I was finalizing a report I wanted to send my boss by EOD today when L’s dad texted asking if I could make a detour to pick up seven bags of Chinese medicine in Chinatown.
I said yes, of course.
I tell them 7 bags and they will understand? I asked.
Yes, L’s dad replied. If not, call me.
Cool. Sounds good.
The report took another hour-ish to wrap up, and before I knew it, it was already past 5. Shoot! L’s dad said the store closes at 6, so I better hurry the eff up.
Outside, I walked fast. My heart raced and my pits dampened under the triple layer of my shirt, my blazer, and my peacoat. I slowed down only when I saw the familiar red lanterns hanging from strings connecting the lampposts.
In this small pocket of downtown, red and gold dominate the streetscape. The crowd looks far less affluent, donning dusty hoodies and plaid sweaters instead of the typical suits and blazers common among city center folk. The names of the shops also share common words like Golden, Dragon, or Lucky.
But the store I was headed to did not have any of those words. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I got there. Was it a drugstore? A grocery mart?
I opened the door and the bright fluorescent lighting greeted me, a stark contrast to the dimming daylight outside. I smiled at the lady sitting at the corner and waved my hand. She stood up and said something in Chinese.
“I’m sorry, I don’t speak Chinese,” I told her. “I’m here for seven bags of medicine for Joe Chan.”
She continued speaking in Chinese. I held up seven fingers.
“Seven bags for Joe Chan?”
When I realized neither of us spoke a lick of each other’s languages, I video-called L’s dad. “Ahhh,” the lady said. Now it all made sense.
She led me closer to the front door and handed me the bags. When I asked how much, she shook her head and spoke more Chinese.
“Mm goi sai,” I said.
“Mm goi sai!” the lady replied, joy bursting from her voice. Finally! Something we both understood!
I left the store and made another detour to a bakery inside a nearby mall. My Chinese friend calls this mall “stinky”; I think it’s just musty in an inoffensive way, like a layered concoction of hot grease, soy sauce, Tiger Balm, and maybe Safeguard. The bakery gave me a free bun on top of the four egg tarts and five buns I ordered – woot!
On the train ride home, a drunk Caucasian man was eating Chinese food. Deep-fried tofu, I believe. He spoke to himself and played air guitar at one point.
L picked me up at the train station. “I couldn’t understand the lady at all,” I told him. “That must be how your parents feel living here in Canada.”
“One hundred percent,” L said.
We went to his parents house to deliver the goods, then we headed home.
At home, I cooked pork + cabbage stir-fry for dinner. After dinner, I went to the gym to swim. After swimming, I went home, I showered, I prepared my bags for tomorrow, then I started writing this post.
And that, dear reader, was how my night went. Now it’s time to sleep.
Have a great rest of your week!
Leave a Reply