A Needle in a Haystack

Yesterday I went seeking dinner and a needle and thread to hem Sarafina's school uniform pants (which are 6" too long) at the local Jumbo (think Super Target). I started looking for a needle in the domestics aisle. When I didn't find it there, I tried cleaning supplies, craft supplies, the home department, office supplies, paper products, books, toys, and car repair (I was getting desperate). Giving up on the needle, I turned my attention to food.

You'd think that under the sign "bebidas" (which directly translates to "drinks"), you'd find, well, drinks. No. Juice is by the chips. Wine is by the household items. Milk is sold in boxes or bags (yes, bags) in unrefrigerated aisle 14.

If you need ingredients for cookies, start in the baking aisle. There you'll find baking powder, flour, jello, canned tomatoes and rice. Baking soda is with the oils, on the other side of the store. Sugar is there too, except brown sugar which is in the "special dietary needs" section. Eggs are in produce next to the lettuce. Rethink the $9.50 Pam cooking spray. Chocolate chips don't exist. You can find the milk in a bag down aisle 14.

The produce is in the middle of the store, with the peanuts. Except for the bananas, they are sold on an end case on aisle 14. Pick up a bag of milk while you're there.

Cheese is in the frozen food case, next to the ice cream. Sliced stuff is by the yogurt or meats, depending on what you're looking for. Unless you want cheddar which doesn't exist.

The following things are sold in bags: Milk, spices, jam, juice, mayo, catsup, milk, laundry detergent, hand soap, yogurt, olive oil, milk, tomato sauce, mustard, shoe polish, floor cleaner and milk.

Pasta is next to the (bags of) jam, and crackers are in the bakery. Breakfast items such as oatmeal, cereal and pancake mix are all in different aisles. None of them are with the bags of milk.

Frozen veggies are always a nice staple to have around. You'll find those by the cosmetics.

Two hours later, I have enough food to last a day. And I even found thread to hem Sarafina's pants. It was clearly displayed next to the socks. I'll go back tomorrow to continue my quest for a needle. I didn't check by the milk.

Sisma