Text 691, 47 rader
Skriven 2006-04-23 19:21:37 av Carol Shenkenberger (6:757/1)
     Kommentar till en text av JOAN MACDIARMID (1:123/140)
Ärende: Re: Strange Eats
========================
*** Quoting JOAN MACDIARMID from a message to DAVE SACERDOTE ***

JM>  Maybe they never knew of the alternative. I am amazed how often I
JM>  meet people here who don't know a thing about the Farmers Markets,
JM>  including Hindu vegetarians who might be very well-served by them.
JM>  One guy I met in this category lived a few blocks from my market
JM>  but never bothered to try it, but he was amazed at what I claimed

Oddly, we find that in Sasebo too.  Plenty of folks in my building have never
shopped groceries at Tonoo (and arent even sure where it is).  Now, their kids
sometimes know about it.  When I go out there, it's often with an extra midgit
in tow with a 1,000 yen bill and a small list of items to look for.

Worth expanding on that?  I wil take Charlotte and our pull cart and she will
have her backpack and often enough another will jump along for the trip. 
Unless another adult is with us, they have to be age 7 or so or have an older
teen brother/sister to come with.  Normally I have 2 or 3 in tow but sometimes
it's just me and Charlotte.

One time not long ago, had a group of 11 of us, but there were 3 kids age 15-16
and 1 other adult (Jim who's transferred now).  Youngest was in a kid-kart
stroller (age 3?) being pushed by his big sister (age 16).  Next aged sister
was a big 8 year old who kinda didnt like it that her big brother (age 13) was
watching out for her ;-)  Kinda looked like mother goose with her little
charges in tow.  It wasnt that hard though.  Each person age 15 or over, had 1
to watch except Elise had 2.  We'd stop every 4 stalls and look about and if
missing anyone, call out 'girls rule' to which the answer is 'boys rule' and
then you'd find the missing member (since it was almost always a boy gone
missing, but if not, just reverse it and it worked as well).

Oh the only 'rule' other than keeping care of your 'charge'?  Cant buy anything
you cant fit in your backpack or carry home and no 'pets' (live eels and stuff
like that are for adults to buy, not kids to bring home as a suprise!).  Oh
and one other rule.  Have to stop and chat with the 'wreathe of smiles' elder
mama-san and her flower stall if she's there.  Have to have some of us get
some but thats never a problem.  Offer her a coin (elders check to be sure
it's not a 500 yen coin as that is 1/2 they have to shop with, and not less
than a 10yen coin as then she'd feel pressured to give stuff away) then just
with spread hand and a smile, wordlessly ask for a flower.  She's always got
some simple individual flower or group set pending on how many coins.  I buy
last with a 5,000 yen note and a quiet nod makes up any difference quite
nicely for us all.

                                       xxcarol

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