Eggs

The other day I was making a chocolate cake and I needed 2 eggs. Of course I had already started before I realized that I didn't have any so I walked down the street to ask the little store guy if he had any. Here's how the conversation went and, of course, it turned into a show for the neighborhood:

***'Do you have any eggs?'
***'Yes, how many do you need?'
***'hmm...a half dozen'
***'Here's one'
***'Well, I need more than one. Maybe not a half dozen but I am making a cake right now and I need 2'
***'OK, take this one' and he puts it in a bag like I'm going to buy it
***'no, I don't want one, I need two'
***'OK, take this one'
***'No, you don't understand. It's two or none. I can't use just one'
***'Well, more are coming. Just wait.'
***'When are they coming?'
***'Later'
***'Later like when?'
***'In the morning'
***'Sure...but like I've alread said, I need 2 eggs right now. I'm making a cake.'
***'So take this one.'
***'uggh....no...never mind'

And I pushed my way through the crowd that had gathered and went to borrow two from my neighbor and made a cake. I don't understand how every time I go into the street I end up having an audience but it never fails...I buy a coke, people gather. It really gets old after a while.

And not to brag or anything, but I am fairly confident in my Arabic skills. I've been here 2 1/2 years, I know how to buy eggs. Arabic wasn't the problem, it was this crazy cultural thing where people think you have to buy everything you are offered for crazy reasons.

I've been in the souq when guys will be like 'look at this shirt, it is great quality. Look at it' and I'm like 'I'm looking at the same shirt you are and I see that there is a hole and the zipper is broken. It's not good quality, I don't want it.' 'No but the material, look it is so good. This is a nice shirt, you must buy it'. 'Really I don't buy things that already have holes in them. No thank you.' And then it's like I have offended him more than anyone else in the entire world ever has before because I didn't buy his piece of junk shirt. I just don't understand how I am obligated to buy everything that is put before me.

I dream of the day when I can go to Walmart and know that they will always have what I need. Around here when you need something, you just never know if the store will have it. For instance, flour. Basic staple, generally available except for on that one day when you desperately need it to make something. On that day you go to 4 different stores and by the time you find it you're to tired to make what you wanted to make. Or coke...you go to buy a coke and it takes an hour to find a store that has one.

I just can't wait to make one shopping trip, go to one store and get everything I need in a short amount of time...and in my own car. The land of plenty....it's a great place!