The Land of $3 Ben & Jerry's

The US is indeed the land of plenty - and cheap! When there was news that a woman was crushed to death at Wal-Marts by people rushing to score $29 DVD players, my first thought was not, OMG how tragic that she was killed, but OMG how can that cost only $29?

Anyway, it is such a pleasant experience to visit a supermarket in the US. Things that are considered luxury items in France are downright bargains - the other day at the local Waldbaums, I saw pints of Ben & Jerry ice cream being offered at 2 for $6. In France one measly pint goes for at least 5.95 euros. And the choice of flavors are utterly staggering here - and at that price, one can afford to try them all! In France, we count ourselves lucky if we find more than two flavors at any one store.

The girls had a great day running through the giant Toys R Us in Times Square (they still love the ferris wheel) and the Nintendo Store, where an interactive Mario kept the kids entertained for a good while. The Candyland King was a hit too - see below:

No wonder Hana calls NY the greatest country in the world!!

French (baby) butts

Slow month for posting... Been in the US for the last two weeks and have not had time to post anything. The month of July is a big blur - the end of school, weekend trip to Paris to meet up with friends, getting ready for the Big Trip - then getting here, going almost straight to NJ to my friend M's house where the girls had been signed up for camp for the last two weeks... am back at my parents' house in Queens and am just exhausted beyond belief. Feeding and washing up the girls tonight seemed such an endeavor!!

Anyway, the girls were at camp that was run at this fancy club in NJ and one of the things that I noticed was the ubiquitous signs asking, no, demanding that members ensure that infants and toddlers wear swim diapers AND plastic diaper pants on top. This is, according to the signs, for the health, hygiene and safety of all club members, and clearly directed unprepared members to the club store for purchasing the required items. Looking around the resort-looking outdoor pool, the American toddlers playing around all seemed to have huge butts, with their wet swim diapers and the plastic pants barely covering them.

Such a contrast to the pools in France - I have yet to be in one which demands that kids wear swim diapers. The result: very svelte French baby butts in the pool - but god knows what goes on in the pool!!! And I know all those kids cannot be toilet-trained!

On that disturbing note, I take leave now and will be back when I am feeling less lethargic and more rested!