Adventures in Paradise 29
Kia orana, everyone! Our excellent adventure continues with some thoughts on “Sticker Shock”, learning to live simply and an invitation to play our version of “The Price is Right”.
Imagine that you are wheeling your cart around a supermarket and you suddenly spot a mouth-watering temptation. Giddy over your discovery, you quickly drop this item into your basket and happily move on down the isle. Your little euphoric bubble is burst when the checker scans your treasure and you experience the dreaded sticker shock! The item that was once so tempting is three times the cost you had expected. What to do? Many of us would decide that the promised pleasure would be worth any cost. Others of us would reconsider and sadly decide that the price was too high. The item would be left at the grocers. For still others, there would be no choice. To be honest, this last group would probably have noticed the price sticker in the first place and the item would never have made it into the basket. I suppose that the real question here is how would you react to walking away from something that was once so tempting?
Here on our island, sticker shock and making these kinds of choices happens every day. At first, I was surprised that our friends did not rail more against the injustice of high prices and the fact that one company owns most of the food stores, the furniture and hardware stores and the pharmacy. Can you say monopoly? But it is the way it is and there is no use in living life in a constant state of frustration. People love living here and they do not believe in wanting more than they have. It is that simple. They have learned to adapt. A motor scooter becomes the “family van”, two yards of fabric (pareau) becomes an attractive dress when wrapped in an ingenious way, and ice cream, the national dessert, is purchased on the weekend when it is much less expensive.( This is a clue to our game!) To be perfectly frank, it is the Americans who visit and think that people here are deprived. It is just not true!
So, having said that, for your enlightenment and entertainment, we invite you to:
“COME ON DOWN. YOU ARE THE NEXT CONTESTANT ON THE PRICE IS RIGHT!”
What follows is a series of photos. All of these items are currently for sale on the island. Simply read the description and write in your price guess. The answers will be revealed at the end of our blog. Have fun and if you like, put yourself in the place of someone here who faces these choices every day.
2011 Ford 4x4 Diesel 5-speed_________________
2011 motorscooter (forgot the brand, but not Honda)___________
Pre-fab, ready to deliver home. One room, with small bathroom.There is no kitchen.
_______________________
Kambrook (New Zealand brand) Steam Iron
___________________
Designer handbag: Handwoven by a local woamn from the Pandanas leaves.
______________________
Heinz Ketsup (brought in from LA Costco) 44 ounce
__________________
Sharp microwave (purchased from the only appliance store on the island)
__________________________
1 litre milk ...shipped in the box from NZ. Refrigerate after opening.
(just a step up from no milk at all)
_________________________
Daily paper__________________
30 Eggs________________
2 Litres of Ice Cream (shipped from NZ)
Weekday price____________
Weekend Price____________
Cup of Noodles, brought in from LA Costco
___________________
Mabeline Nail polish ( Hint here: I did not notice the price until I was at the checkout)
___________!!!!!!!!!!! (another hint)
Petrol by the litre
________________________
Answers: Please feel free to let us know how you did with our game. We can brag about you in our next blog!
1. Ford Truck 37,740.00
2. Scooter 3,500.00
3. Home 22,000.00
4. Iron 89.00
5. Purse 25.00
6. Ketsup 8.50
7. Microwave 400.00
8. Milk 2.50
9. Newspaper 2.00
10. Eggs 14.00
11. Ice cream (weekday) 8.50
(weekend) 5.00
12. Noodles 2.50
13. Polish 16.00
14. Petrol (litre) 2.50 Approx: 10.00/gallon
We hope that you have enjoyed playing along with us. On this island, it is no game to be able to support a family and to live a good life. One might now understand a little better, why so many here live off the land where ever possible. When you realize that power is almost seven times more expensive here than in America, you might appreciate why people do not turn on their lights in the evening. Baking is not an option for many and air conditioning is not even considered.
As always, we are happy and trying to work hard. We are learning to appreciate the simple things that bless our lives and count you as part of those blessings. Not, I might add that any of you are simple!!!! Just yesterday, I noticed an Amaryllis blooming in our yard. At home, I would have paid good money for the opportunity to watch it sprout and bloom. Here, money literally can't buy that pleasure. So, while you remember that a Ford truck is, 37,000, nail polish is 16.00 a bottle, and petrol and electricity are pricey, please be aware that the Amaryllis, the sunset and the view of our home from the mountains are priceless.
Love, Ward and Susan Elder and Sister Belliston, serving in the Cooks
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