The new car

The Parish has a new car.  New means something a bit different in Guyana.  This is a 9 year-old car imported from Japan.  The good news is that it comes from Japan, so the steering wheel is on the proper side [the right side, in fact], the mileage is low [though odometers are often rolled back even before leaving Japan], and it has been well-cared-for.  Unfortunately, the Owner's Manual is all in Japanese, but most bits are intuitive or have pictures.  In light of what I mentioned before - this being the land of seconds - a 9 year-old 'new' car shouldn't be a big surprise.  It is inexpensive, and in this climate will last a long time [the retired Parish car is 23 years old and was sold on to another person who won't be taking it on long trips].  Currently, everything works in the car - all the windows go up and down, the A/C works, and the power door opens and closes!  I think of the car we drove in Saskatchewan that we kept for 11 years - far beyond when most North Americans are ready to get rid of a car just because it is old.  This car is already 9 years old and could last another 14 years or more.  Of course, the weather and the miles [km] put on a car in N.A. do take their toll, but how many of us trade our cars just because we want something shiny?
  So, along with our T-shirts, and our plates, and our pots and pans [ours came from J.C.Pennys, even though there is no store around], we buy used cars that look and feel new, and carry on with our lives.

For those of you who are interested, here's the description:
This is a Toyota Raum - A Japanese car with a German name. Raum is often translated as 'room' but is more accurately, Space.  The Raum is so named because it is spacious for its class.  Besides its roominess, it affords easy access to both front and back seats, making it ideal for a Parish car which often transports folks to and from distant events.  The power door [sliding door on the passenger side] is handy as long as you can convince passengers that it is a power door and keep them from trying to manhandle it.
  It has been duly blessed, complete with cross and Bible in procession.  I have to say that we will enjoy the car during our time here.