Deb Goes to the Grocery Store

Part of our itinerary yesterday was to do a little shopping for things that are much more expensive or more difficult to get in the United States. We sent to a silk factory and the store where Barbara Bush and other dignitaries buy their pearls. But where I really wanted to shop was the grocery store. I don't shop for silk and pearls back home every week. The closest I get is denim and rhinestones.

After we got back to the hotel for the night, the last thing Angela did for me was to take me to the grocery store across the street. Now, if this were America, I might say to a guest, "there's the grocery store just across the street," and point to it and be on my merry way. But, remember, with the Chinese, it's all about service, and Angela personally escorted me across the street and to the grocery store.

I'm so glad she did!

Crossing the street in Beijing is kind of like the extreme sport of bungee diving in the United States. You need nerves of steel. Just before we got to the street, Angela said to me, "In China, you will often see women walking arm in arm or hand in hand down the street. This does not mean anything funny or immoral. This was her preface to gently grabbing me by the arm and propelling me into the street.

Earlier in the day, I had seen young school-age girls standing in the middle of a multi-lane street with busses, scooters, cars, vans swirling all around them, waiting for the next opening. The traffic does not stop for pedestrians.

All of a sudden, I found myself in the middle of the street, trying to make myself as skinny as possible in the face of an oncoming van. I turned and looked at the driver with absolute horror in my face. I saw something I had not seen all day. He actually stopped in the middle of the street and let us cross.

The lesson here is: do not look inscrutable, or placid when crossing the street. Show what you feel. Look scared to death.

We got to the store, and it was the quaint little corner grocery store type that I remember my grandmother taking me to years ago just on Hall street by Niagara in Grand Rapids. These kinds of stores don't exist anywhere that I know of anymore back home.

We entered in by the fruit section. Of course, it did not have near the selection of Meijers back home, but some tiny oranges caught my eye. Angela told me they were very sweet, so I bought a bag. They are wonderful. Easy to peel, juicy, and sweet. Several will fit into your hand at one time.

Next we went on to the tea section. I noticed the Chinese carrying around clear jugs with leaves all in the bottom. This is their tea. They don't use leaf dust in a bag. There was a large selection but I couldn't find anything decaffeinated.

Next I grabbed a half gallon of bottled water, and made my way to the checkout.

At the checkout, Angela explained it is now against the law to give you a plastic bag for your groceries unless you pay for it. Those who want more government regulation need think about how much is too much. Do you want the government regulating even how you carry your groceries home? Or do you prefer paying for bags at Aldi's if you want, getting them included in the price of groceries at Meijers, or using a recyclable bag? Personally, I enjoy the personal responsibility that comes with liberty.