Unintentional Yellow Shopping

When we were at the US immigration counter, the officer asked us how much cash we were bringing in. That’s a standard question they ask all visitors ever since the anti-money laundering law came into being.

When he found out that my pocket money is a little bit more than my husband’s he kidded us, that it’s for shopping. I told him of course, that’s what we’re going to do, in fact the very next day, to go to the premier outlet in Livermore.
He said there’s a memorial day weekend sale and we might want to hold off for a few days. He advised us to go online to check the sale schedule.

With that in mind, we didn’t go the next day. We went two days later. Ganun din, hindi naka intay ng weekend.

I actually had no specific item to buy. I just came from travels. I didn’t shop much in UK and Spain, there’s nothing in particular that I wanted to buy.
When we arrived at the outlet, it was sunny and hot. Sasamahan ko lang husband ko. We normally do not shop together. What we do is split up and set a meeting place, always at the fast food area, and time.
E—-“5:30 pm”.
I looked at my watch and it’s only 1:40 pm. Seriously?
E—–“Or baka mas maaga, mga 4:30 or 5 pm”.
Ang tagal ha, ano kaya ang gagawin ko dito wala naman akong bibilhin. At saka ang init pa. He said he will leave me for a while to go to the golf store across the freeway.

Iniisip ko saan kaya ako mag-iistambay eh ang init. Baka mag-migraine ako.

I didn’t want to walk under the sun. What a hot day.

And what does one do when it’s so hot to walk outside? Walk inside.

And that’s dangerous to my pocket.

Sige na nga let’s go look.

These are cute slippers. Let’s try them on.

Wow, cute nga. I like the yellow, they look bright and happy.

I rarely make an effort to have matching shoes and bags.

I asked the sales lady if this was made in China. She’s Asian (Not Filipino), tila Chinese. She probably felt scandalized, annoyed or insulted. I probably offended her but ganyan ako ngayon I always ask if it’s made in China. There are luxury goods now that are made in China. I just wanted to be sure before I take the plunge. She replied nicely that all Ferragamo goods are from Italy.

Messenger bag daw ito.

Next door shop please.
If the sales lady recognizes you, it only shows how frequent you visit this store. It doesn’t mean you are actually buying. Pwede rin window shopping lang.

She told me “I remember you”. Yeah, I told her their prices are more expensive than in UK. She told me of course the items are imported from Europe, there are import taxes plus add the 9.25% sales tax. And in Europe,
there’s tax refund. In the US it’s plus sales tax. That makes the difference.

The cashier is Asian and speaks with an American twang. Matagal na yan dito sa America pag gumugulong na ang English. She got my customer profile. My sister’s name appears. I always give her telephone number kasi. When the cashier asked for my own email address, she blurted out in Tagalog “oh my buhay talaga ha”. Pilipino pala sya. Vibes na kami, basta Pilipino.

This is what happens when you have no intention to buy anything but your husband leaves you behind at the premium outlet for several hours.

I looked at my watch, it’s only 4 pm. Nay ko, One and a half hours to go pa. I was feeling drowsy from jet lag and sleeplessness. I sat down on one of the benches in front of Calvin Klein. I fell asleep. But I occasionally forced myself to open my eyes kasi baka magising ako wala na ang bag ko at ang shopping bags.

I was only able to cover a fourth of the whole square footage of this outlet. I didn’t want to walk again or else I might end up entering a store and scratching my credit card again. But it’s only 4 pm what shall I do while waiting for dear husband? I just sat there till 5:30 pm afraid to shop again.
When my watch hit 5:30 pm I walked to the fast food area. He wasn’t there yet. He arrived at almost 6 pm. He said he’s not done yet. Sasaglit lang daw sya sa Under Armour. I told him I spent half of my pocket money already and it’s only my second day here in America eh matagal pa ako dito. “Tart, If I walk to the other side where Gucci, Versace, Bally, Jimmy Choo, etc. are, I might end up spending all my pocket money. Uuwi na agad ako. Ubos na baon ko”. He said mabilis lang daw sya, mga 7:30 pm daw kami magkita or kahit lampas pa. Ngeee, where will I go for 1.5 hours? Walking, not shopping, as a form of exercise. I walked to the other side but this time the temperature had gone down, ang lamig naman. I walked faster and didn’t enter the stores. Basta lakad lang kunwari exercise.

I entered the Gucci store. Every time I come here, I look at the clothes, not the bags.

Masyadong nakasisilaw sa pagka yellow, parang pang santo. Baka hindi na ako pag-isipan ng masama ng asawa ko pag-suot ko ito at akala santo ako.

Gucci skirt maybe for ballroom dancing. I don’t dance.

Uy, this matches the yellow slippers. Kumpleto na from head to toe.
Over-acting na, mapagkamalan na akong president ng Liberal Party.

When the molded bag was not yet invented, some of my colleagues from Team Philippines used Gucci trolley or hand carry.

They are actually heavy.

I saw a mannequin wearing a nice white dress. Uy, nice yan. I entered the Armani Exchange.

A tall and very good-looking guy parang Hollywood actor sa gwapo assisted me and guided me to the fitting room. He said the dresses are 60% off. That’s not so bad. $170 – 60% = $68 + 9.25 tax = $74.29 x P50 = P3,714.50
Made in China. Lahat na lang made in China.

The 4 guys at this store are all tall, white and handsome. Kagu-gwapo, at matipuno ang mga katawan. Tila walang mga cholesterol ang mga bewang. Medyo makendeng kung lumakad. Edmund bought something from this store too but we didn’t see each other. He also noticed that the guys there were all good-looking except that they all belong to girl power. Hayan, kaya puro pangit na lang ang natitira sa tutoong lalaki.