Today was supposed to be our final free day in Beijing. I think I wrote yesterday that the plans were changed and we actually had to be back on campus at 5:50 to go to dinner. You don't know about the first time I went shopping with Jing (yet) but this was actually the second time I went shopping with Jing Jing.
Jing is a graduate assistant in our office at ATS. She is originally from Beijing and is back in Beijing now visiting her parents before she returns to ETSU for summer school. She called last night and we arranged to meet today to do some shopping. Poor Jing. I don't think she is much of a shopper but I have made her shop all day when she spends time with me. We are nearing the end though and I'm worried that I don't have enough souvenirs or the right souvenirs or something. I think my worries are probably unnecessary. I also have money left though and I would hate to regret not buying something.
So we were supposed to meet at 10:00. My roommate, Michelle, had told me that I had to sign something in the International Office so I was trying to track down Mr. Xiong. I couldn't find him so I went off in search of Henry. I ended up finding Henry in Mr. Xiong's assistant's office. Turns out I wasn't supposed to sign anything at all. Only she was supposed to sign something. I told Henry that I was spending the day with Jing and so he ended up going with us.
We took the subway to Xidan where we were quite successful. I decided that I needed a slightly larger bag than the one I had brought and after some searching around we found the right size bag. The price was too high, of course, but Jing eventually bargained him down to a good price. We continued to fill the bag with other purses, some Olympic souvenirs, a shirt or two and other things which I can no longer remember. We started in a Chinese style mall. It is basically just little shops crammed in row after row. Most of the shops have the same or similar things. It supposedly makes it easier to bargain but I'm still not a good bargainer. Jing spoke to them and asked for lower, countered, etc. We usually ended up happy. We left a couple of times without buying anything and a few times we felt like it should be lower but we were mostly happy.
I have only one technique and it is not so much technique as I don't really like the offer/counteroffer method. They tell me the price, which is always way too high. We both know it is too high. This is what they do. I really like it when it's only a little high. We can agree quickly and I can move on. This is rare. They reserve the extra high prices for foreigners. So they always give me a ridiculously high price and then tell me why it is so high. They will point to some arbitrarily assigned price and explain that they are only asking half because I am a special friend or beautiful or from America or just whatever they think will work. There have been a couple of them who I really liked and pretty much knowingly paid too much. Usually I'm annoyed that they think I am so stupid.
So here is the technique, they name the price. I look shocked (I'm not shocked anymore because the opening price for me is always ridiculous) and tell them it is too expensive. They explain again how good the quality is and remind me why it is so much. They then offer another slightly lower number and I shake my head no and start to put down whatever I am holding. Their turn to say how much, how much you want to pay and then they thrust the calculator at me. Go ahead, go ahead, how much you want to pay? It's okay. You tell me and we will agree. It's okay. So I give them my price. My actual, this is what I am willing to pay and nothing more price. They laugh and act shocked and lower theirs a bit more. I shake my head and start to leave. After several iterations they will grab my arm and do whatever to keep me. They will keep talking and tell me just a little more, a little more. Too low. I continue to leave until they call after me. I never go back up though. I'm never so in love with anything that I can't live without it. I guess that's my real secret.
We poked around the malls at Xidan a bit but I was determined to get some Chinese paper cuttings that I could frame and hang on the wall. Xidan is not a good place to find them. We saw them everywhere when traveling but I was convinced that I could find them in Beijing. Not so much. We were trying to decide what to do in about the hour and a half we had left and so I said that I wanted to go to another market that should have taken only about 30 minutes by subway. Jing and Henry wouldn't let me go off on my own so we all headed for the market. I have never seen the subway so crowded. I knew that it gets crowded but I had only ever been on when it was not bad. We managed to crowd into the car but I wasn't sure. It took longer than it should have just because of all the people.
We made it to the market though and I went directly to the paper cuttings. I got 3 for 50 Yuan and Jing just watched me this time. I think she finally decided that maybe I was okay on my own. The lady who sold them was not all happy and smiles, which is a good sign. These sales ladies are also just really good actors. Still, I was happy with the price. I was willing to pay as much as 20 for each so it worked for me. And, even though everyone tells me that I can't think that way, it was still only about $7 US. Not bad. I also got a silk purse for Emily on the way out - I didn't have to bargain on that one because she started off low. I got some scarves right before going out the door.
I think I will head back out for one more time tomorrow. Pop into an Olympics store and see if there is a t-shirt that I like and just bargain like heck. Nothing bulky though because I am doing well with the bags I have now. Don't want to have to expand again. Jewelry and t-shirts are highly portable and highly available at Hongqiao Market.
We took a taxi back because the subway is not fun when it is so crowded and also because we wanted to make sure we had time to get ready for dinner. They took us to a restaurant that serves Peking duck. I think this is THE restaurant in Beijing for Peking duck actually. We have had duck twice and for some reason it seemed better the first time. Maybe I was hungrier. I was surprised both times at what seemed like too little meat, too. I must just not pay close attention. I think it fed all of us and there may have been some left over.
This has been an interesting group. Ron has grown on me over the four weeks and Neil has been steady the entire time. He's really mature for his age and very pleasant to be around. I don't feel like I know Alice since we did not see her most of the time. The Komineks turned out to be very nice and good company. I am ready to come home though. I am not especially ready to return to work but I am ready to go back even though I have actually felt better this week than the entire time I was here. I have avoided Chinese food as much as possible recently, which I think has helped. All the junk I have been eating can't be good but at least I feel okay for now. I will do better when I am finally home.
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