網路城邦
上一篇 回創作列表 下一篇   字體:
A Good Supermarket Should Have....
2010/06/13 06:19:22瀏覽758|回應1|推薦7
"Mommy, no offense. But honestly, don't you think the Chinese market is a little bit uglier than the English(she meant the American)market?" Madison asked at the breakfast table. She was afraid that I might get mad at her asking that question because I'm a Chinese.

"Yeah, I totally agree from the moment I was born. " Bridgette said before I answered her sister's question.

"Yes," I admitted.  "I do think the Chinese market is not as pretty as the English market on the OUTSIDE. But on the INSIDE they have a lot of good stuff and yummy snacks like“小妹妹”that you guys eat all the time. And besides, you girls have not been to the ones I went to when I was growing up. You call this ugly? Those were ten times worse. " I then described to them the Taiwanese traditional market that I used to go with my mom every Sunday in Taiwan. The narrow alleys, the dirtiness, the chaos, the crowdedness, the shouting and yelling exchanged between merchants and customers, and the different smells in the air...and etc. It was everything but clean and orderliness. But it was the way of life back then. A vital part of the everyday business and vibrancy of the life in Taiwan. Although I absolutely hated it growing up.

"What do you think a good market should look like then?" I'm interested in hearing what they have to say about this.

"Well, a good market should have," Bridgette quickly came up with a short list of criteria, " at least have their floor waxed, beautifully wall-papered, and they must, I mean MUST have a CLEAN BATHROOM." Obviously, they don't care about the food, only the looks.

"And, mommy," Madison can't wait to put her two cents in. "They(the Chinese markets) have to do something about the smell. It's so yucky! "  She gave a disgusted look. I'm reminded every time we walk into a Chinese market, the girls start holding their noses which I admit is a lack of respect for the merchants and the culture as well.

Bridgette: "Yeah, throw back the fish and start selling flowers."

Madison: "Throw back the frogs, too." She was referring to a market that we went to last week where they sold frogs. Quite frankly, I was taken aback when I saw the frogs jumping in the tank.

Bridgette: "Who eats frogs, anyway?"

Mommy: "Chinese dudes." I murmured.

I recently discovered this great Farmers Market nearby my house. They offer the old-fashioned shopping experience reminiscent of produce stands and neighborhood butchershops of the ones I was familiar with growing up.

 A regular market scene in Taiwan.
I told the girls, "Let me show you what a real market should look like when we go back to Taiwan! "
( 在地生活北美 )
回應 推薦文章 列印 加入我的文摘
上一篇 回創作列表 下一篇

引用
引用網址:https://classic-blog.udn.com/article/trackback.jsp?uid=blssdrptr&aid=4123395

 回應文章

James
markets
2011/02/19 01:43
I have absolutely loved the traditional chinese markets from when i was young in Hong Kong even until now.  I try to bring samantha there every time we go back, but she was too busy on this last trip.  Fish are suppose to be swimming, not dead on ice (sometimes cut in half, but the heart still better be beating).  Meat is suppose to be on a hook. pick a live chicken and they'll prep it for you.  you can choose from 5 different vendors within 50 feet that sell basically the same types of vegitables and they throw in some green onions for free when you buy so much.  The variety, freshness and low prices of the food in those markets always surprise me.  why is it that i can get top grade live seafood from Canada in a little town in Hong Kong while, i cannot get it here in the US where i'm 10,000 miles closer??