We arrived at lunch time. Jared and I had a yummy dish...not sure what it is called, but I know where to find it again. It was a mound of rice, covered with an egg, some sprouts and some sort of meat-like substance - just a tiny bit.
The other kids opted for something a bit more familiar.
After filling our tummies we set out to walk the mall - and succeeded. There is a nice grocery store, bakery and farmer's market on one end of the mall. The other end of the mall has a big arcade and movie theater. The stores are what you'd expect in a mall. The mall was much bigger than the San Angelo mall. I do bore fairly easily on group shopping trips.....but I amused myself taking photos of packaging that struck me as funny. I haven't decided if they are quite so funny now that I'm rested and at home. ::snort::
The kids thought this was a cool movie poster....I obligingly took the photo, dodging the person sleeping under the poster.
The candy store was fun to visit. We bought a few things to try - all good. I'm not sure what they are called...but again....I know where to find them again. ::grin:: I did hear a comment about a candy store that sells dried fish. ::snort:: Nolan spotted the strawberry kit kats. I doubt we'd had a kit kat bar in YEARS stateside but we are enjoying the various flavors here. LOL
Bathrooms - WOW are they accommodating. There was a row of Squatty Potties, a row of Western toilets, seats for potty training, urinal and low sinks for kids to use....WOW. Stacia and I notee a container on the wall. She pushed and it smelled like air freshener or perfume so that is what we did with it. Later in the day, at a bathroom on another side of the mall, we found this sign......
::snort:: ::chortle:: I love it! What a great idea to have nice smelling toilet cleaner in public restrooms....and instructions in English so that all the silly Americans don't smell like toilet cleaner. ::snort:: Stacia heartily approves of the sinks just her size.
A big hit for us was a huge Y100 store. WOOT! I bought some tatami mats and beach towels for our next lake/ocean outing. The kids bought some plants, which we'll plant to give us hope that a home will follow to place them in. ::snort:: The kids were introduced at this store to the practice of checking out and bagging your own items.
It was at the Y100 store that I got to try out my phrase..."nihongo ga wakari masu sen." I don't understand Japanese, after a sweet employee was rattling off much too me. She replaied, "Ah....americangi desu ka?" and I said, "Hai!" Then she went wild with Japanese....and I repeated my first phrase...and then said, "Scoshi (little)"....and then she said, "Please, May I be of help to you?" and I asked the kids, "Quick - how do I say, Thanks ever so much but we are browsing in your gigantic cheap store?". It was beyond us and so I said "watasiwa ok". ::snort:: We enjoyed that we communicated! BTW - I've yet to use the "No, I'm not skilled at Japanese" response to a compliment on my fine Japanese skills. ::snort::
One of our last stops was the bakery, which is worth a few photos.
You are given a tray and tongs. You cruise the aisles and make your choices and then they are bagged for you. We had a watermelon roll, that I seem to be the only one who liked it. It was greenish and tasted like watermelon and was filled with a thick, SWEET, cantaloupe flavor gel. I thought it was good.
Those were GREAT croissants!
I ASKED - they said I could take the photo. Actually I wanted a photo only of the one on the left and the sign - BREAD FACTORY - but they giggled and both jumped in....so I took it even though the sign was blocked. My older two were mortified...but I asked! Renee said it was ok. How can you help but try to learn the language to better communicate with such sweet clerks? They are very good natured when I slaughter the language...most anyway. ::snort::
I got some wonderful fresh produce at the market. Renee pointed out how to get to the Statue of Liberty park...I think a visit to the bakery and then the park would be a wonderful outing that the children would enjoy. Still not ONE photo of Renee....I will remedy this this week. Renee's, dh Rick, was our sponsor and have been a joy to get to know in person.
Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.
~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...
©2009 D.R.G.
~ Coram Deo ~
Living all of life before the face of God...
