would take to get the black version (which goes better with our furniture, which is mostly dark) (b) they will deliver it on Sunday, and so we can unpack and get rid of a few more boxes (c) the price was right (almost 50% off). Due to the colour though, this created a challenge in co-ordinating the remainder of our furniture. We did end up FINALLY find the perfect complementary couch for our living room (2XL), and a cabinet to help tie everything altogether. I am very excited to be getting our TV storage unit from IKEA, tomorrow night. One more step closer towards settling in!
The fruit and vegetable market was interesting. If A hadn't been tired (shopping is as much her thing as it is mine) we would've gotten out of the car and walked around a bit more. As it was, we did a 'drive-through' the market. Lots of fresh produce. P brokered a deal that net us not only delightful Turkish grapes (they are tiny, sweet and seedless...like big juicy raisins really) but also a free box of cucumbers, and two golden delicious apples (that were truly delicious...and that's saying a lot from a non-apple fan).
Our prize find was the LuLu Express market. Not only is it 15 minutes away from our home (really MUCH closer, but the 'humps' on the road slow down the drive quite a bit), but it caters to the ex-pat community and so it has a lot more of the products that we are familiar with. I believe this is one store we will be adding to the weekly shopping rotation (heck! it's so close we could go there after P comes home from work in the evening!).
We should be getting a vehicle of our own, very soon. Looks like we will be driving a Subaru Outback (which will be my primary vehicle). P is looking into getting something smaller (perhaps a mini-Cooper) as our garage really doesn't accomodate two vehicles. So, he will be parking down the lane, and wants to minimize the space he takes up.
Our Christmas present to our family will be arriving in early January: our Filipina housekeeper, Rosemarie. Although we would've loved for her to come asap, we also wanted to give her the opportunity to spend the holidays with her children (she has three). Coming from North America, I cannot imagine how she can sacrifice so much--leaving her children behind in order to make the money she needs to provide them with a better life. It's quite a common story though, in the Phillipines. We are really very lucky, growing up in North America...
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