People waiting in line at LiderAneya: On Saturday absolutely everything was shut down, and all we had were a few snacks to get us through the day. So on Sunday we ventured out, and most shops were still closed (although this is not uncommon on Sundays here) although one Lider, a major supermarket, was open. We were thrilled, and ran over there as soon as we could.
Lauren: We walk everywhere, so we were limited in our choices of where we could shop. It had to be somewhere close, because in addition to walking all our groceries home we would have to carry them up 10 flights of stairs since the elevator was still out of commission.
Aneya: The scene inside the Lider was totaly chaos. Armed guards stalked the doorways and there had to be more than 200 people in the store, the checkout lines swerving all the way down the aisles. Lauren quickly asked the guard what time it was closing. He said 1pm. It was 11:30. We understood we had to stay if we wanted any food today.
Lauren: At Lider the lines were phenomenal. At least 200 people waiting for food. We thought we might come back, but it was 11:30 a.m. and the security guard said they would close at 1 p.m. We had no choice but to wait in those horrendous lines. We didn't know when we'd get a chance to buy food again.
Aneya:I got in one of the many enormous lines, while Lauren raced around the supermarket, picking up quick, ready made meals and anything else that didn't need to be cooked (our gas wasn't working at this time) I noticed most people in line had the essentials: water, bread, some snacky type things. There was a mother with a newborn baby behind me, and I watched them, and imagined what she must be going through. Having such a tiny, vulnerable little being needing protection and care during this chaos! I was having a hard time taking care of myself and Lauren, let alone a baby!
Lauren: We only knew that we had hot water from our electric water boiler -- a lifesaver. We bought a lot of light, instant foods like instant rice and pasta, cereal, tons of cheese, breads, and another five liters of water. Never have I been so happy that milk here does not require refrigeration and can sit out for months. We bought two half-liters of milk.
Aneya: Everyone in line was anxious, but remained calm. I've been very impressed with how the Chilean people have handled all this. I don't know if we'd have this same serene atmosphere during a major earthquake in the States. I feel like people would get rowdy and start shouting and arguing and all those other obnoxious things we do. But not the Chileans. Calm, cool, collected. At least here in Santiago.
Lauren: The line was awful, and by the time we left we had probably been there over an hour. Things were still on the shelves when we left, though, and the police were blocking the doorway from people who wanted to come into the store after 12:30 p.m. When they said they were closing at 1 p.m., they meant it. People were aruging with police, saying they needed their groceries too, and for a quick moment I thought we might get robbed of what we had. We had large bags filled to the brim, and I thought someone might just grab one and run, but at our store people had been pretty nice and orderly, except when aruging with police.
Aneya: Once we got our food, all we wanted to do was get the hell out of Lider. But one exit was already blocked off, and the other one had angry people trying to get in. Lauren and I quickly pushed pass the mass of people, protectively holding our groceries. These people really were angry, and it's understandable. Why was Lider closing so early? Security reasons, perhaps? I don't know. All I know is that I was so grateful we got in when we did.
Lauren: Climbing those stairs was quite a feat. Aneya and I have been inexplicably ravenous the past few days, but this journey to the 10th floor was more exercise then I've had in a year. We knew we would have to take the stairs when we were at the store and only kept the lightest things, but those bags were heavy -- especially with those five liters of water. Now we're stocked, fed, and have enough water for probably a week, maybe less. We've been drinking a lot, too.
Aneya: Ya, climbing ten flights of stairs with groceries is no fun. But you know what? At least we have stairs! At least we have a building that hasn't crumbled to the ground. At least we have food. We have a lot to be thankful for.
-- Aneya & Lauren
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