Monday August 9

Monday: High 34 .7 Low 27.3 Today we went to town. Sam, Ron and I went with the hospital driver Richard. We were looking for materials for finishing up the new rooms on second floor. Eco Depot and A & B Supply were the destinations. They are only about two blocks from each other but it took us over an hour each direction to reach them. Surprisingly good selection at both places but setup totally different. A & B is setup more like a wholesale store where one sample of each item is on display on pegboard in the isles. You can look at what you want, write down the item number and take it to the sales counter. The sales man takes your order and your money while someone in the back picks your order and brings it out front. On the other hand Eco Depot is more like North American hardware stores where you can browse, help yourself and take your stuff to the checkout. To make payment for your purchases the money has to go through several hands and likewise the change if there is any. The prices of goods surprised me. They are very comparable with prices back home. I wonder how anyone can afford to buy much here as it seems a descent average wage is only about $200.00 to $250.00 per month. We bought four foot fluorescent tubes and compacts, ballasts, silicone caulking, 3” PVC pipe and fittings and a few other odds and ends. We spent around $300.00. Oh and just in case you want to see if the light bulbs you are buying are any good, there is a live socket type fixture at the sales counter that you can test them all in before you leave the store. There are probably no returns allowed. Back at the hospital Ron, Lorna and I decided to go looking for some fruit so we took Sam and walked a few blocks and found two kinds of lovely mangoes and avocadoes from little street venders. Then it was back to work on the puzzle of breakers for the rooms. There are so many little street vendors, most selling very similar items such as little packaged crackers, bottled beverages, toiletries and other small things that you wonder if anyone sells enough to live on. It has to be very tough.