I can't help but feel a little overwhelmed when I go shopping. I can't read the signs unless they have been gracious enough to put them in English, I don't recognize many of the products and they, too, are illegible to me. I rely on pictures to tell me what the product is.
Meena, Jo, and Robert (fellow teachers) have been a Huge help to me. They have been here long enough that they have picked up on a lot of the language. They have definitely made it more enjoyable for me. Earlier this week, the girls and I went to the mall to search for some black shoes for me to wear to school. We went into a store that is much like Dillards, JC Penny's, or Macy's. The shoe department was like none I've ever seen before; Shoes were everywhere! Beautiful shoes filled the shoe department and Very inexpensive ($10-$25). I was in heaven.... so I thought. The girls left me on my own so that they could do a little shopping of their own. I can do this... how hard can it be to tell them what size I wear and which ones I want to try on.... wrong! First, the size thing was an issue... No 8 1/2 or 9 anywhere. hmmm what does 32 mean. This one looks a little small; this one, maybe. I asked the sales ladies who were so eager to help if they would help me figure out what size i wear. They looked at me speaking English like I look at them speaking Indonesian... huh??? It's kind of comical, actually, to watch their reaction when they discover that I don't speak their language and they don't speak mine. Then, they look desperately around for a co-worker who might speak English. There are usually one or two who know just enough to get the job done. So, the sales lady does the 'someone help me' look and gets another sales person to help me. They guide me to another area. I discovered it was the Big Size area. Come on!! I just had a major surgery almost 2 years ago to get out of the Big Size area! Really?!? As it turns out, Asians have small feet... go figure. So, here I am in the Big Size area (ugh) and Still trying to figure out what shoe size I am... she suggests a 42, the biggest size they carry. OK, surely it will work... Not! Just small enough to be too small. I am sure that a 43, maybe a 44 would work - but they don't carry them that large. It doesn't stop there - clothes, I am in an XL or maybe even an XXL. OMG! Please tell me this is not happening. OK, Char, don't get too excited, after all, size doesn't really matter, right? yeah right! I did find the best thing ever.... the best bra I have Ever worn! I want to buy out the store in this style! They are like $50- $60 bras for $15! What a find!! Now, to buy it, is a process all its own. First the salesperson hands you a ticket. (Remember the days when they wrote out a ticket for you at the counter?) Well, she hands you a ticket and you take the ticket to the register. The salesperson takes your purchase and puts it in a cubby behind the counter. After you pay, the item is placed into a bag and handed to you. Makeup is a little different. I purchased makeup from three different makeup counters, so after I payed at the register (with my tickets) I went back to the counters and showed my receipt to receive my products.
Next stop, grocery store... down stairs...
Including a full line of fresh seafood.... lets take a closer look...
OK, with grocery shopping done, we stopped on the way out and Meena bought me a refreshing drink - sugar cane juice with lime... Delicious! Take a look at how it is made. (The guys behind the counter were way too eager to pose for the camera!)
Looking at the picture makes me want another one! OK, it's off to the cab and go home.....
See you next time!
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