A little America

Here in Kigali, the cost of anything that has been imported into the country, particularly food items, is simply exorbitant. A box of plain cornflakes is at least $7; a can of tuna is $4; a regular-sized bottle of balsamic vinegar is $10; a bag of chocolate chips is sold for as much as $66. Thus, any food from outside the country is an exciting commodity. At my house, I keep a small cabinet that is my treasure chest of food. It's really hilarious. I don't consider myself someone who loves sweets and has to have them on a regular basis, and yet the majority of the American food in my cabinet is sweet. There's pancake and biscuit mix, instant oatmeal, drink mix, hot chocolate, m&m's, chocolate bars, granola bars, chocolate chips, cake mix, cookie mix, icing, chocolate pudding, canned tuna; there are even three boxes of cereal that I bought from a friend who had brought them but was leaving the country for a new job. It's a funny relationship that the ex-pats here have with imported food. It's such a treat that even items that you would never particularly seek out in the States become valuable and exciting.