On Saturday we went to the market downtown for a little fabric shopping. We walked up and down the stalls, checking out the sheets of fabric, used clothes, shoes, etc., and each picked out a piece to take to a tailor.
As we were walking back toward the taxis, a teenager held up some black skinny jeans and said, "Stretchy! 35,000 (~$8)." My favorite pair of jeans ripped our first week in the country, so I wanted them. I asked, "Where can I try them?" I wasn't expecting a dressing room, but earlier I had tried on some dresses while I crouched in the back corner of a stall and the woman hid me behind some hanging clothes.
The teenager looked around and then gestured to a stall where about 6 people were sitting. This stall did not have walls and was on the corner of a street full of people and cars. He pointed to a spot that was right next to a guy shaving another man's head. Not exactly my idea of privacy. I said, "Right here? With all these people?" And he said, "Oh yes, it's fine."
I stood in the corner and slid the pants on under my skirt. This was not easy in the crazy heat and humidity, and when I finally had them on and buttoned, he cheered. The others in the stall seemed to like them too. I turned in a circle and asked everyone if they looked okay. "Oh yes, they are good. They look very fine."
I asked the teenager, "How mas?" And he said, "45,000, but I give to you for 40,000." I made the customary high pitched "Eee!" sound that people make to sound shocked at a price. "But you said 35,000 before!" "No no no 45,000. I swear it is 45,000." I looked around at my stall friends and asked if this was a fair price. One old man said, "Eh, bo!" which can't really be translated but in this case meant, "He is trying to rip off the white girl." The others shook their heads and gave us eyes that meant this kid was not being honest. The teenager looked a bit embarrassed and gave us the 35,000 price. Our stall friends were on our side and I thanked them for their help.
Side note: I will refuse a taxi and walk the whole way to work rather than have to pay 25 cents higher than the normal price. Most are very fair, but occassionally the driver will give me a higher price because many foreigners don't know how the taxis work and will just pay. I will not be fooled. One time I talked a driver down to the normal price and he laughed and said, "Eh, bo! White Girl, you are African now."
As we were walking back toward the taxis, a teenager held up some black skinny jeans and said, "Stretchy! 35,000 (~$8)." My favorite pair of jeans ripped our first week in the country, so I wanted them. I asked, "Where can I try them?" I wasn't expecting a dressing room, but earlier I had tried on some dresses while I crouched in the back corner of a stall and the woman hid me behind some hanging clothes.
The teenager looked around and then gestured to a stall where about 6 people were sitting. This stall did not have walls and was on the corner of a street full of people and cars. He pointed to a spot that was right next to a guy shaving another man's head. Not exactly my idea of privacy. I said, "Right here? With all these people?" And he said, "Oh yes, it's fine."
I stood in the corner and slid the pants on under my skirt. This was not easy in the crazy heat and humidity, and when I finally had them on and buttoned, he cheered. The others in the stall seemed to like them too. I turned in a circle and asked everyone if they looked okay. "Oh yes, they are good. They look very fine."
I asked the teenager, "How mas?" And he said, "45,000, but I give to you for 40,000." I made the customary high pitched "Eee!" sound that people make to sound shocked at a price. "But you said 35,000 before!" "No no no 45,000. I swear it is 45,000." I looked around at my stall friends and asked if this was a fair price. One old man said, "Eh, bo!" which can't really be translated but in this case meant, "He is trying to rip off the white girl." The others shook their heads and gave us eyes that meant this kid was not being honest. The teenager looked a bit embarrassed and gave us the 35,000 price. Our stall friends were on our side and I thanked them for their help.
Side note: I will refuse a taxi and walk the whole way to work rather than have to pay 25 cents higher than the normal price. Most are very fair, but occassionally the driver will give me a higher price because many foreigners don't know how the taxis work and will just pay. I will not be fooled. One time I talked a driver down to the normal price and he laughed and said, "Eh, bo! White Girl, you are African now."
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2 comments:
yeah girl! I'm so proud!! I feel such awe and admiration for you!
all my love, jen
Having seen the jeans, I'd like to say they are rockin'! Good score and good job getting the locals behind you on the price.
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