The first exchange appeared only in late 2009 and you are saying early.
Also, you mentioned 2008, which is not even possible, since the Genesis block was produced on January 3rd, 2009.
Anyway, have a look at New Liberty Standard:(
https://web.archive.org/web/20091229132610/https://newlibertystandard.wetpaint.com/page/Exchange+Rate) on the Waybackmachine. Maybe it will remind you of something, and you messed up the dates.
I had no wallet or knowledge at the time of bitcoin. I went to a website to purchase them but do not know the site at the moment.
I'm not sure if wallets other than the Satoshi client existed in late 2009, so you would need to download the software and synch to the network.
That would also include learning how Bitcoin works since you didn't so far.
here i am trying to recover something I PAID FOR!
That was not Bitcoin, though. You would have been here earlier anyway.
See, your story doesn't check out. If we were playing poker, I'd call your bluff with Queen high, as it doesn't make sense.