Just Like Christmas

We had six boxes arrive today. We have ordered several things over the internet and had them shipped to an address in the US that then gets forwarded to Senegal. This is life saving. I've ordered powdered soy milk, pancake mix and other things that I either can't find here or are incredibly expensive.

One box was from my mom. She is always thinking ahead and sent some size 3T clothes for Gusi. She takes advantage of the end of season sales back home and Gusi has some clothes ready for his next growth spurt. Thanks mom.

Another box was from our friends Brooke and Henry. Gusi and Henry became friends through a gym class that they both attended--probably due to the fact that Brooke and I are both from Louisiana and we became friends. They sent us some great Halloween treats that we will share with our new friends in Dakar. Thanks Brooke and Henry.

While it's great to be able to order things over the internet, we're also very aware that we should buy locally if we can. There's the bit about being environmentally responsible that is mixed in with trying to help local merchants. If what we're ordering is of similar quality and marginally more expensive, I have no problem with buying it locally, but when it is incredibly more expensive and worse quality, I have to follow my pocket book and go global. Such is life in the modern age.