DECLINED

This morning when I got back from class, I saw one of my suite-mates packing.  Everything.  (I share a room with one other person, and we share a bathroom/laundry area with two other rooms.)  So, of course, I ask her if she’s going home.  Yes!  Back to Thailand at 3:00 p.m. today.  Oh, man.  I’m sure she tried to tell me this at some point, but really had no idea.  How embarassing!  So I asked if we could have lunch, and she said she was hoping we could all go.  I’m not sure if I was originally invited.  Who knows?  I’m usually in class all day on Wednesday, so maybe they thought I wouldn’t be around.  Confusion!  Anyway, we had a great big Korean lunch.  Before we left, I offered to add some songs to her MP3 player — this was an excellent idea.  I gave her some Ani DiFranco, Liz Phair, Fiona Apple, Dressy Bessy, and David Byrne.  I think she really liked that.  Yay!

Well, I really was going to buy a camera today.  I picked one out at Carrefour per Jeremy’s suggestion that I could use my credit card there.  The cheapest one I could find was about 500 RMB (~$62.50), so I asked to take a look at it.  The saleswoman was very nice, and she seemed to understand my Chinese.  She sure didn’t try to speak English.  I suspect she wasn’t able.  After looking the display model over, I wanted to see the box, but I wasn’t able to convey this to her.  Another customer overheard and asked if he could help.  So nice!  Magically, the sales woman produced the box which even contained an English manual.  It wasn’t a great camera, but I was ready to buy it.  She offered to put some batteries in it and let me try it, so I agreed.  I waited while she fooled with first some dead batteries and then some new ones.  Um, it wasn’t working.  So, she finds an unopened one.  It doesn’t work either.  Sigh.

So, what’s next cheapest model?  A whopping 1200 RMB ($150.00).  I decided to take a look a little more expensive camera that resembled a camera I used before.  It was a Cannon and the price tag was 1400 RMB ($175).  It included a very small memory card, so I asked if she had a bigger one.  She said she would upgrade me for free.  Hmmm…  I’m sure that means I was paying WAY too much, but whatever, I was willing.

But.  The credit card wouldn’t go through!  I asked them to try a couple of times, but it was a no go.  So, no camera for me.  I’ll wait until I save up the cash.  I’m disappointed, but it’s a luxury not an necessity.  It can wait.

Tomorrow I’m going to an Auto Expo with one of my teachers.  I have no idea what to expect, but what the heck.