The Golden Mixer

The Golden Mixer

Two days after we arrived in our new country, a friend took us shopping for some household necessities in one of the largest stores to be found in the city. The store was really nice, but still no larger than most Wal-marts. 

As we enter the building we find the appliances and electronics to the left. This should have been our first hint: household appliances and electronics shelved in the same area. As we scanned the merchandise, our friend stepped out for a minute. In the mean time, Beth found a kitchen mixer that we need. Many random things like this can be found here but are generally pricer than we are accustomed to in the States. As she picks up the box to inspect the item, an employee immediately comes from the counter and takes it from her, speaking rapidly in Arabic or French (it's hard to tell the difference here). 

At the counter, Beth tries to explain that she was planning to ask her friend about the mixer before she made a decision on purchasing it. Thankfully our friend returns and explains that items such as mixers must be tested and registered if you want the guarantee. The clerk proceeds to fill out paperwork ON A MIXER, pulls everything out of the box, and plugs it in and tests it for us to see before we can pay and get our receipt and continue the remainder of our shopping. So the first item we purchase takes over 20 minutes. When we leave we have to register the item with the security guard and Beth signed her name in the guarantee book. 

Needless to say, the experience was nothing short of stressful, but we have a mixer that might as well be made out of gold. And we learned a lesson in grocery store shopping: You are not in America, welcome to Africa.