Metro and Markets

I had two job interviews today. One teaching Kindergarten English. The other teaching Adult English one-on-one. Hmmm, adult English sounds a lot better.

I learned how to use the metro all by myself! And took a taxi all by myself! Imagine not being able to ask directions, or read street signs while finding your way around the city, while being surrounded by millions of people not one of which who can help you. That was me yesterday, but having conquered that I feel I can do anything here now. It wasn't all me though. Taylor was always a phone call away if I needed him. I called him a lot. And when I couldn't find the right building I had to be in for the first interview, a kind man on the street stopped, looked at my directions, and pointed me in the right direction. I'm glad he was inspired to help!

And while walking on the other side of the city, an overly exhuberant man tried to tell me...something, I couldn't figure out what. He was pointing to his card--looked like a make-up ad, I'm guessing he wanted me to buy his make-up--while grabbing my arm, talking, and literally dragging me inside this one building. Had I been in the U.S. I would have been very frightened, but I had to chuckle. He seriously wouldn't let me go even though I repeatedly told him BU YAO! I finally decided to be tougher and dragged him a little with me and ignored him and he finally let go.

Here in this great city, close to our apartment, they have these small village neighborhoods. Markets line the street, it being the first floor of someones house. Some of the souvenir shops are not connected to their home but sit right in front, on the street. There are many hair salons, many foot massage joints, and many fruit stands. Then an occassional nick nack store, and other random stores. Some streets are fish markets and each person is selling turtles, fish, frogs, crabs, and other crawly sea creatures. The crazy thing is all these creatures are still alive. And some streets are souvenir markets that sell the exact same souvenirs which appear to have sat there, unsold, for hundreds of years. It's so fun and exciting to walk down those small streets and look at the loitering pajama people, and what they have to sell. But I'm usually more interested in looking past the market and inside to their homes. They have a small, small dark living room-- dark because all the homes are connected, their only natural light being the open front door. The floor is cement, and there's usually a sink right in front of the door. Maybe a chair, maybe a table. And that's all that fits in that main room. Sometimes I'll look past and see a small door behind and I'll see a bed, or sometimes I'll see stairs that will lead up to their living quarters. The front door sits right on the sidewalk. It's so amazing to me how they live.

In the small little neighborhood grocery stores they sell mostly crackers, cookies, and small snack things, and some household items, but if you want to buy stuff to make for dinner you'd have to shop for little frogs and green veggies on the markets outside. Or you'd have to go to a Carrefour. I don't think I'll be making dinner very often here.

And one day I'll send photos when we purchase another memory stick for our camera. We seem to have misplaced it.