はじめてのお買いもの

2/17/14

As the first time, I went shopping by myself in Vietnam. I bought a reusable mask, envelops, and grapes. I've heard so many times that you get ripped off all the time in Vietnam if you are foreigners. In fact, not just sellers try to rip you off but also people around team up with the sellers. People in Vietnam are very nice but I guess this is a separate matter. According to a book, we should never take the price that is offered at first. It can easily be a half price from what is originally offered. So I was told to get ready for this type of situations. However, at this point, I have no idea which money is how much and what is a value cost for each item. I tried to ask Dad how it works, but since we don't speak a common language, I only got a vague idea. Anyways, I figured this is a part of travel experiences and learning opportunities.
First, I bought a mask. At this point I only had 100.000 vnd bill as the lowest. I had no idea how much change I supposed to have, but what the heck, after I asked her how much it was, I said to the woman "it is too expensive" as I pointed a different bill on my travel book. But she was a tough one to deal with (I'm sure she thought the same about me). She kept saying something that I didn't understand at all. Another lady came from a different booth and she was saying the woman was right. I made a face that said "it doesn't make sense". There was no way to win the game since I don't understand the rule, so at the end I didn't have any choice but to accept.
Next one was grape. I made a same call and told the lady "half off!""It's too expensive!""It's not right!". I'm sure I was one of the annoying lady if it was in the U.S, but I couldn't keep up with a poker face and started laughing while the other lady already wasn't taking me seriously. At the end off course I paid what was told. Later I asked Mom if I paid too much. She said I paid right price. I guess I didn't do too bad as we say ”beginner's luck”.

２月１７日

今日はベトナムで初めての１人でのお買い物。reusableマスクと封筒とグレープを購入。ベトナムに来る前からよく耳にするのは、ベトナム人は外国人に対してぼったくりが多いとのこと。しかも売り手がぼったくるだけじゃなく、周りのお客も一緒になって同意するという話し。ベトナム人はとても良い人感があるけど、それとこれとは話が別らしい。旅本によると、最初に言われた値段では絶対に買うなという。大体の場合交渉が上手くいけば余裕でその値段の半分くらいになるということなので、その心の準備をしておこうというわけだ。が、今の時点で、ドン（ベトナムの通貨）のこともさっぱり分からないし、何が妥当かも分からない。お父さんに聞いてみたが、言語の難しさで、かなり曖昧の理解の仕方しかできない。まぁでもとにかくやってみない事には分からないので、実践するのみ。
まずはマスクで試すことに。この時点で手持ちは１００．０００ドンが一番安目のお札だったので、それを使うことにした。が、いくらのおつりを貰うべきなのかも分からない。とりあえずいくらかと聞いたあと、旅本を見ながら「高すぎる！」と言ってみた。お店の人は、困りながらも笑顔を絶やすことなく、まけそうに無い。近くの別のお店から他の女性が出てきて、「彼女は正しい」的な事を言うので、結局腑に落ちなさそうな顔をしてマスクを買った。アメリカとか日本なら、かなり面倒くさいお客だと実感しながら、そのまま次へ。
今度はグレープの交渉。これも同じように、わけも分からないまま、「高すぎる」「半額にして」「おつりは合ってるの？」など、本当に嫌なお客を演じてみたが、ここでも交渉失敗。失敗どころか、本を見ながら言っている私をほとんど笑いながらの交渉なので、全然真剣にとってもらえず、結局はこちらも笑ってしまう。
後々、お母さんに「払いすぎたかな？」と聞くと「まぁ、こんなもんでしょう」との事。初の買い物にしては、ビギナーズラックと言うように、そこまで悪くない結果だったと思おう。