The Fishers in La Paz, Bolivia

I have written a little bit about this topic before, but the longer we’re here, the more important the “shipment” becomes. This term is used by expats (generally women) here to kindly pass along the news that one of the two main grocery stores in our part of the city have received imported foods from the States. The term usually sends shivers of excitement and a bit of desperation into the ladies gathered to discuss the “shipment”. The desperation occurs when you think you may not make it to the store before the hoarders, who buy up all the good stuff and disperse it to their friends as they see fit. When you arrive at the store, you have the same sensation as when you for some reason get a surprise grab bag at a party. You know there is the possibility of some really good stuff, as well as the likelihood that you will be equally disappointed in some way. All common sense flies out the window when you come upon foods that you haven’t seen in months that just scream America to you. Such as what occurred when I paid over $7 for a 2 plus pound carton of Goldfish. Mind you, Avery had pretty much forgotten what they were, and Tom and I don’t even like them that much, but it seemed like a stellar find. It was sitting there by itself, like everyone else had already grabbed all the other ones, so I felt I had to snatch it up too. Now I am pushing Goldfish on Avery for every snack time because I realized how many ounces of them we will have eat everyday to use them before they go stale!

Here are some other recent buys that thrilled me to find. . .

- condensed soup (not cream of asparagus! for some reason that is often available)

- Heinz chili sauce

- baked beans

- yogurt covered craisins

- dried blueberries

- blue cheese dressing (blue cheese tastes weird when you don’t have it for awhile!)

- mac and cheese with the processed cheese sauce (Avery’s comment – “This is the best mac and cheese I’ve ever had.”, a high compliment from someone who eats it three times a week!)

- Coke and Diet Coke in cans