good-bye
We get on the train today at 1:20 to go to Shanghai. We get on the plane tomorrow at 1:45 to fly to the States. I'm so excited. My tummy is even getting a little air sick already, just to give me a taste of what to expect for the endless hours of air travel coming up. Gee, thanks, oh stomach of mine.
Yesterday afternoon, Mariannette's husband asked me to go shopping with him to help him pick out a Christmas present for her. She had pointed out a few things to me that she liked and I'd been charged with the duty of relaying the message to her hubby. She wants either a jade bead necklace or a jacket. Both these requests are problematic. Jade is quite expensive. The necklace cost 2400 rmb (300 $). He wasn't looking to spend that much, so we went to look at coats. The problem with coats: we won't find one here to fit her. Maybe in Nanjing, but we were just in the little town here by campus. I tried on the coats for him, as Mariannette and I are about the same size (although her hubby seems to enjoy telling me that she's smaller than me. Ack. It's ok. I don't take offense at his tacky-ness because I consider him an absent-minded professor-type.) Anyway, I tried on coat after coat after coat. It just wasn't going to happen, but he wasn't willing to give up. I had to go do some other shopping so finally we parted ways. After I finished up, I called him to see if he wanted to catch a taxi back with me. That was a mistake as he had found some more coats and I had to start trying on again. Finally, in a small shop, we found a coat that fit me and fit the style he was looking for. We had found two coats previously that fit (xxxxl, lol!) but he didn't like the style. I tried it on, and wore it for a couple minutes as we looked at it in the mirror discussing if it would fit Mariannette or if she'd like the style. It was a little big at the wrists and under the arms, but we decided we could have it tailored to fit her. Ok, let's get it. We turned to the sales lady, whose been standing quietly by as we discuss this jacket for the past five minutes. We asked her how much it was. She said "No."(in english). What? I looked at Rene and said "She won't sell it to us!" I look back at her and she says (again in english) "It is my husband's coat."
What?
Why in the world didn't she tell us that straight away? Especially if she speaks english, why did she waste our time? I felt very yucked-out that I tried on a coat that belonged to some random guy. We gave up and went home .
I must get off the computer now and finish packing. Do you know what I'm looking forward to the absolute most about going back to the States? Anonymity. I just want our family to blend into the crowd again, and not be stared at, pointed at and shouted at everywhere we go. I cannot wait for the peace that comes from indifferent crowds.
Yesterday afternoon, Mariannette's husband asked me to go shopping with him to help him pick out a Christmas present for her. She had pointed out a few things to me that she liked and I'd been charged with the duty of relaying the message to her hubby. She wants either a jade bead necklace or a jacket. Both these requests are problematic. Jade is quite expensive. The necklace cost 2400 rmb (300 $). He wasn't looking to spend that much, so we went to look at coats. The problem with coats: we won't find one here to fit her. Maybe in Nanjing, but we were just in the little town here by campus. I tried on the coats for him, as Mariannette and I are about the same size (although her hubby seems to enjoy telling me that she's smaller than me. Ack. It's ok. I don't take offense at his tacky-ness because I consider him an absent-minded professor-type.) Anyway, I tried on coat after coat after coat. It just wasn't going to happen, but he wasn't willing to give up. I had to go do some other shopping so finally we parted ways. After I finished up, I called him to see if he wanted to catch a taxi back with me. That was a mistake as he had found some more coats and I had to start trying on again. Finally, in a small shop, we found a coat that fit me and fit the style he was looking for. We had found two coats previously that fit (xxxxl, lol!) but he didn't like the style. I tried it on, and wore it for a couple minutes as we looked at it in the mirror discussing if it would fit Mariannette or if she'd like the style. It was a little big at the wrists and under the arms, but we decided we could have it tailored to fit her. Ok, let's get it. We turned to the sales lady, whose been standing quietly by as we discuss this jacket for the past five minutes. We asked her how much it was. She said "No."(in english). What? I looked at Rene and said "She won't sell it to us!" I look back at her and she says (again in english) "It is my husband's coat."
What?
Why in the world didn't she tell us that straight away? Especially if she speaks english, why did she waste our time? I felt very yucked-out that I tried on a coat that belonged to some random guy. We gave up and went home .
I must get off the computer now and finish packing. Do you know what I'm looking forward to the absolute most about going back to the States? Anonymity. I just want our family to blend into the crowd again, and not be stared at, pointed at and shouted at everywhere we go. I cannot wait for the peace that comes from indifferent crowds.