Just Walk Away

Let's be honest: one of the most exciting adventures in China is...the fake markets, of course! Christmas shopping has been a really fun process for me this year as I continue to test out the "one for you, two for me theory." In doing so, I have gotten really good at the "just walk away strategy" where you name your bottom line price and walk. If you hear "Ok lady, lady" chasing behind you, you're golden! Today I decided to only haggle in Chinese. So I whipped through all my phrases "Hello, how are you? I am well thank you. My name is Kate. What is your name? How much? What! That is TOO expensive (insert a fainting motion here as you listen the story about how this item is different-- it's REAL leather, etc.)! Continue in Chinese: "I am from Shanghai. I am a teacher! I will buy for...." Telling the merchants I was from Shanghai got more than a few chuckles today--cutting the price, however, did not. Yet, we only walked away once today where the seller let us keep going (sorry Jessie and Liz, no baby Ugg boots this year).... Here's some of my booty (about $4 USD):

And then this was an exciting $7 find, considering I almost bought it two weeks ago in Duty Free:

But here's the best gift of all- and to get it, I had to go into a backroom behind a fake wall, then wait as the book case was pulled out; then I slipped into a second back room to find this-- feels like leather, and the "real" US price tags are still on:

(not pictured: North Face Jacket, Ugg Boots-- oh and your Christmas present!)