Going bright red
I’m not surprised that you were annoyed at that incident. I would have been fuming! At least you got your money back, though. It hardly seems like good customer service, does it? They’d better be careful or they’ll start to lose customers.
Shopping in Japan is a unique experience. I actually have an amusing story about the first time I went to the supermarket here. I had probably only been in Japan a day or so at the time. I was feeling really peckish, so I went to the local supermarket. Everything in there looked so different, so I had no idea what to buy. I spent a long time trying to find something, anything, which I recognised. I eventually picked out some pasta, meat and things like that. Anyway, on my way to the checkout I passed by a plate of small chicken pieces with leeks on small sticks. I was over the moon to find some free food samples, so I grabbed a few sticks and started eating them. Then some other customers started giving me funny looks and a member of staff came running over to me, waving and gesticulating. I didn’t have a clue what he was going on about, so I just smiled and finished off the chicken. After I had swallowed the last piece, the staff member took the wooden sticks from me and placed them into a plastic box, and placed a price sticker on it. Then it hit me! They weren’t free samples at all! My face went bright red as I took my plastic box with two empty wooden sticks in it to the check-out to pay…Have you ever done anything embarrasing in a foreign country? I'd love to hear about it!
Anyway, we’ve got a couple of friends coming over for dinner soon, so I’d better start cleaning up before they get here. I hope you’ve had a great weekend with Csilla.
Lewis
Useful English from today’s post:
(to) get your money back
(to) feel peckish
(to) pick something out OR (to) pick out something
(something, something) and things like that
(to) (not) have a clue
(to) finish off (your food/meal/work)
(realisation) hits you
(your face) goes bright red
(to) go/come over for dinner
Comments
Hi Lewis, Well, it happend in one of the Central European countries. I went to the supermarket just to buy a small box of washing powder. But it occurred that the one I was interested in was placed on the highest shelf. So, I tried to grab it standing just on my toes and at the moment I managed to do it I heard a big boom and 'Ohs" and Ahs" ...Only then I realized that I quite accidently pushed beer tins, placed on the other side of the shop shelf, which began falling on the heads of the 'thirsty'men who drop in just to buy another tin of beer ... Surprisingly, they were not angry at all - quite opposite,it appeared to be a great fun for them. I could hear them giggling when I was leaving the shop in a hurry feeling so embarassed ...
Hello Teacher Lewis! I cut to the chase and ask you whether you think about creating your own blog. Another teacher will soon be taking over from you and I would like to hear from you for the future.Have a good week, both of you!
Hi,Ana, i think the matter you reminded is very funny . Regrettly , i have never been to overseas. In our local supermarket, especilly in big one , i always lose my way so that i have to ask the stuff where i can by this or that . So , you see , i'm so confounded :)
it was a few days after i came to England.i went to a local market to buy some fish.when it was my turn a fishmonger said"what can i get you,darling"? i looked around and l realised he had called me darling. i felt insulted and my face went bright red.i stormed off the place.when i got home i told my husband what had happend. he was smiling cheekily and said "don't be upset, he was trying to be friendly and kind to you".my husband said that you can't call a stranger darling unless you are a couple or a man and wife in your country.
it was a few days after i came to England.i went to a local market to buy some fish.when it was my turn a fishmonger said"what can i get you,darling"? i looked around and l realised he had called me darling. i felt insulted and my face went bright red.i stormed off the place.when i got home i told my husband what had happened. he was smiling cheekily and said "don't be upset, he was trying to be friendly and kind to you".my husband said that you can't call a stranger darling unless you are a couple or a man and wife in your country.my face turned more bright red and i went back to the fishmonger and i apologized to him.
Hi, Lewis I can imagine the picture of eating the SAMPLE food. But I think it's alright. Just told them you are very hungry. Anyway, you still paid for them, right?
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