Shopping

I’m not one that likes Soduku or mind teaser puzzles. I’d rather do some kind of physical activity than pore over a mind game. Shopping for appliances in a foreign country is quite a mental workout. Considering I’d never had to buy a washing machine in the states, I really had no criteria for what I wanted aside from it not eating or destroying my clothes. Working through a translator and a super savvy salesperson proved to be quite interesting. I opted for an LG machine that had some English on the buttons and looked cute (I know that’s probably the WORST reason in the world but sometimes it’s the little things that matter). I figure it could become part of the tour of my apartment after all I don’t have any pets to show off. I can hear it now ”welcome, have I shown you my new washer? Oh, please have a look! Listen to how quiet it is!” (Side note: it does come with a “night” function for quieter washing as well as a “fuzzy” setting for sweaters.)

Our salesperson proved to be quite interesting. When my translator left to help another person, the saleslady started talking to me in Chinese. Of course that conversation went no where. When I said I didn’t understand, she started to write in English “Where are you?” Well, I’m standing here in the store with you. J I thought perhaps she meant “Where are you from?” So, I answered that I was American. She looked puzzled, so I questioned my pronunciation and tried again. Another dead end. Turns out she wanted my address for the delivery.
As we were finishing up the sale, she told my translator that LG made excellent microwaves. Interesting comment considering we hadn’t mentioned in Chinese that we were going to look at microwaves. Turns out the saleslady was listening to bits and pieces of our English conversation.

Maybe after two years the shoe will be on the other foot.