Shop til you drop
Major accomplishment today. We actually shopped for and bought a couple of blankets from a bedding store. With the colder weather and all we decided that the kids could each use another blanket on their beds. Now we've been rather wimpy when it comes to shopping. About 90% of our purchases have come from five stores--the three supermarkets, a small grocer in the housing development adjacent to the college and one of the campus stores. All places where you can grab things off the shelf and head to the checkout. For the blankets, we tried to buy some at the supermarket, but the only kind they had were big quilted comforters. So phrasebook (and groceries) in hand, we went off in search of a bedding store.Apparently our language lessons have paid off somewhat, because when we found a blanket we liked, I was able to say "Do you have two of these?"--yo may yo liang (point at blanket). The sales clerk had to correct me there. I should have said "liang gu (point at blanket)." (leaving out the "gu" is like saying you want two breads or one pants) The clerks fetched another blanket, a slightly different one, and Yau Neih liked that one so much she asked if they had two of that. They did, so we took it. Yau Neih was able to ask how much they cost and I was able to understand the price and pay the right amount. (much more efficient than holding out a wad of money and hoping that they give you change back)
Of course, to call this a major accomplishment is a bit of hyperbole on my part. I know that we'll have truly adapted to life here when we can go to one of the street markets and haggle. Of course, getting me to haggle may require divine intervention....
posted by John @ 7:21 AM
<< Home