5. Shopping in China

Vendors at the base of the Great Wall outside Beijing, China. (Taken by Tammy Vomund)

By Tammy Vomund, Social Studies Teacher, 
Lange Middle School, Columbia, Missouri

Throughout our China travels, most of us were awestruck by art displays, historical relics, and the beauty of China's land and her people. However, there were times when the thrill of finding a bargain, or the spirit of making a deal, rivaled many cultural relics. Shopping, for some, became a way of overcoming language and societal barriers, while helping the local economy.

As our bus would pull into historical and tourist sites, several of us
would look out the windows and see the brilliant blues, radiant reds,
glistening golds, and glamorous greens of the Chinese architecture. Smells of dumplings, rice, and fresh vegetables would waft to our noses as we passed individuals preparing their meals at the market stalls. Wares from silk scarves to miniature terra cotta warriors were displayed for our viewing. As we took a few steps from the sanctuary of the bus, we were greeted by the entrepreneurs eager to obtain a sale. "You buy!" "How much?" "Very nice. You see." As schoolteachers here in the United States, it is safe to say that many of us have never been greeted by the paparazzi.

However, after a few instances of being swarmed by bustling merchants, I can begin to understand the feeling. Sometimes the most emphatic, "Tai gui!" (too expensive) or "Buyao, xiexie" (I do not want it, thanks), were often not enough to dissuade these entrepreneurs. In the merchants' defense, I can honestly say that some of the most lucrative deals I saw during my China experience did happen out the open windows of the bus. Afraid to let a good deal slip between their fingers, many of my companions would be leaning out windows holding yuan in hand, to buy silk purses or
even quilts. There were even times that the bus lurching forward and being put into gear was the only thing that stopped numerous transactions.

The market in Xian, China. (Taken by Tammy Vomund)

Shopping in China was definitely not confined to street markets or vendors. One of my most memorable moments in China was shopping for a Chinese-style dress in Shanghai. Now, I really have to say that I myself, and one of my companions, we were on a mission to obtain a dress. She had been with me previously, but I was unable to find the style, fit, or color that was suitable for my 5'7" frame and red hair, two descriptors that I would say were definitely not shared by the majority of the Chinese female population. After browsing a multitude of stores, we finally went into a shopping center. On the second floor, there was a small dress shop that we passed which had some beautiful dresses with intricate designs. The one dress that caught my eye was a gold dress with embroidered dragons. When I saw this dress, I realized the delight on my face was mirrored on the faces of the two elderly women who were working. "You like? (To which I nodded yes) Good." Then the two eager women started going through the stacks of gold dresses with similar designs, pulling out various sizes. My companion then turned to me and asked, "What size?" To which I answered, "Good question." As if these ladies sensed my dilemma, one of them held up a dress to me, said, "You try," and gently pushed the garment towards my open hands.

When I asked and gestured if there was a dressing room, the reply came when the two women bustled over to the corner of their display and picked up a sheet. To my surprise and dismay, they held the sheet to their full height and then motioned for me to step behind the curtained area, which was approximately six inches beneath my shoulders. Then it dawned on me that I was in the middle of a shopping area, in one of the most populated cities of the world, and that I would be a little more exposed than I intended. I am sure by this time my face was as red as my hair and I just shook my head to the side, smiled a shy smile, and let out a small laugh. Next, I went through the dresses and held up a dress that I knew I could alter if it did not fit perfectly. My companion agreed that it looked like a good possibility and the elderly women were also nodding their approval. Next, I asked, "Duoshao qian?" (How much does it cost?) Then, with calculators in hand, the shopkeepers and I each punched in numbers. "Tai gui!" (too expensive), I said when I saw their initial price. Finally, we agreed on a price that made both sides happy. With dress in hand, I said, "Xiexie" (thank you) and left their small establishment.

Tammy Vomund in Chinese dress at the farewell dinner in Shanghai, China.
 (Taken by Emily Grady.)

Cindy Neu and Tammy Vomund in Chinese dress before the farewell dinner in Shanghai, China.

Relieved and excited about my acquisition, I continued my hunt so I could find earrings and a purse to accent the beauty of the dress. Apparently, I, too, had caught the shopping bug. That evening, my shopping companion for the day and I dressed up in our Chinese dresses for the farewell activities and dinner. One of my favorite moments from that evening was when a Chinese man walked towards me, smiled, and then gave me the thumbs-up sign. I guess he approved of the dress choice!

Shopping in China was definitely a cultural experience. Gestures,
calculators, and often-choppy sentences in a foreign tongue were all that one needed to purchase any goods. For many, the excitement that accompanies the thrill of bargain hunting was comparable to all the beauty that encompasses China.

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