Shopped til I Dropped

Sunday was my last day off for awhile. It appears that my Beijing vacation has actually come to an end, as I work everyday this week. What a tragedy! With our final moments of freedom, a few of us hit the shopping scene pretty hard.

First we set out to the Wangfujing area with the high-class Oriental Mall. At the Nike store, I plagued with myself over a pair of Team USA basketball uniform shorts for my little brother's souvenir. They were ¥398, or about $60. I was flabbergasted! In my three weeks in China, I have learned many things. One of most aortic lessons, though, is that nothing costs more than ¥100. If there's a product that's priced upwards of the century mark, I really stop and think about the purchase.

While I realize that authentic uniforms are higher priced, I can't justify spending the money. Gus really wants official Team USA goods, but I've come to grips with the fact that the US stuff is going to be at US prices. I'm really not ready to pay US prices for anything. Needless to say, the basketball shorts got passed up. Sorry, Gus, but your team garb is going to have to wait. Instead, you get a ¥15 Chinese "Red Power" shirt.

Later in the Hong Qiao Pearl Market, Megan and Andrea showed me the ropes in jewelry buying. I came home with three necklaces, four bracelets, and a pair of earrings for myself and very little for anyone else. If you're worried, don't be. Not everything there was pearls, and not everything there was expensive. But... you are going to have to wait and see on my purchases :)

Check souvenir shopping off the list.

XOXO