A fun day at the Market

We decided to go shopping today at the market, kinda like what you may consider a mall. Except completely different :) Before you leave you have to wear your poor clothes so that the shop owners do not think you actually have money. Just getting there is an experience, you get in a rickshaw which is basically a scooter with a big backseat. Hope that you do not die, because well they are crazy drivers. Then watch the scenery and we were all hoping we were going in the correct direction, but none of us really knew. Lets call it a new definition of trust in a person you just met, well negotiated a price with, meeting is a little much for a man and a woman to do ;)

Then we get to the market and start wandering around, careful what you say or how you look at any object, or someone might think you want it. Once you decide you actually like something then the bargaining starts it goes something like this... except in Arabic...

Me: For these three things 15 pounds good.
Shop Owner (SO): No 45 good.
Me: Look of being appalled and insulted 45 is expensive!
SO: (smiling now cause I am a white person speaking and arguing in Arabic) 45 good price
Me: No 15 good price
SO: Ok 40, 40 good price this from good country, you get three.
Me: 15 is a good price, how much would you charge if I was not an American...
SO: (Laughing again) Ok for you I give you 35 cause you speak Arabic.
Me: But how much if I was from this country? (A lady walking by starts laughing)
SO: Same price, I give someone from here for 40 I give you 35.
Me: No 15 good or I dont want.
SO: (gets worried) Ok ok 30.
Me: 15
SO: 29, then 28, then 25.
Me: 15
SO: 20 good 20 Ok Finish.
Me: Ok but you better give me a good price I live here.
SO: Ok then you come back and see me again.

If the Shop owner is not defiant you know it is not a good price, and if all else fails walk away and the price goes down really quick.

Really it is fun, just can get frusterating because they all think because I am white I am rich.

Wouldn't you like to do all your clothes shopping in another language where you have to negotiate for prices?

Odd things about my new home...

I have not updated my blog in a while, so I decided to tell you some of what it is like to live in my new home.

• When the power goes out no one even blinks, and you usually still have internet.
• You sweat all day long.
• You think it is a nice day when it is only 80 in the morning.
• Your kids are freezing and you are sweating. (Miss turn off the fan!)
• You never knew you could love the little Tweety bird so much! This is a place that serves smoothies.
• The electricity can run out in your classroom while you are trying to work there on the weekend, and you have to go somewhere else. They buy electricity pre-paid.

I am not sure what else to tell you guys about my new home so you should ask me questions! More later :)