All kidding aside, collectively we spent half of what I spent alone the other day and got a lot more stuff. There was only a couple of things we needed that they didn't have so we later walked to the market close to our apartment to get those. While in the ice cream aisle, drooling over the $12.59 half gallons of ice cream, (which we ended up buying thanks to my Mom's cash and permission to splurge!) we got some advice from a Bahamian woman not much older than me. She too was drooling over the ice cream and said she commutes to Fort Lauderdale by boat and buys her groceries there. She doesn't know how families live on the islands with the cost of everything cause being single, she finds it difficult. She told us where we could find some cheaper food stores, Cosco-like. So that was interesting to get a local's perspective on the groceries cause I've sure had some serious sticker shock since I got here. I am encouraged after today though as we also found a "dollar" store. It's more like, everything in the store is at most $2.99. I can do that!
On the way to the Towne Centre, we were dropped off at the International Bazaar. And let me tell you, that Bazaar was bizarre!
There is a Chinatown, Africa, India, Scandinavia, supposedly a Paris section which I'm not sure where that was. None of it was open though. It was rundown and not any people anywhere. Jihan's description of it was apt. I believe her word was "creepy." Just a few vendors selling souvenirs and junk, semi-aggressively soliciting you. I don't think we will be going back there.
We did find a reasonable cell phone store. The student handbook says you'll pay $70 for a phone, $50 for activation, then however much for pre-paid minutes after that. The store was willing to sell me a phone for $50, $15 for activation. After some thought though, I think I'm gonna see how long I can last without one. I don't even really have anyone to call here right now anyway. I mean, this could be a little experiment. See how long I can go without a phone! It might be good for me! It's a little freeing, I have to admit, but in that scary, exhilarating kind of way. Like skydiving without a parachute. Okay, maybe not that extreme. But I haven't been without a cell phone since high school! I know at one time I lived without it, I just don't remember that time. I remember it was a dark time...no laughter or sunshine...I cried myself to sleep at night during that time...
I met a couple more students. That makes about 7 now. All are very nice. And thank goodness for facebook! A med student's wife posted on there that they were trying to sell a bunch of their stuff before leaving. Jihan and I went downstairs to their place and checked out their loot. We made out like bandits! For $20, we got a cookie sheet, casserole dish, shaving cream, two binders with tabs, Anatomy flash cards (which were easily worth $50 or more) and 150 garbage bags. Not bad! There are people selling things around here, we just have to keep our eyes peeled. We are doing okay so far. I'm still looking for a bike though...Haven't seen any students using those. People are selling scooters for upwards of $500 but no bikes.
Tomorrow we are going snorkeling hopefully. Although, after the beach yesterday, we are a little gun-shy what with our bout with the sting rays! My mom and I were in the water two different times when one swam right by our legs. I swear the second one turned toward me. The first time I actually thought it was a dolphin. Give me a break! It was gray and moving fast, that was all I knew! My mom thought it was a jellyfish. I pointed and I believe what I said to her was, "There's an animal! Get out of the water there's an animal!" Well the second time it was obvious they were sting rays. Then we saw three more from the beach. Jihan read that there are a ton of those down here and so far, it's true! Here are a couple more pics from the beach yesterday..
(In case you've never seen a seagull before :-) )
For pics of my apartment, check out facebook. I'll continue to update you on my adventures! This is it for now...
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