Dongguan

The Chinese Super Store:
As a genuine explorer would, Cullen and I chose to suit up and head out to the mall area next to the hotel we are staying in. As the adventure began, we set out with no real purpose other than to find out what was around and if we needed to get our hands on something specific, we could find it. So, with our handy phrase book in pocket, we ventured forth.

Directly into the mall, we found a moving sidewalk converted to an upward slope... strait to the second floor, and into a very large department store. I have affectionately termed this store the Chinese Wal-mart. When we first entered the store, straight into the electronics and video section, we noticed that all the appliances and such they sell here have American style plugs, not the plugs that you find in the adapter sets back in the USA. Pretty nice. Of course they still have the different voltage setting, but it is obvious a lot of these electronics are also sold in the states.

So, wandering through the store, we discovered just about everything you could think of finding.. including Oreos.. pringles... and even Pepsi and Coke. Surprise surprise.

We made the full circuit of the first floor and though we were done... trying to exit the way we came in didn't work... we were flat out told to go out down stairs.... of course we can't be absolutely certain that's what she said, but her head gestures and hand waving told the story pretty well...

To our delight, there was another set of moving sidewalk/escalator things, and we traveled down stairs... to the grocery section. The odor of fish and fruits and a compost-like smell hit all at once. There were several types of fish crammed into 20 gallon tanks... most of them live... though there were some laying on the bottom with glassy eyes. They probably couldn't get enough oxygen.

The variety of aquatic creatures is astounding. I haven't even explored them all...mostly because of the odor. There are at least 2 types of squid and little live eels swimming about in shallow water.

The produce is next to the fish. I suspect this is the reason for the compost like odor. There were a ton of Durian fruits too. Then, only moments after recovering from the overwhelming fish-like odor, the warm, moist freshness of baked goods slammed into us. I can't even begin to tell you how much I wanted to linger here for hours. I don't expect to be able to bake in china. Almost every Chinese meal we have had has only consisted of steamed rolls...nothing really baked unless it was from the hotel. I am certain this is more to accommodate us foreigners than to comfort them. So smelling and seeing these baked goods made me realize what I am so going to miss... or pay tons for LOL.

Then there was the dairy section. I found only 2 packages of cheese here. One of string cheese and one of sliced cheddar. Both were priced pretty high. I suspect this will be another of the things I will learn to do without... oh how I love cheese.

So we purchased 2 bottles of juice and left the store... once again confronted with questions in Chinese... that we just couldn't answer. We managed to get out without any problems though.

Language barrier Charades take 1:
I really wasn't expecting to do any shopping yet, but Cullen seems to be rather unhappy with the state of my tennis shoes. Finding a very large custom shoe store, we decided to try a bit of communicating with the locals. Despite all the warnings we have had about not being able to find shoes in our sizes, we were going to give it a go anyway.

The earthly odor of freshly tanned leather greeted us inside. When I picked out a pair I liked, as Cullen continued to browse, the sales girl asked me what size... when I said 9.5 she shook her head, and headed to the back. At this point all the store sales girls were giggling and paying very close attention to us both. When she brought back the shoe... quite obviously the largest size she had in that shoe... I got my foot into it, but it was quite small.. I knew I wouldn't be able to walk around in this shoe... so I asked if she had any larger... she said no.. sorry.

Of course by this time, Cullen was trying to cram his foot into a tiny shoe with no success... he yells across the store, "How do you say it hurts in Chinese!" Everyone started laughing... mostly because we both were... then one of the attendants wanted to look at my nails... then the phrase book I was clutching and leafing through to try and communicate with them... I felt so sorry that the language barrier was there... but it was so very funny.

They continued to try and find ANY shoe that would fit Cullen...

In the end we just had to say thank you and leave... no new shoes. Though every time we pass that shoe store now... the girls all say hi and smile.

Language barrier Charades take 2:
I went to the "Wal-mart" to pick up some odds and ends... namely a notebook for communicating, some snacks, and a power strip. And when I left there, I remembered that I needed a new pack of birth control pills. I figured that it was as good a time as any to try to purchase them. Cullen was in meetings, so I was out alone... it was very nice.... and so I took a leisurely time about finding a drug store.

I already knew that these could be purchased over the counter from any drug store... but I didn't really realize that I wouldn't be able to find ANY American pills. NONE. Not even any with more than just a chemical name in English.

So, just by chance, I managed to be standing right in front of the gynecological section. (the sign was in English, but it was covered by many products and a kind store clerk pointed out what the section was). So then the charades began. I didn't really know how to express what I needed in words she would understand... I tried "birth control"... then I followed her over to the counter where she pointed at some paper... *how do I express this to her* was my first thought... the I saw the sign for pediatric medicines... and I pointed and said "bu yao" meaning "do not want"... that got me a blank stare... she smiled and pointed at the paper again... I still had no idea how to express this idea to her....

She called the other clerk out... he stood there and pointed at the paper again... so I drew a picture. A woman smiling, then a tiny people and crossed out the little person and scribbled over it...

The woman didn't get it, but the man was like, "Aaahhh" he totally understood...

The first thing he shows me is this little box. I was thinking... how do they fit a whole months' worth of pills in this box... I don't know if he really understands...

Then he goes back over to the paper and writes,"72 hours," in English...

"oh no no no... I don't need that one" was my immediate response... then he goes to another one... and pulls the instructions out to show them to me... but to his dismay and mine... they are all in Chinese.... the box looked more promising though.

Then he showed me the pills and kept saying one a day.. one a day... and I was sure this was the one... He handed me the one with the website in English, and I went back to the hotel and looked it up. Sure enough... family planning pills. Perfect.

Ahhh the antics.