Retail therapy with a difference!

For further information on how the project started Click here

To donate The forgotten children

Yesterday, Tuesday, we left early. I had to wake the security guard to get out for my motorbike ride! We all gathered at Marvin's house as various other members of the family were coming for a lift, too. Allan wanted to buy football shoes, Jordy needed to register at the university, and we were dropping Matt off for work at the finca. Fanor arrived with the taxi laden with palm branches and delivered us to the ferry. It wasn't the same ferry as last year, the big Dutch one, which was in for repair, but a smaller one. Marlon met us in Rivas, first stop breakfast, as some had eaten very early and some hadn't eaten at all!

Hemer needed energy for the day's decisions!

Our first stop was the music shop, where the door was unlocked to invite us into an Aladdin' s cave of music.

We bought new parts for the broken drums, various other items I didn't recognise and ordered a lyre and harness, one of the more expensive items, which will have to be collected in a couple of days. 

Next we went to see Rauol at the technology shop. He was helpful last year and I am in touch with him by email when I need quotes. He welcomed us warmly and attended to our needs. We bought a printer and computer for Santa Teresa, but with a Bluetooth connection. This means they can use their phones, and will overcome some of the issues of lack of internet. I really cannot commit us to another contract. A small speaker was provided for the preschool class in Rafaela Herrera so the children can practice dancing. And a speaker was ordered for Santa Teresa .

Marlon, our driver loaded yet more boxes in the taxi and took us for lunch at the same restaurant as last year- a lovely local place where they have a hot buffet for c$70 abiut £2.

Next stop was the stationery shop, but of course being the first week of term they were sooooo busy.  We eventually found a quieter one and Hemer said we had a big order, so we got special service.  We left with lots of glue for the classrooms, reams of loose paper, notebooks for attendance records, rolls of paper for their notice boards, all things that are either bought by teachers or they go without, thus diminishing the children's experience. Oh and a couple of educational toys for the preschoolers. I'm hoping there's a bit more in the boxes that arrive next week.

Our final stop, after an unsuccessful attempt to find footballs, was at the market to buy cleaning material. We left our bags at the door and set about some decision making.  Then had to galvanize some action to dismantle the brooms and mops to be packed for the ferry!

 I'm not sure how we got everything into the taxi, but we did. And got to the ferry just in time, we thought. However there were some changes and we had to wait awhile.

Jose guarded our purchases, then we loaded them onto the ferry. Hemer had gone walkabout, but both he and Jose had done this during the day! I'm getting used to the slow, and unplanned nature of events, within a loose framework of what we might do.

Shopping is a very frustrating experience, as each item is discussed, then fetched, then checked and double checked. All is recorded by hand and added by calculator and checked several times. Then converted to dollars at my request!

Finally we travelled home without Hemer loaded the taxi, dropped some things at the school and delivered the rest to Marvin to keep until we can deliver to Santa Teresa . A satisfying and exhausting day, but I anticipate a great deal of pleasure being derived from our purchases!