We didn't go to the Great Wall today. We had language training in the morning and then a delicious lunch and then we went to this huge 6 story market where we had to try to bargain with the shopkeepers. It was so weird! Everyone would try to get you to look at their stuff, and if you even looked at something for more than 2 seconds they would try to get you to buy it. I'm so glad we don't bargain in America because it's really annoying. Some vendors were really pushy, and of course they try to rip you off because they know you're foreigners. At one point I was literally in a tug of war with one lady who was trying to get Kaylee to buy some shoes, and we each had one of her arms pulling different directions. She ended up buying the shoes haha.
I bargained only 3 times. I bought some really pretty navy blue leather gloves for about 25 US dollars, which was more than I should have payed. But remember how I said I wanted some gloves like that a while ago? They feel really nice and soft, and it was my first try so I don't feel too bad about getting ripped off. On my second try, I bought some super cute aquamarine and neon green "Nike" tennis shoes. You know like those cute ones you see at the stores? Yeah they aren't technically real, but Spencer said that they actually make good quality fake ones and they are made in the the same types of factories as real Nikes just not the official outsourced Nike factories. I got them for about 20 US dollars, which is extremely cheaper than what I would pay in America. And then my last attempt was kind of scary, but I got the best deal for sure. I was looking at a little doll for Megan and the lady started the price at 85 yuan and I tried to lower it, but of course she was saying she wouldn't go any lower than 65. So I started walking away (because I really didn't even want it) and she started yelling lower and lower prices at me and when she said 15 yuan I went back and bought it. She was upset and she kind of threw it into my bag and I'm pretty sure she was cursing my name in Chinese, haha.
It's just a weird experience to have people be so forceful and rude when they are trying to sell you things, as opposed to the US where they treat you so well and actually let you leave if you don't want to buy it. I guess here if you walk away they kind of assume that you are just trying to get them to lower the price. A big rule in China so far is don't be polite. Especially if you're a foreigner because everyone thinks you're an idiot haha. It was a really interesting experience, and I think Kaylee and I are going to go back and try to buy and few more things because we didn't bring enough money this time.
Some people in our group got manicures and pedicures so I think we'll try that too! A pedicure and foot massage sounds so nice right now. So tonight we are going to get a few snack for tomorrow (so we don't have to buy anything on Sunday) and then for dinner we're going try to order our own food at a restaurant. I'm excited to go to church tomorrow.
The acrobatics show last night was AMAZING. Those people are probably the strongest people on the planet. One girl was dancing pointe on a man's head and shoulders, and there was one of those sphere cages with the motorcycles in them and they had 8 motorcycles in at once! It was crazy. We had to take a subway there and back....it was packed pretty tight. But it was fun, and my first time on a subway! Well we are going to go to dinner now. I'll let you know what we get and if it's any good. I still can't attach pictures, but we are going to try an internet cafe close to our hotel sometime later and see if it works.
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| The Night Market in Beijing |
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| Skylar, Danika, and Kaylee outside acrobatics show. |
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