The Pied Piper

Every few days I go to the market to supplement my rather diet of cafeteria food. I’m trying to eat more fruit and add some nuts to this lacklustre fair. I certainly will be glad to return home and eat crunchy vegetables. Do you know that they even boil their lettuce? It’s limp and slightly warm—yuck! I know that I should be thankful that I have something to eat, but I just can’t get past the fact that my lettuce is boiled.

I was at the market the other day and I noticed a young girl of about nine years old following me. I turned, said hello; she giggled, waved and ran off. A little while after that two girls were following me. This time I asked them how they were. They even answered in English, giggled and ran off. Soon, there was one more added to my entourage, all very curious as to my purchases. They followed me around, giggling and speaking to me in Chinese.

The “teacher” in me couldn’t resist, so I had them repeat the names of the produce that I was purchasing and the numbers we saw, etc. I would ask them “what is this?” and they would respond, altogether, in English. We were by the frozen food section and I had them repeat I like ice cream, yum yum. We marched around the bulk food section, repeating I like noodles, yum yum. I like cookies, yum yum.

All in day’s work!