A Shopping Adventure

     I believe that I have already told you about the "food police" - the store clerks that have followed me around the grocery store when I have taken too long to hold a product while trying to decipher what is in it -- I'm sorry -- I still can't read Thai, let alone Japanese, Chinese, or whatever other language these product labels might be written in.  I can barely speak "taxi Thai" -- that is just enough Thai to get you from one place to another around the city, or to say thank you or it was delicious!  But I digress . . .

     I have a new category, or a subcategory to talk about today.  I might have mentioned in the past how there is very little unemployment here in Thailand, they actually have to import people into the city to have enough workers for major building projects.  But in department stores they are way overstaffed.  During a weekday there are usually more staff in the stores than shoppers.  They try to stay busy by dusting or straightening their shelves.  But most of the girls seem to be putting on lipstick, eyeliner, mascara, looking at themselves in the mirror, primping their hair, or playing on their phones.  I have gotten so used to it now that it usually doesn't bother me, until it interfers with what I need to do.

     The other day I went into Boots drug store which is like CVS but a lot smaller.  I really needed some mascara.  I walked over to that area and all they had in one section was "VOLUME" "PLUMPING" "BIG LASHES".  I didn't want that!  I just wanted regular mascara.  Ah ha!  I spied it, but there was a problem.  It was hidden behind 3 clerks who were busy putting on their make-up!  They had no concern at all for customers, their boss or how it looked to be putting on make-up at work!  I shouldn't have been, but I was still amazed.  Anyway, I stood behind them for what seemed like a few minutes until they finally one by one moved away. 

     To top that off, I moved over to the nail polish.  There were 2 other girl clerks standing there just talking.  I said "sawatee Kha" and the tall one who was made up like a China doll said "sawatee Kha" back to me in a DEEP voice!  It was a girly-boy.  I was shocked but tried not to show it. 

     What a day of shopping !!