Dave's Sketch Journal

Strolling through the park is a national pastime. We found a park nearby (they are usually not very far from any major city) and chatted some with people we met.

We found this precocious five year old who called me grandpa. Her mother and sister told her to call me uncle but she insisted. Later we passed them again in the park and we heard her mother tell her to apologize to me but before they could get closer I said in Chinese to the little girl: "Grandpa?! My goodness I can't believe you." and smiled.

They all laughed and giggled.

I wear my cowboy hat when I go out to the park and it usually gets smiles and nods. It's a great chance to start conversations. However, one time I was surprised at one man's response. He looked at me strangely, scanned me up and down and shook his head. Maybe he's never seen a genuine Atlanta Cowboy. Who can say?

Later I went to a store and had another strange experience. I was waiting in line when a guy in a suit came up and wedged himself in front of me. But I got the upper hand. I put my vegetables down on the counter in front of his. Then I eased in front of him. He glared at me. I was getting a bit hot and felt steam coming from my ears. I didn't have the language skills to tell him that there was a queue and that if he was having difficulty finding the end of it, I'd be happy to show him the way. (I was bigger than he was.) When the woman in front of me left, he reached around from behind me and put his vegetables on the scale.

An older couple was watching all of this. When he finally left in a haughty gait they offered me their place in another line. They were all smiles and very apologetic. I was most likely challenging some new mega-millionaire (thus the suit and white shirt) who was not going to wait for anyone. Not even a foreigner. In most places I have to insist that the local folks go ahead of me. They are usually most gracious.

There is a very nice restaurant that caters to Westerners we go to often. We can get fresh bread there and spices. They have an incredible menu and free WIFI for our computers. So after one shopping day we headed over there for lunch with a newly married Korean couple.

Ruth has been doing the bus thing all by herself. She's learning the schedules and reading the characters.

Me? I just stay at home and blog. It's a thankless job but someone has to do it.

...dave
Without geography, you're nowhere. ~Author Unknown


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