Peanut Butter and Salsa

Well, it’s official. 4.5 months after my arrival in Algeria, all of my shipments have finally arrived!  And they saved the best for last.  In addition to framed pictures, a printer, and miscellaneous paper goods, this shipment contained such exciting goodies as a kitchenaid mixer, a breadmaker, and food.  From America.

Now, I initially felt a little bit like a sellout walking through Sam’s Club in June, piling my carts (yes, plural) with peanut butter, salsa, brownie mix, etc.  Part of me seriously judged myself for wanting to bring American groceries to Algeria. I mean, Algerians eat, right? So surely it was a little ridiculous to bring all this stuff with me.

Cut to 4.5 months later. I haven’t starved. Far from it, in fact. I just bought a treadmill to combat the fact that I have done the opposite of starve. But I digress. The bottom line is, even though it is not NECESSARY to have American food in Algeria, it is fun. And one of the things I’ve learned living in a country where there is not tons do is you have to take your fun where you can get it. And opening my boxes of granola bars, chocolate chips, peanut butter, maple syrup, and salsa was FUN.

My apartment is in a state of limbo – boxes have been unpacked, but I haven’t finished putting everything away. Which means there’s stuff everywhere. But it’s getting closer to actually feeling like home. And that’s a good thing. As was the toast with peanut butter I had for lunch today.