Chocolate chip cookies

I realize that this isn't the most exciting thing to write about...but it is exciting for us. It's the little things in life right?? We have been trying for almost 2 weeks to locate some "basic" ingredients so that I can bake some chocolate chip cookies. All 3 of us have been craving them!!  After attempts at more than 4 different stores to locate baking soda, Crisco and brown sugar...I had given up! The main thing we needed to find was the baking soda--who knew that would be so hard to find! I wrote it down in French and took it to all of the stores asking employees to help me find it. Then Michael finally got a different translation for baking soda...and brought some home today.  Turns out, I had seen the package at several stores, but didn't know what it was! So, tonight after dinner, we went out and bought something that resembles brown sugar (the taste is different and the consistency is also different- it pours like white sugar).  Then I substituted butter for the Crisco as they do not have it here and we have heard of a substitute, but we can't even find the substitute. I used a mixer that we borrowed from someone at church...and I used my new pan (like a 9 x 13) since I cannot find a cookie sheet to purchase...and voila--I made some cookies! Now, they don't look anything like mine at home, but they are edible and at least the apartment smelled good for a bit!!