my sister asked me the other day if i think in dollars instead of having to revert everything back to sterling and my answer was not what i had expected.
when we first arrived we thought everything was super expensive, mainly because at first glance the number (even though in $) is more than you expect from £'s. but i've got used to that. the problem i have now is differentiating between expensive items and bargains, both in dollars and pounds. i seem to have lost all concept of the true value of a product. is $4.95 for a gallon of milk reasonable? i just have no idea. maybe, with more time, my sense for this will return, but for now i guess i should make the most of being blissfully unaware of the earth shattering price for my milk.
the other money troubles i've run into on this journey have been rather more embarrassing. the first four months i looked like a tourist when paying with change. i would inspect each coin closely, only to see 'one dime' printed onto it and be none the wiser as to its value. and so i would defer to my touristy ways - i'd hold out all my shrapnel to the shop assistant who would then have to pick her way through my change to find the correct amount. i have since learnt that a dime is 10cent and a nickel is 5 cents.despite my new found knowledge i still can't pay correctly with my loose change because its the size that fools me. a dime (10c) is the size of a 5 pence coin and a nickel (5c) the size of a 10 pence. so i've decided to employ fear avoidance tactics. i don't use change. only thing is that we are gathering a rather hefty stash of shrapnel now........
