A Shopping Spree

Today was the second day of transfers where the departing missionaries get the attention. They arrive at the Mission Home in the morning, and interviews with the President begin at 9:00 a.m. and last 15 minutes for each one.  With 12 missionaries leaving, it takes three hours to complete the interviews.  During that time, Elder Kroff meets with them to settle up any debts they have, and collect their debit cards and any remaining money that was not spent.  

In this group were two sister missionaries that were serving down South in Tierra del Fuego.  I have talked with them at times on the phone and it was so good to finally put a name with a face.  They were darling, sharp sisters and we had such a nice visit.  This experience will be such an asset to them as they go forward in life being married and raising children.  Isn't that right, Mary Kaye?  (My friend who is serving a second mission with her husband to the same mission she and he served in as young missionaries)  I went back to the office and gave a thumbs up to the office Elders and said they could marry those two girls when they got off their missions.

A lasagne dinner was being prepared for the group by Sister Argyle and her housekeeper, to be eaten prior to leaving for the temple and then to the airport.  How excited the families of these 12 missionaries must be tonight in anticipation of seeing their children return honorably from the mission field.  What a payday!!

Upon leaving the mission home, we stopped at the bank to get money for Rich's petty cash fund, and then went back to the office.  I started sorting packages and mail in preparation for disbursing them at the Zone Conferences that start next Monday.  

Too tired to cook tonight, so we walk down to McDonald's for a hamburger.  It doesn't take us long to be talked into eating out.  

Last Friday night we had a fun time which I haven't talked about yet.  We decided that we needed to go shopping at the Unicenter, which is about 5 miles away just off the Panamerican freeway.  We were in search of a pot to cook more than fits in a two quart sauce pan.  Plus we needed some place mats for our table because the missionaries were coming to dinner on Sunday (already talked about that), and we needed a pair of hair clippers so I can cut Rich's hair and keep mine trimmed up in the back.  The ones we had were taken in the robbery.  

The first thing we did when we arrived at the mall was go to the food court to get something to eat.  It has a variety of places just like ours at home.  We stopped at a place that had thin slices of beef and potatoes on the plate, plus a salad or vegetable on the side.  It looked good, so we thought we would try it.  Glad we did, because it was delicious!  It was our first taste of Argentine beef.  We snarfed it down, and declared that it was worth the trip just to have dinner there.  We might do it again sometime. 

This mall is huge and full of all kinds of stores.  I have never seen so many shoe stores - - -and boots galore. The clothing stores look expensive and the window displays are attractive.  There are kiosks in the center isles, and it was so fun to wander around somewhere that was modern and clean.   It was a nice taste of home.   Some people in this massive city have money, because there were some pretty ritzy stores with some pretty pricey clothes in them.  We concluded that the people in San Fernando that we live around don't shop there.  They couldn't afford to.

Attached to this mall is a big supermarket called Jumbos (pronounced shoe-m-bows) It has some American name brand items like French's mustard, Hunts, and a couple others.  They are usually higher priced, but who cares. The taste is what counts.  This store also has electronics, household items, everything.  We shop there when we are in the area.  They have these escalator type ramps leading to the parking garage underneath.  Pretty snifty!  The Doyles have these similar type ramps in Switzerland at their grocery outlets, I believe.  Rich is decending the ramp as I shoot the picture.

One of our local stores around us had this fish on ice display that we thought was creative.  It was pretty smelly, but worth a snapshot.  Also, there are fruit and vegetable markets all over the neighborhoods along the streets.  It isn't hard to find fresh (well hopefully fresh) produce when needed.  

Most all of the grocery stores sell alcohol.  It seems so strange to see large displays of liquor right out in the open.  We wonder if an age check of the buyer takes place at check out.....or maybe not.  Prescription drugs can also be obtained from a pharmacy by just giving the name of what is wanted.  No restrictions for these people.

       Indeed, a consumers heaven for those that partake.  

We dropped off a pair of Rich's pants at the dry cleaners suggested by Sister Argyle, and we were pleased with the results.  So we dropped off two more pair today. Now I need to get brave enough to go into the Javier next door and make a hair appointment. Maybe when we pick up the pants, I will.