As the weather gets chillier, life slows down here. It seems I have not left my house for days now and have been catching up with much needed r&r.
Shakar is staring at me right now wondering what I am doing. She has become quite attached over the past few days. I am also learning what each of her looks and whimpers mean. For example she is jealous I am typing on the computer because she would like to be gnawing on my hand so she is looking at me right now asking with her eyes, what could be more important than me gnawing on your hand??? She is also totally ignoring any of the newspapers laid out on the floor and peeing on any important rug in the apartment. I think it's done on purpose.
Tomorrow, I will go to Hrazdan Stadium (an open air mall with everything... everything... everything) and get quotes on blankets and sheets for the Shushi Kindergarden Project. A friend advised me to take a local friend with me, so that their local dialect can spark an even greater deal than my undecipherable mix of Persian-American Armenian which usually just gets me regular or a little above regular prices.
Speaking of which, it is really fun to be a Diasporan in Armenia when it comes to shopping. Some locals assume that they can pull one over on ya cuz you are from abroad. It makes me even more aggressive and even more the fighter. Sometimes I catch myself looking at the overall picture thinking to myself... I just walked away from that clay vase that I really really wanted for the equivalent of like thirteen cents. My debate and argumentantive skills in Armenian are now well cultured from all this bargaining and I can fight like the rest of them. I am still not used to walking into stores and asking if the price is negotiable... but it pretty much is anywhere here in Armenia. Until you hear verjin kin (final price) ... the show is not over.
Lets see what kind of a bargain I can strike for these blankets and sheets.
Shakar is staring at me right now wondering what I am doing. She has become quite attached over the past few days. I am also learning what each of her looks and whimpers mean. For example she is jealous I am typing on the computer because she would like to be gnawing on my hand so she is looking at me right now asking with her eyes, what could be more important than me gnawing on your hand??? She is also totally ignoring any of the newspapers laid out on the floor and peeing on any important rug in the apartment. I think it's done on purpose.
Tomorrow, I will go to Hrazdan Stadium (an open air mall with everything... everything... everything) and get quotes on blankets and sheets for the Shushi Kindergarden Project. A friend advised me to take a local friend with me, so that their local dialect can spark an even greater deal than my undecipherable mix of Persian-American Armenian which usually just gets me regular or a little above regular prices.
Speaking of which, it is really fun to be a Diasporan in Armenia when it comes to shopping. Some locals assume that they can pull one over on ya cuz you are from abroad. It makes me even more aggressive and even more the fighter. Sometimes I catch myself looking at the overall picture thinking to myself... I just walked away from that clay vase that I really really wanted for the equivalent of like thirteen cents. My debate and argumentantive skills in Armenian are now well cultured from all this bargaining and I can fight like the rest of them. I am still not used to walking into stores and asking if the price is negotiable... but it pretty much is anywhere here in Armenia. Until you hear verjin kin (final price) ... the show is not over.
Lets see what kind of a bargain I can strike for these blankets and sheets.
posted by Madlene at 9:35 PM
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