50 Chocolate Croissants
Hi all! Sonja here. I was responsible for preparing food to take with on our two day drive across the country. Someone had suggested going to the one French bakery in N’Djamena and picking up some croissants or rolls or something. So the day we left Jacob gave me some money and a woman dropped me off at the bakery.
This is where I started to learn a little bit more about Chad. I learned that some people only speak French. So with the French I learned in high school and some pointing I ordered what I thought were fifteen chocolate crosissants (ten to bring to the people in Abeche as a treat) and a couple pieces of pizza. It went something like this: I pointed to the chocolate croissant and said “au pain chocolate, oui, oui.” Then the word for fifteen in French was not coming to me so I said, “dis wa cinq.” Which in my mind was dis (ten in French) wa (and in Arabic) cinq (five in French). Then a very nice man came out with a big box. He said, “You must be headed to Abeche.” I smiled, payed him in CFA and thanked him.
When we returned to the house Jacob and the other man were loading up the vehicle. There wasn’t much extra room to fit the box of food so they decided to open it up and put things into bags which packed better. That’s when we realized that I had actually bought 50 chocolate croissants! They started asking me how much I had paid and I told them 46,500 CFA, which I had no clue what that was. I hadn’t yet gotten the conversions and every thing down. Well, I then learned that 450 CFA is around one dollar. Needless to say when it came down to it, I had spent around $100 on Chocolate Croissants. We got a good laugh (well Jacob’s face was more like, “Are you kidding me?”) and actually continue to laugh about it at times. Thankfully there were a couple families that graciously bought ten croissants from us so that in the end we only had 20 for ourselves and the trip to Abeche.
Oh my goodness! I can totally see this in my head. ::grin:: though one can’t really have too many chocolate croissants can one? =) You know, quinze is 15 but dix-sept is 17 so you weren’t too far off! I’m not sure how he got 50 from your blunder! Grace to you as you travel!
hi there, Jodi here. well, it’s a good thing most people like chocolate. I feel your pain about the heat..sounds like a regular phoenix summer. is it going to be hot like that all the time? I hope matt and I will be as graceful living overseas as you are. love the blog idea. much love, jodi (matt and i visted you at home when you lived in phoenix)
This is a hilarious story. Thank goodness for sweet people to defray your croissant charges :)
Praying this morning for you to get back to your kids.
I remember both chocolate croissants and CFA and the occasional mix. Praise God for His wealth and a husbands understanding. Comfort in God’s supply and the pleasure of blessing others and being blessed with 50 croissant. Grace to you all
ed, bbc
This is so funny. I would totally have helped you out with a few croissants. I would have held up my fingers as I have no handle on anything but the English language. Good to hear that you are all feeling better and will keep praying for A.:) Always in our thoughts and prayers – all for His glory. Love Mark and Cheryl
So funny, Sonja! Wish I could have helped you eat some of those:-). I can’t believe how hot it is. We consider it a privilege to pray for you guys. Miss you tons, sarah mccurley
I love reading your “family life” stories! Thanks for the smiles! Praying for you…..
Rachel Kanowitz