When you're a little kid, there's nothing better than a PBJ sandwich. Over the past years, I havent really given much thought to the role peanut butter plays in my everyday life. Because it has a very small one. In Ecuador, my dad said he would trade peanut butter for things. I laughed at him.
You have no idea how quickly I would have traded my liver for some peanut butter on Tuesday. No, Im not kidding. At all.
I decided that, as an effort to not waste money on small things, I would stop buying a snack at school and instead make myself a sandwich every day. A lot of the señoras here pack a lunch of fruit or a bocadillo (sandwich) for their kids. Mi madre sleeps late and showed me how to make myself food. but we know jamee and her great time management. since making myself toast was too difficult in the morning, she bought me cornflakes. since i cant figure out how to make myself go faster in the morning, i fill a little plastic cup with cereal and eat it on the way to the bus instead of sitting down in the morning and eating. its okay, i dont mind not drinking the milk. to be honest, im kind of scared to.
ANYWAY. PEANUT BUTTER. I wanted to make myself sandwiches. Sergio told me the word for peanut butter. I went to the market near my house. There was no peanut butter, nor could I remember the word for it, so I couldnt ask, because how do you DESCRIBE peanut butter if you cant even SAY the word PEANUT. you cant. Please believe me when I say I spent a good 20 minutes staring at packages to see if i recognized a peanut. I did not.
Honey? check
jelly? check
pate in 23 or so different flavors? check
peanut butter? epic fail.
i got so frustrated i bought myself chocolate that ended up tasting like death as well as some cookies and snack food for the trip to granada this weekend, including juice boxes. yes, i am incredibly nerdy. i returned home frustrated beyond belief to which sergio replies
WELL OF COURSE IT WONT BE AT THAT MARKET.
as if i am supposed to know WHICH market has PEANUT BUTTER. its at GAS STATIONS in the US for crying outloud! I wasnt aware it was such a WEIRD thing to want. apparently it is.
and called CREMA DE CACAHUETE, for the record.
Sergio felt bad so he walked with me to the better market farther from the house and literally took my hand and walked me to where the peanut butter was. There is ONE type of peanut butter. In a little jar the size of my fist. IN THE CHOCOLATE SECTION. It is NOT a dessert. It is a spread. Just like that weird looking pate you spanish people always eat. UGH.
also, tortillas as we know them in the us, the essential part to most mexican food? kiss it goodbye. it does not exist. tortilla here is an egg and potato dish. its delicious. i asked to find normal tortillas, thinking quesadillas were easy as well. instead the man showed me crepe and pancake batter. fail.
I spent 10euro on the following things - a giant loaf of sandwich bread, peanut butter, popcorn, bananas, parmesean cheese, jam, lotion. the peanut butter was 3euro. yes, in all seriousness, a third of my bill was the smallest jar of peanut butter known to man. word on the street is that another market has JIFFY or SKIPPY but i am skeptical because i can't remember which one of those I don't like, and it would be very like me to purchase the one I don't like. So I will be happy with CAPTAIN MANI peanut butter.
i have made myself a pbj sandwich the last two mornings and stuck it in my tupperware i brought from home. i feel really accomplished and happy with myself. its the small things, like finding peanut butter and making yourself a sandwich in the morning, that makes you feel like you are growing and can function like a human being.
or really make you miss the usa and your mother. and wondering how your sandwich was cut, as if it was a surprise each day.
theres no surprise if YOU cut it yourself.
no, do not send me peanut butter. i was just sharing a story.
