Kleenex and Coca Cola

Some people have been asking about the products that are available to us here. You might be surprised to learn that many of the same products you purchase in Canada, we can purchase here. But we don’t, because they are too expensive!

We do buy KLEENEX tissues and toilet paper, although it is much rougher than the Kleenex brand you might use! We have been fortunate to find HEINZ ketchup – some things we do not sacrifice and it does taste just like home.

We can also buy CADBURY chocolate items, but these taste nothing like the Cadbury at home. Simon likes the hot chocolate and I have become fond of the Bournville bars.

The baking supplies are a bit of a challenge. There is “home baking flour” which is white, but there is also “Atta mark 1 flour” which is a combination of wheat flour, sooji, pollard, and fine bran. It is very nice in pizza dough, muffins, pancakes.

COCA COLA is available here – but no Pepsi! There are a few cans but everyone buys their pop in 300 mL glass bottles. The boys think this is a real treat! It costs 17 shillings per bottle which is 25 cents Canadian. However, the Coca Cola light (diet Coke) is 40 shillings (60 cents) per bottle.

WEETABIX has become a staple in our family as it is for most. I know it is expensive in Canada, too, but I paid 462 shillings this week (7 dollars)! It is very important to get a good amount of fibre on a daily basis in order to keep diarrhea under control. We were all sick for 10 days a few weeks after we arrived and the doctor prescribed Weetabix. It worked like a charm! Kelloggs CORN FLAKES is also available here – Tim paid $10.60 for this box!
The names that you may not be familiar with are BROOKSIDE milk, BIO yogurt, HAPPY COW cheese, PICK’N’PEEL juice, MUMMIAS sugar, HEAT spices. I purchase EGGS fromone of the school receptionists who has a little hobby farm. I pay 250 shillings for a flat of 30 brown eggs complete with feathers and other goo. The interesting thing is that the egg yolks are white not yellow (Cadbury Easter Cream Eggs wouldn’t make sense to Kenyans). Eggs are also stored at room temperature (even in the grocery stores) and have no expiry dates!