Now, granted, I don't have to pay for a number of things usually associated with cost of living expenses (but then, I also don't exactly receive a salary, either).
However, I would like to see a show of hands of all the people who think US$20 is NORMAL for a bottle of contact lens solution. Now, I am talking normal, run of the mill, not even Bausch & Lomb brand contact lens solution. I think in the States I normally paid $7 for a bottle.
Whoever thinks that living here is cheap - think again. Even for those of you who are coming here on pilgrimage ... start saving your pennies, this place ain't cheap. Of course, you can find things for cheap ... but then, they're cheap.
Fortunately, we don't usually have to pay $20 for a bottle of contact lens solution. The Baha'i World Centre has its own grocery store, and we usually pay "only" $12 for it... such a deal!
I had a bit of a crazy day today. I didn't go to work today because I had a migraine yesterday and I'm still feeling some residue. I figured 8 hours of reading, writing, & staring at the computer probably wasn't the best way to ward off a migraine. I slept until noon - yummy. I had a super busy day on Saturday - starting at 5:30 am, so this felt good. I had to go to the pharmacy, as I was out of migraine medication. So, I headed out ... to find out the pharmacy was closed for another hour. Ugh. So, I wandered around ... headed back, got my prescription, and then realized I'd lost my bus pass! So much for trying to ward off my migraine... I'm still okay, but then it's always a bit of a bummer to realize you've lost $5 essentially. No biggy, just a bummer.
Yesterday was really cool, but totally exhausting. It was my "Bahji Day". Everyone serving here has one, usually about 6 months after you arrive (they got behind). So, we went out to Bahji - and went to the Shrine of Baha'u'llah for dawn prayers. A nice thing to do - occassionally. Afterward we had a talk from the custodian of the area. He told us some cool stories from the days of Baha'u'llah and 'Abdu'l-Baha (the eldest son of Baha'u'llah).
Then we had breakfast and headed out to the garden of Ridvan, which also happens to have been one of the first places Baha'u'llah went to once He was permitted to leave the prison city of Akka. It's a lovely area, though bug repellent is definitely a good idea out there. The custodian of that area also spoke to us and that was SOOOO cool. Mr. Ferdowsi's father was asked by 'Abdu'l-Baha to come to be the gardener for Ridvan. He came and for 7 years he asked to go back home (once a year). Each year he was told no, finally, after 7 years he asked whether his family could join him. 'Abdu'l-Baha said "Now that is the right question." And sent for the man's family. I'd heard the story before but it was amazing to hear it from the man's son!
Afterward we went to the mansion of Mazra'ih. This is a beautiful, simple home and was Baha'u'llah's first residence after leaving Akka. There is an amazing spirit that resides there. I haven't felt that way at any of the other holy places I've visited. Not that I've felt nothing everywhere, but this place was joyful - I guess - in a way others haven't been... it's hard to describe.
Then we headed back to Bahji for lunch, and concluded with a wonderful talk by Mr. Barnes, one of the members of the Universal House of Justice (the highest level of elected Baha'i administration). It was a lovely talk, though I was already beginning to have inklings of the oncoming migraine by then.
Wow, what a shift of topic from what I originally started talking about!
Hey, Mara!
Here's my hand up: $20 is too much for contact solution! I don't even wear contacts, and I think so!
-Nathan
Me, too! Way too much! Maybe that's why I don't wear contacts? Oh, no,that's right. I don't wear contacts because I don't need them.
Nae -- write!