Two gringas walk into a Hiper…
“I can’t.”
“Abby just do it¨
“It’s 30Q! That’s way too much. It’s too extravagant. I don’t need it.”
“Okay Abby, let’s weight this out, how often do you think this would use it? ALL THE TIME. And it’s not like you use a ton, so it would last you a while. It’ll probably last you another year. And it would make such delicious things. YOU COULD PUT IT ON SANDWICHES”
“Oo I didn’t think about sandwiches…”
“Just put it in your cart and you can decide at the checkout.”
The item in question was an 8 oz bottle of Dijon mustard, which cost the equivalent of $3.50 USD. I stood in front of it for maybe 10 minutes before my friend convinced me it was a good investment. After all, I had already splurged on extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette, and what good were they without their good buddy Mr. Dijon?
HiperPais is part of a large chain in Guatemala that more or less resembles Walmart. Scratch that, it does resemble Walmart. It probably is an exact copy of Walmart, with latino flair, because it is owned by Walmart – as is every other major supermarket/department store chain in Guatemala. For Walmart haters like me, this was a very difficult concept to accept my first few weeks, and I solemnly swore to never step foot in anything associated with them. This was all good and well the first few weeks when tortillas and beans were new and exciting (I do still love them), but after week 4 or 5, once I started to get cravings for those US staples that you just can’t find in the marketplace (you know, things like old fashioned oats, feta cheese and chili powder) I caved. It now has become maybe a once every two month routine – make the 1.5 hour trip to Guate, splurge on coffee and a crepe at the mall, and then spend way more money than I probably should on a limited peace corps budget buying unnecessary but much missed items at Hiper.
Today was no different. The bus ride there was full of excitement as we imagined the delicious things awaiting us at the other end, and my heart started to race as we got dropped off in front of the big H that I can only assume stands for Happiness as well as Hiper. Everyone has their adjustments to make in Guatemala – not going out on a weekly basis, not having regular access to good beer, not being able to purchase new clothes at the mall and instead having to PACA it, or not having the constant comfort of American sitcoms on TV at unlimited access. For me, it’s food. I’m a glutton, I will admit it, I’m proud of it. You put a bottle of beer in front of me and a hunk of fresh mozzarella cheese and you know which I’m bound to pick. Needless to say, Hiper has become an exciting yet taunting place for me.
I imagine that we make quite the scene. Upon entering, we stand out as two solitary gringas in a sea of chapines with eyes as big as cantaloupes in complete awe of what we are immersed in. Jaws open, we stand around just looking for a good three minutes before we realize that people are starting to stare and begin to roam the aisles, making frequent stops, screaming at each other from down the aisle about our good finds (“Amber! They have couscous!”), and making longing faces at items that are deemed too extravagant. I come with a list of 5 things, and somehow at the end of two hours of scanning aisles, approvecharing all the free samples we can, gawking at the vast array of cheese, agonizing over decisions like whether or not I really need a box of honey nut cheerios at THAT price, and grabbing things off the sales rack that I definitely didn’t think about eating until I saw them with that big red sign that says their 50 cents cheaper than they usually are, I depart the store with 300Q less in my pocket and significantly more than 5 things in my purse (Dijon mustard made the cut, although several other items were deemed “not worth it” at the checkout counter).
I love Guatemala, I love my life in my town, I’m finding good people, I feel like I’m doing meaningful and rewarding work, and I really do love beans and tortillas… but I desperately wish Honey Nut Cheerios were still a part of my weekly staples.
And I look forward to the days when buying an 8 oz bottle of Dijon mustard is no longer a major financial decision.
Don’t despair. Dijon and Honey Nut Cheerios will be part of your next care package.