Exito

I just got back from my petit four trip to the “supermarket” and realized I have yet to explain this fiasco on my blog, so here goes! (yes, I realized “petit fours” are little cake things thanks to my mom – but here is my explanation of use: I typically take 4 mini runs to the store a week and I couldn’t figure out a word for “4 times a week” so I stuck with something I knew, no matter how wrong of a use it might be, forgive me)

However, before I go on I must comment on an interesting fruit I accidently bought today. I eat yogurt with oatmeal every day for breakfast so I saw these “raspberries” in the fruit section and decided they would be a delightful addition to my relatively bland breakfast. These “raspberries” were even on sale, so like any smart shopper I put them in my cart and bought them. When I got home, I decided a few “raspberries” would make an excellent appetizer before dinner so I popped one in my mouth. Wow. Explosion of wine+seeds in my mouth. Raspberries do not taste like wine in solid form. After looking at the package more closely I have found that they are indeed not raspberries but rather moraberries. I’m not certain I shall eat them for breakfast (as wine is a little much on the palate at 6:20 AM), but as a late night snack they’ll have to do!

Exito. That is the name of the store where I recognize most of the cashiers and the cute little security man on the way out. It also happens to be my choice supermarket. I should really say “only-choice” supermarket because if I want to go somewhere else I have to hail a cab, give him a location, shop, hail another cab, and tell him my address to get home.Instead, I’ll walk the 5 blocks uphill, into the mall, down the escalators, all the way to the back, and arrive at my only-choice stop. It’s about a 10 minute walk and there is an ice cream place on the way, so I will in no way complain.

So Exito is like a mini-walmart in the sense that it’s a one-stop-shop, things are randomly placed everywhere, you can waste an hour there, they have their own knock-off-cheaper-brand and there are workers scattered everywhere. After those basic similarities we start to diverge.

Let’s start with the workers. Every single one I’ve asked has been incredible helpful and quite nice. Maybe because I’m a gringa and I typically make a fool of myself when I ask them questions or try and make small talk, but I’m banking on that it’s just because they’re that nice. I also see several around the store and they are always doing something. It’s not like they’re working at “wasting time” – they are actually doing stuff. It’s strange to see this.

Now for the food selection: It is quite large. Which, sounds like it would be a good thing, but instead it just adds to the confusion. Every time I go I walk up and down every aisle looking for something to catch my eye. Then I compare all the different brands, read the nutrition labels, decide I don’t want it, and put it back. Seriously, this is how 1 hour can fly by in no time.

I have found that some things are REALLY expensive here. Peanut butter, of course, is way too expensive for me to indulge with. In the states I eat at least a serving a day, but here at $7 a container I just can’t justify it. I guess when I go home it will make it that much more phenomenal! Another thing that’s priced super high is icecream by the container. Today I looked at a container about the size of 2 pints and it was nearly $20,000 pesos. That’s about $10 US. No. Way. José. (Hoe-zay) ha! You know those icebreaker sugar free candies? Those are outrageous too: $5.00 US. That’s a price increase of about 500%. Those silly import taxes I bet. Beauty supplies such as face lotion, nail polish remover, contact solution and makeup are also really expensive. Bummer. Guess what I’m stocking up on when I come home…

Now there are also things that are really cheap. Tropical fruits (mangos, pineapples, coconuts, etc.) are really inexpensive. This makes me really happy. I go through mangos like it’s my job. They also have all these crazy fruits that I haven’t been brave enough to try. I think I’ll start buying one a week and asking my portero (man that guards my apartment door) how to cut/eat them. That might be my safest bet! I can’t wait.

So after I’ve searched all the aisles and found 3 things I want, I go to check out. There are three standard questions I have learned to expect from the cashier. (Superwoman told us these and it makes me feel a little less like a gringa.) #1 Do you have a “tarjeta de puntos”? My answer is yes, and I slide it over to the cashier. I signed up for one the first day I went. I have NO IDEA what these “puntos” do, but at least I have the card to keep track of them? I’ll figure the rest out later. #2 They will ask you if you want things bagged together. The first time I was asked this I didn’t catch it, but now I know. And finally #3 They ask if you want to donate $1000 pesos to help starving children. I have yet to actually understand what they are saying, but I can tell because they always hold up this little card shaped like a vegetable/fruit and Luiza told us they’ll ask us that. I always say “Si, como no” o “siempre”. It’s an extra $.50 on my bill, why not?

The last thing (which is probably the strangest) is as you walk out the door there is a security man. You have to hand him your receipt, he scans it, and then you can leave. I’m not certain the point of this because it’s not like he looks in your bag or anything, but he’s there waiting for you. This is common in a lot of other stores as well. Theft protection maybe? I’m not sure. One of the security guys is super nice. He’s an older gentleman and I when I ask him “como estas?” he always replies in the jolliest voice with a lot of intonation “excelente”. That man alone is enough to make a sour day sweet. Next time I go there I think I’ll ask him his name. Everyone deserves to be called by name.

So, as I wrap this up I’m thinking I’ll go have a few more moraberries to aid in my late night school planning! Look for these in the states and if you find them, don’t buy them but just let me know!