Shopping

I went shopping with okaasan again last night. We usually go to a mall called Bayside Mall that is about 5 minutes away by car. When you go into the shopping area, there are tiny shopping carts that you can rent for 100 yen. The top of the cart fits one shopping basket on it. You take this cart around to the many different stores, and then leave it near the exit to the parking lot. There are lots of different stores in the mall - a crepe store, Mister Donuts, about 3 fish stores, a beef store, an all-purpose grocery store, a movie theater, and much more. The fish is very fresh here. One package of shrimp was so fresh that we put it back - they were still crawling around inside.

I am gradually starting to recognize things here, but the first time I went shopping I couldn`t recognize anything. I was so overwhelmed by the many things that I had never seen before. Now it doesn`t seem so weird, and I can recognize most things, although some are packaged differently from the US.

Another thing - when you pay, you don`t hand the money to the cashier. You put it in a little tray, and then the cashier takes the tray and puts your change on it. My first time buying something I handed the money to the cashier, and she looked very surprised. Now I know a little better. Put the money on the tray. Got it.

While we were shopping okaasan also bought me a crepe. I don`t know if I`m just getting used to Japanese treats not being as sweet, but I almost couln`t stand to eat it. The crepe was filled with strawberries and whipped cream, so nothing unusual, but it was way WAY sweet. I think I will go back to eating senbei, red bean jelly, and other Japanese snacks. Purin (pudding - like flan) if I want something sweet - heaven knows we have enough of it.