Bazaar Behavior

I never thought so before, but maybe we Americans are a little bizarre in that we take our two-day bi-annual bazaar shopping very seriously.


This bazaar Saturday, I rode my bike to base by 8:40am to queue for the first look at any antique furniture. I didn't find what I was looking for (a tea tansu), so I methodically--and within one hour--wound my way around the five parking-garage floors of vendors. After all, I had to at least fill my free "NEX Bazaar" tote for having been among the first shoppers.


Why so quickly? This was my fifth bazaar and I'm getting more efficient, yes. But this time, I also invited my Japanese English class on base to the shopping bazaar and to Chili's for lunch--so I knew I'd be back to spend all of Sunday with my six Japanese guests.

These ladies (plus Emiko who is taking the photo) have been my friends for two years this October and I've really appreciated learning more about Japanese culture from them. So, I hoped to share with them (and two of their husbands) a little American culture.





I realize I probably should've brought them on base any other day for American goods, since the bazaar has mostly Asian goods! But I wanted them to see how Americans truly appreciate Japanese art, furniture, home decor, etc., even though most items are not authentically Japanese.


Japanese items, American items or neither, each friend found something to buy. When in doubt, we shrugged and concluded, "must be Chinese," simply because of the high probability this could be true. For example, who knew that cloth chopstick "sleeves" with matching placemats weren't used in Japan! (Paper sleeves on disposable chopsticks--yes, but cloth for reusable ones--no!) So, this was one purchase.


The men (including Brian), and especially the girls, helped speed us along so we could lunch at Chili's. Although en route, Noriko's husband requested a slight detour through the Fleet NEX store to buy American golf balls. He was delighted to find golf balls for less than 150 yen per ball. Although I have to think he must have been disappointed with American customer service, since the cashier had no idea about any of the golf ball products and said as much when asked. But at least she said so in Japanese.


I think most of the American culture for the day was observed at Chili's. Everyone indulged in some good old American MGD beer. I'll explain at a later date that most Americans usually drink imported beer; there was none on draft. I had a margarita, mainly so they could try it.



Everyone also commented on the huge portions, of course! So some shared an entree and we obviously didn't even discuss dessert. But since Kayo and her husband were very excited about the American tortilla chips, especially when I told her they could take them home.

Kayo summarized it best afterward when she told me she felt like she'd gone to the United States for the day! But partly because I can't have them thinking Chili's is the be-all-end-all of American dining, and partly because there exists American scenary much more interesting than drab base buildings, and mostly because I'm going to miss my friends, I already invited them to visit me in the States. Wherever we are, it is sure to be a more American--and seemingly bizarre--experience than Yokosuka base was for them.