Shopping

Today, I ventured out to start trying to find needed furniture, rugs, linen...I was in a store that is very similar to Bed, Bath and Beyond in the states looking for a duvet, sheets and pillowcases for Dustin's room. I found one on display that I liked because of the bright colors and frankly it was the most masculine one I spotted. I hunted a sales person down, I've heard that salespeople here avoid English speakers because they feel insecure. I finally found someone to help me who promptly called someone else that presumably spoke English. Remember that is a relative term! He informed me that the bedspread I liked was only on display and I couldn't purchase display. I also was unable to order, after a lengthy back and forth, "Why can't I buy display?" he told me that he would call friend? He called friend and told me that his friend would meet me at Esso gas station in 20 minutes with the desired bedspread?? I'm really confused now. I told him that I didn't want to go to Esso at the moment but had more shopping to do in the area, I was heading next door to the Big C (like WalMart). "No problem, he will meet you there." Okay? Weird! He confirmed my cell phone # and we agreed on a price to be paid upon delivery. I walk next door and after about 20 minutes a man comes up behind me and says, "Madam JoRonda? I have bedspread outside on my motorbike." I follow him out to the busy parking lot, as we're walking I ask him how he knew I was JoRonda? Yes, they're aren't too many white people but this is a huge store and there are some. I jokingly ask him was he told to find the fat, white woman? I don't think he comprehended. Anyway, we proceed out to the parking lot and setting there, unattended on his motorbike is the desired bedspread set. It just cracked me up!! I gave him the cash and then asked him if I could take his picture and then he was on his way. It seemed a little shady but I don't know how things are normally done here.

I then went to the French WalMart-Carrfour to try to purchase a wall mount for our new flat screen TV. They said sure, give us your address and we will come and place wall mount on wall tonight. I gave them our driver's cell phone # so he could direct them to our house. Everyone seems to get lost when they're trying to find us, all I know is that we are between the 7-11 and Crocodile Farm, all of Pattaya seems to know those two landmarks. They just showed up and are trying to mount the TV right now and I guess I just give them the cash when they're done. There are so many things that are different.

One thing I really, really like here is the service at the stores. They all sack your groceries, at a couple of grocery stores there are men in uniform that sack your goods, I guess they do security guarding/sacking. Today, I purchased a small shelf at Carrfour and the salesperson stayed with it (a $12 item) until I was ready to check out and then escorted me to the car, I'm thinking there was some commission involved. I bought a rug at another store and when I began to lift it I thought the salesperson was going to have a heart attack, "No! Madam!", promptly a man arrived to carry the medium size rug to my car. I motioned to them that I was strong and they just smiled. I guess enjoy it while I can!