Shopping with Cynthia

I'm going to ask Mrs. Jin to take me to the wet market to shop for groceries.

It's called the wet market because the floors get hosed down before the market opens each morning.  The Chinese can't believe we westerners eat chicken breasts that are cut up and wrapped in plastic! How could you know when they where 'processed'?  They prefer, the wet market, where you know the food is fresh.  You pick out your chickens, ducks, turtles and frogs LIVE!  In the states, the high end grocery stores bag your groceries ,  provide you with a choice of paper or plastic bags at no charge. You can even have them escorted to your car.  Here the services include: they'll kill the chicken for you!  They'll even de-feather it!  I'm not sure if there is a service charge for head and feet removal.  There is a charge for bags, so most people bring their own. You then either; walk , bike or scooter your groceries home. 

Most people know how much fun grocery shopping is for me.  I could, and do, spend HOURS, not just shopping, but connecting with people.  When I walk into a grocery store I think; Who will I meet?   Where are my new friends?  What's goodies will God have in store (no pun intended) for me today!  This experience has put me over the edge!  This puts grocery shopping on a whole new level.  We're not talking Chinese food aisle, we're talking Chinese grocery store, Disney style!  The sights, the smells, the products, the people, the culture!  It is so hard to not be able to speak the language.  Facial expressions and noises can only get me so far.  Sometimes they only serve to get me misunderstood!  Fortunately, God has provided me with coping skills; humor and a high embarrassment threshold.  All right...enough for now...let me close this note with and invite....COME TO CHINA!   I"ll guarantee memories, adventure, and fun!  And that's just at the grocery store!